REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit,’ Issue #2

Not only does Kamala Khan find herself in a bizarre Desi wedding for Loki’s hallucination, but her powers are going haywire! Will her abilities return in time to combat the latest threat not only to Jersey City but herself? Kamala will need all the strength possible not only from herself but her friends and family to get the job done. Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit #2 is written by Samira Ahmed, with art by Andrés Genolet, colors by Tríona Farrell, cover art by Mashal Ahmed, variant cover by Betsy Cola, and letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna.

Kamala Khan has often been referred to as this generation’s Spider-Man, and the spirit of Spider-Man stories inhabits this issue. The glitching powers, in particular, harken back to a story like Spider-Man 2. Kamala also deals with an unforeseen technical issue regarding her powers, increasing her self-doubt. She’s pushed to the brink in more ways than one, and it’s heartbreaking to see her have to deal with whatever this unknown new threat is. Ahmed does well to have readers immediately empathize with our favorite hero, having us be swept in the random action and stress that Kamala must endure.

But her friends, who are in on her secret identity, are there for her. The always consistent Nakia and Zoe (along with the, unfortunately, semi-consistent Bruno) are there in her moments of need, and it’s lovely to read. Ahmed takes care to show the intimate moments between the friends and drives home the fundamental point of how Kamala’s supporting cast is integral to her heroism, just as much as her polymorphic powers are. The best Ms. Marvel stories are about Kamala and her relationships, and Ahmed wisely highlights that important notion in this issue.

The art and colors by Genolet and Farrell are great and an improvement from the first issue. The coloring by Farrell feels lusher and bolder now, making the read-along more engaging for readers. Farell does a great job distinguishing and accurately portraying Kamala and her family and friends’ skin tones. Genolet’s art is great as well, drawing the characters with rich details and great facial expressions. The action scenes are also more dynamic here, doing a great job of highlighting movement, particularly when Kamala fights the shadow antagonist. Overall, it’s a step up from the first issue’s art, and I hope this level of quality stays consistent in the future.

Caramagna’s lettering is excellent as always, carefully designing the words in such a way that emphasizes either the intimacy between Kamala and her friends or the action that’s unfurling on the panel. In all, it’s a great finishing touch to this issue.

Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit #2 is a great and emotionally stressful ride for our favorite polymorph hero. Ahmed continues to do a great job at writing Kamala Khan as she goes through the wringer with an unforeseen force, the art by Genolet and Farrell stands out in a great way, and Caramagna’s lettering is the marvelous finishing touch. It’s clear that this is one of Ms. Marvel’s toughest challenges yet, and it’ll be very intriguing to see how she solves it.

Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit #2 is available now wherever comics are sold.