Ms Marvel Volume 5: Super Famous by G Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa, Adrian Alphona and Nico Leon

Ms Marvel Volume 5: Super Famous written by G Willow Wilson and illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa, Adrian Alphona and Nico Leon is the latest collected volume of Ms Marvel comics. It takes place after Secret Wars and collects issues #1–6 of the 2015 run. This volume follows on directly from Last Days, which the world didn't end, and takes place after Secret Wars. The last issue is apparently part of the Civil War II event, but not in a way that disrupts the story (in fact, I didn't even realise it was until after I'd finished it and saw the Civil War II cover).

She's your new favorite. She's everyone's new favorite. And now she's joining the big leagues. Look out world, Kamala Khan is an Avenger! But is she really cut out to be one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Saving the world is important, but Jersey City still needs its protector — and a development company that co-opted Ms. Marvel's face for its project has more in mind for gentrification than just real estate! Can Kamala take down the evil suits destroying her home without ruining her grades and personal life? Speaking of which, who exactly is that with Bruno? And when Kamala creates an army of automatons to help her fight crime, will she learn that too much Ms. Marvel is actually a bad thing? Get back on board, Kamala Korps, the ride is about to get wild!

As seems to always be the case with Ms Marvel, this was an excellent issue with a cohesive storyline. It deals with issues of gentrification in Jersey City, with the issue of the normal residence being pushed out by new developers being central to the plot. It also deals with the question of ownership of the Ms Marvel image. If she's everyone's hero and otherwise anonymous, can anyone use her likeness, for example in advertising?

On a character level, this issue also has Kamala struggling to balance everything going on in her life. Between being an Avenger and a normal teenager who has school and family commitments, there's a lot for her to fit in. Unlike for a normal teenager, the consequences of letting a few things slide or trying to fit more in are rather dire and dramatic.

As well as enjoying the story, I absolutely loved the art. There are several panels with extra detail in the backgrounds which adds amusement while reading. It was pretty rest and I was soon finding myself disappointed with the sparser panels that didn't have significant backgrounds.

Ms Marvel is an excellent comic series that you should probably be reading if you're not already. I am particularly pleased to see with this volume and the previous one that the creators have managed not to disrupt the main story and character development too much with events. Although, so far this has probably been helped by the fact that Ms Marvel hasn't been to instrumental to said events, which could change in the future (fingers crossed that it doesn't). I highly recommend this comic to all comics fans and YA readers to might be interested in dabbling in comics. I do suggest starting from the first volume, however. While this volume doesn't make a terrible entry point, it is volume five and does build on the story from the previous volume and so forth.

5 / 5 stars

First published: July 2016, Marvel
Series: Volume 5 of Ms Marvel (Kamala Khan), ongoing series, containing issues #1–6 of the second run (2015)
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Local comic book shop

Ms Marvel Vol 4: Last Days by G Willow Wilson

Ms Marvel Vol 4: Last Days written by G Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona is the last volume of the first Kamala Khan run of Ms Marvel. After Secret Wars, as with all Marvel Universe series, the numbering will reset. This volume contains the last four issues of the run, #16–19, and two issues from Amazing Spider-Man (2014): #7 & 8.

When the world is about to end, do you still keep fighting? From the moment, Kamala put on her costume, she's been challenged, but nothing has prepared her for this: the Last Days of the Marvel Universe. Fists up, let's do this, Jersey City. Plus a VERY special guest appearance fans have been clamoring for!

This is a really great volume. The four main issues in Ms Marvel: Last Days tell one continuous story, which was really great to read. I mean, I really enjoying reading longer comic story arcs and find them much more satisfying than one- or two-comic arcs like, for example, were in Volume 3 of Ms Marvel. The story is about the beginning of the apocalypse which, as is often the case with Marvel, is taking place in Manhattan. Kamala and the other residents of Jersey City see something dire happening across the river (I learnt more about NY/USA geography looking this up than I expected) and Kamala tries to help as panic breaks out.

This storyline had some really awesome moments, one of which was Captain Marvel showing up for the middle two issues, and the other of which I don't want to spoil. I enjoyed seeing Kamala fangirl over Carol Danvers and their brief team-up was great. (Although I thought it was a bit odd that Carol's outfit was a greayscale version of her usual suit.) Both Kamala and Carol have little heart-touching moments while saving a minor part of the day (the apocalypse itself is not for Kamala to fix).

I also really loved Kamala's interactions with the regular characters, which were the perfect combination of funny and thoughtful, with Kamala tying up some "what if the world really is ending" loose ends. I would still like to have seen more of Nakia, as I have said of every volume of Ms Marvel, but at least she's acknowledged here. And maybe she'll be more prominent in the next run. One can hope. Also, I continue to love the cute and amusing details in the background of this comic. Much lol. Also, also, "hipster viking".

As for the Spider-Man issues, these were much better than I expected. They fall much earlier in continuity than the Last Days storyline, and like the SHIELD issue in the previous volume, they involve a bit of "an exciting day in the life" of Kamala while in someone else's book. I love how adorable Kamala is when she's in fangirl mode. And, bonus, we get to see Silk choosing her new costume. Also, there's a nice side plot for one of the henchmen, which was both unexpected and amusing. One of the better "other issue" inclusions in a trade that I've come across.

I really loved this volume and the entire series. I highly recommend it to all fans of superheroes, particularly if the YA aspect appeals. If the YA aspect doesn't appeal, it's still a great series for readers of all comics. As always, I am looking forward to more Ms Marvel in the future, even though it will be a bit of a wait for the next trade. If you haven't read any Ms Marvel yet, now is a pretty good time to go back to the start and read the entire first run (or "season" as I saw someone on goodreads refer to it) in one go.

5 / 5 stars

First published: December 2015, Marvel
Series: Ms Marvel (Kamala Khan) Vol 4 of 4, the last volume of the current run with, after this one, the numbers resetting. But with the same creators.
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Real life physical book shop *gasp*

Runaways (Deluxe Vols 2 & 3) by Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona

Runaways (Deluxe Vols 2 & 3) by Brian K Vaugh and Adrian Alphona are the two volumes of Runaways containing the second season of Vaughan's Runaways run. My intention was to review each deluxe volume separately, but reading on Marvel Unlimited I accidentally overshot and was halfway through Vol 3 when I realised. I also blame Goodreads for being wrong about which issues were included in Vol 2. So here we are. A review of issues #1–24 of the 2005–2007 run of Runaways, which is regular (non-deluxe) volumes 5–7. This review (and the blurb) contains spoilers for Runaways Deluxe Vol 1.

In True Believers, now that the evil Pride is gone, nearly every bad guy in the Marvel Universe is trying to fill the power vacuum in Los Angeles, and the Runaways are the only heroes who can stop them Plus: What does a mysterious new team of young heroes want with the Runaways, and which fan-favorite Marvel characters are part of this group? In Escape to New York, the Runaways embark on a coast-to-coast adventure, guest-starring Cloak and Dagger AND the New Avengers When Cloak is accused of a crime he didn't commit by the heroes of New York City, the vigilante is forced to turn to the teenage Runaways for help. This story will take our teens to a place they've never been: NYC. In Parental Guidance, the secret super-villain society is back, but this all-new group isn't made up of the Runaways' evil parents. Who are these shadowy players, and what do they want with the Marvel Universe's next generation of heroes? Plus: When the youngest member of the Runaways is separated from her teammates, Molly Hayes must survive a night alone on the mean streets of Los Angeles The 11-year-old mutant girl soon hooks up with a new group of runaways, but is their mysterious leader a hero or a villain? And in Live Fast, the Runaways say good-bye to the past, and make hard decisions about their future.

In the first deluxe collection of Runaways, I thought the single over-arching plot was one of its strengths. In these two volumes the story arcs seem to run more or less over six issues/one regular volume, giving it a distinctly episodic feel in the style of an ongoing TV series. I enjoyed this run of Runaways, but not quite as much as the first one. I think that's partly because of a bit of shuffling of the team members (was some of it caused by external comic events? I got the feeling it might have been).

The first story arc has the Runaways basically running around fighting bad guys as they arise. Meanwhile, a group of adult ex-teenage superheroes start an organisation to help rehabilitate teen heroes and find that with the Runaways, they may have bitten off more than they can chew. This was an entertaining sort of gentle storyline, and I suspect one that long-time comic book fans might have enjoyed picking out the old heroes out of. It also lead nicely into later events.

In the second story arc we meet Cloak and Dagger (well, mostly Cloak) for the second time in Runaways. Dagger asks the teenagers for help with a problem that squicked me out a bit. I mean, it all worked out in the end, but I didn't like the fact that it revolved around Dagger having been beaten into a coma. The pair's appearances in Runaways have made me curious about them, however. (And hey, at least Dagger didn't have to wear her horrible costume much.)

The third story arc has a new team of nemeses out to screw over our main characters. It's a less scary group of people than some of the bad guys they've fought before, but the group turns out to have more of a bite than expected. The showdown is very dramatic. This was also the storyline with more shuffling of team members than I would have liked. (No spoilers, but I'm not sold on the addition to the team, as well as obviously being sad about the person who leaves.)

The final story arc in Vaughan's run is dealing with the severe ramifications of the previous arc's show down. It's sort of more of an epilogue although I was surprised at how much it set up the next story (surprised because the next story is written by a different writer and I expected more of a clean break even if the issue numbers didn't restart). It did leave me intrigued as to where the story is going next.

I am still enjoying Runaways and I plan to keep reading it, although I'll probably have a bit of a break first. It's refreshing to read a story with a predominantly female ensemble cast. Runaways is a fun series full of arse-kicking ladies and I'm glad it had a good run. I recommend starting from the beginning of the whole series (the 2003 run), but I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes the idea of teen superheroes (and perhaps used to enjoy Buffy).

4 / 5 stars

First published: 2005–2007, Marvel
Series: Runaways, ongoing series, issues #1–24 of the second run
Format read: Digital
Source: Marvel Unlimited

Runaways (Deluxe Vol 1) by Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona

Runaways (Deluxe Vol 1) written by Brian K Vaugh and illustrated by Adrian Alphona is the first season (for lack of a better word) of the fairly long running comic series. I didn't read the actual printed volume, but rather the issues in it (#1–18) in digital form on Marvel Unlimited. This seemed like a sensible unit to review in, so deluxe volumes it is (this deluxe volume, for the record, contains the first three normal volumes of Runaways).

In Pride & Joy, six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains Finding strength in one another, the shocked teens run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives - vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy. In Teenage Wasteland, the Runaways find a kindred spirit in a daring young stranger and welcome him into their fold. But will this dashing young man help the teenagers defeat their villainous parents... or tear them apart? Plus: who do you send to catch a group of missing, runaway teenage super-heroes? Marvel's original teen runaway crimefighters, Cloak and Dagger, make their first major appearance in years In The Good Die Young, the world as we know it is about to end, and the Runaways are the only hope to prevent it Our fledgling teenage heroes have learned how their parents' criminal organization began, and now they must decide how it should end. As the Runaways' epic battle against their evil parents reaches its shocking conclusion, the team's mole stands revealed, and blood must be shed. Which kids will still be standing when the smoke finally clears?

What really set this series apart from other Marvel series I've read recently (so, y'know, a lot of them) is that the story arc is stretched over all eighteen issues, rather than five or fewer. It was refreshing to read something with a more involved storyline and a lot of space for character development. In that sense it put me in mind of Saga (also written by Vaughan), which makes me wonder if the similarity is in the writer or the breadth of the idea.

The basic premise of Runaways is a group of teens whose parents are friends are forced to hang out together once a year when their parents get together to do some boring charity thing. This year, however, the teens wander into a secret passage at the host house during their parents meeting and witness them a) dressed in weird costumes and b) perform a human sacrifice. Naturally they freak out and, as the title suggests, run away.

The story is mainly them dealing with their parents being evil and the challenges of living on their own and on the lam. They also didn't exactly start out as friends, more like people who've known each other their whole lives because their collective parents forced them to spend time together. So there's a bit of friction in the group, but not so much that it distracts from the main story. Oh, and did I mention half of them have super powers? There's also a pet velociraptor, which was pretty adorable and kind of my favourite character.

Runaways was a really fun read and also a surprisingly quick read. Those eighteen issues just flew past, compared with some of the other comics I've read. I think there might have been more larger panels (so less happening per page) but also I think the spread-out story also contributed. Like the more the plot progresses in a single issue the slower it feels? Maybe something like that.

Anyway, Runaways Deluxe Vol 1 was pretty great and I will definitely be reading on. It was great to have a single season-length story arc and a distinct ending over the eighteen issues. There was even an epilogue which starts to set up a different story for the next season. I am definitely going to read it as well. I recommend Runaways to fans of YA stories.

4.5 / 5 stars

First published: 2004 with issues published from 2003 to 2004, Marvel Comics
Series: Runaways Deluxe Vol 1, collecting issues #1–18 and regular volumes 1–3
Format read: Digitally
Source: Marvel Unlimited

Ms Marvel Volume Two "Generation Why" by G Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona

Ms Marvel Volume Two "Generation Why" by G Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona is the second volume of collected issues in the ongoing comic book series. I have previously reviewed Volume One here.

Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! Kamala may be fan-girling out when her favorite (okay maybe Top Five) super hero shows up, but that won't stop her from protecting her hometown. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity for the first time - by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! Every girl wants a puppy, but this one may be too much of a handful, even for a super hero with embiggening powers. But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

This volume focuses on Kamala learning about her powers and, more importantly, who she is as a superhero. The volume starts with Kamala investigating a suspicious sewer and meeting Wolverine, over whom she proceeds to fangirl. She also starts to realise that she might have taken on more than she can handle alone. Nevertheless, she refuses to back down from her impending confrontation with The Inventor.

We also learn about other character who are keeping an eye on Ms Marvel and some mysterious things going on in the background that Kamala doesn't know about (and that the audience doesn't learn much about, although it's possible there were references to other Marvel comic series that I missed). There was a particularly touching moment when Kamala's parents force her to go talk to the Sheikh because the are concerned about her. Kamala expects to get a tedious lecture, but instead gets some valuable advice. And of course, there's the main event that the subtitle is alluding to. Teenagers have been going missing since Volume One and Kamala had vowed to rescue them.

I am continuing to enjoy Ms Marvel and will definitely be picking up Volume Three when it comes out (in June, according to Goodreads). If you haven't read any Ms Marvel, I definitely recommend starting at the start with Volume One. This is a great comic book series that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to almost anyone.

4.5 / 5 stars

First published: April 2015, Marvel
Series: Ms Marvel ongoing series, volume 2, including issues #6-11
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Purchased at a physical comic book store (in Perth)

Ms Marvel Volume One "No Normal" by G Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona

Ms Marvel Volume One, "No Normal" written by G Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona is, as the name suggests, the first volume of collected issues of the new Ms Marvel (2014) ongoing comic series. It includes issues #1–5 and material from All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1 (whatever that is... I'm not entirely sure).

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, New York!

No Normal is basically the origin story of the new Ms Marvel. Kamala is an ordinary muslim girl until one night when, leaving a party she'd snuck out to, she's caught in magic/mutagenic fog which gives her a hallucination of Captain Marvel and also magic/superpowers. Equipped with the sudden power to change her body into whatever (humanoid?) size/shape she wants, Kamala semi-accidentally rescues the mean girl from drowning while disguised as Carol Danvers' version of Ms Marvel. And then she runs away in shock/confusion.

Most of the volume is Kamala dealing with her new powers and trying to come to therms with what they mean for her. She's a teenager still in high school and her parents are quite over-protective. She's technically grounded for most of the volume and, unsurprisingly, her parents are concerned at her sneaking out, not knowing that she's become a superhero (although I imagine that piece of news would also be concerning to them).

In the end, Kamala chooses a costume (with a little help from her friend to make it happen) and works out who she wants to be as a person. I liked that she ended up confiding in one of her friends, but I'd actually really like to see her other, female, friend's reaction to the news. Hopefully that will be in Volume Two, which I've already picked up and will read some time in the next few days.

I also really loved the art and the background jokes/references in a lot of the panels. If you pick this one up, I highly recommend stopping to have a closer look at what's happening in the background. There was a lot that made me snicker.

This is my first comic book exposure to a traditional (as far as that word applies) Marvel superhero. I really enjoyed how the cultural background brought somethign new to the story, instead of having it be just another anglo white girl with stereotypical teenage girl problems. Not that Kamala's problems are completely out there, but at least there's a bit of variety.

I would recommend this comic to pretty much anyone with even a passing interest. It's funny and sincere and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I'm definitely intending to keep up with the story for the time being (as it comes out in trades).

4.5 / 5 stars

First published: 2014, Marvel
Series: Yes, Ms Marvel ongoing, Volume 1, containing issues #1–5
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Purchased from a real life comic book store