Ms Marvel

[jack]

About a nerdy muslim girl who gains the powers of captain marvel (iirc). It does right all the things you'd hope it does right -- showing the positives and negatives of living in a non-Christian religious family in the USA, being sympathetic and non-judgemental while also showing the problems internal and external; showing a young protagonist coming to terms with unexpected powers and how to keep them secret; beginning to introduce a nemesis.

All the things I thought I wanted. But I'm not that hungry for more -- I felt that even though it was very good, it didn't add a lot I didn't already expect, so it didn't suck me personally in, even though I love it for being a much more modern "introduction to superpowers" story I could recommend to people without apologising for it.

ETA: A friend asks, what's the best way of reading recent mainstream comics digitally?

ETA: And almost all of the books I review, I own in paper format, and am eager to lend to people, whether you're following one of the awards, or come on it years later and say "do you still have..?" I realise, most of the time, it's more hassle than it's worth, but you're very welcome if you'd like!

Comments

[jack]

I read the first collected edition, iirc she's just rescued her friend's brother from a bunch of Inventor's minions, and we've seen (?) the back of the Inventor's head, but nothing else. I want to read the wolverine bits now!

I would be interested to read the other "introduction to superpowers" comics, because I do always love that. Thank you for mentioning specific examples! But I don't know if I will, I've dipped a toe in the water of mainstream comics, even as I've read some individual works (like Sandman!) and webcomics.

And I agree, I liked what Ms Marvel did well. I liked the tedious brother :) But I don't really remember any of the supporting cast -- they were ok, but didn't grab me as people.

[seekingferret]

My (rather spoilery) review of Avengers Academy, which is hands away my favorite comic book of the past decade: http://seekingferret.dreamwidth.org/97981.html

I really ought to read Sandman one of these days.

[jack]

Oh, cool. Yes, that does sound pretty cool, though also, I'm put off by the problems you describe. I'd rather read something similar that was less bogged down by continuity.