Magnificent Ms. Marvel #3: Shield of a Million Children

‘Ms. Marvel’s first big space adventure is here and it is a DOOZIE! But luckily, she won’t be going on this trip alone!

Writer Saladin Ahmed continues the adventures of our magnificent Ms. Marvel by bringing her into space in the hopes of saving an entire planet on the word of some people she just met. Though the people who came to Earth to find The Destined One seem to come in peace, the whole story is primed to be a complete bait and switch. Ms. Marvel is allowed to bring her parents with her to this new planet, setting a near-perfect stage for a serious life lesson to be learned by Kamala.

It turns out, that switch doesn’t take long at all. Kamala’s discovery of the prisoner (who is also a rather handsome prince) being tortured sends the story off in a totally different direction, laying the foundation for a group of people oppressed by those who are in power. It’s a familiar trope, and one that Ms. Marvel will undoubtedly show her strength of heart in, but I couldn’t help but want something more. With their ship blasted out of the sky in the issue’s final moments, it looks like I will have to wait to see what that could be though.

One of the best aspects of the series so far has been the underlying struggle of Kamala trying to be the superhero she needs to be, but also find a place for her closest loved ones to still be apart of her life. She has spent so long keeping everyone in the dark about her heroics, so this must be a monumental change for her. The creative team has said they want to “bring Kamala way out of her element”, and while taking her into space is certainly a great way to do that, it’s arguably moreso out of her element to have her parents right beside her as Ms. Marvel. What is interesting, however, is even with how far out of her element she is, it will eventually once again take a focus on her core self and who she really is to make the right decisions in this situation. This is just quality storytelling.

With a world who needs her, a handsome alien prince and her parents tagging along, this journey is just the type of emotional roller coaster that makes a great Ms. Marvel comic. Issue #3 feels like it will work better in the context of a collected edition of the story, but as a standalone it doesn’t underwhelm at all. It’s an otherworldly story that never forgets to emphasize its humanity. What more could you want?

The artwork continues to impress with every new issue as well.  Minkyu Jung, Juan Vlasco and Ian Herring all bring something unique to the table, giving this series an aesthetic that will be long enduring. A cosmic element offers this team an exciting chance to really show off too, and while issue #3 is spectacular, there is undoubtedly a lot more to come!

Overall, this has really always been a Ms. Marvel arc for anyone to pick up and enjoy, but it is quickly turning into something truly unexpected (in the best way possible). It’s an epic and heartfelt adventure that further proves this character is in great hands.