The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #10: I Don’t Want to Be Here

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #10 is a complicated issue, due in part to it’s rather foreboding themes that permeate the story but more importantly, how it derails readers from the drama for a quick superhero brawl.

Let’s start with how this issue succeeded, because there are a few aspects that shouldn’t be overlooked. Most of these primarily stem from the artistic prowess of the creative team and their ability to translate such depth of emotion in sequential art. The drama of what is happening weighs on every page and the character expressions contribute more to the story than even their own dialogue. It’s remarkable work that makes this issue feel much more important than it actually is.

Which is a good and bad thing.

Let’s be honest here, ongoing series are bound to have a filler issue or two. It’s rare for such a series to not have issues like this, so I understand. But the timing of the intrusion of Mr. Hyde forcing Kamala away from her family in a tragic time creates clashing themes for my own reading experience. The pressure of being a superhero and how it impacts her family has always been heavy on Kamala, so I understand the intention behind the events. But unfortunately, what we get is a sense of diminishing the importance of what is happening to Yusuf. Does this mean that Mr. Hyde should not have been included at all? Not necessarily. Instead,  I would have loved to see how the superhero job made her feel amidst all of this outside of it being a simple distraction.

Instead of an internal shift for Kamala as a result of this issue, we get the reveal of STORMRANGER! Which I’ll be frank, got me incredibly excited. I’ve had my doubts about Ms. Marvel’s super cool new Kree suit for quite a while now so this twist was fulfilling. With the suit turning against Kamala we see her in a position where she’s lost everything. Her superhero identity stands before her twisted and dark, and her family is back at the hospital bracing for tragic loss. It will be interesting to see how this creative team handles Kamala navigating this situation for sure.

With some stellar art and an intriguing twist at the end, The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #10 manages to prove worthwhile despite the majority of it acting as filler. The introduction of a new villain is oddly timed, but it looks to serve as a great tool for introspection in this drastic time in Kamala’s life. The immediate future might not be sunshine and rainbows for her, but it will certainly be interesting! Here’s to hoping the next issues deliver the heart this series has shown itself so capable of producing.