Summary
Warning: contains spoilers for NYX #1The iconicKamala Khanhas been using her “embiggening” abilities in creative ways since her debut in 2014’sAll-New Marvel Now! Point One#1, and the heroic Ms. Marvel continues to surprise with new and shocking uses of her polymorph powers.Kamala stars inNYX#1- a series following young mutants in the X-Men’s newFrom the Ashesera - where she gets into a vicious bar fight, usingher shape-shifting ability to horrifyingly melt her own face.
Kamala Khan recently had her powers go haywire, almost killing her, before they were stabilized by Queen Medusa of the Inhumans. Now,Ms. Marvel has full access to her vast polymorph ability once again, and is using it to fight against mutant oppression in New York City!
NYX#1, from writers Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing with artist Francesco Mortarino, seesKamala befriended by Sophie Cuckooat Empire State University, prompting Sophie to peer pressure Kamala into going on a night out, where Ms. Marvel is forced to transform her faceafter getting into a public brawl.
Being an Inhuman is central to Ms. Marvel’s identity
The young Kamala Khan gained her shape-shifting abilities through exposure to the Terrigen Mists, which revealed her hidden Inhuman heritage. Ms. Marvel’s powers have evolved over the years, and it has been revealed that Kamala’s polymorph abilities actuallyallow her to alter her molecules by sending mass back and forth through timeto other versions of herself. Khan has used her incredible powers to do shocking things, like turning paper thin to travel under a door or fully transforming into Mary Jane Watson inAmazing Spider-Man, and it seems like Kamala will continue to evolve her powers.
Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan’s MCU Powers Make Their Comic Debut
InNYX#1 the visible mutant Anole is working at a club that Kamala and Sophie Cuckoo go to, when Anole is suddenly attacked by anti-mutant bigots, who blame him for recent terrorist attacks. Sophie warns Ms. Marvel to hide her face because people are filming, and Kamala quickly uses her powers to obscure her face. However, instead of changing her face, Ms. Marvel pulls at it like silly putty, transforming her into a melted-faced vigilante.NYXwriters Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly spoke about the new series on Connor Goldsmith’sCEREBROpodcast, where they revealed thatseries artist Francesco Mortarino was the one who made the decision to have Kamala turn her face to putty, a gross but amazing piece of artistic license.
Maintaining A Secret Identity Is Very Important To Ms. Marvel
Once again most of Kamala’s loved ones don’t know her secret
Ms. Marvel recently discovered she was a mutant - following her death and resurrection - after which the mutant nation of Krakoa was assaulted, forcing Kamala to become a vigilante fighting alongside the X-Men. To protect Kamala, Emma Frost erases her friends and family’s memories of her death, and her identity as Ms. Marvel. While Kamala has always been private about her secret identity -Sophie Cuckoo jokingly calls her “Secret Identity” as a nickname- she now needs to work even harder to stay private, since mutants are so hated and feared following the fall of Krakoa.
The beloved Ms. Marvel may need to turn her face to a putty sooner rather than later, but being gross has never stoppedKamala Khanfrom being a hero. As Ms. Marvelbegins her fight against the villainous Quiet Councilin New York City, the powerful hero will need to get even more creative with her incredible polymorph abilities.
