Summary
- Ms. Marvel's polymorph powers continue to surprise - transforming her face in NYX #1.
- Kamala Khan's evolution as a hero includes using her polymorph abilities to fight mutant oppression.
- Maintaining her secret identity is crucial for Ms. Marvel, especially in a world where mutants are hated and feared.
Warning: contains spoilers for NYX #1The iconic Kamala Khan has been using her "embiggening" abilities in creative ways since her debut in 2014's All-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 in NYX #1 - a series following young mutants in the X-Men's new From the Ashes era - where she gets into a vicious bar fight, using her 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 sco Mortarino, sees Kamala befriended by Sophie Cuckoo at Empire State University, prompting Sophie to peer pressure Kamala into going on a night out, where Ms. Marvel is forced to transform her face after getting into a public brawl.
Kamala Khan Has Had Years To Practice Her Polymorph Powers
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 actually allow her to alter her molecules by sending mass back and forth through time to 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 in Amazing Spider-Man, and it seems like Kamala will continue to evolve her powers.
In NYX #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. NYX writers Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly spoke about the new series on Connor Goldsmith's CEREBRO podcast, where they revealed that series artist sco 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 stopped Kamala Khan from being a hero. As Ms. Marvel begins her fight against the villainous Quiet Council in New York City, the powerful hero will need to get even more creative with her incredible polymorph abilities.
NYX #1 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
Source: CEREBRO
