The clones of the Marvel universe have banded together to take what they think is rightfully theirs. Ben Reilly, formerly the Scarlet Spider, leads limbo’s demonic forces into New York City for the Goblin Queen, Madelyne Pryor. Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, endeavors to protect her fellow New Yorkers from the hostile, otherworldly invaders. Amazing Spider-Man #15 gave fans a glimpse of her adventure, but this one-shot gives Kamala a chance to step into the spotlight. Written by Sabir Pirzada with artwork from Francesco Mortarino, colors by Protobunker’s Dono Sánchez-Almara, and letters from VC’s Ariana Maher, Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 leads right up to the hero’s fateful encounter with Chasm.
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 opens with the last moments of the Inventor from 2014’s Ms. Marvel series. He tries to take on Ms. Marvel and Lockjaw and ends up buried alive under a pile of his own creations. Now, released from limbo, he is back to resume his reign of terror and to take revenge on Ms. Marvel. Meanwhile, Kamala struggles to find a work/life balance. She has to deal with scrutiny at home and dodge pointed questions at work. Fortunately for her, the demonic invasion allows her to blow off some steam.
Sabir Pirzada leaps writing for the screen to the comic page perfectly, utilizing a conventional three-act structure to give the story a fun, easy-to-read pace. Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 lets its protagonist have her say despite the chaos that surrounds her. Pirzada establishes Kamala’s strong personality through her interactions with her friends and coworkers. Her battle against hordes of possessed machines only reinforces her fiery personality. The demons’ banter seems better and funnier than any human dialogue, delivering plenty of charm and comedic relief. But as the issue progresses, Pirzada raises the stakes and leaves the reader on the edge of their seat.
Francesco Mortarino’s artwork brings a youthful energy to the book. His art keeps up with the young hero’s flaring emotions and inner feelings that find an outlet in his linework. Ms. Marvel’s powers wreak havoc as electrical wires spark and motion lines bring fury to Kamala’s punches. Unfortunately, some of Mortarino’s design choices prevent the reader from seeing the full scope of her powers. Colorist Dono Sánchez-Almara does his best to tie all the elements together using his bright palette. But the smoke and fire and enclosed spaces limit the lighting choices. But the colors are still lively enough to make each scene fun to read.
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 is a fun Ms. Marvel story through and through. Kamala is still trying to figure out the next steps in her life on her own terms, and she is adamant about making her own choices, right or wrong. But once the story finds its rhythm, all her worries go out the window as the chance to break into her masked identity lets her express herself freely. Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 takes time to explore Kamala’s emotions, but the creative team still prioritizes fun, entertaining action, making this a great addition to the Dark Web event.
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