#kwezi ms marvel

[khanrelli]

a cross-country winter | kamala x bruno

a fanfic with Kamala Khan and Bruno Carrelli from Ms. Marvel

Bruno is practically drunk on anesthesia after having his wisdom teeth removed and has some things to say to Kamala. word count: 479 warnings: none read it on archive of our own! dedicated to icee

Caltech has been a rough adjustment. Everybody is so different, it's wildly expensive, he barely knows where anything is and most importantly? The weather is horrid. By Jersey standards that is. At least the school aspect has been easy.

He's finished all his work for the week and now he just needs to finish his Humanities paper. Ready to do some hardcore Googling, he sees news on his sidebar: " Heavy Snow Blankets New Jersey, More May Be On The Way" .

That can't be good.

BRUNO: Hey

BRUNO: I heard there was a snowstorm in Jersey??

BRUNO: You guys ok?

KAMALA: Hii

KAMALA: Yep

KAMALA: Have to stay inside all day 😕

BRUNO: Not a problem though for you

KAMALA: Can you shut up 🙄

KAMALA: How's the weather California boy 

BRUNO: I'm here for 3 months and I'm already "California boy"?

BRUNO: Anyway

BRUNO: Not used to it, it's 67 over here??*

*19 degrees Celsius.

BRUNO: I miss my 40s

BRUNO: You think Thor can make it rain over here for me?

KAMALA: Probably too busy playing Fortnite

BRUNO: You still stand by that theory?

KAMALA: THERE'S SO MUCH EVIDENCE POINTING TOWARDS IT??

BRUNO: Sure thing conspiracy theorist

KAMALA: Grr

KAMALA: I'm very much freezing

KAMALA: Ammi refuses to turn on the heating all the way because we can just "wear more layers"

BRUNO: Classic Mrs. Khan!

BRUNO: If I was there, I'd warm you up

….

What?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kamala mutters to herself.

Ironically, a similar thing is said 2,886 miles away.

"What did I mean by that?" Bruno mutters to himself. He quickly tries to remedy the situation.

BRUNO: Ik how to make an effective heater with an electric fan and lots of copper wire 

"OH! Oh, okay.." Kamala murmurs, slightly disappointed although she can't pinpoint why she is. 

KAMALA: Dang where's our token white boy when we need him 

BRUNO: 😐

Suddenly, Bruno hears his name get called by his roommate, Kwezi. "Yankee Doodle, we're going to go put 'snow' all over the Blacker house, wanna come?" The roommate says, accompanied by their other friend Michelle. 

"We borrowed the huge snow machine." She says excitedly.

The paper can probably wait. But he would never leave Kamala hanging.

BRUNO: Ok apparently we're going to go put fake snow over one of the dorms

BRUNO: Payback for replacing our vending machine food with carrots

BRUNO: I'll ttyl?

KAMALA: You are really living the life over there B

KAMALA: Ttyl!

KAMALA: Don't have too much fun over there we miss you

She wants to say "I miss you" but that's too bold for the girl.

BRUNO: Sure thing :)

BRUNO: Byee

KAMALA: Bye :D 

Hopefully, going out for a prank can help him get over how much he misses home. And by home, he's not talking about his chilly hometown but rather a certain Captain Marvel fangirl who loves gyros.

[phierie]

wind down doodles of the ms marvel gang

[comicwaren]

From Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 #029, “Something New: Part One”

Art by Nico León and Ian Herring

Written by G. Willow Wilson

[inhumansforever]

Ms. Marvel #29 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

Bruno’s back and Kamala becomes an aunt in the latest issue of Ms. Marvel from the creative team of G. Willow Wilson, Nico Leon and Ian Herring.  Recap and review following the jump.

Things have been rather hectic of late, with Ms. Marvel and her pals having to take on the evil Inventor... but the villain has been defeated and now the real drama is ready to ensue. 

The story starts off at the maternity ward where Kamala’s sister-in-law, Tyesha, is about to give birth to her and Aamir’s child.  It’s an intense ordeal, too much so for poor Aamir, whose kicked out of the delivery room after he faints.  Fortunately, everything turns out fine and it’s not too long before Kamala is introduced to her nephew, Malik.  

Aamir is overwhelmed by the joys and terrors of parenthood.  Within an instant he is dedicated heart-and-soul to this tiny human and is just consumed with the anxiety that he can never live up to the extreme pressures of being the ideal parent.  

Kamala, meanwhile, is on cloud nine.  She’s in love with little Malik, loves being an aunt, and it all just fills her with a bubbling joy.  Some time later, she goes out on patrol as Ms. Marvel and just dances across the rooftops, feeling like a Disney princess in the first act of a movie where they sing and dance over the joys of their lives.  

It’s all interrupted when The Red Dagger jumps in to join her.  Ms. Marvel has had mixed feelings about this mysterious young hero who has so suddenly relocated from Karachi.  She feels a bit defensive toward him in that he sometimes acts in a way that has made Kamala feel as though her idealism stems from a place of  naïveté.   Yet Red Dagger catches her off guard, when he professes how much he had missed her, how he’s thought about her constantly and just feel that she is wonderful.    

Kamala is often very hard on herself and to hear this debonaire hero profess such admiration kind of sweeps her off her feet.  Before she knows it, she and Red Dagger are kissing atop the minimart.  Kamala’s first kiss!  And it’s a good one.  

Yet the romantic moment is cut short when Ms. Marvel realizes they are being watched.  She looks down to see Bruno, who has just arrived back from Wakanda, glaring up at her... clearly alarmed to see his longtime crush making kissy-face with some handsome stranger with perfect hair.  

Bruno had been living in Wakanda and his school in the Golden City has gone on break.  He’s returned home in order to try to figure out his future - should he stay in Wakanda or return home to Jersey.  He’s accompanied by his roommate, Kwezi, who has taken the opportunity to explore America.  

Kamala and Bruno meet the next morning before school.  They catch up, likely hoping that they can slip back into being lifelong friends the way things had been in the past.  It’s not to be.  Too much as changed.   Bruno is in love with Kamala, he has been for as long as he can remember.  Kamala had believed that Bruno blamed her for the accident that left him so badly injured.  And though she’s very happy that he no longer hates her, it’s clear that Bruno still doesn’t agree with Kamala’s double life as Ms. Marvel.  He wants things to go back to how they were; she wants him to accept her for who she is.    

In Bruno’s rush to come see Kamala, he has entirely forgotten that when he initially left for Wakanda, he had basically abandoned his then girlfriend, Mike.  Mike sees him when she arrives for school and it is crushing for her.  It’s quite clear to her that she hasn’t at all been in Bruno’s thoughts and she runs off in tears.  Bruno doesn’t seem especially phased by it, more intrigued in learning that his classmate Zoe has recently come out as gay.  

As all this unfolds, Kamala and the gang are also introduced to a new student at their school… a brash, glamorous and conceited ‘mean-girl’ named Kaylee Kirk.  She’s a total snob, but also quite attractive, and she very much catches Zoe’s eye (much to Nakia’s chagrin; she’s not going to stand by and watch her bestie fall for such poorly mannered glamortant).   

Artists Nico Leon does a great job at capturing the look of abject befuddlement on Bruno’s face as he takes in all that has changed in his absence.  

After school, Kamala catches up with Bruno at the Circle Q, where they continue their conversation.  Bruno explains the ways in which Kamala’s becoming Ms. Marvel was so difficult for him.  They had been such close friends, but Kamala’s priorities changed after she went through Terrigenesis.  She became a masked superhero and Bruno was cast down to the trusty sidekick - a role that left him feeling unappreciated and left behind.  

Hearing Bruno express his feelings in such a straight forward manner has a dramatic effect on Kamala.  It all leaves her hugely confused and conflicted.  She dashes away, b-lining to her local Mosque to seek council from her Masjid, Sheik Abdullah.   

This is where the issue really comes to life.  

Sheik Abdullah is such a wonderful character and his depictions have always maintained a near uncanny balance of humor, poignancy, snark and reverence.  Furthermore, the conversation he and Kamala have re-centers the story back onto Kamala and her ongoing struggles to grow, learn and become the best person she can.  

Navigating around keeping her dual identity a secret, Kamala explains that she had kissed a boy, might actually love a different boy, and doesn’t have the faintest idea what to do.  

Sheik Abdullah has to admit that when it comes to young romance he often feels it represents a great failing in his effort to guide those who come to him for advice  When one is young, everything felt so monumental, romantic interests were overwhelming and seemed the biggest thing in the world.  As one grows older, however, recollections of the intensity of young love tends to fade, leaving the older generation Ill-suited to truly relate to these confused, love-struck kids.  It becomes essential for someone in Sheik Abdullah’s place to think back and fully remember what it was like to be so young, how every decision felt unbearably crucial and world-changing.  

Ultimately, Sheik Abdullah’s guidance is that Kamala should slow down, understand that she has room to make mistakes, and follow her heart as best she can.  It’s sage advice.  

Elsewhere, Zoe seeks out new girl, Kaylee Kirk.  She just wants to be friendly, welcome Kaylee to the school.  Kaylee is disinterested in any ovations toward being friends  She’s angry, she’s mean, and it would appear that she possesses super powers.  In the heat of barking her dismissal of Zoe’s friendship, Kaylee clutches at the metal of the school lockers... squeezing and contorting the metal as though it were a soft clay.  She then marches off leaving poor Zoe feeling rather alarmed.  

I’ve no idea who this Kaylee Kirk is, what her deal is nor the nature of her apparent super powers.  With her being so angry, so mean, and so strong, however, it’s a rather good bet she may quite soon become a threat that our hero, Ms. Marvel, with have to face off against.   Unfortunately,  this matter, along with Kamala’s romantic crisis will have to wait until next issue.  

There were some parts of this issue I quite liked, as well as a few I didn’t at all care for...  

I enjoyed the change of pace, focusing more intently on Kamala’s emotional development and struggle with the onslaught of feelings that are so endemic to being a teen.  After her relative absence in the previous arc, it was nice to see Kamala and her inner life so center stage.  

And her discussion with Sheik Abdullah was the highlight of the issue, managing to be both funny, touching and profound all at the same time.  I liked the way in which Sheik Abdullah’s advice paralleled with Aamir’s being so overwhelmed by the prospect of parenthood.  The advice Kamala gleaned could just as easily apply to Aamir and his own struggle.  Every stage of life can feel like a bombardment... the only way forward is one step at a time, learning gradually, understanding perfection is unattainable, and just trying to do the best you can.  

As for what didn’t work so well for me, I found the pacing a bit off  The narrative made some odd jumps and the scenes didn’t move with the same degree of effortless fluidity that I’ve come to expect from this book.   Kaylee Kirk’s introduction felt obtrusive, characters seemed to be coming and going all at once and Kwezi was sort of wasted as comic relief (though he did have some very funny lines). 

Nico Leon’s art was terrific as usual, yet his line work and panel composition is not as crisp and dynamic as it had been in the previous arc.  

These quibbles on my part may be just that, quibbles... small, unimportant complaints that actually stand in for what actually rubbed me the wrong way.  That being that I just don’t really like Bruno.  

I know I’ll catch heat from pro-Bruno Ms. Marvel fans out there, but for me the character just kind of perturbs me.  Yes, he’s had a difficult life, but I don’t think he’s treating Kamala fairly and I’m rather disappointed to find that Kamala may actually have feelings for him.  

His relationship with Kamala all too often feels transactional... like he feels deserving of her love because he’s been a good friend.  The injuries he sustained in the civil war II story were entirely his own fault, yet he blamed Kamala; he basically got Kwezi to help him by acting pathetic and eliciting pity; the way he has treated/is treating Mike is altogether inexcusable.  

I’m likely not being fair here... but I just don’t like Bruno.  

I’d much rather Kamala not have a romantic interest, or her be with Kareem as opposed to her being with Bruno, whom I see as kind of manipulative and self-centered.  

Here of course I’m speaking entirely as a fan with a fan’s opinion and not some objective reviewer.  We’re closing in on fifty issues of Ms. Marvel and she has definitely become a fictional character I care a great deal for.  And as such, I want the best for her and feel quite protective.   I guess I’m worried Bruno will end up hurting her.  

And it’s hard to tell if my distaste for Bruno has acted to diminish my enjoyment of this issue as a whole.  As such I’ll give it two scores.   A more objective four out of five Lockjaws; as well as a less objective, more gut-felt two out of five Lockjaws.  

Either way, it’s nonetheless very much recommend.  

[phierie]

ms marvel sketch dump

sometimes a favourite trio can be three characters that never actually interacted all together in canon. If you can dream it

[phierie]

in every fandom there comes a time when you have to ask yourself, ok but what classes would these characters be if they were in D&D

overlong headcanons/design notes under the cut:

I based this AU off my rudimentary knowledge of D&D and it’s classes, but I’m taking creative liberties and it can be thought of as just a general fantasy rpg-style thing. Ended up being a mix match of comics and MCU but it’s an AU so hey it’s fine right lol

KAMALA - Sorcerer/Monk

Arguably one of the hardest to actually decide a class for?? I’m imagining her powers here as more akin to those she has in the MCU show; they’re something innate to her, passed down through her bloodline (and possibly unlocked by some event or heirloom as in the case of the TV show). I think the way she fights would be something closer to a monk, though? After awakening her powers, she journeys around helping people in the same way as she becomes Ms Marvel, both on her own and with the party. 

Kamala’s design is based pretty much entirely off the Mystic Marvel design (originally I believe from Champions, also in the Avengers game)! I saw this design and my brain instantly went brrrr because it basically combines my two fave marvel heroes (Dr Strange and Kamala)!! I changed a few parts of the design, and simplified the shirt a bit. I think it suits Kamala well for a fantasy AU - even in the main comics she wears an outfit that’s comfy and easy to move in!

NAKIA- Sorcerer/Cleric

Since Nakia is the only sensible one here, it made sense for her to be the (begrudging, probably) healer. I think it suits her personality well too though! I’m imagining here that her powers are innate (like a sorcerer), but she just uses healing magic the most (like a cleric). More similar perhaps to something like the cleric class in Fire Emblem Awakening, where clerics are often religious but their powers aren’t something directly conferred by the gods. 

Nakia’s design is based entirely off of her Storm Sage look in Ms Marvel (2015) #38 (aka the one where the gang gets isekai’d) Once again simplified it a little and softened some of the shapes (since it’s more of a villain look in the comic, but she’s obvs a good guy here) 

BRUNO - Wizard/Artificer

Bruno’s outfit is also partly inspired by #38 (esp for colour scheme), but I mainly just did my own thing for what I thought he should look like in a fantasy AU ahahah. Gave him a long coat because if there’s one thing I love more than wizards, it’s wizards with long coats lmao

To me the D&D wizard class is much more the ‘study and research’ side of magic so it think it works well for the scientifically inclined Bruno. The thirst for knowledge and hubris (all the benchmarks of a good wizard character, really) are also very fitting for him, I think..!!

He’s a natural prodigy of magic and manages to get accepted to a prestigious and exclusive magic school but is kicked out after The Accident. Leaves to find somewhere else that’s willing to teach him since he can’t accept the idea of not learning magic. Meets Kwezi and the rest plays out much as it does in the comics

His prosthetics are powered with some kind of Magical Rock (call it a magic substitute for vibranium), and made by Kwezi. I’m undecided whether they’re grafted onto his arm/leg or it’s a whole Full Metal Alchemist situation but maybe a bit of both? The arm also acts as a conduit of sorts for casting his own magic (hence where the artificer class comes in). As he makes all sorts of stuff for Kamala in the comics/show I think him having the ability to craft magical items also fits well. Probably learns that magic from Kwezi. Which brings us to...

KWEZI - Artificer

Another magical prodigy, but I see Kwezi as more of a support type to Bruno’s spellcaster. The embodiment of chaotic good. I think he’d be mainly a crafter of magical items (sort of like Olruggio in Witch Hat Atelier?) 

His background in this AU is the same as in the comics, and him and Bruno go adventuring a bit themselves before joining up with Kamala and co eventually. I think he’d be pretty sheltered when it comes to travelling outside fantasy-Wakanda, especially compared to Bruno, so hijinks ensue. (Side note, but I absolutely adore that contrast when it comes to Kwezi & Bruno’s dynamic, I’m so in love with them both)

The green cloak-wrap is inspired by his formal outfit in Ms Marvel (2015) #30, and the harem pants are from #29. I think comfy, practical clothes suit Kwezi, and I like that the colour scheme for him is a nice contrast with Bruno! 

KAREEM - Rogue

Probably the easiest class to decide on because really what else could it be?? I’m undecided on whether Kareem should have his origin from the MCU show or the comics for this AU - personally I prefer comics but I do think a secret society sort of thing would work well for a fantasy AU so I’m leaning a bit more towards that perhaps.

His design is a mix of MCU, comics and my own take on it to make it a little more fantasy/rogue-like.  

KAMRAN - Sorcerer

Probably the only one here (except maybe Kareem) who’s primarily based off his MCU appearance rather than the comics. I see him as being initially a bit more of a bad guy than in the show though, a sort of misguided villain who eventually ends up joining the party (see: Zuko in ATLA)

He’s grown up with the Clandestines (probably some kind of cult here) and he generally believes in their mission, so it takes a little more for him to turn on them. As a sorcerer his powers manifest suddenly and he doesn’t understand how to control them at first. The Clandestines probably want him to use his powers to their ends, and that, along with run-ins with Kamala gets him questioning whether he should continue to follow them or turn away from the only family he’s ever known...

Kamran’s design was probably the hardest to figure out, since he only really has appearances in regular clothes, and no canon alternate designs to work off of (like Nakia/Bruno/Zoe). In the end I was thinking of the Clandestines and what they might wear in such a setting? The blue colour scheme is based off the jacket he wears in ep 6 (probably his most iconic MCU look) and also his coat/scarf look in Ms Marvel (2014) #13. I don’t think I captured Kamran’s likeness very well here but his outfit actually turned out to be one of my faves, so swings and roundabouts hahah

ZOE - Fighter

I’m imagining Zoe in this AU is the daughter of some lowly noble family (a big shot in the town that her and the gang are from, not so much elsewhere). After a run in with some bandits where she’s saved by Kamala, she resolves that she needs to get stronger. Not the strongest nor the most skillful fighter, but she’s trying her best!!

Zoe’s design is inspired by her fantasy look in #38 (the pink tunic in particular), but I changed and added some details to it. Her cloak I swapped out for the pink scarf, as inspired by her stint as Ms Marvel!

BECKY - Paladin-->Warlock & JOSH - ???

The actual bad guys of this AU ahahah. I’m imagining here that the events of Civil War II play out pretty much the same in this AU as in the comics. Becky starts out as a paladin with generally good intentions, but when she crosses a line she gets disowned (is that the right word?? probably not) by her god. Unable to deal with it, she turns instead to darker powers, making a pact and becoming a warlock. 

I haven’t really thought about what class Josh would be... maybe a fighter as well (to match Zoe?), but I’m imagining him as a sort of mysterious Black Knight type figure, hence the you haven’t unlocked this character yet question marks lmao

Their designs are based entirely off their lockdown/discord appearances, just adapted into fantasy-armour style. I think the designs carried over really well, actually (definitely helped by the excellent colour schemes!)

And there you have it LOL I have no idea if I’m gonna do anything more with this AU but just wanted to share the brainrot, so if you got this far THANKS..... any thoughts/suggestions for other characters I should add are always welcome!!

[phierie]

whole bunch of clothes/pose studies feat some ms marvel faves

[comicwaren]

From Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 #018, “Meanwhile in Wakanda”

Art by Francesco Gaston and Ian Herring

Written by G. Willow Wilson

[inhumansforever]

Ms. Marvel #18 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

Guest artist, Francesco Gastón, joins writer, G. Willow Wilson, and colorist, Ian Herring, for this special stand-alone issue focusing on Bruno’s time as an exchange student in Wakanda.  Full recap and review following the jump.

Bruno and Kamala had been the best of friends throughout most of their childhoods.  As time went on, Bruno’s feelings for Kamala changed from friendship to romantic love.  Kamala wasn’t able to return this kind of love but the two remained close friends.  Then the second Super Hero Civil War occurred and events took place that would change Bruno’s life forever.  

Captain Marvel’s special team of junior Carol Corps Cadets were tasked with utilizing the precognitions of the Inhuman known as Ulysses in order to prevent crimes before they occurred; and in her role as Ms. Marvel, Kamala was assigned to lead them.   The Cadets proved overly enthusiastic and the power granted them to detain would-be criminals without due process quickly went to their heads.  Kamala and Bruno’s classmate, Josh, was apprehended for a fire that Ulysses predicted he would set following a breakup with his girlfriend.  Although Josh had once been a bully who teased Bruno mercilessly, Bruno could not sit idly by while Josh was detained without legal council.  He decided to take matters into his own hands and built an explosive device that he intended to use to break Josh out.  Unfortunately the device malfunctioned and detonated in Bruno’s hands, leaving him with severe injuries and paralysis to the right side of his body.  

Bruno blamed Kamala for all that had happened.  He saw her as responsible for the Carol Cadets abuse of power and although Kamala had quit the Carol Corps and even resigned her post as an Avenger, Bruno was still not willing to forgive her.  He was offered a scholarship to study in the technically advanced nation of Wakanda and accepted it as a means of getting away from New Jersey and starting what was left of his life anew.  

Whereas Bruno was a gifted student and well ahead of his class in Jersey City things are much different in Wakanda.  Here in the Golden City of Birnin Zana, capital of Wakanda, he was quite behind in his studies compared to his peers and often feels alienated as a foreigner in a distant land.  To make matters worse, his physical condition is continuing to deteriorate and it may not be long before he looses further functioning of his body.     On top of it all, Bruno isn’t quite over his crush on Kamala.  He may not be willing to forgive her, but that doesn’t seem to prevent him from still pining for her.  Although interestingly, Bruno daydreams about her now seem to be more focused on Kamala in her Ms. Marvel guise rather than the girl she was when the two grew up together.   

Bruno feels like a constant source of hardship and embarrassment to his roommate, Kwezi, and hence puts up with Kwezi’s frequent insults and demands that Bruno do his laundry.  When Kwezi coerces Bruno’s aide in a complicated effort to impress a girl, Bruno feels obligated to go along.  

Despite the antagonistic banter between Bruno and Kwezi, it appears clear that the two have become friends.  For all of his eye-rolls and use of insulting nicknames, Kwezi is the one person who does’t look at Bruno with pity and treat him as a wounded charity case.  And for this Bruno opts to accompany Kwezi on what turns out to more than just a stunt, but instead a rather risky venture wherein Kwezi has set out to pilfer a chunk of Wakanda’s invaluable vibranium ore.  

Playing the role of hapless tourist, Bruno distracts the guards of the research center while Kwezi uses a special bracelet to gain entrance into the facility.  It is quite painful for Bruno to be looked at with pity, to be seen as useless and broken.    And yet he succeeds in distracting the guards.  Once inside the research facility, the two ultimately discover the prize Kwezi has been searching for, a huge chuck of vibranium.  

Kwezi only needs a small portion of the ore for his purposes and insists that he is only borrowing it so to attain proof of concept.  He has Bruno use a laser cutting to carve off a small chunk of the ore while he reroutes the security programs to hide their presence.  Bruno is right handed, yet his injury has forced him to have to learn to use his left hand.  It’s been an extremely difficult process, made all the more arduous when people try to encourage him to just will his way through it.  Yet he knows he must do so, he’ll never achieve the life he wishes for unless he is able to persevere through this hardship.  

Bruno is ultimately able to carve the chuck off, catching the dislodged piece of vibranium with his good foot as it falls.  Unfortunately, Kwezi is less successful with his own task and alarms sounds off.  The two try to flee the scene only to come face to face with a legion of guards.  Things become desperate; in the face of arrest and incarceration Kwezi and Bruno attempt to flee through a window.  Bruno’s crutch slips on a piece of glass and he falls.  Kwezi catches him by the good arm but can only hold on for so long.  Dangling there, facing certain death, Bruno looks at his life from anew perspective.  He knows that things are bound to get worse.  His condition is permanent and likely to worsen as muscle atrophy will lead to neurological degeneration and possibly full body paralysis.  Things will never be the same again yet despite it all he cannot give up; he wants to live.  

Fortunately, The Black Panther swings in at the last moment, catching Bruno and grabbing Kwezi, jumping down to the safety of an adjacent building. 

It turns out that Kwezi is actually The Black Panther’s nephew.  Furthermore, his reasons for stealing the vibranium was not about impressing a girl but rather for a specialized harness meant to stabilize Bruno’s muscle atrophy and enable him enhanced functionality.  Vibranium has special vibration-nullifying properties and Kwezi has designed a mechanism that would absorb kinetic friction and reenforce the neurological signals between Bruno’s brain and his paralyzed limbs.  It would not afford Bruno a complete recovery but could vastly slow deterioration and afford greater mobility.  

Bruno is all but dumbstruck that Kwezi has done this for him.  He thought Kwezi hated him, yet now it turns out that he has risked everything to try to help him.  Kwezi’s uncle, The Black Panther, is equally impressed by his nephew’s selflessness; so much so that he is willing to let this infraction slide.  Kwezi and Bruno are allowed to keep the chunk of vibranium so to see if the project may prove a success.  The tale ends with Bruno recalling a common Wakandan adage:  ‘The Universe Is So Big It Has No Center; We Are The Center.’  

A very nice and emotionally touching issue.  Wilson and company just never miss a beat and Ms. Marvel continues to be the best all around comic on the stands.  I certainly missed Kamala in the story, but it was cool seeing what Bruno has been up to and Kwezi proved to be a great character and a welcome new addition to the Ms. Marvel extended cast.  

Bruno has had a really tough life.  He was neglected throughout much of his childhood and had to work for everything, often relying on the kindness of Kamala’s family to help him out with basic needs.  Despite his misfortunes, Bruno excelled in school and was on his way toward an Ivy League education and a bright future.  Then it all fell apart and he seemingly lost everything.  

It’s not really fair for Bruno to blame Kamala for what has happened to him.  And the fact that he is still crushing on her puts his continued un-forgiveness toward her in something of a creepy light.  Still, Bruno has good reason to be angry and sometimes that anger just need to be focused somewhere, anywhere.  

He is facing a grim future.  Injuries like he has sustained rarely get better and often get worse.  He hates being looked at with pity and yet that pity has starting to set in as internalized and coming from himself.  Bruno’s adventure with Kwezi has shaken him from this self-pity, reinvigorated his will to persevere through the hardship.  And the kindness Kwezi has shown him highlights the fact that he doesn’t have to face this all on his own.  Hopefully Kwezi’s gesture will motivate Bruno to finally forgive Kamala and allow their friendship to blossom anew.  

Francesco Gastón does great work.  The simple, cartoony style matches the tenor of the story quite nicely.  There are some simply wonderful facial expressions that work like punchlines.  Illustrating the advanced cityscape of Wakanda cannot be easy, but Gastón’s confident line does it justice and makes the fantastic Golden City feel like a real world local.  

Once again, Ian Herring’s coloring is top notch.  His work has become a lynchpin that maintains the titles’ sense of visual continuity with various illustrators penciling the books.  Herring’s importance to the title cannot be overstated.  Colorists rarely received the acclaim they deserve and Herring has been just as crucial to continual quality of Ms. Marvel as anyone else working on the book.  

Another great issue despite the fact that Kamala herself wasn’t in it.  Definitely recommended, but those with a tighter comic-buying budget can skip it in that it is a stand alone with a brand new arc starting with the next installment. Four out of Five Lockjaws