In recent years, the introduction of Ms. Marvel into the X-Men community during the Krakoa Era has sparked a fair amount of debate among fans. Once hailed as one of the most beloved new superheroes of the 2010s, her popularity has waned over time. Marvel’s decision to make her a mutant was supposedly aimed at revitalizing her status, but thus far, it hasn’t seemed to have the desired effect.
The comic book series NYX, which paired Ms. Marvel with young mutants, was unfortunately cancelled. The next attempt to establish Ms. Marvel as a significant mutant character came in the form of the X-Men’s Giant-Size series, where Kamala Khan embarked on a time-traveling mission to thwart Legion’s plans. The storyline reaches its climax in Giant-Size House of M #1, but despite hitting all the necessary plot points, it hasn’t quite managed to gain momentum yet.
It wasn’t ideal for the “Giant-Size” event that House of M didn’t turn out to be the most compelling choice for several reasons. In contrast to its title, House of M was one of the slowest-paced Marvel events in recent decades, which is ironic considering the book contains minimal story development. The “Giant-Size House of M” issues have only served to highlight this lack of substance in the story. Essentially, not much happens within this comic book series.
In House of M, Kamala finds herself in an alternate universe where she encounters Kitty Pryde, who is working as a teacher within the House of M reality. This is where Wolverine and Layla Miller discover her. Each issue of “Giant-Size” thus far has primarily focused on Kamala conversing with various female X-Men characters, using this particular issue to establish the setup for that narrative element. We hear Scarlet Witch’s famous line, “No More Mutants,” but the story quickly returns to the original world to explore Legion’s intentions.
The “Giant-Size” chapters have proven to be quite repetitive so far, and this issue is no exception.
Many supporters of Ms. Marvel find themselves frustrated by how some mutants have belittled Kamala regarding her encounters with anti-mutant discrimination, as she’s a character who, due to her Pakistani background, has likely faced racism throughout her life. It’s refreshing that this storyline finally delves into her personal experiences, which is a welcome change from previous interactions between Ms. Marvel and mutants. When it was first revealed that the narrative would take place in the House of M reality, many were curious about how it would tie into Legion’s grand scheme; this issue provides some much-needed clarity on that front. However, similar to the original House of M, the storyline falls short, offering minimal action and failing to capitalize on the drama of House of M to create a more engaging narrative. As a result, readers are left with a tale that never quite reaches its full potential. The backup story in Revelations from the Wolverine team (Saladin Ahmed and Martin Coccolo) is decent, but, much like their work on Wolverine, it too lacks excitement.
As a discerning movie-goer, I must say that Francesco Manna’s artistic style in this comic book has an uncanny resemblance to Mahmud Asrar’s work – so much so, that if you didn’t check the credits page, you might easily assume Asrar was the artist for this book. This is certainly no bad thing! Manna’s character portrayals delve deep into the subtleties of emotion in the narrative, ensuring these nuances are brought to the surface.
The artwork is well-structured and meticulously detailed, but it’s the fight sequence at Castle Magnus that truly stands out. The initial battle between Legion and Scarlet Witch sets a tense stage, while the scenes from the climactic battle at the end of House of M are nothing short of breathtaking. This issue’s artwork is undoubtedly its crowning glory.
The standout element in the dialogue between Kamala and Kitty Pryde is Manna’s captivating character portrayal. It breathes life into their interaction, making it a crucial aspect of the narrative. The artwork, or “pencils,” play a significant role here as well. Indeed, Manna consistently delivers exceptional work in depicting the emotions of the X-Men both prior to and following M-Day. There are certain pages showcasing reactions that truly encapsulate the despair felt by mutants in their situation. Lastly, the humor in the story’s closing joke about Beast and his time machine is effectively conveyed thanks to Manna’s mastery of facial expressions.
The first issue of “Giant-Size House of M” doesn’t quite match the impact of stories like “Giant-Size Dark Phoenix Saga” or “Giant-Size Age of Apocalypse,” but it’s still a decent read. It’s commendable that writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing didn’t forget about Ms. Marvel’s past experiences with racism before she discovered her mutant status, which is often overlooked in previous stories. However, much like the original “House of M,” this story lacks depth, and its shallow plot becomes a disadvantage as the series progresses.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Giant-Size House of M #1 is on sale now.
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2025-07-16 18:12