Young adult dramas are a surprisingly neglected subgenre of modern superhero fiction. While there are still some series centered around teenage heroes, they are the exception rather than the rule. Even the X-Men, who were originally based in a private school for gifted youths, seem to have had only one teen sidekick at a time during their golden years. NYX, the latest series of the From the Ashes revival, is a rebuttal to this, merging modern slice-of-life comics with classic Marvel Mutant Mayhem.
Written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with art by Francesco Mortarino, NYX #1 centers around Kamala Khan. An Inhuman and a Mutant, Kamala defends Jersey City as Ms. Marvel. However, she is now spending more time in Manhattan, taking college courses at Empire State University. It is here that she befriends Sophie Cuckoo, a clone “daughter” of Emma Frost and one of five triplets. They meet in a Mutant Studies program taught by former hero Prodigy.
Soon the two are having a “study session” at a club where Sophie’s friend Anole works as a bartender. This leads to a confrontation with a group called the Truthseekers, who film videos of themselves harassing Mutants. This, in turn, pushes Kamala to start hunting the Truthseekers, leading to an encounter with Wolverine and a fight with a Mutant terrorist called The Krakoan.
NYX #1 more Ms. Marvel than X-Men
Kamala Khan’s status as the lead of NYX #1 is a mixed blessing. Fans of the Ms. Marvel series will be right at home. More, Lanzing and Kelly prove to have a solid handle on her voice.
However, there is some difference between Ms. Marvel and the X-Men as series. While placing Kamala at center stage would be fine in a solo comic, NYX is nominally an ensemble series. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast aren’t as well developed in this first chapter.
Anole suffers the most in this regard, being present only to be a victim. Wolverine does little beyond tell Ms. Marvel she’s in over her head. Prodigy has a muted subplot based around his desire for a quiet life in academia. Sophie is the best developed, despite coming off as a party girl who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She is willing to fight the Truthseekers, though unwilling to adopt a codename and costume to do it. Yet she admires Kamala’s giving nature.
Francesco Mortarino’s artwork is similarly fractured. The action sequences are well-handled, with a smooth, natural panel flow. Too, the colors by Raul Angulo are eye-catching. However, there is a shocking sameness to the characters’ expressions. Kamala gravitates between wide-eyed astonishment and wide-mouthed anger. By contrast, Sophie shows no emotions but annoyance and bemusement, with the same closed-mouth smirk throughout.
In the end, NYX #1 is a decent start, with more right than wrong. Ms. Marvel fans will enjoy the continuation of the saga of Kamala Khan, though X-Men fans may feel a bit left out. However, there is good reason to believe the rest of the ensemble will be better served by future chapters.
Grade: 4/5
NYX #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
