Action Comics #1 changed everything.
Two Jewish kids had introduced a whole new concept to an art form that was seen as only good for cranking out reprints of old newspaper strips and original gags that were just recycled crap from better humorists. They gave the world Superman, the father of all superheroes. They took the genie out of the bottle and soon every company with a printing press and enough money was putting out their own superheroes. Some of them were pretty good and original. Some of them were just a rescinded Superman, Batman, Green Hornet, etc. And it showed in the pages of those comics.
Then real superheroes came out. Professor Phineas T. Horton introduced the Human Torch, Jim Hammond, to the world. They tried to put a cork in that by trapping him in a prison of concrete, only for Jim Hammond to break out. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Ocean, a group of unfortunate sailors were murdered by Namor the Sub-Mariner.
The world had been changed forever.
It was an age of wonders.
But all the superheroes were, by a bizarre coincidence, all white. It was a little odd when one thought about it, but it was just something everyone took for granted in that time. Superheroes defended the status quo and stood against injustice, ergo they were all white men or women in colorful costumes.
Some were probably raising these questions, mostly the minority population that lived in America albeit demeaned and belittled even during a time when everyone was hurting. But without a strong and vocal voice to stand for them their concerns fell to deaf ears.
That's when Ms. Marvel came.
She was the first, but not the last. And when she debuted the world changed for a third time.
And this time it changed for the better.
— From the Memoirs of Captain Steven Rogers, An American Dream: The Life and Times of Captain America
"Golly, today was tough…"
Kamala Khan walked down the street, holding her purse close to her. The sound of honking horns and bustling pedestrians filling the air. The flashing lights of billboards displaying a great many things she couldn't afford overhead. Normally, New York City would be even louder with the sound of construction from new skyrscrapers being made but with the late hour the workers have begun to head home.
Like she was doing.
But they had the money to go on busses or hire taxi cars. Some of them even lived within Manhattan itself.
Not her, though. With her family, every bit of money counts and she had to make the long trek from 42nd Street to the George Washington Bridge.
She wouldn't get home until late at night. There, she would be greeted by her Ammi and Abu and they would finally have dinner together with her overly pious brother. And before even getting there she would have to stop by the small drug store owned by her friend Bruno's family to change into her hijab so that her brother and father don't make a fuss.
"At least Mr. Goodman doesn't care what I wear." Kamala muttered to herself. But she knew that was only because most of the people in the Timely Comics office did not care about her religion. To them, she was just the young foreign cleaner that washed the floors and windows. Who kept Mr. Kirby's desk clean after he stained it with ink and cigar ash.
The work was hard but she didn't really mind it. After all, she was at the center of where comic books happen!
She remembered the day when she found ten cents in the gutter and only few minutes later saw the cover of Action Comics #1. She was amazed by the man in such colorful garb lifting an automobile over his head, smashing it against a stone bolder while regular people ran away or stayed in fear and awe.
She was a regular reader of Superman's adventures fighting against corrupt businessmen and gangsters. He was fighting against the very forces that she was taught to fear and avoid on a daily basis without any fear. Only acting because he saw it as the right thing to do She followed his adventures almost as devotedly as her own religion. She always set aside ten cents from her pay so that she may buy Action Comics, and that was even before the other superhero titles began to hit the newsstands!
Then the amazing thing happened.
Superheroes became a reality!
Kamala always listened to the radio reports of the exploits of the Human Torch and others. The Fiery Mask, The Phantom Reporter, Electro, The Witness… So many amazing people living in the modern world outside the comic pages.
But she always held comic books in high regard. It was why she had answered the add for a cleaning lady in the newspaper for the Timely Comics offices!
Sure, Kamala knew that she was being paid far less than others And she had to hear the occasional slur or demeaning remark but money was money. Her family had struggled through the Great Depression and while America was beginning to pick itself up thanks to the New Deal, immigrants like her parents had doors shut in their faces far more than the white citizens. Everyone, even her overly pious brother, had to work to put food on the table.
"I just wish that I could do more to make life better…" Kamala's musings were interrupted when a boom echoed through the street. She sniffed the air and her eyes widened when she smelled the water. "Holy Moly! It's going to pour!"
Sure enough, rain began to fall down on top of her head. Kamala ran down the sidewalk, using her purse as a makeshift umbrella as she looked for anyplace that would let her in. But she was in the rich district and all the owners and patrons were giving her the stink eye! Where could she…?
"You! Girl! Come here!"
Kamala's eyes flicked to the entrance of a subway station. Standing in front of there was a shadowy figure dressed in a black cloak and wide-brimmed hat that hid his face in shadows. But for some reason, every fiber of her being trusted him!
"Thank you, sir!" Kamala rushed into the subway entrance and together they began to descend the steps. "Where is everyone?"
"They are away. They will not disturb us."
Kamala gulped as they reached the end of the stairs and rather than seeing the industrial tunnel of a subway it was a natural cavern made of uncut stone! The walls were lined by strange glowing lines and light made of gems seemed to blink at random times with activity.
"W-Where am I, sir?"
The shadowy figure turned around and lifted his hand and touched her forehead. She flinched when his finger made contact, but he chuckled in good humor.
"Yes, I believe that I made the right choice."
Green-colored smoke began to descend from the ceiling, and Kamala swayed with her eyes fluttering. "W-What did you do…?"
"All will be made clear once you awaken, Kamala Khan."
When her eyes opened, she found herself on a bed with rich red sheets and pillows. She rose from her sheet and saw a man standing in front of her wearing a strange black and red one-piece costume with a flowing red cape and headgear with two red rectangles protruding from the sides.
"I see you are awake." The man motioned for her to follow. "Come, child. There is much for us to discuss."
"W-Who are you?! What did you do to me?!" Kamala instantly got to her feet and raised her fists.
The man chuckled and shook his head. "I? I am Randac of the Inhumans!" He gave a wonderful flourish of his cape. "As for what has occurred with you, I have given you the gift of your ancestors!"
Kamala, confused but hungry for answers, lowered her fists and began to follow Radac out. She gaped at the walls of the hallway as images flickered across them of giant alien ships looming over ancient hunched humans.
"Long ago, the Kree descended upon this land and experimented upon the young human race. They granted us new bodies and gifts, setting us apart from our fellow Homo Sapiens to turn us into their slaves!" Then, images of a green mist flowing out of crystals came onto the screens. "But they abandoned us when they discovered an anomaly in our DNA that would threaten their society, one which I had discovered through the Terrigen Mists! These mists granted us many and varied powers, each unique to the individual subjected to them!"
They reached the end of the hallway and Randac grew solemn. "But I discovered far too late that this discovery made our society decadent and complacent. My people shun and enslave those who do not fit their idea of 'pure' Inhuman, and transformed my plans for careful eugenics into a societal game of classism. I could only watch from afar, my body sustained by my own mutations and Kree technology… but the plight of my people seemed so small compared to what was coming from our long-forgotten kin."
As the two entered the cavern that Kamala had initially entered and she gasped when she saw on the cavern wall a familiar face. She'd seen it across all the newspapers and the dartboards of Timely Comics' break room. Everyone there spoke about him in hushed whispers and in anger…
Adolf Hitler.
"A great evil has arisen these past few years. One which will destroy the world through this man's madness if nothing is done, and my people would do nothing until the Nazi's war machines would be knocking down the gates of Attilan!" He then turned to face Kamala. "Which is why I searched for those like you: descendants of Inhumans who were raised in human society. Those who would be willing and eager to fight against this great evil!"
Kamala's head was spinning. How could it not? Ancient races? Aliens? Fantastic powers?! This was all too much! "But why me?"
Randac smiled like a grandfather to her. "Because, the one I had to chose must have a pure and noble heart. I have studied you, Kamala Khan. You are hard working and admire virtue. You would stop at nothing to save those in need, if given the chance!" He pointed at her. "And with the power of the Terrigen Mists, you will have that chance! You will become the first of this world's Marvels!"
Randac's words hit her like lightning. She, a young Pakistani girl, given a chance to become a Superhero? That she was descended from a long line of extraordinary people, and out of all those who existed in the world she was the one Randac had chosen? There was only one thing to say to this! "Y-Yes! I accept this great honor! Thank you, Randac!"
"There you are!"
At the sound of the new voice, Randac tore his cape off and threw it over Kamala. "You!" He shouted only to be answered to a hail of gunfire.
"Randac!" Kamala shouted as the Inhuman's body crashed into her and pushed her deeper into the darkest parts of the tunnel. She fell down and peeked out of the cape covering her face to see the man's body riddled with bullet holes. "Please hold on! I'll go get help!"
"No… it's too late for me…" Randac let out in a shaky breath. "You must disguise yourself… before Lineage finds you. He is a Nuhuman who has unlocked himself thanks to his Nazi masters."
"B-But how?"
"Focus your senses… change will come after…"
Kamala steadied her breath and closed her eyes. "Focus… I need to focus!"
She could feel the skin around her eyes begin to morph into something else. It felt like cloth against her skin!
"Yes, that's perfect." Randac began to close his eyes. "Please, Kamala Khan. Remember… you are the Marvel of this century and our people. You must fight against the evil and be a force for good. For humanity and inhumanity alike…"
"I-I will! I will, Randac!" She cried for this man who she did not know until an hour ago. Yet, a man who believed in her with all his heart. Who wanted to bring justice and good to the world!
And she would do so!
"So, you are Randac's newest pet project?"
Kamala looked up as a gangster with purple skin and horns dropped onto the cavern floor and was followed by three black-suited and normal skinned mob men. This was the Lineage that Randac was talking about.
"Gotta say, he should've picked someone more… deserving of the power. Not genetic garbage." Lineage said with a sneer. He snapped his fingers. "Boys, take care of her!"
"No!" Kamala punched out with her left hand, and to her amazement it stretched out like rubber! Her elongated fist shot forward and socked one of the mobsters right in the face, making him fly back and crash into the ground. "G-Golly! This must be the powers Randac was talking about!"
"What are you mugs standing around for?! Open fire!"
Kamala let out a scream and dove into the open door as gunfire bounced off the ground behind her heels. She ran down the hallway and closed the door behind her. "What do I do? What do I…? No! What am I saying!? I need to stop them! They killed Randac and that Lineage guy is working for the Nazis!"
She turned to her left and stared at herself in a mirror. Around her eyes was what looked like a domino mask! "T-This must mean that I can shapeshift! I can make my body transform and show off different clothes!" Kamala nodded to herself and declared, "Well, if I'm gonna be a superhero… that means I need a costume!"
She closed her eyes and focused. In a flash of shifting fabric and flesh, her clothes turned from a common blue and yellow striped dress…
And turned it into an amazing costume!
A blue skirt that ended just above her knees with golden edges, red boots that reached below her knees, a golden sash tied around her waist, and a short-sleeved blue top that had a gold lightning bolt that went from her collar down to the equally gold sash. It was small and stylized, but instantly iconic!
"Gosh! I look amazing!" Kamala hummed to herself. "But it needs something else…"
Kamala then looked at the remnants of Randac's cape and nodded. Yes, that would work. So, tearing a strip of the cloth, she wrapped it around her neck not unlike a scarf, and with the twin ends flapping around behind her she grinned. "Perfect!"
"There's nowhere to run, girl!" Lineage shouted behind the door. "We're coming in and putting an end to Randac's little science project!"
"You can try, criminal scum!" Kamala raised her foot and kicked. If she could morph her body to show off different clothes, then it meant that she could also manipulate specific parts of her body! And, just as she willed it, her foot stretched out and grew seven feet! Almost the side of the door itself!
It crashed out and she felt the wood break and meet the faces of Lineage's goons. "What the…?!"
"Maybe you can bully defenseless girls and unarmed men!" Kamala leapt out and socked a fourth gangster with her fist, snapping his head back. "But the tactics of cowards don't work against Ms. Marvel!"
Lineage snarled and whipped out his tommy gun. "Big talk from a soon to be ventilated dame!"
Kamala's left arm stretched and snaked around the gun. She tore it out of his hands and punched with her right hand. "Embiggen!"
With the utterance of that nonsense word, her fist grew three feet and smacked against Lineage's midsection. He doubled over just in time for Kamala's knee to smack against his jaw!
And with that, the inhuman mobster and Nazi sympathizer crumpled to the floor.
Kamala breathed in and out. She… She did it! "YES!" She shouted while jumping up and pumping her fists into the air. "I-I did it! I won!" She looked towards Randac and solemnly said, "I won't forget what you did for me. I will make sure to follow your last wishes and protect the world against evil!"
To her amazement, Randac's body began to glow! Soon, it was disintegrating into flickers of light until in a few moments it was completely gone.
It looked… peaceful.
"Goodbye, Randac." Kamala then looked at the unconscious mobsters and glared at them. "Now… what to do with you lot?"
Well, there was only one thing a superhero can do to a gang of criminals!
Kamala's arms stretched and wrapped around the fallen gangsters. She then leapt up the stairs with Lineage and his men trailing behind her until she returned to the surface.
Everyone was shocked by her entrance.
"Who is that dame?!"
"Must be one of them long-underwear folks popping up!"
"Since when was one of them anythin' but white?!"
"The indecency of that costume!"
Kamala grinned as her legs stretched and she began zooming towards the police station. Sure, she wasn't leaping tall buildings but this was the next best thing!
Within minutes, she was dropping the mobsters in front of the police station. The police gaped at her as she put her hands on her hips. "Officers! Put these degenerates away for a long time! Make sure they don't hurt anyone again!"
"H-Hey! Who do you think you are?!" One of them shouted while pointing to her.
Kamala grinned as she saluted to them. "Me? I'm New Jersey and New York's newest superhero! Call me Ms. Marvel!" She turned on her heel and lifted her right leg. It stretched onto the roof of the building on the other side of the road! "Officers! I look forward to working with you in the future!"
She ignored their shouts and questions as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Now all she had to do was make it home before her parents worried.
"This is the start of an amazing adventure!"
And indeed it was! For this amazing tale was the birth of… The Magnificent Ms. Marvel!
And more whimsical fun can be expected in next month's adventure!
Notes: Hope you all liked that! This is just a small little project that I really liked when I thought it up, mostly because I loved the idea of placing very modern and diverse Marvel characters in the setting of the Golden Age of comics. I wanted to make this evocative of a 'simpler' age, and wanted to reflect that in the tone of the story. Some of the simplistic wonder and whimsy of Golden Age comics but with some more modern sensibilities.
This will evolve into something bigger later on, but for now I hope you just enjoy some of the stuff I put down for you all!
And feel free to contribute anything you would like to this thread! Be it side-stories or more fictional historical texts!
Be sure to leave a review!