Ms. Marvel (2015) #17

Previously, in Ms. Marvel #16

Much of “Damage Per Second” exposed the darker side of our relationship with the internet: cyber-bullying, leaving yourself vulnerable in the real world when you’re not careful what you share, etc. So, it only makes sense that the way to stopping the self-aware computer virus is rooted in kindness.

Ms. Marvel assembles her online guild in real life and tasks them with flooding their game server with acts of goodwill. If the doc.x virus learned to be harmful by observing negative online behavior, maybe it will change if it absorbs good.

While they perform random acts of multiplayer kindness, Ms. Marvel works to draw the virus away from actual people in anticipation of its ability to jump into humans. Victory is achieved, but the virus warns it’s a temporary one. Though everyone worked together to delete the virus, how long before people forget this lesson and lose themselves in their smart devices once more?

This was an enjoyable arc, but I’m looking forward to the series returning to its more personal stories, and they should be right around the corner as issue #18 looks to address Bruno’s absence and his strained relationship with Kamala.