Ms. Marvel (2015) #21

Previously, in Ms. Marvel #20

And now I feel foolish for ever doubting Bruno or G. Willow Wilson. Discord is Josh, Zoe’s ex, former jock, and one-time prisoner of Lockdown and her vigilante crew. A young man so misguided that he considered committing a serious crime because a girl broke up with him is easy pickings for someone like Lockdown, who played on Josh’s feelings of being mistreated, misunderstood, and rejected. It didn’t matter that he would belong to a group intent on locking people up just for being different; it only mattered that he belonged to something.

Before he’s unmasked, though, he threatens to hurt Aamir if Ms. Marvel doesn’t turn herself in. What he didn’t count on was Aamir and the other detainees deciding they’d rather fight and flee than see a hero sacrifice herself. They take temporary shelter in the Khan family’s mosque, granted safe passage by Sheikh Abdullah. It’s here that Aamir has a revelation of his own. He always assumed that his conservative views would mean he belonged, but now sees he doesn’t share values with the same people who want to make Jersey City again. They see him as different, an other, and a threat. It’s a sobering moment and it will be interesting to see how it changes Aamir in the issues to come.

Kamala’s decision to reveal herself as Ms. Marvel is a risky one. Yes, he had a sob story, but he’s not trustworthy. Bruno risked his life to save him, and Josh immediately repaid that by accepting Lockdown’s offer. He’s taken toxic masculinity to dangerous levels and I’m not sure I see a positive path forward because he now knows Kamala is Ms. Marvel.