Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: Best of the Best

Ms. Marvel (2006) (Collected Editions) #1

by Brian Reed (Writer)

Straight out of the pages of New Avengers and House of M
Call your friends, wake the neighbors, shout it from the rooftops Come along for one heck of a wild ride as Brian Reed (co-writer of the thrilling Spider-Woman: Origin) joins forces with penciler extraordinaire Rob de la Torre for an action-packed adventure that includes special guest-stars Captain America and Jessica Jones. All this and an alien invasion that could mean the end of life on Earth.

Collecting: Ms. Marvel 1-5, Giant-Size Ms. Marvel 1

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2006

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

The ironically named “Ms Marvel: Best of the Best” is not a marvel-lous read let alone best of anything; whether she’s a “Ms” or a “Captain”, this is another terrible comic starring Carol Danvers!

It’s a piss-poor introduction to the character. There’s some origin retold here – she was an Air Force pilot! – but no mention of how she got her powers. Not that it had to have that but it would’ve been nice for a relatively unknown character like Carol particularly in a first volume. What are her powers? Flight, super-strength and shooting beams of light from her hands. So three of the most generic superpowers ever. Ok, so far, so terrible – don’t care about Carol at all!

I do know that she got her powers from aliens – so why is her nemesis in this one an evil magician called Warren Traveler? Even Doctor Strange teams-up with Carol here. Why is there such a heavy magical component to a cosmic-themed superhero – is Carol magic or something??

The aliens are in the first half of the book. Some bland Predator rip-off is shooting stuff up for no reason and the Brood are up to something. Carol punches them all and that’s that. Was… that meant to be exciting…? And then there’s the other non-story of Carol getting PR… ? It’s all terrible mush!

Brian Reed writes Carol like every other female superhero at Marvel. You could put practically any other female superhero into this story and it’d still work: She-Hulk, Invisible Woman, Gamora, Jean Grey, Scarlet Witch, Valkyrie, Thor, Sif, Angela. She’s not even remotely distinct as a character on any level and completely failed to make an impression on me. She’s a literal Strong Female Protagonist who hits things, doesn’t have a clear origin, personality, story or much of anything.

Woeful stuff, the first volume of Ms Marvel is another laughably-titled superhero book.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spinning out of House of M, Ms. Marvel finally gets her own book for the first time in 20 years. In House of M Ms. Marvel was the world's most popular super hero. In our universe no one even knows who she is even though she was an Avenger until recently. So she determines to turn her life around. In this arc, she encounters The Brood and Warren Traveller, a magician who somehow crossed over from House of M.

I did find it strange that Reed doesn't reintroduce us to Carol's origins or powers as she hasn't had her own book in such a long time. Plus she changed names and costumes twice over that span. Her costume is problematic at best. She'd dressed like a burlesque dancer from the 1920's. I'm half surprised she doesn't carry giant peacock fans she hides behind. The art is fine although faces can be a little weird. Still the series is fun with lots of action.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite fun read actually as we get to see Carol post-HOM and like whats going through with her, the anxiety and the thing of "famous yesterday now no one knows your name" and then fighting a Brood army and some guy called "Cru" and the struggles of that, plus the interviews that happen suddenly, no respite for her in any form and then when a time-travelling sorcerer named "Warren Traveller" comes in and causes mayhem in her life again how will she stop him and obviously a team up with Dr strange then!

Its one of those volumes that may look weird but actually takes the weirdness of the character or what happened with her and rolls into a nice mixture of fun villains and rather than the villain they are facing shows the struggle of the character and where they are, Carol being down and then suddenly getting up again meanwhile her life is a mess and all she wants is quiet now is very relatable and stick to the human emotions within the reader. Though the book does promise that both the villains will return and cause even more havok in her life!

Anyways it was a good read with solid art and nice pacing and next up: Civil war, which will change everything!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you're in a team like the Avengers . . . you sit around and wait for the call to assemble. When YOU go out on patrol, THAT's your chance to find out where you're needed before you're needed." -- Ms. Marvel

I had a read a few of the more recent 'Captain Marvel' - same character, modified name - collections last year and thought that they were just okay. Best of the Best, though, was a much more entertaining book and I'm NOT saying that because of the cover. (I was actually sort of embarrassed to check it out of the library . . . and it was shelved in the teen section. The racy attire was at least acknowledged directly in the dialogue.) The humor in this fast moving volume - whether it was Danvers' first-person narration or 'super' talent agent Sarah Day's asides - was a definite asset, as was the presentation of Danvers as well-meaning superheroine trying to find her place in the world. It also features appearances by her friends Captain America and Dr. Strange.

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was mehs. Ms. Marvel whoops some alien butt and...goes on a talk show. The only interesting part was the ending with Cap and Tony about to talk to her about civil war. The art is solid but it's very "show that ass" style art. A 2 out of 5.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Marvel was recommended to me by a friend (thanks, Rick), and I'm glad I finally took his advice. It looks like this could be the start of something great!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely loved the book! Been meaning to read this for ages. Can't believe it's been 10 years! Great period of Marvel. This book launches right after House of M. This collection ends with Civil War beginning.

This is so very much pre-Disney Marvel. Pre-infantilization of Marvel. It feels like genius. But it's just good ole Marvel of yesteryear.

[Jaye Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Words can't express how much I hate Carol's completely impractical costume. She really got her own Carolussy out not to mention all the damn buttcheek shots we get?? They couldn't even keep the size of her entire body consistent, along with oh is she wearing a thong or full bottoms? Thanks I hate it

What is the reason besides gross horny dudes going "heh, hot lady in panties heh". I'm sure this kind of art was very popular then (and still is now) but that isn't an excuse and you suck dudes.

This is not a good intro to Carol. We just jump into it and while it does mention a little of her backstory, I still don't really understand her powers besides she flies and punches stuff but then has some cosmic shit?

I always be getting confused but there was a bad guy in here that was a literal evil time travelling sorcerer from another reality?? We get a sick ass Dr Strange team up though and I really liked that! Very cool, very magical. My rating is just for that.

Another big part was Carol... getting a publicist and that was so cringe. Carol also threw a cat at the bad guy which really just made me want to throw down with her.

Why no pants!!!!!

[MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, I decided to give Marvel Comics a try. I have lately enjoyed the character of Ms Marvel from the animated series, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, which recently wrapped up it's run.. And, for those who wonder, it's not because of her stripperiffic costume. It is because a character that has the strength level of the Hulk before he gets angrier and near his invulnerability, yet looks deceptively normal, is interesting to me. Plus, she's a military vet in-story. Granted, it's witht he Chair Force, but we can't all be smart enough to join the Army or Marines.;) :P

In Ms Marvel, Vol. 1: The Best of the Best, this new series starring the titular character begins shortly after the "House of M" story line, and before the (now so infamous that even a guy like me who hardly touches Marvel Comics knows about it) "Civil War" arc.

Carol Danvers, Marvel's real name, is mulling over how in the "House of M" alternate reality she was the most powerful and famous Super Hero. Now that the true reality is restored, Carol feels less than average or appreciated.

It's not an ego trip with the appreciation issue, but more along the lines that her feeling not appreciated is a sign to her that she isn't doing enough to help others. Most of all, it's more that she doesn't respect herself enough, and that she feels like she is not using her powers to do the most good that she can for others.

After having the first meeting with her new publicist (yes all the heroes in the Marvel Universe apparently have publicists) she decides to go on patrol by herself, looking for people to save. Carol wants to get out there, make a difference. Readers won't have to wait long for the "action" to start, as Ms Marvel quickly finds himself faced with single-handedly having to thwart an interstellar battle that could potentially lead to the destruction of earth. Of course, this being the Marvel Universe, she is blamed for the problems. No sooner is she recovering from this night on patrol than an inter-dimensional sorcerer that has been stalking her across realities tries to kill her. The girl really can't catch a break, can she?

I have to say that I really enjoyed this title. Once again, no it wasn't for the very revealing costume. Get your head out of the gutter, folks. What I did enjoy was the fact that, despite her costume and her being a woman, they did not reduce the comic to sex appeal. They made her a capable woman who is an Air Force veteran, and thus has a reservoir of experiences and knowledge she can utilize to help her save the day. In other words, her powers aren't her only skill set in the hero biz. This is a great leap forward for female characters in comics which I appreciate.

Now there are some things I didn't like. For instance, they still had that really revealing costume at this point that is basically drawn just to make teenage boys drool. Amusingly enough, they actually acknowledge this and lampshade it by having her publicist remark on the costume.

There was also the part where when she had a captured alien at her mercy whom she was interrogating. She ended the questioning by executing the alien. That is a little too cold-blooded for my tastes.

All in all, this was a good foray into Marvel Comics on the part of this DC Comics fan. A great story and superb artwork. Better yet, I hear that in future issues, Carol gets a new, less revealing costume. That will definitely be for the better.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sort of torn on this one - I'd started with later Captain Marvel and worked back, and in some ways this collection felt very much of its time, and a little out of touch. Some of the focus on Ms. Marvel's personal life felt a bit invasive and minimizing. But overall, it made for a good balance between the big action beats and the smaller character moments. The whole publicity agent B-story feels like a setup for something bigger. There are lots of references to House of M (which preceded this) and Civil War (which is apparently the next volume). The first story feels like a rehash of the Civil War pretext, as Ms. Marvel is involved in an attack that wipes out a small town (and the impact of that raising her cachet) and was hit and miss. The second story, with an insane magic user and a Doctor Strange co-star, was much more enjoyable, and gave Carol a chance to shine. The art was serviceable without being particularly memorable. It's not a great collection, but it's better than I expected.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been loving Carol as Captain Marvel so I wanted to go back and read some of her as Ms Marvel. Hmm.. it's OK I guess. The art is fine, but I'm struggling to see Carol in that flippin' stupid black swimming costume with her bum hanging out everywhere. I honestly don't see it fitting with her character, nevermind it making practical sense! I also HATED Frank Cho's covers.. they're really tacky (as is all his art, the guy is gross and I'm not a fan) and trashy and she has ridiculously proportioned boobs.

The writing is a bit all over the place. This is meant to be Carol trying to find her place in the work and her identity as a Hero, as she tries to be the best she can be. It's just all over the place and it didn't help me get a handle on Carol as a character.

I'm reading the Ms Marvel series on Marvel Unlimited so I'll keep going... but I'm getting the impression she's historically a cool character who's been sloppily written.

[Cande · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Carol. She worked in NASA, she is smart and competent, and she wants to be the best superheroine. I loved that. Many superheroes have the plot of "getting better", they train and practice, and they have the space to fail and try again. Superheroines, however, don't have that luxury, they always have to be perfect and successful. So yeah, I loved that Carol, who is a very loved and known character of Marvel universe, wants to grow.

[SB Senpai Manga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Carol Danvers. She's relatable and genuinely wants to do the right thing, has a temper, and is just plain funny. However this comics' plot is all over the place. Villains, aliens, talking cats, and reality tv all at once makes a pretty shaky plot. I love the artwork, Carol, and Doctor Strange was awesome, but we need a tighter plot.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok but it was also a hot mess. You know that's a mess that gets heated and becomes more of a mess.

[Tesutamento · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carol Avengers üyesi de olsa dünyanın umursamadığı bir kahramandır. Takım arkadaşları ona saygı duysa da bu onun için yeterli değildir. O, halkın ve medyanın da aynısını yapmasını istemektedir. Bu isteği başına işler açacaktır.

Gezegenin yarısını yok etmeyi planlayan uzaylılardan sınır tanımayan reklamcılara birçok problemle karşı karşıya olan Ms. Marvel'ın kendini ispat çabasını ele alan bu kitap her ne kadar kusursuz olmasa da çoğunlukla başarılı olan çizimleri ve karakterimizin daha insancıl problemleriyle kendini okutmayı başarıyor.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this sucked. I don’t love the art. But it’s still not the worst thing I’ve ever read.

[Nii · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's just something so human and endearing about Ms Marvel/Captain Marvel. Still one of my favourite superheroes.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this much more than I did. Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) is such an interesting and cool character and I just found that this collection came up short. The “adventures/missions” she went on were rather generic and more often than not the typical and exhausting "female stereotypes" were placed upon the character. While the stories did start to get more interesting near the end of the volume, there is just so much wasted opportunity here and they really are minimizing such a potentially strong female character. I will be continuing on because I'm really hoping this series improves and utilizes this character properly. At the very least there is the possibility that the 2012 run with Kelly Sue DeConnick will be a vast improvement because I really want to love the stories as much as I love the character.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read, though it did help to be a followup to House of M. Been trying to figure out why Marvel would be thinking making a Captain Marvel movie. For me Carol Danvers is just the character from whom Rogue accidentally stole her powers. But Carol Danvers has a major thing going for her in the Marvel cinematic universe - she's not a mutant - in fact her powers are Kree based and the Kree is already part of the Marvel cinematic universe. So I guess her movie makes even more sense than Guardians of the Galaxy. In any case, in this book she's not exactly sure of herself. And in general is running from one incident to another. 3.5 of 5.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know next to nothing about Ms. Marvel and, despite this being volume 1, this was not a good introduction to the character. They just sort of tossed you in to the middle of things. However, despite the clumsiness, there were aspects I enjoyed.

We discuss Carol Danvers at length in this special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get it? Maybe the reader really needs to have read the House of M before reading this but for me it was just hard to follow. I love Ms. Marvel AKA Captain Marvel, she is a very interesting character. For me the story was stupid. The only thing that was good about this book/story was the graphics.

[Edward Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Ms Marvel series that ran from 2006 to 2010 was the first solo series for Carol Danvers since the 70s. It manages to mix silliness with more serious stories as Danvers tackles aliens and sorcerers from parallel dimensions while dealing with her public image. Fans of She-Hulk will enjoy this series.

[Roman Colombo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun start, even if the art was inconsistent. Long before her Captain days, Carol was just Ms. Marvel. But this is where she truly begins her road to Captain. She wants tone more than she is. It's safe to say she'll get there.

[Stephen Abell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review two in my "Catch-up" of Marvel's Civil War. Since, I am following the MarvelGuides.com reading order, not just the TP collections, I will be reading more than the requisite comics.

Ms Marvel: Best Of The Best consists of two stories - nice to have a double feature. Story one is Invasion. However, it is not singularly about the incursion of Spalding, Georgia. No, Carol Danvers has decided to go out on her own as the Mighty Ms Marvel. Is she up to the job? Does she even know what the job entails?

It is these derivatives that made the story more interesting. For one, the publicist Sarah Day. It amused me that heroes like Captain America and Stephen Strange required agents. Marvel's immersion of Earth's Defenders into a more realistic universe is a delightful idea.

Secondly, Ms Marvel has Cap on speed-dial for hero advice. Alas, he is not always in a position to help. It was so sublimely funny.

So even with all these asides going on, she still has to champion the population of Georgia. This she does admirably, though not brilliantly. Ms Marvel is not the perfect heroine.

The second story is Traveler's Tales, where the mystical Traveler reappears to wreak havoc for her and Doctor Strange. Giving her the best TV spot ever by transforming from a cat during a live interview. The Traveler is quickly subdued and taken to Strange. Regrettably, for both our supes, this may have been his plan from the start.

Tho Traveler's Tales shows the reader more of the trials and tribulations a hero faces in everyday life, it is Invasion that is the better tale. It should be said, had Brian Reed been able to extend the story for three more issues, Traveler's Tales could have been the more powerful. I believe they missed an opportunity there.

The artwork is splendid. Roberto de la Torre has a deft hand for portraying emotion and action, which comes to the fore in Invasion. And colourist Chris Sotomayer adds dread with his subtle palette in the opening panels of #4.

As for the Civil War tie-ins, you have the Superhero Registration Act mentioned a few times, and there is the last panel in #5 where Cap appears in Carol's kitchen.

Not a necessary read for Civil War, though it was entertaining, and I would gladly recommend it to all Marvel fans out there and newbies alike.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been unintentionally reading some prettu subpar comics the last few weeks, so I decided it was time to do a Ms Marvel/Captain Marvel readthrough. I vaguely remembered liking Reed's run on the character, and I distinctly remember enjoying Kelly Sue DeConnick's run, so I crossed my fingers and picked this up.

Whew.

This is a solid Marvel Civil War era story. It picks up during the House of M event, and this first volume takes us right to the edge of Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event. ALong the way, we get an adventure with The Brood, a new, and soon recurring Traveller, Doctor Strange, and The Fantastic Four. We also see Carol's new place in the Marvel canon. It's delightful.

Reed has a blast with introducing us to Carol's new publicist, as well as Chewy (named Goose in the movie) and Cru, a monster intent on wiping out The Brood, which is good, but at any cost, which is bad. You can feel the joy in this book. I also loved the conversations between Carol and Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman...or, possibly Veranke? It's unclear at this point.) And while I'm not a fan of Roberto de la Torre's faces in this book, they never pulled me out ot of the story.

This is a great starting point for anyone looking to read up on Ms Marvel/Captain Marvel. Sure, there's a ton of continuity before this, but because we start in an alternate timeline, and then are jolted into the 616 Universe, it feels like a fresh start for the character.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carol Danvers aka Ms.Marvel is bundled up into a package of stories and artwork by Brian Reed and Roberto De La Torro. The blurb says this a new take on Marvel's greatest longest standing female super heroes.
So what did I get? A woman who is not well defined. She has baggage but spends the majority of the time lamenting no one knows who she is. She has no real purpose except for getting into save the world situations and her outfit does not leave much too the imagination. Well except for wondering how she can do a high kick without exposing her vagina. I found some of the story telling a bit disjointed but I enjoyed it. There is a lot of promise and Danvers is an intriguing character.
I admit it that it's been a long time since I dived into all the characters of the Marvel universe and I may not fully comprehend all the linkages. So it would help if the writers could help newbies or people coming back to the universe know who the alter egos of some characters are, like Jessica Drew. Saying she is in the super hero game is not helping! I did look it up afterwards.
I will be reading the next in the collection Civil War.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book adds an interesting twist to the usual superhero fare. Here we have Ms. Marvel hiring a publicist to boost her star status in the superhero universe. She is tired of being forgotten and unrecognized in a world dominated by Spiderman, Captain America etc. Unfortunately, this concept is soon pushed aside for a more traditional story involving a renegade magician hunting her down before ending with a lead-in to the Civil War storyline. Pity, because there seemed to be a lot of potential in that original idea. Instead, we're given storylines involving a vengeful villain and alien invasion, both of which are too short and come out of nowhere. The stories are fine and put Ms. Marvel in the underserved genre of Sci-fi/fantasy, but I wish they were longer. And the side story involving the publicity machine to improve her celebrity needed to be more developed. This book shows potential, but I'll probably leave the series because it leads into the Civil War event and I found that series to be too convoluted and fractured for my taste.

[Gavin Wask · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I'd revisit this series after thoroughly enjoying the recent film.

It starts after the House of M, with Carol Danvers readjusting to reality and going it alone rather than part of the Avengers. Whilst trying to find the power which she wiedled during the House of M and having her own publicist she comes up against the Brood, aliens that the Brood are scared of - which is never a good thing and the Traveller.

The interactions beteen her and Dr Strange are fun and from this first collected edition you can see the foundations for Carol Danver's Ms Marvel to be the true powerhouse she is.

I read all the collected editions years ago but am glad I've refound these stories now. Next up is to do with The Civil War - looks like Ms Marvel is getting through all the main Marvel storylines in her first few editions.

[Steven Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read comics much, but Ms. Marvel, especially with the dashing Cho cover, was irresistible. I enjoyed the story, and as I generally choose a comic because of art, I enjoyed Roberto de la Torre's art. The story was mature, and offered enough of a challenge for our heroine, and I liked how her character was depicted, and she certainly had worthy villains. The art was 'mature'...a lot of dark spaces and very rich color, and Reed's story quite enjoyable, picking up as it did after House of M.

I like Ms. Marvel's costume, and thought it a letdown when, as Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers got a new suit, but I gave her a chance. See my review on Higher, Further, Faster, More.

Always a delight to go back to this series, and glad for the several issues, they kept the same artist.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to work backwards on this one.

The ending was a little confusing, especially the whole fight with the big bad. The beginning would be confusing for anyone that didn't read the main House of M event so I would definitely recommend looking for that before starting this. House of M

I really like that we are introduced to Jessica Drew as well, and the play by play of conversation she and Carol have. I feel that it is a good way to introduce Carol talking about her own feelings and impressions of herself.