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I think the issue with Kamala, as with most other characters pushed during ANAD such as Miles and Riri is that they’re being sold solely as these amazing characters who really aren’t that great. They don’t have any standout stories, iconic villains, memorable panels, etc. They’re lackluster at best, yet we’re supposed to think that they’re the ‘next big thing’ in comics. Furthermore, rather than expanding the comics audience, they further shrink it by having stories written to appeal to a very niche audience, the majority of which doesn’t even read comics. That being said, bad business practices intended to inflate sales numbers don’t really help.
That being said, Kamala stands head and shoulders above the rest, as she’s actually a somewhat original character in terms of power set, costume, origin, etc. Meanwhile the other ANAD heroes can essentially be described as “What if [Hero X], but DIVERSITY!” I also find her interesting in a meta sense as she, in various ways, is emblematic of a lot of the trends that permeated Marvel comics during the 2010s. Mostly the failed pushes of Captain Marvel, the Inhumans, diverse heroes, etc. But, still, she’s strangely appealing to me for that reason.
