The following contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #26 from Marvel Comics.
Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan is killed by Benjamin Rabin/the Emissary in Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man #26.
Amazing Spider-Man #26 comes from writer Zeb Wells, penciler John Romita Jr., inker Scott Hanna, colorists Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega and letterer VC's Joe Caramagna. In the issue, Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Gold Goblin/Norman Osborn and Mary Jane Watson are fighting the Emissary, a dangerous villain who believes he needs to kill Mary Jane in order to appease the Mayan deity Wayep, when Ms. Marvel joins in the fight.
At one point, Ms. Marvel and Mary Jane find themselves being chased by Rabin and Kamala insists the two of them split up. Rabin catches up with Mary Jane and proceeds to stab her in the torso; however, the issue then reveals Ms. Marvel used her appearance altercation powers to make herself look like Mary Jane, meaning Kamala is the one who is fatally wounded.
Peter runs over and, initially, assumes Mary Jane has been killed and then realizes it's actually Kamala. "Kamala...you...you did great," he tells her. "You did so good." Kamala proceeds to take off her mask -- thus causing Norman to realize that his intern is actually Ms. Marvel for the first time -- before she then dies at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #26. The issue ends with Peter holding her body on the ground while Norman, Mary Jane, Paul and the Fantastic Four watch from behind.
Marvel Mourns the Loss of Kamala Khan
News of Ms. Marvel's death in Amazing Spider-Man #26 leaked online on May 16, 2023, before being confirmed by the publisher later that day. Some readers were nonplused by the news given the fact that Kamala will likely be resurrected relatively soon, while others expressed disappointment in Ms. Marvel being "fridged" in someone else's series, among other concerns.
Editor Nick Lowe wrote in the "Amazing Spider-Mail" page featured at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #26, "We were so thrilled to bring [Kamala] into the ASM cast in ASM #7, and when this story came around and the idea for this sacrifice came about, it made for a surprising and tragic moment befitting this threat. The classical hero's journey can often take a tragic end that amplifies their heroism. We've seen it with Captain America and Captain Marvel and others in comics, Iron Man and Black Widow in the movies...It is sad, for sure, but it speaks to the core of said characters making the ultimate sacrifice."
The Marvel Universe will mourn the loss of Kamala in July 2023's Fallen Friend: The Death of Ms. Marvel by Mark Waid, Saladin Ahmed, G. Willow Wilson, Humberto Ramos, Takeshi Miyazawa and Andrew Di Vito. The publisher said of the issue, "The heart of the Marvel Universe has stopped beating. Kamala Khan died a hero's death in Amazing Spider-Man #26, saving our entire universe. Come join the other heroes of the Marvel Universe, the creators of Ms. Marvel and comic fans everywhere in honoring and remembering one of Marvel's brightest stars!"
Amazing Spider-Man #26 features cover art by Romita Jr., Hanna and Menyz and variant cover art by Simone Bianchi, Olivier Coipel, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and David Talaski. The issue is on sale now from Marvel.
Source: Marvel