Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie, Kamala is Marvel's first major Muslim protagonist character and Pakistani-American personality with her own comic book.

[20] Artist Jamie McKelvie based Kamala's costume on his redesign of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel and on Dave Cockrum's design of the original Ms.

[35] According to academic Sarah Gibbons, Kamala's body-morphing is paralleled by the flexibility required of the characters who live in Jersey City; her unusual, superpowered body shape conveys a non-conforming message.

[7] "Khan is a big comic book fan and after she discovers her superhuman power – being a polymorph and able to lengthen her arms and legs and change her shape – she takes on the name of Ms. Marvel", Amanat said.

[67] Amanat said that this storyline would center "around self-discovery and identity, and a part of that exploration includes separating yourself from those you put on pedestals [...] It has to do with growing up and realizing that you perceive the world differently from even the ones you love".

The team, featured in a series by writer Mark Waid and artist Humberto Ramos, consists of Kamala, Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Nova (Sam Alexander), Hulk (Amadeus Cho), Viv Vision, and a teenage version of Cyclops.

[68] In November 2016, Marvel announced that Kamala would join a new incarnation of the Secret Warriors in a series by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Javier Garron; it debuted in May 2017.

[75][76] Marvel announced in March 2017 that Kamala would join Carol Danvers in a one-shot issue of the limited anthology series, Generations by Wilson and Paolo Villanelle.

To mark the occasion, Marvel brought in additional collaborators for the issue: writers G. Willow Wilson, Saladin Ahmed, Rainbow Rowell, and Hasan Minhaj, and artists Nico Leon, Bob Quinn, Gustavo Duarte, and Elmo Bondoc.

Kamala saves the activist, but is critically injured; the government passes the Underage Superhuman Welfare Act, which bans superhero activities for those under age twenty-one, as a result of the disaster.

[106] During the "Outlawed" event, the Champions take responsibility for their actions and reveal that Roxxon is using its government contract to intern young individuals with superpowers in brutal reeducation camps.

[155][48] McKelvie updated Kamala's costume to highlight "her newfound mutant identity, with X-Men logos replacing the traditional Ms. Marvel lightning bolt that dates back to Carol Danvers".

[163] In addition to X-Men related stories, Kamala appeared as a supporting character in Miles Morales: Spider-Man written by Cody Ziglar and illustrated by Federico Vicentini, during the "Gang War" tie-in and "Retribution" storyline.

[172][173][174] The first issue highlights Kamala discovering that both she and Sophie are in the "Examinations of Post-Krakoan Diaspora" class at ESU that is being taught by Prodigy, saving Anole from an anti-mutant hate group called the Truthseekers, and clashing with Laura over how to protect mutants.

[191] Alex Abad-Santos, for Vox, wrote that "Wilson and Alphona imbue the comic with grace while steering clear of 'after-school special'-of-the-month types of stories [...] As you see Kamala slowly figure out the ways of superheroism and the balance of her own life, you can't help but feel like she represents an alternate path that can save us from the ugly stuff threatening to strangle our hope, our joy, and our love.

This is done through a good balance of endearing characters, solid drama, and the quirks and detours one can expect from a superhero comic [...] Mix that with some talented artists, and you have a book well worth recommending".

Ridgely said, "Ahmed has leaned hard into the issues that plague our current lives while still making the comic uplifting", and "every revelation that Kamala comes to is thoroughly earned and [based] on the specific experiences we see her confront.

1: Beat the Devil for AIPT, also criticized the Mephisto plot line as "the entire core premise of it is built on fridging — first Kamala and Viv die with very little agency in their story, which requires Miles and Amadeus to save them.

[137][16] Whitbrook wrote, "killing off such a prominent and influentially representative character at all, even temporarily—let alone not as part of a publisher-wide event or even in her own comic, but instead a book where she is an infrequent supporting guest character—is a move that is just as likely going to have fans reacting in anger as it is going to draw attention through shock".

[132] Marston asserted that Marvel comics have a current trend "of killing off characters who are about to star in upcoming films [...], only to give them a big, triumphant return to coincide with their new movie or series".

[198] Fallen Friend: The Death of Ms. Marvel (2023) received mixed reviews[199] – Chase Magnett of ComicBook.com called it a success "in fitting fashion" and a "stirring tribute"[144] while David Brooke of AIPT rated it a 6/10 and stated "it's far too little and maybe too late".

[144] Brooke wrote that the issue captures "the pulse of key characters who Ms. Marvel touched" and that "the story feels like a good way to honor Kamala by showing us how her friends are reeling, but there isn't much to it either".

[51]Schlesinger also praised the art and coloring by Scott Godlewski and Erick Arciniega – "from Medusa's epic hair to Kamala's terrifying spasms, and the tragic death of Abdullah, the pair of artists ground the excellent writing".

Mutant Menace feels like one of the strongest offerings for Kamala in quite some time, creating interesting hooks for the character along with a deep dive into the Marvel Universe along the way".

Street artists covered the ads with images of Kamala and messages such as "Calling all Bigotry Busters", "Stamp out racism", "Free speech isn't a license to spread hate", "Islamophobia hurts us all", and "Racist".

[225] Sana Amanat was introduced to United States President Barack Obama at a March 2016 reception celebrating Women's History Month at the White House.

The cover was accompanied by "The Super Hero For Our Times: Ms. Marvel Will Save You Now", an article by Mallika Rao which profiled Wilson and focused on the increasing diversity of comic-book characters, creators, and fans.

Soule's evolution of her powers and costume will hopefully also coincide with further opportunities later in the story to learn more about her views on the resistance and reasons for supporting Attilan – solidifying this version of Kamala as a comparatively matured hero forced to make difficult moral choices".

[236][237] CBR commented that in this storyline "Kamala was exposed to Chronogen Mists – which warped her perception of the universe and gave her the ability to 'embiggen her cosmic perspective,' effectively allowing her to stretch across the course of time and space".

Set ten years into an alternate future where Orchis is victorious against mutantkind, Kamala dons the suit and mantle of Captain Krakoa and is part of the surviving X-Men.