A New Hero is Born: Marvel Introduces Muslim Female Superhero

Comic book publisher Marvel is to introduce a new Muslim superhero series. A reinvention of Ms. Marvel, the new series is to debut in February of next year and will star Kamala Khan, a teenager who discovers that she has shape-shifting powers. In the new comic series, Khan is to embody the former Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers who went on to become Captain Marvel, and is taking on her old codename. “Captain Marvel represents an ideal that Kamala pines for,” said comic author G. Willow Wilson in The New York Times. “She’s strong, beautiful and doesn’t have any of the baggage of being Pakistani and ‘different.’” “Her brother is extremely conservative,” said editor Sana Amanat. “Her mom is paranoid that she’s going to touch a boy and get pregnant. Her father wants her to concentrate on her studies and become a doctor.” However the creative team said that they are bracing themselves for all reactions to the new series. “I do expect some negativity,” said Amanat, “not only from people who are anti-Muslim, but people who are Muslim and might want the character portrayed in a particular light.” “It was really important for me to portray Kamala as someone who is struggling with her faith,” Wilson said. Images via Marvel Now!