New Marvel Superhero: Muslim Teen Girl

A new Marvel superhero coming in February is unique in a few ways: For one thing, the hero is a heroine, and a teenage one at that. For another, she's Muslim-American, reports the New York Times. The comic will center on Kamala Khan, a teen girl in New Jersey who discovers she has the ability to change shapes. Her superhero name will be Ms. Marvel. “I do expect some negativity,” says Sana Amanat, a Marvel editor and Muslim-American herself who helped hatch the idea. "Not only from people who are anti-Muslim, but people who are Muslim and might want the character portrayed in a particular light.”

The storyline will address the challenges Kamala faces not only fighting crime but growing up in Jersey among her Pakistani family—including a mom worried about boys, a dad pressuring her to be a doctor, and a conservative brother. It all sounds great, writes Rob Bricken at i09. "Hopefully the new Ms. Marvel will survive not only the haters, but the sales necessary to survive." (More comic books stories.)