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."