Jade Izaguirre, Campus Carrier Assistant Entertainment Editor

In attempts to diversify its comics, Marvel has relaunched the “Ms. Marvel” comic book series, now featuring 16-year-old Kamala Khan, a first generation Muslim Pakistani-American. Written by G. Willow Wilson, the comic has already challenged a large number of stereotypes within the first two issues. 

Wilson is a convert to Islam and has experience writing about her faith. While she is a journalist by trade, Wilson has written both DC and Marvel comics before. However, “Ms. Marvel” is by far her most talked about series to date. 

Marvel

Because of Kamala’s religious faith, one of the first questions about her is if she wears a headscarf. In a recent interview with Marvel.com, Wilson points out that most Muslim-American women do not wear headscarves and for this reason, neither does Kamala. Wilson states that Kamala is “not a poster girl for the religion, or some kind of token minority.” To address this in the comic itself, Wilson illustrates the opposing views of the headscarf in the Muslim community in the beginning of the first issue. Nakia, one of Kamala’s closest friends, has recently decided to begin wearing a headscarf and states that her parents think, “it’s just a phase.” 

Wilson, of course tackles many other issues surrounding the Muslim community as well. Many instances involve Zoe Zimmer, a blond-haired blue-eyed “friend” of Kamala, who is unapologetically ignorant about Muslim culture and whose comments frequently come off as “Islamophobic.” In one instance, Zoe asks Nakia if she would be “honor killed” is she took off her headscarf. 

Later in the first issue, Kamala makes the decision to go against her parents’ wishes and attend a party. She then finds herself in the middle of a mysterious fog, where she meets her hero Captain Marvel, a.k.a. Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel. Danvers confronts her about her rebellious act. One thing leads to another and Kamala becomes Ms. Marvel and discovers that she has the ability to grow and shrink any part of her body as well as shape shift.  

The second issue follows Kamala’s first adventures as Ms. Marvel. Like all the superheroes before her Kamala struggles with her newfound abilities. She is almost immediately faced with the task of using her powers to rescue a friend.  

While much of the first issues covers Kamala’s struggle between following her religious beliefs and the urge to rebel, this is not to say that the entire series will be centered around Kamala being a Muslim. Like DC’s Batman becoming an orphan, Kamala being a Muslim is only part of her story. 

If you are interested in subscribing to the series or just picking up the current or back issue, online versions can be purchased directly on Marvel.com and hard copies can be purchased on websites like tfaw.com and midtowncomics.com. The third issue is set to debut April 16.