Marvel Comics is bringing back Ms. Marvel. But this time around, she’s a Muslim-American girl living in New Jersey.
The company will introduced Kamala Khan as the new Ms. Marvel — who originally debuted in the late 1960s — in a series that launches in February. And its editors are preparing themselves for the possible blowback.
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“I do expect some negativity,” co-creator Sana Amanat told the New York Times, “not only from people who are anti-Muslim, but people who are Muslim and might want the character portrayed in a particular light.”
“[But], this is not evangelism,” the series writer, who’s Muslim, said. “It was really important for me to portray Kamala as someone who is struggling with her faith.”
The character, Kamala, looks up to the original Ms. Marvel — who’s now known as Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers. As her powers are developing, the young girl takes on the name of Ms. Marvel.
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In addition to dealing with external foes, she’ll face problems at home.
“Her brother is extremely conservative,” Amanat said. “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.”