Updated: 16yr old Muslim Girl is Marvel’s latest hero & Lady Transformer too

A new hero comes to the Marvel Universe next year with her own all-new solo title. Following the epic events of Marvel’s INFINITY, a 16-year-old Muslim girl from New Jersey discovers extraordinary body-morphing powers and follows in the footsteps of her idol, Captain Marvel, to become the new Ms. Marvel. In the editors own words, “this is a series] about what happens when you struggle with the labels imposed on you, and how that forms your sense of self.

It’s pretty cool to see comic books continuing to expand their criteria of who can become a superhero. And, whilst we’re talking about sex and race and how the revolving issues are represented in comics, British Paper, The Independent, has given the following list of heroes who have broken new ground over the years:

Falcon

Though there had been black heroes before his 1969 debut – notably Black Panther – The Falcon (aka Samuel Wilson) was marvel’s first African-American superhero. He was also the first black superhero whose name did not actually contain the word “black”.

Batwoman

When first created by DC in 1956, Batwoman was intended as a love interest for Batman, to counter questions about his sexuality. When she was reintroduced after a hiatus in 2006, however, Kathy Kane came out as the most high-profile lesbian in comic books.

Green Lantern

The latest incarnation of the Green Lantern is Simon Baz, DC Comics’ first Muslim-American superhero. Baz and his family suffered prejudice in the aftermath of 9/11, and he lost his job in the economic crisis before donning the Green Lantern Power Ring in 2012.

Interview & What to expect

Below is an interview between Marvel.com, G. Willow Wilson (who heads the creative team withFrom the creative team with Adrian Alphona) and Sana Amanat (who edits the series). Oh, and if you’d like to know when you can get your hands on it… Well.. MS. MARVEL launches in February 2014.

Marvel.com: Who is the new Ms. Marvel, and what makes her different?

G. Willow Wilson: The Ms. Marvel mantle has passed to Kamala Khan, a high school student from Jersey City who struggles to reconcile being an American teenager with the conservative customs of her Pakistani Muslim family. So in a sense, she has a “dual identity” before she even puts on a super hero costume. Like a lot of children of immigrants, she feels torn between two worlds: the family she loves, but which drives her crazy, and her peers, who don’t really understand what her home life is like.

This makes her tough and vulnerable at the same time. When you try to straddle two worlds, one of the first things you learn is that instead of defending good people from bad people, you have to spend a lot of time defending good people from each other. It’s both illuminating and emotionally brutal. That’s what makes this book different.

Marvel.com: Where does this new Ms. Marvel fit in to the Marvel Universe? Will we see her interact with Captain Marvel?

G. Willow Wilson: We will see her interact with the wider Marvel Universe, and since Captain Marvel is a personal hero of hers, that’s definitely in the mix.

Sana Amanat:  Also, as you’ll discover in the story, Kamala is a part of a much larger event in the Marvel U—which she won’t really understand the ramifications of until later down the road. We will definitely get there; we just want you to get to know Kamala first.

Marvel.com: What’s Kamala up against in the first storyline?

G. Willow Wilson: In the first arc, Kamala is her own primary obstacle. She has to grapple with overwhelming new powers, decide whether it’s safe to tell anybody, and juggle becoming a teen super hero with the expectations of her conservative, Pakistani family.

It’s an origin story in every sense of the word. She’s so young—only 16—that the normal trials and tribulations of being in high school are still very much a part of her life, even as she’s becoming something different and amazing. Crises. Kebabs. Coming-of-age. It’s all there.

Marvel.com: You’re working with the extraordinarily talented Adrian Alphona. What does he bring to the title that makes it special?

G. Willow Wilson: Adrian totally “gets” what this series is about. Kamala is, as he himself put it, “an off-kilter girl with off-kilter powers,” and his distinctive style is so suited to Kamala’s story—it really works. I love seeing his character sketches pop up in my inbox because they’re such a visual treat. He has a real sense of the unexpected. I’m very excited to be working with him.

Sana Amanat: It’s absolutely amazing to have Adrian onboard.  He’s already proved himself to be a master at imagining new settings and distinctive characters. With MS. MARVEL, he does the same and pushes the boundaries even more. Adrian will introduce you to a world so authentic and visually stunning; you’ll be constantly entertained and enchanted.

Marvel.com: This is the first time a Muslim character has headlined a book at Marvel. How important is the character’s faith to the title?

G. Willow Wilson: Islam is both an essential part of her identity and something she struggles mightily with. She’s not a poster girl for the religion, or some kind of token minority. She does not cover her hair –most American Muslim women don’t—and she’s going through a rebellious phase. She wants to go to parties and stay out past 9 PM and feel “normal.” Yet at the same time, she feels the need to defend her family and their beliefs.

Sana Amanat: As much as Islam is a part of Kamala’s identity, this book isn’t preaching about religion or the Islamic faith in particular. It’s about what happens when you struggle with the labels imposed on you, and how that forms your sense of self. It’s a struggle we’ve all faced in one form or another, and isn’t just particular to Kamala because she’s Muslim. Her religion is just one aspect of the many ways she defines herself.

Marvel.com: Do you think this book faces any unusual challenges?

G. Willow Wilson: I think it faces some unusual challenges, but they come on top of a whole bunch of usual ones, i.e., getting people to pick up a book with a fresh face on it. Convincing readers that new and different can be new and good.

So, readers! Let me put your minds at ease: this is new and good. We have put a ton of energy and hilarity and pathos into this project. The last thing I wanted to do was write some grim manifesto about a Muslim girl in America. To me, the first rule of Write Club is, “make it fun to read.”
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Update 11 January 2014

Marvel have released further details and some awesome art featuring their new ‘Ms. Marvel’ in costume and a teaser of her origins… check out the updated blurb and panels below:

The international sensation is finally here! Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Ms. Marvel #1, the soon-to-be runaway hit from G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona! You’ve seen her in headlines around the world—now, prepare to experience the brand-new Ms. Marvel as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm. When Kamala Khan acquires incredible new abilities from the Inhuman Terrigen Mists, an extraordinary hero is born! But not even superpowers can prepare her for the pressures and pitfalls of being 16-years-old. Don’t miss Kamala’s first groundbreaking adventure as a timeless legend is reborn this February in Ms. Marvel #1!

Ms Marvel will be on sale on-sale 5th February 14

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Lady Autobot & Hasbro’s reluctance in the 1980s

If Marvel diversifying has pleased you (as it has us), how about the news that Transformers are to introduce a new lady autobot?

In a recent interview, Ron Friedman (who wrote Transformers: The Movie in the 1980s) spoke about how when writing the script for the movie he had to ‘[insist to Hasbro] on bringing in a female Autobot (Arcee)’ and that it ‘was a battle … they were absolutely resistant.’

Eventually he convinced the studio, emphasising that he had a daughter who ‘loves this stuff’ and that – as we at Fantasy-Faction can attest – ‘there are other girls that like it’ too.

Well, it’s nice to see that the 1980’s are way behind us and you no longer need to ‘convince’ Hasbro to feature female transformers in their movies, television shows, comics and figure lines. The latest autobot, Windblade, will transform into a VTOL jet. Additionally cool is that fans were invited to give input into her creation and can be thanked for the majority of her characteristics.

One thing I’m a little unsure about is how the comic book series she is set to feature in has brought in (for the first time) an all-female creative team. Mairghread Scott, who has written several Transformers comics, will script it and Sarah Stone, who has been brought in for this project, will draw it. Do female characters require female writers and artists? I’m not quite convinced on that one.

That said, I don’t want to be too negative. Marvel and Hasbro investing heavily in female characters that aren’t overtly sexed up can only be a good thing and evidence of more ladies being offered chief positions writing and drawing comics is another plus too. Agreed?

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