Marvel's Newest Superhero Is A Muslim Girl From Jersey City

    Her name is Kamala Khan and, based on what we know so far, she's a badass.

    Rega Jha
    by Rega Jha

    BuzzFeed India Contributor

    Kamala Khan is a Muslim, Pakistani-American teenager from Jersey City... Who just happens to have superpowers.

    Marvel / Via imgur.com

    Kamala's primary power is the ability to shape-shift.

    The series, slated to be released in February, will be written by G. Willow Wilson, an author, comic book writer, and convert to Islam.

    Via bleedingcool.com

    Wilson confirmed the news on her website: "The rumors are true… I’m writing the new Ms. Marvel series for Marvel Comics! Incredibly excited about this project, and especially psyched to be working with artist Adrian Alphona, whose style is really something to see. First issue launches in February."

    In the series, Kamala Khan will grow up idolizing superhero Carol Danvers and, when Danvers starts going by Captain Marvel, Kamala will take on her abandoned moniker: Ms. Marvel.

    Marvel / Via tosche-station.net

    "Captain Marvel represents an ideal that Kamala pines for. She's strong, beautiful and doesn't have any of the baggage of being Pakistani and 'different,'" Wilson told the New York Times.

    Wilson: "It was really important to me to portray Kamala as someone who is struggling with her faith."

    Marvel / Via newsarama.com

    "Her brother is extremely conservative," said Sana Amanat, an editor at Marvel. "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... I do expect some negativity. Not only from people who are anti-Muslim, but people who are Muslim and might want the character portrayed in a particular light."

    Aside from Kamala's "Ms. Avengers," two other female-led series will launch in 2014, starring She Hulk and Elektra.

    Marvel
    Marvel
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    Marvel

    "Anytime you do something like this, it is a bit of a risk," said author Wilson. "You're trying to bring the audience on board and they are used to seeing something else in the pages of a comic book."

    Read the full NYTimes write-up here.