Welcome to the Golden Age of Muslim Women in Comics

THE FAN FAVORITE: Kamala Khan
Ms. Marvel, co-creators Sana Amanat and G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is a goofy, awkward teenager trying to find her place in the world as a first-gen Pakistani American kid going through high school in Jersey City. She’s also an incredibly powerful Inhuman with polymorphic powers (translation: she can change shape and size at will). While braving the social order as a Muslim girl in America, she’s also figuring out her path as a heroine pulled in a dozen different directions as she tries to do the right thing.
Aside from the barriers Kamala is physically breaking constantly, the Ms. Marvel creative team has been tearing down walls in the comic industry left and right. Three issues in to the series’ initial run, our heroine was calling out institutionalized sexism in the masjid.

Over the years, this award winning title has continued to touch on issues that matter to Muslim women and girls–sexist double standards, wallah bros, dating (when your brother tags along to quote Qur’an at you), even coping with violent extremists enacting violence in your name. The most recent arc has Kamala facing down racism and anti-blackness within the Ummah as (spoiler alert!) her brother Aamir plans for marriage.

 
Kamala is a powerful vector for change, both in her work as an Avenger, and within her own community. She is constantly growing and learning to be a better person. She doesn’t always do the right thing, but she always tries. And even through all of this growth and very special episode moments, at no point in the series does the comic become preachy or saccharine.
Kamala does get to punch giant mutant alligators with Wolverine, though. That part is pretty awesome.

 
If characters like Faiza Hussain and Monet St. Croix helped set the stage for Ms. Marvel’s success, this comic’s explosion of popularity has certainly helped lay the groundwork for other creative female-led titles in the Marvel line-up. Say what you will about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but (in no small part thanks to characters like Kamala) the comic universe is dominated by dynamic, powerful, relatable women.