Last year it was announced that comic book publisher Marvel was to introduce a new Muslim superhero.
A reinvention of Ms. Marvel, the series stars Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American muslim girl who discovers that she has shape-shifting powers.
In an episode of PBS Idea Channel, host Mike Rugnetta explores how Kamala , might be changing media for the better.
“Popular media generally has a problem with representation” writes PBS. “Fictional worlds are often designed by and for straight white males, and this can subtly affect how audiences view the real world.
“Comics are no exception, portraying muscular white males, or exaggerated expressions of the female form. But those traditions are being broken”.
“One of the most exciting new characters breaking this mold is the new Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan. Kamala is a teenage Pakistani-American muslim girl, a far cry from the comic pantheon of Captain Americas and Supermans”.
