Tag Archives: ms. marvel

Prominent Muslim Characters Continue to Expand in Comics

Kismet, Man of Fate (2018)

With Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) soon coming to video game systems as part of Marvel’s Avengers game, it seemed a fitting time to look back at this 2017 CBR article on 15 notable Muslim characters in comics:

http://www.cbr.com/muslim-comic-book-characters-you-should-know/

More characters have arisen even since the article’s publication, including Red Dagger & Amulet in Ms. Marvel or Sofia & Nasser of Sheriff of Babylon. Currently, funding is being raised on Patreon for a second new volume of CBR’s number-one Muslim character, Kismet, Man of Fate.

CFP: Religion and the Marvel Universe (9/15/18)

Editor: Gregory Stevenson (gstevenson@rc.edu)

Theology and Pop Culture is currently seeking contributions for a potential edited volume from Rowman and Littlefield on the intersection of theology and the Marvel Universe. Essays may focus on comic books/graphic novels, film, and television/streaming series. Essays should be written for academics, but avoid “jargon” to be accessible for the layperson.

MARVEL logo

Potential ideas include but are not limited to:

Greek mythology and the Marvel superhero; Catholicism and the character of Daredevil; Ms. Marvel and the rise of the Muslim superhero; Ghost Rider and the deal with the devil; Spider-Man and moral theology; Luke Cage and liberation theology; Black Panther and African theology; Iron Fist and the conflict between capitalism and spiritualism; violence and redemption in The Punisher; religious tolerance and intolerance in The X-Men; the depiction of cults in Marvel’s Runaways; Dr. Strange and the conflict between faith and science; christology in Marvel; Iron Man and Tony Stark’s quest for redemption; Marvel’s cosmic beings; Thor and Norse theology; Captain America and the role of faith; apocalyptic themes in Marvel stories; Cloak and Dagger and the metaphor of light and darkness (this list could go on indefinitely so feel free to propose any relevant topic)

Submission Guidelines:

  1. Please submit an abstract between 300-700 words with CV or resumé, including a list of any previous publications, to Gregory Stevenson at gstevenson@rc.edu by September 15, 2018
  2. Submission deadline for drafts of accepted papers is April 30, 2019 (if a particular essay needs to incorporate the fourth Avengers film, a later submission date can be negotiated)

Comics and Islam, Live at MICE 2017 – 004 Sacred & Sequential Audio

Muslim identity and practices are featured more comics than ever, from mainstream titles like Ms. Marvelto independent graphic memoirs. This panel at the 2017 Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) takes stock of this important growing field — including the brand-new book Muslim Superheroes: Comics, Islam, and Representation — and presents the perspectives of both academics and creators. Featuring discussion with Hussein Rashid (Religion Professor, Barnard College; Contributor, Muslim Superheroes), A. David Lewis (Instructor, MCPHS University; Co-Editor, Muslim Superheroes; writer, Kismet, Man of Fate), Sara Alfageeh (Illustrator, Co-Director, BOY/BYE series MIPSTERZ project), and Hillary Chute (English Professor, Northeastern Unitersity).

A. David Lewis, Hillary Chute, Hussein Rashid, Sara Alfageeh
A. David Lewis, Hillary Chute, Hussein Rashid, Sara Alfageeh

What Do Superheroes Tell Us about Ourselves?

In November, radio station KUOW sat done with both G. Willow Wilson and Reza Aslan to explore the question “What do our superheroes tell us about ourselves?” The conversation, of course, addressed morality and religion, what with Wilson being a Muslim writer perhaps best known for the Muslim superheroine Ms. Marvel and Aslan being a Religion Studies expert.

Aslan pointed out that superheroes have changed a lot since their conception nearly a century ago. The stories are darker. The heroes dwell in gray areas more often. The moral dilemmas are more compelling.

“We have to make these characters interesting by making them reflect the morality the world in which we live,” he said.

Wilson and Aslan said that one thing is clear: Change is constant, as is our resistance to change.

Authors Reza Aslan and G. Willow Wilson. KUOW PHOTO/GIL AEGERTER

The over-thirty-minute conversation covered a range of issues and superhero properties, and it can be heard in full at the KUOW website.

Sacred & Sequential Report from the San Diego Comic-Con, Part 2

As she did with its opening day, special correspondent Samantha Langsdale continued to report from the 2017 International Comic-Con San Diego (aka the San Diego Comic-Con or SDCC).

In addition to her own presentation at the Comic Arts Conference (CAC), Samantha relayed intriguing notes on another presenter, Kerry Fine, and her analysis of Arigon Starr’s Super Indian:

Kerry Fine of Arizona State University

A panel from Arigon Starr's SUPER INDIANOk, annoyingly, Travis Langley’s name tag got left on the podium, but this is Kerry Fine from Arizona State University, She’s discussing Arigon Starr’s comic Super Indian, which, through allusions, humor, and hyperbole, challenges normative assumptions about Native American spirituality and culture.

It challenges assumptions about native being “magical” and, instead, shows the normal, everyday experiences of Native Americans whilst always being critical of colonial representations of natives.

In fact, Starr herself was invited up as a special guest.

Arigon Starr

When asked about any relevant buzz concerning the Eisner Awards, Samantha reported

haven’t heard much chat to that effect. I’ve been mildly annoyed to find nothing about Islam. We’re going back to the Small Press section today [Sunday] to rummage around, so I’ll see if I can find some indie. But overwhelmingly nothing and no panels!

She noted some Ms. Marvel cosplay but scarce else notably Islamic. Christianity, on the other hand, was well represented:

Jesus cosplay by @TheJesusHChrist Samantha also noted that the IDW panel mentioned “plans to publish a comic about Antar” and that, along with the cosplay, Ms. Marvel was a frequently mentioned character, “a fav on almost every panel I went to about diversity/women.” (She was unable to attend the “Spiritual Themes in Comics” panel hosted by the Christian Comic Arts Society, however, where panelists ” examine[d] how spiritual themes influence the entertainment industry and how the reality of spiritual beliefs affects the culture’s perception of spiritual influences. )

Sacred and Sequential once again wants to thank Samantha for her time and notes — as always, so much to see at SDCC!