With the first episode out for less than a week on Disney+, "Ms Marvel," the latest Marvel TV series, is already creating a buzz on social networks. And one aspect of the show in particular is generating commentary: the fact that Ms Marvel is Muslim. While many fans have applauded this first among major Marvel characters, others lament that an "emphasis" on religion has been introduced into this universe. However, upon closer inspection, you"ll find that it"s not at all the first time that a Marvel superhero"s beliefs are evoked.
Do superheroes have a patron saint? Well, we can try to answer that question using clues from the numerous comic books and multiple film and TV adaptations that depict their various adventures. But the release on June 8 of "Ms Marvel" has (re)launched the debate around Marvel superheroes" religious leanings. Presented as the first superhero of Muslim faith, "Ms Marvel" has been criticized for putting religion in the foreground. Many social network users have questioned whether or not it"s important to know what religion a superhero is, while others asserted that they hadn"t seen any Christian or Jewish superheroes. Statements which were debunked by other Marvel comics fans. One example that has come up frequently is the recent Disney+ Marvel universe series "Moon Knight," whose superhero is clearly identified as Jewish. One scene even depicts a religious ritual.
Pakistani-Canadian actress Iman Vellani, who plays Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel, stressed the importance of representation for the Muslim community without making generalizations in an interview with Variety. "That"s what I keep telling myself: I don"t really have to go out of my way and advocate for Muslim and Pakistani representation," she explains. "This is one story of one girl. We cannot represent all two billion Muslims and South Asians, but this is definitely a good start."
First Published: Jun 15, 2022, 17:14
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