G. Willow Wilson

G. Willow Wilson is a successful journalist and writer who has recently become a major player in the world of comics thanks to the success of her Ms Marvel title. Wilson started out as a journalist based in Cairo and wrote for various publications including the New York Times and after delving in other areas such as music criticism before breaking into the comic industry with the award winning graphic novel Cairo and series Air. However, in 2014 the huge success of Ms Marvel has put her on the map as a major driving force in the world of comics which in a world dominated by straight white-men in both the creator and product sides of the equation, it has been considered by many a very welcomed change.

First image shown of the new Ms. Marvel

                   

Ms Marvel stars Khamala Khan, a muslim teenage girl living in New Jersey who one day finds herself with newly awoken shape-shifting powers. In between balancing her home and superhero life many readers have been able to resonate with Khamala's story and has drawn many comparisons to what Spider-Man comics did back in the 1960's but now for a new generation that is helping reach a wider more inclusive audience. She may not have been the first muslim character comic nor first female superhero but her success both critically and commercially has brought to the forefront to the major comic publishers the fact that success can be had and is welcomed with characters other than the prototypical straight white superhero. The audience identifies with Khamala because at its heart, Ms Marvel is a story about growing up and dealing with all the problems and responsibilities that come along with it. The audience, especially those who are minorities finally have a hero who more closely can identify with them and in a way represents their story, even if sometimes it is by punching a 50-foot robot.

Ms. Marvel #1 can be purchased and read on iPad/other tablets here:

Comixology