DC comics recently retconned their superheroes origins and most notably their sexual orientations (See Green Lantern Alan Scott), Marvel too aims to diversify their line up of characters.
As with most superheroes it's a common stereotype to see them as Caucasian. Luckily this stereotype is rapidly changing. Comics these days are implementing various ways to diversify ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and other factors that tend to get pigeonholed.
Marvel recently announced that it's new on-going series Marvel NOW, an answer to DC's The New 52 will introduce a young Muslim girl, Kamala Khan. She will be a superhero living in Jersey City and will definitely allow Marvel to break free from the norms that have lasted too long.
The character will be introduced as an avid fan of Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel, a long time Avenger. Khan will discover in the opening issue that she has powers and will take up the mantle of Ms Marvel, Captain Marvel's first code name.
Her powers will include growth and shrinking of her limbs and then eventually she will be able to shape shift into different forms.
Marvel does have a strong showing of female characters, and allows for them to develop their characters better than their cheif rivals, DC Comics. Kitty Pryde, Jean Grey, Carol Danvers, Natasha Romanova , Storm, Rogue, Jessica Drew are just some of the women on the frontline of Marvel Comics.
Although there have been other superheroes of varied ethnic backgrounds and religions, this marks a major turning point for Marvel. DC Comic's similarly introduced Simon Baz, a half-Lebanese resident of Detroit, Michigan. He took over the pages of Green Lantern as well as appearing in Justice League Of America.
The New York Times did an interview with the creative team behind the project, to view the interview, click here.
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