The Marvel world is about to get a new superhero – and he is Muslim.
Amulet is an Arab American superhero hailing from Dearborn, Michigan, and he is set to join Pakistani American teen superhero Ms Marvel in the comic book series.
Magnificent Ms Marvel writer Saladin Ahmed dreamt up Amulet alongside Jordanian-American illustrator Sara Al-Fageeh, who helped bring the character to life.
Amulet, whose real name is Fadi Fadlalah, is described as a Lebanese-American who is "fun" and "mysterious", and will be playing a role in Magnificent Ms Marvel "for many years to come".
UHM. SOME NEWS. I designed the newest superhero for Ms. Marvel!
— Sara Alfageeh (@SaraAlfageeh) December 18, 2019
Meet Amulet.
4 years ago reading Ms. Marvel vol 1 convinced me to become an illustrator. AMULET means so much to me as a nerdy lil Arab kid.
Thank you @saladinahmed for trusting me with him!https://t.co/XEhnS4JGyu pic.twitter.com/0Flozk99lK
Introducing the character on Marvel’s website, Ahmed said, “We're keeping most of the details of him close to our chests, but I can tell you that his powers are magical in nature, and that he is an Arab-American superhero from Michigan.”
Readers will get to meet Amulet in the newest edition of the comic, Magnificent Ms Marvel #13, which will go on sale in March 2020.
Al-Fageeh also shared her excitement at being involved with the creation on Amulet on social media. "Four years ago reading Ms Marvel vol 1 convinced me to become an illustrator," she said in a tweet. "Amulet means so much to me as a nerdy lil Arab kid. Thank you @saladinahmed for trusting me with him!"
Amulet’s Arab roots are clear from the illustrations of the character, with Al-Fageeh drawing inspiration from the blue and white colours of the Nazar – something that he also carries as a precious family heirloom.
Amulet joins an increasingly diverse bunch of new superheros from Marvel, including Filipina superhero Wave.
