Finding a Place for a Muslimah Heroine in the Post-9/11 Marvel Universe: New X-Men's Dust

Abstract

Soon after the attacks on the US on September 11, 2001, Marvel Comics introduced Dust, an observant Sunni Muslim, as a member of the New X-Men. In this study, we point out how the focus upon her Islamic faith departs from conventional depictions of superheroes in American popular media. Additionally, we discuss how her religious beliefs and practices define her as different, and thus sets her apart, from other superheroes. We also examine how, in keeping with the American monomyth metanarrative that informs the superhero genre, Dust functions as a liminal character, one who bridges the worlds of Islam and the West. The paper concludes by noting that Dust, in common with other superheroines, is relegated to the periphery of Marvel's narratives primarily because she is female.

Keywords::

• 9/11
• American monomyth
• comic books
• Islam
• September 11
• superheroes

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie Davis

Julie Davis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina. She has written about such popular culture icons as Dilbert and Scooby-Doo. E-mail: [email protected]

Robert Westerfelhaus

Robert Westerfelhaus is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina. He has also written about popular culture icons. E-mail: [email protected]