Superhero Friday

Wow been introducing a few new segments here at the window this week. Well I got the idea to do this one from a blog posted by Uglyblackjohn. While it was not the intent of his blog to talk about superheroes he said some things that made me realize a lot of people are unaware of the strides comicdom has made to bring more (pardon the pun) color into comics. So I bring you the first of weekly entires of ...

DUST

Real Name: Sooraya Qadir

Universe: Marvel

Nationality: Afghan

Team: Young X-Men

Book: Young X-Men

First Appearance: New X-Men #133

History: Sold into slavery in her native Afghanistan at a young age, Sooraya Qadir was liberated by Wolverine of the X-Men. Subsequently enrolled as a student at the Xavier Institute, Sooraya was originally placed in the Special Class to allow her time to acclimatize to her new environment. When the Class' instructor, Xorn, was manipulated into believing he was Magneto, Sooraya joined the X-Men in opposing him.

Powers: Dust can transform herself into an explosive cloud of sand-like silicon particles and maintain control of her sand form (for instance scouring the flesh from her enemies' bones like a sandstorm, shredding steel or forming a human-shaped body), before reforming at will.

Cultural Note: After some of their other attempts in the past, it seems Marvel did not just take what they had seen on television and just create an Islamic character, they actually did research. Dust is observed at all times wearing her Abaya though occasionally some artist tighten it at the waist to show off her curves which defeats the purpose of the garment.