5 Writers Whose Work Was Shaped By Amazing Pre-Comics Careers
3. G. Willow Wilson - Teaching English In Egypt
In 2003, G. Willow Wilson was on a plane headed to Cairo, Egypt. She had agreed to teach English in the Egyptian capital shortly before her college graduation. Wilson was raised as an atheist but had been drawn to religion after suffering from adrenal problems. During her flight, she had an enlightenment of sorts, converting to Islam while still abroad the aircraft.
While living in Egypt, Wilson openly practiced Islam. She met her future husband Omar, who would act as her cultural guide. Wilson would teach English and write for a variety of publications, including ones critical of then Egyptian President Mubarak. Wilson and Omar would eventually move to the United States, where her comic book career would blossom.
Wilson's unique experiences living as a western Muslim convert in Egypt and America would have a profound impact on her work. Her first graphic novel, Vertigo's 2007 release Cario, takes place in contemporary Egypt.
Wilson is perhaps best known, however, for co-creating creating Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel in 2013. Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager living in New Jersey, is the first Muslim Marvel character to to headline an ongoing series. Ms. Marvel is set to break down even more barriers as the character is slated to star in an upcoming Disney+ series, as well as being the lead in Crystal Dynamics' upcoming Avengers video game.