Faiza Hussain
Faiza Hussain wielding Excalibur.
Art by Bryan Hitch.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCaptain Britain and MI: 13 #1
(May 2008)
Created byPaul Cornell
Leonard Kirk
In-story information
Alter egoFaiza Hussain
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsMI-13
Champions of Europe
Mighty Medics
PartnershipsBlack Knight (Dane Whitman)
Notable aliasesExcalibur
Abilities
  • Psionic bio-deconstruction:
    • Ability to manipulate, assemble, and disassemble anything on an atomic level
    • Ability to heal the wounds of others
    • Ability to paralyze others
  • Wielder of the Excalibur Sword
    • Skilled sword user
    • Magic detection
  • Trained doctor

Dr. Faiza Hussain[1] is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Paul Cornell and artist Leonard Kirk, the character first appeared in Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1 (May 2008).[2] Faiza Hussain uses the codename Excalibur.[3] She is used as the title's "point of view character."[4]

Publication history

Faiza Hussain was created by Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk, with the character debuting in Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1 (May 2008).

Cornell has been aided in the development of this character by a panel of Muslim women, Mona Bayoumi, Safiya Sayed Baharun, Farida Patel, and Sohere Roked.[5][6]

Faiza Hussain, originally written in early scripts as "Faisa", is named after the former England cricket Captain Nasser Hussain[5] and although she is a British Muslim character, creator Paul Cornell has stated he does not want Faiza to be a pillar for the entire British Muslim community:

I think superheroes are too prone to being standard bearers for whole communities.

— Paul Cornell[7]

He also did not want her to say anything religious until in a situation where an everyday religious person would and steered her away from the normal clichés associated with Muslim characters.

Fictional character biography

Faiza Hussain is the only daughter of a family of Bengali heritage who lives in Chelmsford in Essex.[7] A London-based Muslim medical doctor, and British superhero fangirl, Faiza initially gets caught up in the Skrull's invasion as she is performing battlefield triage while the Skrull attack is going on around her.[1] While tending to the wounded, alongside the Black Knight, Faiza Hussain is struck by a Skrull laser weapon, this weapon seemingly gives Faiza powers which she uses to help Black Knight fend off more Skrulls.[6]

After the defeat of the Skrulls, Faiza Hussain became the wielder of Excalibur,[8] and joined MI:13 as Black Knight's steward.[9] When Dracula attacked the United Kingdom he personally attacked Faiza's family, injuring her mother while kidnapping her father and sending forces to attack the members of MI:13. In the aftermath of the attack, Pete Wisdom deduced that attack's aim was to keep Faiza (and Excalibur) out of the battle. He gives Faiza the codename "Excalibur" because he wants Dracula and his forces to hear and know that the mythical blade is still an active part of MI:13.[3]

During the Secret Empire storyline, Faiza appears as a member of the Champions of Europe alongside Ares, Captain Britain, Guillotine, Outlaw, and Peregrine. Alongside Squirrel Girl and Enigma, the Champions free Paris, France from a Hydra invasion force.[10]

Powers and abilities

Faiza Hussain has the power to manipulate, assemble, and disassemble anything on an atomic level. She can disassemble a living body into its component parts while keeping the subject alive. She stopped a horde of Skrulls by preventing their bodies from moving with her powers.[6] She is seen to use these powers not only on living organisms, but also on other kinds of materials, like Black Knight's clothes.[8] She can also use her powers to heal the wounds of others.[11][12] The extent and classification of these powers are yet to be revealed, but Black Knight described them as purely defensive.[9]

In an interview, Paul Cornell outlined her powers:

She can safely open up a body, see what's wrong with it, and sort it out on a subatomic level. This has the incidental effect of halting shape-changers like Skrulls in their tracks (and anyone else who knows what's good for them). She has trouble doing this to magic beings.[13]

Additionally, Faiza Hussain wields the sword of Excalibur.[14][15] The sword allows her to sense magic near herself.[16] She is also a trained doctor.[17][18]

Reception

Critical reception

Kieran Shiach of ComicsAlliance asserted, "Britain needs someone who represents the very best of our nation; our multiculturalism, our stiff upper lip and affable self-deprecation, even our National Health Service. Faiza Hussain is everything I love about Great Britain, and she makes me proud to be British, and if someone is going to represent my nation in superhero comic books, there’s no better candidate."[19]

Accolades

  • In 2019, CBR.com ranked Faiza Hussain 4th in their "Top 15 British Superheroes in the Marvel Universe" list.[20]
  • In 2020, Scary Mommy included Faiza Hussain in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.[21]
  • In 2021, Screen Rant included Faiza Hussain in their "10 Best British Heroes Fans Would Love To See In The MCU" list.[22]
  • In 2022, Screen Rant included Faiza Hussain in their "10 Best Doctors In Marvel Comics" list.[23]

Other versions

Age of Ultron

In the Age of Ultron crossover, Faiza Hussain briefly adopts the mantle of Captain Britain from Brian Braddock in case he dies fighting Ultron.[24]

Secret Wars

Faiza Hussain / Captain Britain appears in the two-part Secret Wars tie-in, Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders.[25]

In other media

Faiza Hussain appears as a playable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.

References

  1. 1 2 Paul Cornell (w), Leonard Kirk (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "The Guns Of Avalon" Captain Britain and MI: 13, no. 1 (July 2008). Marvel Comics.
  2. ↑ Fink, Richard (2022-05-07). "These Superheroes Deserve Movie Origin Stories". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  3. 1 2 Paul Cornell (w), Leonard Kirk (p). "Vampire State" Captain Britain and MI: 13, no. 11 (April 2009). Marvel Comics.
  4. ↑ "British Invasion", Marvel.com, March 24, 2008
  5. 1 2 DAMN BLOODY SKRULLS: CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13, Comic Book Resources, April 29, 2008
  6. 1 2 3 Paul Cornell (w), Leonard Kirk (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "The Guns Of Avalon" Captain Britain and MI: 13, no. 2 (August 2008). Marvel Comics.
  7. 1 2 Richards, Dave (March 9, 2008). "Super Spy Weekend: Faisa [sic] Hussain". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Paul Cornell (w), Leonard Kirk (p), Jesse Delperdang (i). "The Guns Of Avalon" Captain Britain and MI: 13, no. 4 (October 2008). Marvel Comics.
  9. 1 2 Paul Cornell (w), Pat Olliffe (p), Paul Neary (i). "Hell In Birmingham" Captain Britain and MI: 13, no. 5 (November 2008). Marvel Comics.
  10. ↑ U.S.Avengers #7-9 (2017)
  11. ↑ Captain Britain and MI-13 #5
  12. ↑ Gambit Vol 5 #17
  13. ↑ X-POSITION: Paul Cornell, Comic Book Resources, February 17, 2009
  14. ↑ Captain Britain and MI-13 #4
  15. ↑ Austin, Michael (2019-08-29). "10 Swords In Marvel Comics That Are Completely OP". CBR. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  16. ↑ Captain Britain and MI-13 #7-8
  17. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #1
  18. ↑ Captain Britain and MI-13 #1
  19. ↑ Shiach, Kieran (July 2016). "We Need A New Captain Britain And It Needs To Be Faiza Hussain". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  20. ↑ Troughton, James (2019-12-23). "Top 15 British Superheroes in the Marvel Universe". CBR. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  21. ↑ "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic". Scary Mommy. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  22. ↑ Chrysostomou, George (2021-05-31). "10 Best British Heroes Fans Would Love To See In The MCU". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  23. ↑ Etemesi, Philip (2022-05-26). "Doctor Strange 2: 10 Best Doctors In Marvel Comics". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  24. ↑ Avengers Assemble #15AU
  25. ↑ Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #1-2
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