How A Real Syrian Mother Became The Hero Of A Marvel Comic Book

Marvel has added another superhero to its collection, and she’s not your typical flying crime fighter ― she’s a Syrian mother. 

Since January, ABC News has been documenting part of the Syrian civil war through text messages and phone conversations from a mother of five in the town of Madaya, which has been under siege by Syrian government forces. Marvel teamed up with ABC News to turn the mom’s heartbreaking experiences in the war-torn country into a comic titled “Madaya Mom.”

Through her communication with ABC News, the mom explained that she and her family have faced intense hunger and that cold weather has forced them to burn their furniture for warmth. She also shared that her neighbor lost one of his legs after stepping on a landmine. Dalibor Talajić, the artist behind the comic, said that it was the way the mother described this “everyday horror” that impacted him. Through his art, he wanted to encourage readers to pay attention to the traumatizing reality Syrian people are facing. 

“They are somewhere out there within our TV sets, some far world that we don’t belong to,” he told ABC News.

Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso agreed that the “Madaya Mom” project, which includes a digital comic book and a graphic documentary, offers an important and necessary story that can’t be ignored. 

“This meticulously researched collaboration between ABC and Marvel goes where cameras can’t and provides visuals to the true story of Madaya Mom - a story that needs to be seen and told,” he said in a press release.

“Madaya Mom” is available to read online at ABC News. See more images from the comic below.

H/T The Stir