Superheroes

Kamala Khan isn't your typical Marvel superhero. Sure, she battles bad guys. But she's also a Muslim high school student living with her Pakistani-born parents in Jersey City — which makes Ms. Marvel the first show or film in the Marvel universe to feature a Muslim hero.

The HBO show uses sci-fi and superheroes to examine American racism. Cord Jefferson wrote the episode in which the main character goes back in time and to relive the trauma of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre.

With The Old Guard, Prince-Bythewood becomes the first Black woman to direct an adaptation of a comic book.

The Netflix streaming service is presenting the first season of its newest collaboration with the Marvel comics group. It's called The Defenders and it's a small-screen teaming of superheroes that has been part of Netflix's programming plans since 2015.

Marvel returns to its Guardians superheroes in this sequel, but the resulting film is lacking. Critic David Edelstein calls Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 "a big mess — with dumb jokes."

Director Zack Snyder layers subplot on top of subplot in his film of battling superheroes. Critic David Edelstein says Batman v. Superman is full of fragments and teases, and overall, "just awful."

TV critic David Bianculli points to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring Andy Samberg, and The Blacklist, starring James Spader, as shows to watch this season. Other debuts, like The Michael J. Fox Show and The Crazy Ones, show plenty of potential.

Fresh Air film critic David Edelstein reviews Iron Man, based on the Marvel comics hero. The film, directed by Jon Favreau, stars Robert Downey Jr. as a billionaire weapons inventor, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard.

Film critic David Edelstein has a review of the Batman installment, starring Christian Bale, Katie Holmes and Michael Caine. Is there room for one more film about the Caped Crusader? As the title suggests, this one goes back to the origins of a classic American character.

We talk with Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning film The Incredibles, about a suburban family with superpowers. The mix of average characters and extraordinary abilities has turned the animated characters into celebrities.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews the new Pixar animated film The Incredibles. Voiced by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, among others, the comic film tracks a family of superheroes who must abandon a quiet life in the suburbs to fight evil.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews X2: X-Men United.

Lee is the creator of such Marvel comic book superheroes as Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, and The Fantastic Four. He joined Marvel comic books at the age of 16, more than 30 years ago. Lee is currently launching Excelsior Comics, an independent comic book division of Marvel Entertainment. He is also co-executive producer of several top rated television series including "X-Men." (REBROADCAST FROM 10/17/91)