In 2014, Marvel introduced its new comics iteration of Ms. Marvel: Kamala Khan, the first Muslim American superhero to get her own Marvel solo title. A nerdy, Tumblr-reading, wisecracking Pakistani-American teenager from New Jersey, devoted to justice and fangirling Wolverine, the new Ms. Marvel was an instant hit. As written by Muslim American writer G. Willow Wilson, Kamala Khan broke records and stereotypes: Her debut issue received a rare sixth printing, and the character quickly became a beloved cosplay staple at geek conventions.

But since her debut, Kamala has also become something more: a real-world emblem of protest against Islamophobia. Back in 2015, the San Francisco street art activist group Street Cred deployed her image in response to a series of racist bus ads that had been bought by an anti-Muslim group. The artists strategically vandalized the ads using Kamala’s image, encouraging passersby to spread love, not hate, for the Muslim community.

NOT: "..ads splattered on the sides of Muni buses, purchased by blogger Pamela Geller’s American Freedom Defense... Street Cred - Advertising for the Peopleさんの投稿 2015年1月25日

Now, amid the tumultuous political and cultural climate following the election of President Donald Trump and his recent “Muslim ban,” Kamala has emerged as the leader of a band of social-justice-driven superheroes. Claimed by protesters and wielded across social media, Ms. Marvel, along with iconic superheroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman, has become a symbol of resistance to the sweeping changes Trump issued during his first week in office.

Artist Phil Noto recently remixed one of his own comics covers in order to symbolize Kamala’s reaction to a Trump presidency. In the original, a variant of Civil War II, Issue #0, Kamala is depicting a falling-out with her idol and mentor, Captain Marvel. Here, she’s making a fiercely anti-Trump statement.

I felt like I needed to take another pass at this one- pic.twitter.com/9N1Il3qVoa — Phil Noto (@philnoto) January 28, 2017

Images of protesters using Kamala’s image in opposition to the ban have turned up across social media.

Ms. Marvel wouldn't be okay with this either. So I protested at Dulles International Airport. #NoMuslimBan #kamalakhan #msmarvel A photo posted by Michele Kelly (@mkaysphinx90) on Jan 29, 2017 at 3:02pm PST

My favorite protest sign. #kamalakhan #msmarvel #womenofmarvel #marvelcomics #notmypresident #nomuslimban #muslimlivesmatter #muslimban #fightlikeagirl A photo posted by Full Metal Waifu (@super_kami_waifu) on Jan 29, 2017 at 9:05pm PST

And cosplayers have gotten in on the act.

Ms. Marvel didn't need no protest sign this time. Kamala Khan approves of the variant cover art @philnoto #NoBanNoWall pic.twitter.com/w3K9AiWA3m — NavdeepSinghDhillon (@navdeep_dhillon) January 29, 2017

Kamala is a stark reminder that there is a human — perhaps even a superhuman — face behind the travelers and refugees whose lives are at risk as a result of the ban, an idea that several online artists have honed in on.

Captain America and other superheroes have also become faces — and fists — of resistance

Kamala isn’t the only superhero who’s been recontextualized in the wake of protests against the Trump administration, with Captain America emerging as another notable symbol.

San Jose council member Lan Diep was recently sworn into office while holding Captain America’s shield; a Republican, Diep later stated he was “upset” by the immigrant ban. In a more pointed deployment of Cap’s image, cartoonist Vishavjit Singh cosplayed as “Sikh Captain America” on Inauguration Day, holding a sign reading, “Black, Muslim, Trans, Latino, Asian, White … We all Make America Great.”

One of the most memorable Captain America images to circulate recently is the famous 1941 Captain America cover, originally drawn by legendary comic artist and Captain America co-creator Jack Kirby, in which Captain America punches a Nazi. The Kirby drawing has become surprisingly relevant within the past couple of weeks, spawning a viral meme and prompting discussion around the history of superheroes punching Nazis. A remix in which Kamala Khan punches Trump was created in 2015 but began recirculating among fans in the wake of Trump’s election, as fears about his proposed ban on Muslims grew.

Melissa Groben, the daughter of Captain America’s other creator, Joe Simon, recently told the Hollywood Reporter that there is no wrong way to use the image of the iconic superhero:

“We all find whatever we need in a particular character, whatever that may be. So, I can't say that the way anyone is using the character is wrong.” … “[Kirby and Simon] created Captain America to go after Hitler because our country wouldn't go after Hitler. My father was very, very, very pro America, pro Jewish, he was very traditional, and it was a different world back then."

Given that superheroes are known to punch people, many of the artistic resistance involving them has also involved a lot of punching. A widely circulated image by an anonymous artist of Wonder Woman punching Trump spawned a thread of superhero resistance fan art.

Someone please draw more pictures of female superheroes punching Trump. We can't stop with just Wonder Woman. pic.twitter.com/gSiaAeoVc6 — OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) January 31, 2017

Not everyone has embraced the use of Ms. Marvel, Captain America, and others as symbols of sometimes-violent resistance, pointing out that Captain America would be in favor of protecting even neo-Nazi free speech, and arguing that Ms. Marvel would be in favor of an immigration vetting system designed to ward against terrorism. Still, some of the fan art produced in recent days has maintained hope for unity and camaraderie in times of turmoil — a goal you don’t have to be a superhero, or even a protester, to strive for.