From Thor to Spiderman: Superheroes undergo diversity makeovers

They're the same superheroes but Marvel is changing the gender and cultural background of much loved comic book characters.

The new female Thor God of Thunder character for Marvel comics. (AAP)

They're beloved by children and adults around the world and now some of Marvel's most popular comic book characters are getting a makeover.

Now, the latest in the line of comic book makeovers is Ms Marvel. She's now Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani American Muslim girl from Jersey.

She's also the first Muslim character to headline her own comic book.

Ms Marvel isn't the first superhero to undergo a change in identity.

Marvel Comics shocked fans last month by changing the sex of Thor, the God of Thunder. The new female Thor will appear in a comic in October.

Spiderman, who was once Peter Parker, is now Miles Morales - a Hispanic African American teenager.