The teshkeel group sells 10,000 copies of each issue. The 99, an allahinspired comic wildly popular in the islamic world, is set to make its tv debut. Related stories july 2014 is the most profitable month ever in comic book history, and comics are only getting bigger. The 99, a group of islamic inspired superheroes, has received the kind of positive international publicity that superheroes rarely get, particularly new ones. This is the start of the comic the 99, which can now be seen in its television series format for the first time in the middle east and australia. But after mutawa guaranteed that he would remain respectful of religion and won backing from a major islamic bank, the series took off around the gulf. There are plans for france, turkey, and a television series. Yet forbes magazine is calling it one of the top 20 trends sweeping the world.
Superheroes for the muslim world columbia business. Saudi grand mufti issues a fatwa against the comic book and. When you do something based on islamic culture, thats global, says almutawa. The creator of an islaminspired series of comic books hopes his work will. Superheroes created by kuwaiti psychologist prepare to. Apr 25, 2007 when you do something based on islamic culture, thats global, says almutawa. Muslim children love the 99 comics, but hardliners loathe their creator whose trial for heresy is looming. This book analyzes the origins and organizational structure of islamic state is, examining its military triumphs and success in securing new recruits via social media. The 99, a comic book series based on characters that each personify one of the 99 qualities that the koran attributes to god, met early resistance in places like saudi arabia. Oct, 2011 kuwaiti psychologist launches muslim comic book series with superheroes based on 99 virtues of allah but runs into resistance from muslims and other issues. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new. We are reshaping global media and constantly working to strengthen our. Oct 27, 2010 whats even more remarkable is that the 99 only came into being in 2007 with some remarkable firsts. The name of the series stems from the 99 attributes of god outlined in the quran, the holy text of islam.
Kuwaiti psychologist launches muslim comic book series with superheroes based on 99 virtues of allah but runs into resistance from muslims and other issues. Make a gift to support our work now, and your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar. The 99, as almutawa named his creation, has everything a good comic book needsevil in the world and superheroes to fight it. Teshkeels newest venture, the 99, which is due to debut in the united states in october 2007. Comics to battle for truth, justice and the islamic way by hassan m. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new york times. Naif almutawa, founder and ceo of teshkeel media group. The 99 offers children in the arab and islamic world a new beacon of light and many children have been inspired by the 99. The 99 is based on a pivotal moment in islamic history. In mutawas series, 99 gemstones encrypted with baghdads wisdom and power were scattered around the world, left for superheroes such as jabbar the powerful and noora the light to find before their archnemesis rughal does. Muslim comic series seeks global audience books hindustan. And his desire is to rescue islam from images of intolerance, all in a childfriendly format. Since the summer of 2006, a new issue of the 99 has been published monthly in an english and an arabic edition.
Today, the 99 has received international attention. In the aftermath of 911, a muslim man creates a comic book series, the 99, inspired by the principles of his faith. They are superheroes battling injustice and fighting evil the islamic way, and they are teaming up with some of the wests biggest comic book icons. The 99, an allahinspired comic wildly popular in the. Local authorities worried that the series might mock islam. Kuwaitbased teshkeel media group has attempted to answer this question by creating comic books infused with islam. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new york. Saudi fatwa against the 99 tolerant muslim superhero comics. The 99 inspired by islam and its message society gulf news.
Indonesian and us versions have just been launched, and a malaysian edition will follow in the near future. The 99 hey kids comics wiki fandom powered by wikia. That is exactly what the 99, the islamic superheroes created by kuwaiti psychologist nayef al mutawa, are about to do in a new comic book series to be launched by dc comics. Oct 14, 2011 no easy task, given that some muslimnation censors frown upon drawings of living beings, much less a roster of comicbook superheroes named after the 99 attributes of allah. The bad guy is 500 years old and wont let go of power sound familiar. Islamic comic superheroes the 99 to air on us television. The following correction was printed in the guardians corrections and clarifications column, friday 10 july 2009. Created with the team behind big brother, deal or no deal and star academy the animated series of the 99, which will air in the us in the autumn, will be equally gamechanging. Superheroes for the muslim world may 15, 2007 are comic book superheroes compatible with islamic culture. Forbes named the 99 as one of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe and president barack obama praised dr. Jul 05, 2009 the following correction was printed in the guardians corrections and clarifications column, friday 10 july 2009. Almutawa began the series the 99 to provide muslim children with superheroes with whom they could identify. And the tv series is going to show in saudi arabia before america now.
This is where the story of the 99 is essentially set a story that can be summed up in just a few words. Comic book fans might call it a great origin story. Are comic book superheroes compatible with islamic culture. Crossovers dont happen often and even less often with characters that are just three years old.
Whats even more remarkable is that the 99 only came into being in 2007 with some remarkable firsts. Unlike most comics, however, its stories are told in an islamic context. Sarah joseph speaks to the founder, dr naif almutawa. But it wasnt an islamic cleric that stalled the series, called the 99, after the 99 attributes of allah, which the superheroes are supposed to embody. Islamic superheroes going global time, time, august 5, 2008. In july 2006, naif almutawa, a kuwaiti clinical psychologist, launched the first islamically themed superhero comics. The 99, naif al mutawa and islamic superheroes cnn. Comic artist redraws islam with secular superheroes in. In the article below, we said that while the islamic superheroes were sometimes. Distributed throughout 99 nations of the world, each of them possesses one of the knowledgesaturated noor stones, which gives them superhuman talents. A writer, a clinical psychologist, an entrepreneur and a family man, al mutawa is the creator of the 99, the comic book superheroes born of an islamic archetype.
Culture books features the all islamic super heroes. The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as stuart moore, june brigman, john mccrea, ron wagner and sean parsons who have all worked with both marvel and dc comic. Jun 19, 2008 kuwaiti author creates 99 new superheroes naif almutawa wrote the 99, a comic book series based on islamic ideas, which aims to promote tolerance. Perhaps surprisingly, half of the heroes are females. Created by naif almutawa and published by teshkeel comics, the 99 features a team of superheroes with abilities mainly based on the 99 virtues of allah in islam. The 99, the islaminspired comic series that almutawa launched eight years ago, has won a devoted worldwide audience, as well as a dc comics crossover, a tv show. Now, these are the worlds first islamic superheroes. The comic book in question, the 99, was the first to feature a team of superheroes from the muslim world and their virtues are those celebrated in islamic culture and society. They were created by a kuwaiti psychologist called naif al mutawa.
The 99 is a comic book, created by naif almutawa and published by teshkeel comics, featuring a team of superheroes with special abilities based on the 99 attributes of allah in islam. The launch of the 99, superheroes based on an islamic archetype, was not without some controversy. Almutawa is the creator of the 99 comic series, a hugelysuccessful comic book series. And, in true superhero style, they use these powers to fight bad guys. Naif almutawa decided to create islamic superheroes. Kuwaiti entrepreneur naif almutawa created the first muslimbased comic book series, the 99, which features teenaged islamic superheroes. Apr, 2010 the 99, as almutawa named his creation, has everything a good comic book needsevil in the world and superheroes to fight it. Islamic inspired comic superheroes fight for positive values. The 99 has received positive attention from the worlds media. The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such. Saudi grand mufti issues a fatwa against the comic book.
Jul 24, 2009 almutawa began the series the 99 to provide muslim children with superheroes with whom they could identify. It is the american market, and the voices of islams western critics, that have caused the most problems for the 99, says almutawa, who is the focus of a pbs documentary airing. The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as fabian nicieza, stuart moore, june brigman, dan panosian, john. Although the title appears to imply that there are 99 members on the team, their numbers actually consist of only a dozen people. Superman, batman and wonder woman are among those joining forces with the 99, who personify the.
Jul 28, 2011 comic book heroes help change image of islam. Naif almutawa is the creator of the 99, the first group of comic superheroes born of an islamic archetype. Kuwaiti author creates 99 new superheroes naif almutawa wrote the 99, a comic book series based on islamic ideas, which aims to promote tolerance. Toro ridwan from indonesia with the ability to open up portals to faraway places and by stepping through them instantly go anywhere. Saudi fatwa against the 99 tolerant muslim superhero. Naif and the 99 as perhaps the most innovative of the thousands. The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as stuart moore, june brigman, john mccrea, ron wagner and sean parsons. But many things about the 99 are conventional, and that is what makes it so remarkable. Naif almutawa, mba 03, teshkeels founder and ceo, returned to campus on may 15, 2007. From its base in iraq and syria, is has spread globally with 17 regional affiliates from indonesia to nigeria and sleeper cells in at least 60 countries, capable of atrocities. Mar 11, 2015 when obama made his seminal speech in cairo in june 2009, reaching out to the muslim world, almutawa decided to mark that moment in comic book terms by having the 99 work with superheroes from.
A version of this article was published in the national on sunday, april 26 2014 related video. The 99, also written as the ninetynine, is a comic book published by teshkeel comics, featuring a team of superheroes based on islamic culture and religion the series is a creation of dr. Aug 22, 2010 islaminspired comic superheroes fight for peace. When obama made his seminal speech in cairo in june 2009, reaching out to the muslim world, almutawa decided to mark that moment in comicbook terms by having the 99 work with superheroes from. The children love them, the 99 super heroes who today seven centuries after the mongol invasion, fight for what hulagu sought to destroy. Ramzi, a scholar and social activist, the 99 youngsters some of them. Related stories july 2014 is the most profitable month ever in comic. Detroit comic book fans might call it a great origin story.
The 99, a comicbook series based on characters that each personify one of the 99 qualities that the koran attributes to god, met early resistance in places like saudi arabia. The 99, a group of islamicinspired superheroes, has received the kind of positive international publicity that superheroes rarely get, particularly new ones. When dr naif al mutawa created the first group of superheroes born of islamic archetype, he didnt know his comic book series, the 99, was going to stir controversy all over the world. Comic artist redraws islam with secular superheroes in the 99. The name comes from the 99 attributes of allah in islam. Now, my second example is for a slightly younger crowd.
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