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2012: Year of THE 99!

January 2012

FREE Copy of THE 99 Origins Story – BEGINNINGS

November 2011

THE 99 movie reviews are in! See for yourself.

October 2011

WHAM! BAM! ISLAM! And THE 99

September 2011

THE 99 - Characters

DR. RAMZI RAZEM
DR. RAMZI RAZEM
Real Name: Dr. Ramzi Razem
Home Country: Unknown
Age: 35
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 77 kg
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Base of Operation: THE 99 Steps Foundation, Seville, Spain
. . .

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Jazma Online.com: Exclusive Interview.

March 27, 2006
DR. NAIF AL-MUTAWA
CEO of Teshkeel Media Group and Creator/Writer of THE 99
by Richard Vasseur - (Posted: 3/26/2006)

RV: Where were you born and raised? And can you tell us something about your family?
NAM:: I was born and raised in Kuwait City. I spent my summers in a camp in New Hampshire growing up called Camp Robin Hood from 1979-1988. After high school, I completed my undergraduate education in Boston in the United States and my graduate education in New York City.


RV: Why and how did Teshkeel and Archie Comics decide to form a partnership?
NAM: I founded Teshkeel in 2003 with the idea of creating proprietary intellectual property based in Islamic Culture. I found out pretty quickly that the infrastructure I created could be leveraged into bringing other comic properties into the United States. My investors invested in THE 99, but I wanted to build a solid business that would survive irrespective of THE 99. As such, I partnered with Marvel and Archie and we are soon to be announcing a third such partner.

RV: Why do you think Archie will be a success in the Middle East?
NAM: Archie's storyline and characters are reminiscent of a wholesome environment of no sex, drugs or heavy rock 'n' roll. It is a carefree high school environment that is more liberal than some places in the Middle East and would thus be a prime publication-one that is inspirational yet is wholesome and clean.

RV: Did you read comics growing up and do you read them now?
NAM: I read a lot of comics at camp when I was growing up. I was an avid reader of Archie as a child and my son recently discovered Archie during his first summer at the very camp I went to as a child. My love for reading is a staple part of my identity but as I grew up I became a novel junkie. I do not read as many comics as I used to.

RV: What is "THE 99"? And why call it "THE 99"?
NAM: THE 99 is the first superhero concept based on an Islamic archetype. THE 99 is referential of the 99 attributes of Allah. For more information please visit www.theninetynine.com . In the year 1258, the Mongols invaded Baghdad with a sole purpose - to destroy the Islamic Legacy of wisdom and thus put an end to the progress of Islamic Society. Hulagu Khan's armies slaughtered thousands of innocents in a matter of a few days and brought to dust the great libraries of the city.
However, according to legend, a remarkable plan was set in motion by the ancient scholars of Baghdad, to save all the city's accumulated knowledge. Hiding all of the information in 99 mystical gemstones, they set out to build a new, safe haven in Granada. These heroes of old, these Huras Al Hikma-Guardians of Wisdom, pledged to dedicate their lives to the pursuit and protection of wisdom.
...And so the great Fortress of Knowledge-the Husn Al Ma'rfa was built. Assembled over three generations, its construction was complete with the placement of the 99 gems within the fortress' dome. To the amazement of all, the saturated stones reflected rays within the fortress - rays of color no human eye had ever beheld. It was the Guardian Rughal who unlocked the true secrets of the 99 jewels. He discovered that they wielded a force far more powerful than the revelation of wisdom. A select few, when exposed to the rays, exhibited an array of paranormal powers and physical transformations albeit only for a few hours. Rughal resolved to explore the full potential of the gemstomes.
In the year 1492, news of King Ferdinand's approaching Spanish army reached the ears of the Huras. Rughal conceived of a desperate plan - secretly entering the area of the dome, he prepared himself to be the recipient of the combined rays of the jewels. Legend tells us of that night - that it was Rughal's screams that awakened all who dwelt in the fortress. The building itself erupted a moment later and the deafening explosion could be heard for miles around. Rughal was nowhere to be seen and none could tell what had happened to him.
Before long, the Spanish army attacked The Huras scattered across the globe, carrying with them the precious jewels. And that is how the light of the world remained, lost to mankind - until now.
Doctor Ramzi Razem has known the legend of the Huras ever since early childhood. His grandfather had told him of the great wars, the books, the fortress - the jewels. The old man had even claimed that they were descendants of the original Huras al Hikma. Now an adult, Ramzi has searched the globe for many years, for any evidence to support what he knows to be true. Years of searching are about to yield their harvest as he finds the first of a whole barrage of superheroes - men, women and children who have in one way or another come into possession of jewels that are quite unique. They are a new breed, birthed from an old world and the future is in their hands. They are the 99 and their time is now.
But it is not only light that has lain asleep all these years...

RV: Why do you think the world is ready for an Islamic superhero team?
NAM: The Islamic world has tabooed itself out of touch with the rest of humanity. Through a negative selection process, our representatives speak for themselves in a voice amplified so loud by the media, that it leaves the rest of us confused regarding our identities. Who are these angry vessels of hate and since when do they represent Islam? As a psychologist, I specialized in trauma and tortured. I worked at Bellevue Hospital's survivors of political torture program and because of my language skills worked exclusively with those that had been tortured in the Arab world and other parts of the Islamic world because of their religion, their beliefs, their politics.. I decided after going to business school, after my clinical training, that I wanted to create a business with a social dimension. I was going to bring heroes to the Islamic World.

RV: How do you feel about increasing people's awareness of social, racial, and religious intolerance?
NAM: Because of my above experience, it is absolutely imperative that people are aware that hate has an end game and its not pretty.

RV: Why did you write "To Bounce or Not To Bounce"?
NAM: To Bounce or Not to Bounce takes place in a place called Bouncyland where everyone is round. The inhabitants of Bouncyland are judged by how high they can bounce and how fast they can roll. The main character, Bouncy, Jr., is born as a half-circle and is unable to do either. Thus, he becomes the subject of ridicule until his difference serves as the basis of a new, more equitable society.
When asked to describe the theme of this book, schoolchildren offer the book's basic message that, "All people are equal and all people should be kind to each other."
Whether used as an example to prevent conflicts in school or among nations. To Bounce or Not to Bounce crosses the boundaries between child and adult and presents to the reader the blueprint from which all conflicts are born.

RV: Who is the artist on "THE 99" and what do you think of their work?
NAM: The character conceptualization were done by Dan Panosian. Dan has done a fantastic job.

RV: If you could accomplish one thing in your life that you have not what would it be?
NAM: Be as good and as close of a father to my boys in their later years as I have in their earlier years.

RV: What are you a Doctor of?
NAM: I have a PhD in clinical psychology with specific concentration in trauma and torture.

RV: Would you like to see Teshkeel join with other comic companies in addition to Archie and Marvel?
NAM: Absolutely! We are announcing a new deal in the coming months.

RV: What future projects does Teshkeel have planned?
NAM: THE 99's impending launch has taken up our full attention. I am presently developing a new concept but that will be under wraps for the next few months.

RV: How can someone contact you?
NAM: My email is naif@teshkeel.com

RV: Any last words of wisdom?
NAM: I always wanted to be a writer. I knew when I was 10 that I belonged in a world full of libraries when I was grounded and bookstores when I was given my allowance. My parents supported my desire-but only as a hobby. I went to school, triple majored in as an undergraduate, completed three Master's Degrees and a PhD and in the end raised millions of dollars for a company just to write (and to become the CEO).

Don't fight your urge to be creative... you will never win.

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