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Muslim (not Marvel) Superheroes.April 1, 2006  In Saudi Arabia, a massive creature has escaped from a government holding facility. In Paris a psychiatrist and historian dreams of world peace and chases ancient legends about mystical gemstones. In the UAE, the kidnapped daughter of a tycoon escapes, bringing an enduring vision of a dying world. And sitting in his dark tower, an ancient and powerful evil figure watches and waits for the signs that his reign is near ... The relationship between cartoons and Islam is clearly a rather sensitive one at the moment. Generally, combining the word of God in the Koran with western-style interpretations has been frowned on by Islamic religious authorities. It will be interesting to see how these authorities react in May when a new team of comic book superheroes - the 99 - are launched, each one embodying one of the 99 qualities that Muslims believe God possesses. Especially as they will all be wearing tights. Teshkeel Comics is the brainchild of Naif al-Mutawa, a 34-year-old Kuwaiti comics fan. He grew up in the US where he fell in love with Marvel and, after training as a psychologist, wrote kids' books on prejudice. He thought up his superheroes during a cab ride across London in 2003. THE 99 are a quasi-spiritual version of the X-Men or the Fantastic Four, drawn by US comic book authors with Batman, Hulk and Spiderman experience. After publication in Arabic in May, an English version follows later in the year. Each hero is based on an Islamic archetype and, by combining, they build divine power. Although, as only God is allowed to possess all 99 characteristics, Mutawa is likely to peak with around 70 caped crusaders. The epic plot is based, Da Vinci Code-style, on a pivotal moment in Islamic history - the sacking of Baghdad by the Mongols in the 13th century. The wisdom, tolerance and spirituality of the Baghdad caliphate are coded in 99 gemstones just as the barbarians are at the gate, and in the intervening years they have been scattered around the world. The heroes' job is to find them before the bad guy does. We start with Jabbar, the enforcer, a hulking Saudi with the power to grow at will; Mumita, an agile Portuguese Muslim; Noora, from the UAE, who always knows when someone is lying; and Batina, a burka-wearing character who begins the series as a mystery to all. "I don't expect Islamists to like it and I don't expect ultraliberals to like it," Mutawa says. "The real goal is to teach kids that there's more than one way to solve a problem." Although, as this is a comic, there are still going to be plenty of bad guys getting socked on the jaw. Kapow. Download the Newspaper Clipping. |
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