Islamic-themed comic book comes to Chicago

'THE 99' | Each of the superheroes embodies an attribute of Allah


October 17, 2007
BY SUSAN HOGAN/ALBACH Religion Reporter/shogan@suntimes.com
Batman has brains, Superman has brawn, but Mumita has a great kick.
She's part of the superhero cast of "The 99," an Islamic-themed comicbook that debuts in select U.S. cities today, including Chicago.

Comic book "The 99" debuts in U.S. markets Wednesday features superheroes with Islamic values and virtues.

"Every child is looking for a superhero," said Firas Ahmad, an editorat Islamica magazine. "When I grew up, the people from my culturalbackground were always the bad guys in comics."


Already a hit overseas, "The 99" features superheroes from around the globe using their superpowers to battle forces of evil.

While Mumita the Destroyer relies on her martial arts expertise, Jabbarthe Powerful brandishes his muscles. Other characters -- Widad theLoving, Noora the Light, Bari the Healer -- capture superheroes' softerside.

"'The 99' has strong female and male superheroes," said creator Naif Al-Mutawa. "I didn't want a comic book where the boys break the bones and the girls mend them."

Like Batman and Superman, the cast of "The 99" aren't overtly religious. They don't pray or quote the Quran, but promote universal values such as goodness and love.

But each superhero embodies one of the 99 attributes that Muslims ascribe to Allah.

Matt Streets of Graham Crackers Comics downtown said most superheroes flex their muscles, not their religion, though The Thing has come out Jewish and some consider Spider-Man a mainline Protestant.

And earlier this year, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Comics teamed with spirituality author Deepak Chopra to create stories based on Asian mythology.

"Comic books use religious themes but don't claim a specific religion because they don't want to alienate anyone or limit their audience,"Streets said.

Only a few Chicago stores are carrying "The 99." It can also be purchased online at www.the99.org.