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. Kuwaiti author creates 99 new superheroes naif almutawa wrote the 99, a comic book series based on islamic ideas, which aims to promote tolerance. 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. The 99 inspired by islam and its message society gulf news. 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. The 99, as almutawa named his creation, has everything a good comic book needsevil in the world and superheroes to fight it. Perhaps surprisingly, half of the heroes are females. Kuwaiti entrepreneur naif almutawa created the first muslimbased comic book series, the 99, which features teenaged islamic superheroes.
And his desire is to rescue islam from images of intolerance, all in a childfriendly format. The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as fabian nicieza, stuart moore, june brigman, dan panosian, john. 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. Comic book fans might call it a great origin story. 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. Indonesian and us versions have just been launched, and a malaysian edition will follow in the near future. The creator of an islaminspired series of comic books hopes his work will. 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. The 99, an allahinspired comic wildly popular in the islamic world, is set to make its tv debut. The 99, an allahinspired comic wildly popular in the. And the tv series is going to show in saudi arabia before america now. Comic artist redraws islam with secular superheroes in. 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.
Distributed throughout 99 nations of the world, each of them possesses one of the knowledgesaturated noor stones, which gives them superhuman talents. Detroit comic book fans might call it a great origin story. Naif almutawa is the creator of the 99, the first group of comic superheroes born of an islamic archetype. Local authorities worried that the series might mock islam. They were created by a kuwaiti psychologist called naif al mutawa.
Almutawa began the series the 99 to provide muslim children with superheroes with whom they could identify. Since the summer of 2006, a new issue of the 99 has been published monthly in an english and an arabic edition. 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. Saudi fatwa against the 99 tolerant muslim superhero comics. A version of this article was published in the national on sunday, april 26 2014 related video. Islamic comic superheroes the 99 to air on us television.
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. 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. Comics to battle for truth, justice and the islamic way by hassan m. Naif almutawa decided to create islamic superheroes. Today, the 99 has received international attention. Crossovers dont happen often and even less often with characters that are just three years old. Saudi grand mufti issues a fatwa against the comic book. Saudi grand mufti issues a fatwa against the comic book and. But many things about the 99 are conventional, and that is what makes it so remarkable. And, in true superhero style, they use these powers to fight bad guys. Islamic inspired comic superheroes fight for positive values. Culture books features the all islamic super heroes.
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. The name comes from the 99 attributes of allah in islam. Almutawa is the creator of the 99 comic series, a hugelysuccessful comic book series. Unlike most comics, however, its stories are told in an islamic context. The 99 has received positive attention from the worlds media. Kuwaiti psychologist launches muslim comic book series with superheroes based on 99 virtues of allah but runs into resistance from muslims and other issues. The name of the series stems from the 99 attributes of god outlined in the quran, the holy text of islam. In july 2006, naif almutawa, a kuwaiti clinical psychologist, launched the first islamically themed superhero comics. Yet forbes magazine is calling it one of the top 20 trends sweeping the world. Apr, 2010 the 99, as almutawa named his creation, has everything a good comic book needsevil in the world and superheroes to fight it. Naif almutawa, mba 03, teshkeels founder and ceo, returned to campus on may 15, 2007. Islamic superheroes going global time, time, august 5, 2008.
Naif and the 99 as perhaps the most innovative of the thousands. Aug 22, 2010 islaminspired comic superheroes fight for peace. 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 bad guy is 500 years old and wont let go of power sound familiar. 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. Related stories july 2014 is the most profitable month ever in comic book history, and comics are only getting bigger. Jul 28, 2011 comic book heroes help change image of islam. Muslim comic series seeks global audience books hindustan. Make a gift to support our work now, and your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar. Now, these are the worlds first islamic superheroes. 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. In the article below, we said that while the islamic superheroes were sometimes.
Ramzi, a scholar and social activist, the 99 youngsters some of them. 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. Forbes named the 99 as one of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe and president barack obama praised dr. The 99 is based on a pivotal moment in islamic history. Comic artist redraws islam with secular superheroes in the 99. When you do something based on islamic culture, thats global, says almutawa. Jul 24, 2009 almutawa began the series the 99 to provide muslim children with superheroes with whom they could identify. Whats even more remarkable is that the 99 only came into being in 2007 with some remarkable firsts. In the aftermath of 911, a muslim man creates a comic book series, the 99, inspired by the principles of his faith. Muslim children love the 99 comics, but hardliners loathe their creator whose trial for heresy is looming. Teshkeels newest venture, the 99, which is due to debut in the united states in october 2007. Related stories july 2014 is the most profitable month ever in comic.
The 99, a group of islamicinspired superheroes, has received the kind of positive international publicity that superheroes rarely get, particularly new ones. Jul 05, 2009 the following correction was printed in the guardians corrections and clarifications column, friday 10 july 2009. Sarah joseph speaks to the founder, dr naif almutawa. Superheroes for the muslim world may 15, 2007 are comic book superheroes compatible with islamic culture. Saudi fatwa against the 99 tolerant muslim superhero. Superheroes for the muslim world columbia business.
The creative team for the 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such. 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. Are comic book superheroes compatible with islamic culture. 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. Toro ridwan from indonesia with the ability to open up portals to faraway places and by stepping through them instantly go anywhere. Apr 25, 2007 when you do something based on islamic culture, thats global, says almutawa. Naif almutawa, founder and ceo of teshkeel media group. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new. The 99 offers children in the arab and islamic world a new beacon of light and many children have been inspired by the 99. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new york. The 99, a group of islamic inspired superheroes, has received the kind of positive international publicity that superheroes rarely get, particularly new ones. The children love them, the 99 super heroes who today seven centuries after the mongol invasion, fight for what hulagu sought to destroy. 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. Superman, batman and wonder woman are among those joining forces with the 99, who personify the.
Now, my second example is for a slightly younger crowd. The following correction was printed in the guardians corrections and clarifications column, friday 10 july 2009. 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. The launch of the 99, superheroes based on an islamic archetype, was not without some controversy. 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. The teshkeel group sells 10,000 copies of each issue. The 99, naif al mutawa and islamic superheroes cnn. Kuwaitbased teshkeel media group has attempted to answer this question by creating comic books infused with islam.
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. There are plans for france, turkey, and a television series. This is where the story of the 99 is essentially set a story that can be summed up in just a few words. Superheroes created by kuwaiti psychologist prepare to. Although the title appears to imply that there are 99 members on the team, their numbers actually consist of only a dozen people. 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. 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 hey kids comics wiki fandom powered by wikia. 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. 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. Comicbook heroes help change image of islam the new york times. 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. 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.
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