Islam's first superheroes taking the world by storm
‘The 99,’ the first comic book based on Islamic archetypes is set for television smash
The Daily Star by Matthew Mosley
November 21, 2009
BEIRUT: Pow! Forbes names “The 99” as one of the top 20 pop culture trends sweeping the globe. Shazzam! “The 99” theme park opens. Kerboom! Endemol begins work on an animated television series featuring “The 99” superhero characters. Slam! “The 99” creator Dr. Naif al-Mutawa is described as one of the 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
The seemingly unstoppable rise of “The 99,” Mutawa’s collection of comic-book superheroes, is littered with the kind of accolades that make rivals as green as, well, the Hulk.
On Thursday, the former clinical psychologist appeared at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Invited by the Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR), Mutawa spoke about the genesis of his supernatural creations.
It’s no coincidence that CASAR issued the invite: funded by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, CASAR was founded alongside centers in numerous Arab and Western Universities after the calamity of September 11, 2001, to help bridge the cultural divide.
“The 99” similarly rose from the ashes of the World Trade Center attacks, and aims to produce comics that foster understanding between East and West.
“For me, the attackers were trying to take down Islam under the Twin Towers,” he said of the September 11 attacks. “I had to fight back.”
“The 99” claims to be the first group of superheroes born of an Islamic archetype. ....continue reading on The Daily Star.
The Daily Star by Matthew Mosley
November 21, 2009
BEIRUT: Pow! Forbes names “The 99” as one of the top 20 pop culture trends sweeping the globe. Shazzam! “The 99” theme park opens. Kerboom! Endemol begins work on an animated television series featuring “The 99” superhero characters. Slam! “The 99” creator Dr. Naif al-Mutawa is described as one of the 500 most influential Muslims by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
The seemingly unstoppable rise of “The 99,” Mutawa’s collection of comic-book superheroes, is littered with the kind of accolades that make rivals as green as, well, the Hulk.
On Thursday, the former clinical psychologist appeared at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Invited by the Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR), Mutawa spoke about the genesis of his supernatural creations.
It’s no coincidence that CASAR issued the invite: funded by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, CASAR was founded alongside centers in numerous Arab and Western Universities after the calamity of September 11, 2001, to help bridge the cultural divide.
“The 99” similarly rose from the ashes of the World Trade Center attacks, and aims to produce comics that foster understanding between East and West.
“For me, the attackers were trying to take down Islam under the Twin Towers,” he said of the September 11 attacks. “I had to fight back.”
“The 99” claims to be the first group of superheroes born of an Islamic archetype. ....continue reading on The Daily Star.
About
Latest Activity
I loved your post. I think that in Jordan (and in countries with semi or total authoritarian regimes), we tend to believe that freedom of speech is a birthright, in an attempt to replicate the Western discourse. However, we tend to forget that democ…
You bring up some very valid points about freedom of speech, Nadine, one of which is do your research before you write or say anything. It's very easy to jump on the bandwagon about issues we know little about.
Fact: No one can take your freedom of thought and expression away from
you. If you feel stifled and silenced, you're doing it to yourself.
My
theory is that if individuals, and specific to this blog, Jordanians,
shed themselves of the fear that shr…
http://www.jo.jo/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1302:amman-in-the-heart&catid=39:land&Itemid=150
Land
Amman in The Heart
March 10, 2010
What does it mean to create a brand for a city? As Amman's identity evolves, the municipality…
A new economic report on Jordan was issued this week by Bank Audi s.a.l-Audi Saradar Group. The report, entitled “Fiscal consolidation requirements: The key challenges for the Kingdom’s economy”, addresses the most important economic developments in…
I've been working through Hamzet Wasel on a bringing people from all over the city together to exchange skills and information, turning Amman into one big "UniverCity". Hamzet Wasel is about growing the community of engaged and interrelated Amman ci…
Photos
Except where otherwise noted, this site is licensed under Creative Commons 3.0. Feel free to share and remix in any way you choose - disrupt, create something remarkable and spread it!
© 2010 Created by UrdunMubdi3 on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
