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New Muslim superheroes launched to rival Spider-Man, The Hulk |
2006-10-09 |
In Saudi Arabia, a gawky teenager is transformed into a hulking creature. In Paris, a historian chases legends about mystical gemstones. In South Africa, a boy discovers a sparkling rock with healing powers. The characters are from a new genre of superheroes endowed with Muslim virtues and aimed at young Muslims in a comic book series called The 99. Launched in July, it is being billed as the worldÂ’s first superhero project drawn from Islamic culture. Its creator, 35-year-old Naif Al-Mutawa, admits the series -- based on 99 heroes who embody the 99 attributes of God in Islam -- is tricky in a religion where attempts to personify GodÂ’s power can spark protests and even death threats. But the U.S.-educated Al-Mutawa hopes to create a new Islamic pop culture. His Kuwait-based company is also rolling out classic US comic books -- from Archie to Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk-- to the Middle East in the Arabic language. On Thursday he won the crucial blessing of Muslim clerics who manage a Bahrain investment bank. It approved US$25 million ($35 million) to help finance his company, Teshkeel Media Group, and pay for plans to launch an animated The 99 series for television. |
Posted by:ryuge |
#10 "It kind of left me with the hollow feeling that we donÂ’t have any heroes in that part of the world," he said. Know how you feel, I don't have any heroes in that part of the world either |
Posted by: Cheaderhead 2006-10-09 16:25 |
#9 This will really take off when they bring in the virgins. |
Posted by: DoDo 2006-10-09 12:08 |
#8 Notice the joooooos already had an israeli super-hero. |
Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-10-09 11:34 |
#7 super hero Muttawa's! |
Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-10-09 11:22 |
#6 So they are militaristic and set out to defeat and enslave the infidel? Who enforces burka wearing? Who does the bombings? |
Posted by: DarthVader 2006-10-09 09:40 |
#5 Next year, they will introduce a Snow Imam, dressed in red with a sack full of gifts for little boys and girls. He will be riding a majic carpet pulled by flying goats. |
Posted by: wxjames 2006-10-09 08:25 |
#4 In South Africa, a boy discovers a sparkling rock with healing powers.
Whahahhahaaa....well, I guess we can throw away the garlic now. |
Posted by: Besoeker 2006-10-09 07:45 |
#3 So pigs can fly! |
Posted by: Spaish Choluth4050 2006-10-09 07:45 |
#2 Does it come with a goat? |
Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan 2006-10-09 06:13 |
#1 Pull a cord and it goes boom? |
Posted by: Shep UK 2006-10-09 02:37 |