The 99
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This article is missing information about critical reception, history. This concern has been noted on the talk page where whether or not to include such information may be discussed. (January 2011) |
| The 99 | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Teshkeel Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | August 2007 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa Stuart Moore |
| Creator(s) | Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa Stuart Moore John McCrea |
The 99 (Arabic: الـ ٩٩ al 99), also written as The Ninety-Nine (Arabic: التسعة وتسعون al-tisa'a wa tisaun), 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. Naif Al-Mutawa,[1] founder and C.E.O. of Teshkeel Media Group. The creative team for The 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as Fabian Nicieza, Stuart Moore, June Brigman, Dan Panosian, John McCrea, Ron Wagner, Sean Parsons and Monica Kubina – all of whom have worked at both Marvel and DC Comics.
Although the series is based on Islamic concepts, it is promoted as appealing to universal virtues, and the religion of each character is not made explicit.[2]
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[edit] Publication history
An Origins Preview was first published in the Middle East in May 2006, followed by a US reprinting in July 2007.[3] The 99 #1 was printed in September 2006 in the Middle East and was published in the US in August 2007 as First Light.[4] Subsequent issues printed monthly to The 99 #7 within the USA and is ongoing monthly internationally. Indonesian and Indian editions are ongoing on a monthly basis.
A 6-issue crossover mini-series with the Justice League and The 99 began publication in October 2010.[5]
[edit] Characters
The 99 are ordinary teenagers and adults from across the globe, who come into possession of one of the ninety-nine magical mystical Noor Stones (Ahjar Al Noor, Stones of Light) and find themselves empowered in a specific manner. All dilemmas faced by The 99 will be overcome through the combined powers and capabilities of three or more members. Through this, The 99 series aims to promote values such as cooperation and unity throughout the Islamic world. Although the series is not religious, it aims to communicate Islamic virtues which are, as viewed by Dr. Al-Mutawa, universal in nature.
The concept of The 99 is based on the 99 attributes of Allah. Many of these names refer to characteristics that can be possessed by human individuals. For example – generosity, strength, faithfulness, wisdom are all virtues encouraged by a number of faiths.
In compliance with Islamic tradition, the Arabic version of the aliases of each of the 99 is written without the definite article "Al-", because use of this precise form is exclusive to Allah. This serves to remind that The 99 are only mortals, and sets them as human role models, with their qualities and weaknesses.
The members of The 99 who have been revealed so far are:
- Jabbar - The Powerful
- Noora - The Light
- Darr - The Afflicter
- Jami - The Assembler
- Widad - The Loving
- Fattah - The Opener
- Mumita - The Destroyer
- Raqib - The Watcher
- Bari - The Healer
- Sami - The Listener
- Musawwira - The Organiser
- Hadya - The Guide
- Rafie - The Lifter
- Baqi - The Everlasting
- Baeth - The Sender
- Jaleel - The Majestic
A burqa-wearing character known as Batina the Hidden has also been mentioned in interviews as an example of the variety of depictions of female characters in the comic — she will be one of five covered in that way out of the 50 female characters in the main cast.[6]
[edit] Tie-ins
The first of five planned 99-based theme parks opened in Kuwait in March 2009. An animated series is in production,[7] and Teshkeel Comics signed a multimillion dollar deal with Endemol to produce the series.[8]
[edit] Notes
- ^ BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | 'Why I based superheroes on Islam', BBC, July 2, 2009
- ^ Report on the 99 FRONTLINE/WORLD . Kuwait: The 99 . Story Home Page . PBS
- ^ Origins Preview at the Comic Book DB
- ^ First Light at the Comic Book DB
- ^ http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/07/jlathe-99-1-hits-in-october/
- ^ Camille Agon (2008-08-05). "Islamic Superheroes Going Globalcvb". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1828732,00.html. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ Islamic Superheroes Going Global - TIME, Time, August 5, 2008
- ^ "World's first Muslim superheroes, the 99, are headed for British television screens". The Daily Telegraph. August 20, 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/cartoons/6059421/Worlds-first-Muslim-superheroes-the-99-are-headed-for-British-television-screens.html. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
[edit] References
- The 99 at the Comic Book DB
[edit] External links
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This section includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2009) |
- Official website
- The 99 Animation
- Video of an 18 minute talk at TED by Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa
- Piney Kesting, The Next Generation of Superheroes, 2007, Saudi Aramco World
- Wham! Bam! Islam! site for Independent Lens on PBS
[edit] In The News
- THE 99: Changing stereotypes through Muslim cartoon characters, Forward Magazine, May 20, 2010
- Superman, Spiderman... Jabbar, Gulf News, Aug 20, 2010
- Comics to Battle for Truth, Justice and the Islamic Way, The New York Times, January 22, 2006
- Superheroes Powered on Islam, The Washington Post, February 8, 2006
- Muslim (not Marvel) superheroes, The Guardian, March 27, 2006
- Holy Superhero!, The Gazette, May 6, 2006
- Previewing Teshkeel's The 99, Newsarama
- Reinventing Superman FLYPMedia.com
- Kuwaiti Entrepreneur Hopes to Create the Next Pokémon, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008
- It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's 'The 99' Newshour, March 20, 2009
- Merica, Dan. "Muslim superhero comics meet resistance in U.S.." CNN. October 5, 2011.
