Muslim superheroes populate a new comic book designed to entertain – and serve a serious purpose
The year was 1258. Mongol leader Hulegu Khan had invaded Baghdad – a city that was then a pinnacle of civilization and learning. Legend has it that the attackers set their sights on Baghdad's crown jewel, the Dar al-Hikma library, tossing thousands of manuscripts to a watery doom in the Tigris River.
Fortunately, cunning librarians spirited to safety the precious Noor Stones: 99 gem Jabbar smash puny Christians! © Teshkeel Comics
Sound melodramatic? Kind of like the plot of a comic book? It is.
Since October, youngsters throughout the Middle East have been discovering the legend of the Noor Stones in a new monthly comic book called "The 99." The series is inspired by Islamic culture and history – the title refers to the 99 names and traits attributed to God in the Koran – and aims to spread a universal message of teamwork along with plenty of action, adventure, and "kapow!"
The idea was Naif al-Mutawa's, a Kuwaiti psychologist who saw a need for culturally relevant heroes while treating torture survivors from Arab countries, including Iraq, from 1998-2001.
"I felt that we just didn't have heroes in this part of the world," says Mr. al-Mutawa, referring to the Middle East. "And I really wanted to create them."
What started as a cliché "sketch on the back of a napkin" soon evolved into meetings with former executives of Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Rolling Stone magazine. By the summer of 2004, the project was backed with $6.8 million from 54 investors in eight countries
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