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Ninety-nine, to be exact (though a few of these, well, may not be considered "virtuous" by some peoples). "Islamic Superheroes Going Global" by Camille Agon for Time, August 5:
Like other kids the world over, Middle Eastern children have long fantasized about superheroes battling injustice in American cities or fighting beasts in Japan. Five years ago, they got some champions of their own to cheer on when Kuwait-born businessman Naif Al-Mutawa created a new breed of superheroes endowed with Muslim traits and virtues. Now Mutawa is on an even greater mission: taking those same Islamic characters around the world.The "99" epithets of Allah include al-mudhil ("the Humiliator"), al-khafid ("the Abaser"), al-muntaqim ("the Avenger"), and al-darr ("the Harmer"). Wonder if the two heroes -- "the Humiliator" and "the Abaser" -- focus solely on dhimmis?"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. Local authorities worried that the series might mock Islam. 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. Initially given away for free with Arabic versions of Marvel comics (the license for which Mutawa owns in the region), The 99 is now a stand-alone success, with some 500,000 copies given away and sold across the region in the past two years. [...]
The 99 is based on a pivotal moment in Islamic history: the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258. In Mutawa's series, 99 gemstones encrypted with Baghdad's 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. [...]Including, apparently, by humiliating, abasing, harming, and exacting vengeance from others.Yet the 99 do try to teach virtues valued by Islam, such as working as a team and combining your strengths with those of others. "The goal is to teach children that there are 99 ways to solve a problem," says Mutawa.
The characters in The 99 include Muslims from all over the world: Fatah, from Indonesia, can open and close gateways at any location; Daar, from the U.S., can inflict pain; and Mumita, with unparalleled agility, is Portuguese. This year, a burqa-wearing character from Yemen named Batina the Hidden will make an appearance. "Even though there are approximately 50 female superheroes, only five will be covered in that way," says Mutawa. "I want to send the message out that there is not only one way to be Muslim."
Posted by Raymond at August 6, 2008 8:23 AM
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Im guessing 'the deceiver' is also on the drawing board.
Posted by: OLDEngland![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 6, 2008 9:14 AM
"The 99", a comic-book series based on characters that each personify one of the 99 qualities that the Koran attributes to God..."
When Christians believe in a Holy Trinity, they're polytheists.
When Muslims believe in 99 distinct and separate facets of their illah, they're still monotheists (though the illah they worship has multiple personality disorder...).
It has been said that humans create God in their own image. Ninety-nine incomplete, single function personalities--what does that say about Muslims?
To me, it suggests that they are prone to exaggeration, for starters. It suggests fragmented, undeveloped persons, creating a god in their own image.
It suggests that, to these creatures, using a sledgehammer to kill a fly is as valid, nay, better, than just using a swatter.
We've certainly seen this last, in many instances. Theo Van Gogh, for example is not just dead, but really, really, really dead.
It would be interesting to see these new, one-dimensional "super-heroes" at work. My guess is that they are just as effective as the illah.
Posted by: Abscedere at August 6, 2008 9:31 AM
I'm guessing that these Moslem super-heroes will deal with their foes in a more final fashion than their Marvel comics peers do. No matter how badly the Fantastic Four or Spiderman defeat their foes, they're back again a few issues later. Somehow I don't think that will happen with the Islamic characters. Once Daar, the inflictor of pain, cuts off Dr. Doom's head, I don't think he'll be back.
Posted by: ebonystone at August 6, 2008 10:44 AM
Won't that get him in trouble with the Wahhabis and the Salafists?
Posted by: Anthony (Los Angeles) at August 6, 2008 12:30 PM
Interesting that they place these Moslem superheroes in as yet non-Moslem countries, i.e. the US and Portugal. A form of flag-raising, no doubt. A way of laying claim to territories still held by infidels and demonstrating the superiority of Islam over the depravity of the West.
Daar, the champion assigned to the US, is the bringer of pain or the distressor. My goodness! I just wonder how this one's super powers will be put to use! One quivers with anticipation for the identity and special power of the Moslem superhero assigned to the Vatican. Or is Jabbar the Compeller already assigned to the Holy See?
Who writes this stuff? The Joker?
Posted by: Chatillon at August 6, 2008 3:50 PM
No Justice League here. Can't have the Justice League without justice, can ya?
Posted by: Eversor at August 6, 2008 7:15 PM
well l preferred when l was kid singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall while on a school bus trip. muslims are so boring and borish, cant see anything but misery, but then look at their koran.
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at August 6, 2008 8:50 PM
I've been reading here for the longest time and am only just posting because I've never felt that I had anything to contribute to the discussion here. This article though gave me a crazy idea: If anyone can give me the list of the ninety-nine names I want to see if I can come up with ideas for super-villains/comic book style evil characters, for each of them. Mostly I want to do this because it might be an interesting experience in 'creative' writing for me, not to mention I want to see if I have it in me to do something like that.
Wow, I feel silly that something so random/childish is my first post here, but when I get an odd idea I have the tendency to run with it.
at August 6, 2008 10:01 PM
BUG,
That's the beauty of the internet--anonimity and ubiquity. You can be everywhere in cyberspace--and nowhere known, all at the same time!
Posted by: John C at August 6, 2008 10:46 PM
Anonimity and Ubiquity--how about those for super-villainous attributes! The Devil himself wants to be everywhere, yet not leave hid cleft hoofprints behind anywhere.
Posted by: John C at August 6, 2008 10:52 PM
Anonymity and Ubiquity--how about those for super-villainous attributes! The Devil himself wants to be everywhere, yet not leave hid cleft hoofprints behind anywhere.
[Anonymity, make that anonymity.]
Posted by: John C at August 6, 2008 10:54 PM
Make that "his cleft hoofprints."
Posted by: John C at August 6, 2008 11:02 PM
And to think that when I was a child my religious superhero was good old turn-the-other-cheek Jesus. I think it scares me more than any other story here because the idea of billions of young Moslems voraciously reading about 99 violent super heroes with no clear-cut guidance of right/wrong (other than everything but Islam is wrong) is quite scary.
Posted by: charlie at August 6, 2008 11:57 PM
WAIT! Islam has virtues and values? Since when?
Seriously! Since when?
at August 7, 2008 8:57 AM
samhein
I think "virtues" and "values" are like those other terms that just are not translatable from Enlish to Islam. The word "value" appears bus does not mean what we believe it means. In other words, no they don't have virtues and values, do they?
at August 7, 2008 11:47 PM
Fighting for Taqiyya, Shari'ah, and the Way of Allah--I don't think so.
Bring on Pigman!
Posted by: gravenimage at August 8, 2008 3:05 PM
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