Graphic novels and comic books occupy a niche place in cultural thought. Comic books are short - around 30 pages including advertisements, and each issue tends to move the overall story forward in an incremental fashion. Story arcs often begin, pause, and end without warning, which can make them difficult to follow without access to back issues. The graphic novel, cousin to the comic book, may appeal more to novel readers and fans of more traditional storytelling. Like many other parts of the world, there is a wealth of comic books and graphic novels related to the Middle East - I’ve listed a few of the more well-known ones below. I’d love to regularly update this feature with new finds, so if you have any recommendations send them into the blog.
The 99 takes on the familiar comic book superhero trope in an unusual direction - its titular 99 superheroes did not receive their powers from cosmic rays or a mystical amulet, but rather from the mystic Noor stones which empower each teenaged member of the group with one of the ninety-nine aspects attributed to God in Islamic tradition. Characters so far include Jabbar, the Powerful, Noora, the Light, and Fattah, the Opener. In 2010, the 99 team appeared in a crossover series with the Justice League, the classic DC comics superhero team including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman (among many others).
The 99
Authors:
Dr. Naif al-Mutawa
Stuart Moore
John McCrea
Fabian Nicezia
Published: 2006-Ongoing
Teshkeel Comics
The creator of The 99 Dr. Naif al-Mutawa, is a Kuwaiti-American who, according to his personal website trained as a clinical psychologist and has worked extensively with survivors of torture and prisoners of war. His previous writing credits include To Bounce or Not To Bounce, a children’s story which was nominated for the UNESCO Prize for Children’s Literature in the Service of Tolerance. For The 99, he teams up with an ever-expanding cast of comic book industry veterans whose names will be familiar to readers of X-Men, Judge Dredd, and the Avengers.
You can find out more about The 99 at their website, which includes a free download of the first issue in English or Arabic.
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