Islamic superheroes bridge cultures

Meet Jabbar the Powerful, a Hulk-like strong man. And Noora the Light, who can create holograms. Not to mention Darr the Afflicter, who wields powerful pain waves. One hero, the Hidden, wears a burqa. They're all part of The 99, Muslim superheroes created by Kuwait-based Teshkeel Comics. The comic, already sold throughout the Middle East, hit the U.S. last month.


Although Islam, Allah and the Koran are not mentioned, the comic's back story is drawn from Arab history. It's based on the destruction of Baghdad's libraries by invading Mongols in 1258. Ancient wisdom was saved from the invaders and hidden in 99 jewels--analogous to the 99 names or attributes of God-- which were scattered throughout the world. The comic heroes each incorporate one of those attributes.

Creator Naif Al-Mutawa told Religion News Service he hopes the comics can help bridge cultures. But the storyline will be sensitive to Islamic traditions. "The 99," he said, "won't be dating each other."

This is cool. I'm waiting for a Baptist alternative, but a comic based on the 99 attributes of a good Wednesday night potluck supper might lack narrative punch.

• Furl • StumbleUpon • Technorati Tags: The 99, Christian humor, satire, humor