Comics to Battle for Truth, Justice and the Islamic Way (NY Times)
Comments(10) Mr. Mutawa’s Teshkeel Media, based in Kuwait, says that in September it will begin publishing “The 99,” a series of comic books based on superhero characters who battle injustice and fight evil, with each character personifying one of the 99 qualities that Muslims believe God embodies.
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In addition, “The 99” will piggyback on a distribution network Mr. Mutawa is setting up for a parallel project, publishing all manner of other comics in the region. Teshkeel has signed on with Marvel Comics to translate and distribute their comics in the Middle East, and will soon begin publishing Arabic versions of Marvel’s Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, X-Men and others. He said he is in talks with Archie and DC Comics for similar deals. He says that Teshkeel has attracted $7 million from investors, based on the promise that he will turn his company into the largest comics publisher in the Middle East.
[Thanks to Drs. Jan Swearingen and Anne Morey for showing me this article. I am unsure about whether or not this effort will be successful because Teshkeel is associating himself with American publishers, which probably carries negative connotations, especially in the Middle East. I remember reading about our country’s humanitarian efforts during the Afghan War being explained by a general in Time magazine when I was researching 9/11 for my undergraduate thesis. His explanation involved taking out a dollar bill and looking at the seal on the back. One notices there is an eagle with arrows in one claw, but an olive branch in the other. The general believed that dropping humanitarian aid packages (medical supplies and food) while running an intense military campaign searching for Osama Bin Laden would ease Arab disdain toward America being in their country. BK]
category: Comics, Politics, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics
Hi Bobby! Interesting ponderings. And you’re right — you do have your finger on some valuable news pulses! I don’t think that American associations will hurt Teshkeel’s prospects. Don’t forget, Coca-Cola, Marlboros, and Hollywood are all awfully popular all over the Middle East, as is American music, TV, and sport. The really interesting move, the less overt move, is Mutawa’s wedding of a certain kind of individualism with Islamic traditions. I don’t know how successful this will be. It’s needed, and many Muslims want it, but the censors will recognize the danger. No one except certain very specific authorities are supposed to interpret the meaning of the Qur’an, and Mutawa does not have the credentials. I’m really interested to see what happens. Last I heard, AK comics wasn’t doing very well. I thought AK comics were boring, but hey, I have no skin in the game.
Thanks, Beth. I forgot that American popular culture thrives in other countries more so than it does here during certain periods. After reading this article again and thinking about it more, Teshkeel claims that “The 99” is meant to inspire younger Muslim audiences to read comics by giving them superheroes they may relate with, not necessarily to understand why Americans are occupying their country.