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| Arabia |
| Kuwait: The 99 - Super Heroes of the Muslim world |
| 2007-06-27 |
This was on Frontline last night on PBS. Rather interesting. The cartoon creator wanted a alternative to Pokemon cartoons in his own country of Kuwait. He was a graduate of Columbia University in New York. I was surprised that the more fundamentalist's clerics weren't too happy with this writers interpretation of of Mohammed's 99 attributes and was actively trying to get this cartoon banned despite it's popularity. The cartoon creator attempted to create a image of Islam in a more moderate perspective and not one of suicide bombers commonly associated as hero's in the Muslim world. Q: How did you get started on The 99? A: I had just finished business school, and I was in a London cab going from Edgware Road to Harris. It was the summer. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. And my sister turned to me and said, “Naif, do you remember that you told me after school you’d go back to writing?” I said, “[Selma], for me to go back now it’s got to have the potential of Pokemon. Otherwise it just doesn’t make sense.” And this is where luck or fate first struck my project, because, had I said Superman or Batman or Spider-Man or any man, The 99 would not have been born, because what happened in my mind was the following. I said Pokemon. My next thought was there had been a fatwah issued against Pokemon in this region. My next thought was, my god, who are these people? And who appointed them to be spokespeople for Islam? My next thought was of Allah: how disappointed he must be. My next thought was that Allah had 99 attributes. And that brought me full circle back to Pokemon, which is a concept of 300 attributes. Now at the end of that cab ride, I turned to my sister and I said, “What do you think of this?” And she liked the idea and, from there, it just captured my mind. Q: What did you set out to do with The 99? A:In today’s world, you know, we’re inundated with comics or cartoons on TV and satellite. It’s not like 30 years ago, when there wasn’t much of that around. So I would hope that, for some kids, it’s giving their parents a reason to allow [them to see] this material versus something else, because I know a lot of people who don’t let their kids read Spider-Man and Batman. And I know a lot of people who don’t let their kids watch TV. But this is something that’s fun but safe, you know, because in The 99, there won’t be stories about dating. There’s not going to be any alcohol. There’s not going to be any sex. But we’re not going to preach about the non-use of these things. We’re just going keep away. It’s also culturally acceptable. You know, you don’t have to worry about the bad guy ending up with an Arab name or Muslim identity. More at link including a video of the broadcast that will posted June 28th. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #6 PBS writer is culturally illiterate. It's Allah that has 99 attributes, not Mohammed. And Muslims are quite clear that the Prophet is not God. |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-06-27 19:40 |
| #5 Come to think of it - sense the whole koran is basically a comic book without the pictures and with about the same amount of realism as a normal X-Men issue I'd say he's got something there. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-06-27 19:31 |
| #4 Okay I want a piece of this action, where's that trademark stamp at. I got dibs on these alternate identities: Pedophilerman Acid Boy Mr. Fatwa Johnny Jihadi The Flying Turban sample dialogue: "holy mohammad's beard Pedophilerman! I heard your sister has just been raped; and there's the men who did the act, whatever shall we do?" "Not to fear Acid Boy, check your utility bomb belt and get the extra-strength industrial chloric acid, that should take care of that dishonorable harlot...." the possibilities are endless |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-06-27 19:29 |
| #3 But this is something thatÂ’s fun but safe, you know, because in The 99, there wonÂ’t be stories about dating. ThereÂ’s not going to be any alcohol. ThereÂ’s not going to be any sex. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It'a a plane! It's BORING MAN!!! No...wait... nah, it's just some Muslim guy. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-06-27 16:54 |
| #2 Thank God! I was sick of all the dating, sex and alcohol in DC and Marvel comics, too! |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2007-06-27 15:15 |
| #1 "Mohammed's 99 attributes" Child rapist, murderer, terrorist, common caravan thief, cult leader... Oh ya, real good kid stuff. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-06-27 14:18 |