In 2003, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa \u2014 Kuwaiti psychologist, graduate of Columbia Business School and father of four young boys \u2014 had an idea: create a comic book series with roots in Islam and Islamic culture. Al-Mutawa came up with the concept of THE 99<\/i>: a team of superheroes, each one exemplifying one of the 99 attributes of Allah. His motivations were both entrepreneurial and idealistic \u2014 THE 99<\/i> would exemplify the Islamic virtues of compassion, understanding, and tolerance \u2013 qualities not often associated with Islam by the West. Within the Islamic world, Al-Mutawa hoped these new role models would counter the growing tide of political and religious extremism.<\/p>\n
As a business, it was a daunting task \u2014 comics were relatively unknown in the Arab market and those that existed were all Western imports. Al-Mutawa managed to raise $7 million in initial capital from 54 investors across four continents and brought together a team of comic book veterans to create THE 99<\/i>. The first issue was released during Ramadan 2006 and although it enjoyed widespread critical success, THE 99<\/i> immediately came under suspicion from religious leaders. The comic was banned in Saudi Arabia and there were threats of a fatwa forbidding THE 99<\/i>. As Al-Mutawa battles the cultural gatekeepers (both anointed and self-anointed) to a draw Al-Mutawa becomes a forceful advocate for an Islam based on open-mindedness and individual thought.<\/p>\n
However, Al-Mutawa faces an even more vexing nemesis: the global marketplace. With the comic missing its projected sales numbers in the Middle East, Al-Mutawa turns to theme parks and animation with the hopes that through these more lucrative platforms he may save his fledgling superhero property. Realizing that THE 99<\/i> will not survive if focused solely on the Middle East, Al-Mutawa must now target an international and predominately non-Muslim market. However, in doing so, is Al-Mutawa abandoning the underlying social principles for creating THE 99<\/i> to make it financially viable?<\/p>\n
\nThe Filmmaker<\/h4>\n
Isaac Solotaroff is a documentary producer and editor who has been nominated for an Emmy Award and received a special commendation from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences. His films include Visioning Tibet, Los Romeros<\/i>, and\u00a0Belief Amended, Faith Revealed<\/i>.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When a Kuwaiti psychologist launches a comic series with 99 superheroes based on the 99 virtues of Allah, he runs up against suspicion from Muslims and the harsh realities of the global marketplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":10037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[1216,1265],"class_list":["post-15","films","type-films","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-arts-and-culture","topic-faith"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n