The 99

Infobox comic book title
title=The 99

---

caption=
schedule=Monthly
ongoing=y
publisher=Teshkeel Comics
date=August 2007
issues=
Superhero=y
main_char_team=
writers=Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa
Stuart Moore
artists=
pencillers=
inkers=
letterers=
colorists=
creative_team_month=
creative_team_year=
creators=Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa
Fabian Nicieza
John McCrea
TPB=
ISBN=
subcat=
sort=99

"The 99", also written as "The Ninety-Nine", is a comic book published by Teshkeel Comics, featuring a team of superheroes based on Islamic culture and religion.

The series is a creation of Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, founder and C.E.O. of Teshkeel Media Group. The creative team for The 99 is composed of comic book industry veterans such as Fabian Nicieza, Stuart Moore, Dan Panosian, John McCrea and Sean Parsons – all of whom have worked at both Marvel and DC Comics.

Although the series is based in Islamic concepts, it is promoted as appealing to universal virtues, and the religion of each character is not made explicit. Frontline/World [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/kuwait605/ Report on the 99] ]

Publication history

An "Origins Preview" was published in July 2007 [ [http://comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=14628 "Origins Preview"] at the Comic Book DB] followed by "First Light" starting in August 2007. [ [http://comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=15334 "First Light"] at the Comic Book DB]

Characters

Members of The 99 are ordinary teenagers and adults from across the globe, who come into possession of one of the 99 mystical Noor Stones (Ahjar Al Noor, Stones of Light) and find themselves empowered in a specific manner. All dilemmas faced by The 99 will be overcome through the combined powers of three or more members. Through this, The 99 series aims to promote values such as cooperation and unity throughout the Islamic world. Although the series is not religious, it aims to communicate Islamic virtues which are, as viewed by Dr. Al-Mutawa, universal in nature.

The concept of The 99 is based on the 99 attributes of Allah. Many of these names refer to characteristics that can be possessed by human individuals. For example – generosity, strength, faithfulness, wisdom are all virtues encouraged by a number of faiths.

In compliance with islamic tradition, the Arabic version of the aliases of each of the 99 is written without the definite article "Al-", because use of this precise form is exclusive to Allah. This serves to remind that The 99 are only mortals, and sets them as human role models, with their qualities and weaknesses.

Those of the 99 who have been revealed thus far are:

* Jabbar, The Powerful;

* Noora, The Light;

* Darr, The Afflicter;

* Jami, The Assembler;

* Widad, The Loving;

* Fatah, The Opener;

* Mumita, The Destroyer;

* Raqib, The Watcher;

* Bari, The Healer;

* Sami, The Hearer;

* Soora, The Organiser;

* Hadya, The Guide;

* Rafie,The Lifter;

* Fatah, The Opener;

* Baqi, The Everlasting.

A character known as Batina the Hidden has also been mentioned in interviews as an example of the variety of depictions of female characters in the comic - she will be the only one wearing a burqua out of the 40 female characters in the main cast.

Given that villain Rughal has one of the Noor Stones, and based on what was revealed so far about his story (mysteriously resurrected and ageless), he is likely to be Hei, The Ever Living.

Availability

As well as being published in English and Arabic in print form it is also available for download online via Qmags. [ [http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/details.php?id=3092 The 99 Goes Online] , Broken Frontier, July 2, 2007]

Tie-ins

The first of five planned 99-based theme parks will open in Kuwait in October 2008 and there are plans for an animated series. [ [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1828732,00.html Islamic Superheroes Going Global] , "Time", August 5, 2008]

References

External links

*official|http://www.the99.org
* [http://the99animation.com/ The 99 Animation]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/international/middleeast/22comics.html Comics to Battle for Truth, Justice and the Islamic Way] , "The New York Times", January 22, 2006
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020702034.html Superheroes Powered on Islam] , "The Washington Post", February 8, 2006
* [http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,1740119,00.html Muslim (not Marvel) superheroes] , "The Guardian", March 27, 2006
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060506/ai_n16364890/ Holy Superhero!] , "The Gazette", May 6, 2006
* [http://www.newsarama.com/Teshkeel/The99/Teshkeel99.html Previewing Teshkeel's "The 99"] , Newsarama