The Middle East

An Introduction

What ways are stories told?

• Oral Tradition– Passing down stories by word of mouth

• Written Tradition– Books• Such as Holy Books like the Bible, Torah, or Koran

– Text books• Books that tell stories through fact

– Newspapers, Magazines, etc.

But What are we Missing?

• Pictures– Cave drawings that tell the tales of people long

ago.– Hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt– The Book of Kells

• Do Pictures still tell a story today?– Of course they do…– Remember…. Comic Books

Comic Books

• Have been around since the dawn of man in some shape or form (i.e. cave drawings)

• Became most popular in the mid to late 1900s– Especially after WWII

• Show readers Ideas / Themes of:– Good vs. Evil– Internal/External Struggles– Humor, Violence, Mystery, Fantasy, so much more

What are some values of Superheroes that represent American identity?

• Strength• Speed• Intelligence• Honesty• Winning at all Costs• Justice• Defeating Evil

• Mistakes can happen• Power• Responsibility• Helping others• Never Give Up• Problems can be solved

in may ways

Can these same themes be found in the Middle East?

The 99• The 99 are a group of teenagers and adults that each

find one of 99 Noor Stones– Based on the 99 attributes of Allah– These refer to Ahjar Al Noor, Stones of Light

• The 99’s powers have varying range of abilities but grow as the stone holder grows

• The 99 is in no specific comic universe, but just recently teamed up the JLA

• The aim of the 99 series is to promote cooperation and unity throughout the Islamic world

• The 99 is not a religious comic, but promotes Islamic ideas. Ideas that are universal.

American Comics and The 99Similarities in Fighting Against

Prejudice

• Kal – El of Krypton– Also known as Superman

• Sent to Earth by his parents as Krypton was exploding– Immigrant?

• Stands for: Truth, Justice, and the American Way

• Dislikes: Anything bad, i.e. Lex Luthor

• Powers: Super everything…– Strength, Speed, and Flight

• Mumita – The Destroyer– A.K.A Catarina Barbossa

• Height: 168 cm Weight: 64kg• A runaway teen who is used to

living on the streets• Powers: Speed, Strength, and

Agility• Powers are enhanced with the

power of the Noor Stone• Powers continue to grow

American Comics and The 99Similarities in Fighting Against

Prejudice• Green Lantern Corps

– Intergalactic police force that protects all parts of the universe.

• Green Lanterns of Sector 2814: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rainer

• Uses power ring project images from willpower and imagination– Beams of light emanating from

power ring

• Noora – The Light– A.K.A. – Dana Ibrahim

• Height: 167.5cm Weight: 66kg

• Ability to see the light of truth in others and allowing them or forcing them to see it in themselves.

• Will eventually have the ability to generate light

American Comics and The 99Similarities in Fighting Against

Prejudice

• The Incredible Hulk– A.K.A. – Dr. Robert Bruce

Banner

• Had a run in with a Gamma bonb

• He 100% Green• "The madder Hulk gets, the

stronger Hulk gets!“

• Jabbar - The Powerful– A.K.A. Nawaf Al Bilali

• Height : 224 cm (powered up), 193 cm (powered down)Weight : 193 kg (powered up), 95 kg (powered down)

• Jabbar is very strong, but if he losses control of his powers, he may become a danger to himself and others

Even the President is a fan of the 99

Comic Books are not just an American pastime anymore!