The 99
The 99 ( or ) is a comic book, created by Naif Al-Mutawa and published by Teshkeel Comics, featuring a team of superheroes with special abilities based on the 99 attributes of Allah in Islam but some are virtues encouraged by a number of faiths. The character cast consists of Dr. Ramzi, a scholar and social activist, the 99 youngsters (some of them children), with special abilities conferred to them by "Noor" gemstones. The set of evil characters is led by the power-hungry Rughal, who seeks to steal the power of the Noor stones and their bearers for  his personal benefit. The storyline pits the 99 led by Dr. Ramzi in their pursuit of social justice and peace against the forces of chaos and evil. Creation. The series was created by Naif Al-Mutawa, founder and C.E.O. of Teshkeel Media Group. The initial creative team for "The 99" was composed of comic book industry veterans such as Fabian Nicieza, Stuart Moore, June Brigman, Dan Panosian, John McCrea, Ron Wagner, Sean Parsons and Monica Kubina. The 99 was first launched in Kuwait in 2006 after it received approval from the country’s Ministry of Information, following which it was  released globally. In September 2006, Unicorn Investment Bank acquired a stake in Teshkeel Media Group. Since the bank has a Sharia board, the investment enabled The 99 to gain approval in Saudi Arabia with its Sharia compliance. Publication history. An "Origins Preview" was first published in the Middle East in May 2006, followed by a US reprinting in July 2007. "The 99" #1 was printed in September 2006 in the Middle East and was published in the US in August 2007 as "First Light". "The 99" only ran five issues in printed form, but both Middle East and USA editions  continued to be published electronically until September 2013, with the final issue being #35. Indonesian and Indian editions were also produced. A 6-issue crossover mini-series, "JLA/The 99", with the Justice League and "The 99" began publication in October 2010. In total, there were 35 numbered issues, 6 unnumbered special issues. and the 6-issue crossover miniseries. In 2011, a webstore for the sale of English and Arabic digital editions of The 99 was launched on comiXology, which is currently active. Premise. The Noor gemstones. During the siege of Baghdad in 1258, books from the House of Wisdom  were tossed into the Tigris river by the Ilkhanate Mongol forces and allied troops to use them as a bridge. Downstream, scholars dipped 99 gemstones into the water to absorb the wisdom and power from the books. Characters. The 99 are ordinary teenagers and adults from across the globe, who come into possession of one of the ninety-nine magical mystical Noor Stones (Ahjar Al Noor, Stones of Light) and find themselves empowered in a specific manner. All dilemmas faced by The 99 are overcome through the combined powers and capabilities 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 series creator 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. One of the characters, Batina The Hidden, wears a burqa, which some reports highlighted. Critical reception and reviews. General "The 99" was listed by "Forbes" as one of the ‘Top 20 Trends Sweeping the Globe’ in January 2008. In April 2010, in response to his speech in Cairo titled "A New Beginning", former US President Barack Obama mentioned Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa at the  Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in Washington, referring to "The 99" as “perhaps the most innovative response,” and that “his comic books have captured the imagination of so many young people with superheroes who embody the teachings and tolerance of Islam”. "The 99" has been covered by international media outlets including "The New York Times", CNN, "Newsweek", BBC, and "The Washington Post". Controversies In a religious decree carried by Saudi websites, the clerics ruled the series blasphemous because the superheroes of its title are based on the 99 attributes ascribed to Allah in the Quran. The Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh , head of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas, said "The 99 is a work of the devil that should be condemned and forbidden in respect to Allah's names and attributes." The original comic strip version, first released in 2006, had already run into opposition from Muslims not only in Saudi Arabia but also in neighboring Kuwait. The fatwa arose when Al-Mutawa was sued by a Kuwaiti civilian for blasphemy in a court of law in Kuwait in 2014. Al-Mutawa fought the case and won. There was an appeal in 2015 which he won as  well. Andrea Peyser, columnist at the "New York Post", wrote in October 2010: "Hide your face and grab the kids. Coming soon to a TV in your child's bedroom is a posse of righteous, Sharia-compliant Muslim superheroes, including one who fights crime hidden head-to-toe by a burqa." On July 2, 2014, "The Kuwait Times" reported that ISIL members had issued death threats and offered unspecified rewards for the assassination of Dr. Al-Mutawa, via Twitter. Al-Mutawa defended the work saying that he had received clearance from sharia scholars and never would have gone ahead with  the project had he not.