The 99: Global Superheroes, The Internet and Tolerance


Knowledge is power. It is a civilization's soul and identity. Destroy a civilization's collective knowledge and you destroy the civilization. The 99 series begins as librarians and alchemists in the ancient world work to preserve a great civilization's knowledge before conquerors set out to destroy it. Ninety-nine stones, based on the ninety-nine attributes of Allah, are created to absorb knowledge from books destroyed by the conquerors. These stones survive into the modern age and are scattered across the globe. Those who find the stones absorb the stones' powers.
Sound similar to how modern-day knowledge is preserved? Books are digitized, stored, and distributed globally via the cloud. Scholars search the cloud and absorb the knowledge to become experts in their field, and publish their ideas so that this knowledge persists for future generations.
Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, creator of the 99 Superheroes, is a clinical psychologist by degree, but a comic book author at heart. His heroes are unique in that they embody the teachings and tolerance of Islam. However, the series is not religious. Instead, the heroes seek to unite around preserving knowledge, freedom, and tolerance in the world.
At a time when negative headlines fill the news, this series fills a void where a different, positive message is shared. Children raised around extremism now have new, positive heroes and role models. Those whose opinions of Islam are shaped by negative headlines highlighting extremist activity now have another story. This is perhaps the greatest gift Dr. Al-Mutawa has given to the world. Dr. Al-Mutawa has given the world another story. As Chimamanda Adichie reminds us in her 2009 TED Talk, there is danger in a single story. Heroes in the series, much like their real-life counterparts battling for democracy in the Mid East, use social networking tools in the cloud to defeat the bad guys.
The series has international appeal. Although inspired by the Islamic faith, the series is not religious in nature. Instead, Dr. Al-Mutawa designed the heroes to be role models that embody values that all humanity shares. Dr. Al-Mutawa notes in his 2010 TED Global talk that Superman and Batman use storytelling elements from the Bible, so he uses ideas from Islam to provide the same effect in The 99.
According to the New York Times, "Toward the end of 2010, 37 percent of the Arab population was under 14 years old, which makes for about 110 million Arab preteens". Not only will The 99 provide jobs for talented artists in the animation industry, it offers a powerful message against extremism.
The world is interested. Dr. Al-Mutawa has been featured on the cover of Forbes Middle East magazine, The 99 were featured on the cover of Business Week, and President Obama commended The 99 at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in 2010. Dr. Al-Mutawa has spoken about The 99 at TED Global in 2010 and 2011.
PBS will soon be airing a film by Isaac Solotaroff, Wham! Bam! Islam! that provides insight into why Dr. Al-Mutawa has created the series, the immense hurdles he has faced, and the amazing success he has reached among global readers. Digital versions of the series can be purchased online. In fact, the First volume, Origins, can be downloaded free on The 99 website.
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and others have teamed-up with The 99 in cross-over editions that have proven to be very popular. The 99 will even soon be on television as an animated series, created by some of the hottest talent in Hollywood.
United globally against hate and intolerance, heroes connect young fans in powerful new ways. Just as the Internet has revolutionized communication, business, and education, The 99 is revolutionizing the spread of tolerance and peace.
Gina Clifford
Emerging Media and Social Entrepreneur