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sandwraith

Posts: 812
Registered: 7/19/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 4:22 AM

http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html#heroes

an interesting link to comic characters and their faitjs.Did you know that Batman is an Episcoplian/Catholic?I don't even know what an Episcoplian is!

sandwraith

Posts: 812
Registered: 7/19/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 5:12 AM

Bible beaters in a Muslim class? Ouch.But still I'm sure they left with a better understanding of Islam. I fondly remember a debate I had with a Christian friend of mine about Polygamy in Islam. He totally had me cornered when he asked me what Prophet Muhammed,glory upon his name, was thinking when he married Aisha. I have to admit, I had to practice some Buddhist Zen teachings to prevent me from straggling him [winky]

.But I think there are holes in many religions. I don't want to offend anyone but I've always wondered about the whole Jesus praying to God(which would mean that He was praying to Himself) thing. Please don't get ticked off at everyone on this thread because of my comment.If you want to flame anyone,please flame just me.

adkal

Posts: 921
From: London
Registered: 5/14/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 8:46 AM

Salaam

I remember posting about this back on Version 1 and 2 of these boards.

I remember posting about an Elseworlds Superman (in the Superman board and the then Elseworlds board).

And then there was the (quite) massive discussion over on the Captain Marvel/Shazam boards about Solomon (as) and his ties to Islam and how it could open up a whole new realm for Cap and his abilities/knowledge.

Was reading the New X-Men (I think that's the title, not too fussed about the X-books) and they had Soorya (a Sunni, we're told in the current issue) in a dua (supplication) position (which is done after the Salaat/contact prayer) but reciting the Call to Prayer.

But at least a small effort is being made.

(Myself, I've written a narrative and a comic script of a "Muslim Superman", which a lot of non-Muslims have liked, but it'll never see the light of day in the form of a comic. *sniff*)

Peace

sfrent99

Posts: 249
From: in the heart of it all...
Registered: 12/13/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 9:22 AM

I was wondering if any of you had heard about "The 99" by Naifal al-Mutawa? Its a comic I've been reading about for awhile. Its based around charaters that each have one of the 99 qualities associated with God. I think it is a Kuwaiti book and there was talk of it being published in several languages. I know that this is not a book from a US publisher, but it would be interesting to read something generated form the Islamic perspective. Anyone know if this project has been released?

I like the idea of Dust as a character, I just wish she were more fully developed.

Fables is currently running a story called "Arabian Knights" centering around Islamic "fables". Any Muslim readers have an opinion on this arc?

Peace.

adkal

Posts: 921
From: London
Registered: 5/14/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 10:26 AM

Peace

I've probably only read what you've read with regards to "The 99". I do want to be able to get my hands on those issues, though. Could be interesting.

The current arc in Fables (I think it just ended) was interesting. We haven't seen Aladdin or Ali Baba yet...I'm waiting for them.

I'm also curious as to how many realms there are.

Some of the misunderstandings of word-usage was quite amusing.

It's got potential, I'll give it that.

Peace

killface

Posts: 1,741
From: Oklahoma
Registered: 11/7/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 11:17 AM

If you guys haven't read "The Sandman" in Vertigo, I recommend it, but on this topic, it has a ton of short stories that give acknowledgement to Muslim Faith.

It actually covers all faiths pretty thoroughly.

Good stuff if you are looking for Comic stories that don't have alot to do with Superhero's and DCU.

velvetshark

Posts: 276
Registered: 11/27/04

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 11:18 AM

> Killface,I'm starting to wonder if we came from the
> same Jati Village (reference to Years of Rice and
> Salt. Good book everyone)

It certainly was.
[smile]

internetguy

Posts: 684
Registered: 12/11/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 2:17 PM

Sandwraith, the female Turkish superhero who appeared in the JLA a few years ago was Janissary. (She also recently appeared in the latest Day of Vengeance one-shot). Janissary appeared in JLA's Planet DC Annual. Added bonus: Jannisary was the only Planet DC character apart from the recently departed Bushido (As of IC #4's infamous Earth Prime Superboy battle) who didn't suck. [smile]

brucewayne909

Posts: 2,262
From: Blackgate Prison
Registered: 7/1/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 2:22 PM

I remember David Said during Bruce Wayne Fugitive, but thats really petty much it... [smile]

adkal

Posts: 921
From: London
Registered: 5/14/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 2:24 PM

Peace

Did Bushido have an enchanted sword (minds out of the gutter, please).

He turned up in the Titans annual, didn't he? Speaking a lot of Japanese. I'm pretty sure there was quite some magic involved.

Janissary has an enchanted sword as well, doesn't she? As well as what seems to be a book linked to Solomon (as).

Peace

adkal

Posts: 921
From: London
Registered: 5/14/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 2:25 PM

Peace

Wasn't there a guy over in Nightwing? A Muslim one. I think there was a panel or two of him praying.

docsavage

Posts: 712
Registered: 5/18/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 4:46 PM

I warn you: Every time after I post to threads such as these, the thread disappears overnight.

1) I am against religion in comics.
2) I have read many a book on Islam (History books and cultural books and the Koran) since 9/11/01. I did that to reassure myself.
2a) I am not reassured.

Like some characters in IC, I long for the Silver age of comics. I don't want comics to mirror the real world. I want escapism and fantasy and heroes who are better than the real world.

I don't want Catholic, Islamic, Protestant, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist, Gay, Communist, u.s.w. [und so weiter] comic characters.

If you want a hero to be [insert group here], then use your own imagination and imagine them to be any group you want him/her to be.

I just want heroes.

brucewayne909

Posts: 2,262
From: Blackgate Prison
Registered: 7/1/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 4:51 PM

> 2) I have read many a book on Islam (History books
> and cultural books and the Koran) since 9/11/01. I
> did that to reassure myself.
> 2a) I am not reassured.

Why are you not reassured? The terrorists in the Middle East are extremists, and the muslim society should not be compared to them. In my opinion, they claim to be muslims, but there acts do not show any religion except chaos and murder. They give muslims a bad name.
[frown]

Although I do agree with you that Religion shouldn't be in comics. I also don't support gay characters, but thats just me. Comics should have romance, which includes gays, so it's okay for now...

Message was edited by: brucewayne909

adkal

Posts: 921
From: London
Registered: 5/14/03

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 4:54 PM

> I don't want Catholic, Islamic, Protestant,
> Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist, Gay, Communist, u.s.w.
> [und so weiter] comic characters.

Peace

But these characters already exist - see the link at the top of page 2.

And, just out of curiousity, which books did you read? And did you just rely on books or did you actually go out and talk to Muslims?

And whilst I don't think the religion of a character should be an issue, it has been on numerous occasions.

Peace

magic_yang

Posts: 176
Registered: 8/30/05

Re: Muslim characters in comics(general opinions please)
Posted: Jan 24, 2006 6:15 PM

Why are you not reassured? The terrorists in the Middle East are extremists, and the muslim society should not be compared to them. In my opinion, they claim to be muslims, but there acts do not show any religion except chaos and murder. They give muslims a bad name.

Who's to say the extremists are being hypocrites? Maybe they're the only ones that haven't capitulated to the demands of our postmodern, atheist, and liberal society?

I'm by no means a supporter of Bin laden and his ilk, but I think it's funny how people seem to automatically dismiss extremists as rogue elements that are hypocrtical towards their belief system. I can't say much about Islam, because I've only read bits of the Koran, but I know there are many parts to Judaism and Christianity that are incompatible with modern liberal society. Pick up the Tanakh or the Bible and actually READ it instead of monkeying what other pop culture icons say, and you'll find their stances on everything from divorce to fiscal policy to be totally out-of-this world. The extremists definitely aren't the only hypocrites. We seem to be comfortable holding monotheistic traditions in one hand and the classically liberal traditions in the other. But, I doubt they're compatible.

Extremism, in itself, isn't bad. It's just foreign. And it's nominal Jews, Christians, and Muslims that are most bent on adapting their religious beliefs to the world around them, being hypocrites, if you will.

Go read Dark Knight Strikes Again. If you can look beyond the art that makes you want to stab your eyes out, you'll know what I'm talking about.


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