Captain Planet, He's Our Hero!

"The Power Is YOURS!"

Actually Captain Planet was far from my hero and not just because of his over use of hair gel or misuse of blue spandex but, because I couldn't relate. Sure, he sent a great message to the kids, recycool, stay in school, use trash cans, all of which are fine and dandy. But, after realizing this weekend that TMNT (the teenage mutant ninja turtles) were raised by a rat named splinter in a sewer in NY, I also realized all of my childhood superheros were rip offs! And it got me to thinking, growing up I didn't really have a hero. Sure, I loved the greats: Spider man, Batman, Superman, Soulja Boy, ya know ...the greats. But who did I really want to become? Because growing up as an American Muslim, smothered by the suburbs of Texas, my parents had me successfully brainwashed by 3 into thinking Salaam (from Salams journey), Sinbad, Big Bird, and Adam were superheros. I thought hijabs were capes and scholars like Imam Zaid and Shaykh Hamza were just acting in disguise to avoid exposing the greater scheme of enjoining in good and forbidding evil. I just knew they were the original superman, going fully thawbed status in phone booths across the USA. At some point I did ask myself where the sheros were --because there are tons of female villains-- Coincidence? I think not-- but where were the good girls?

By 8 I was sure I'd marry the Red Power ranger; and together we'd start our own brand of superharam fighting heros. He'd love me and cherish my contributions as I taught him new techniques, like the wudhu wash of doom, which would cleanse all haram and drain the enemy of dirty intentions-- because everyone knows we're only based on intentions. There would be potions and spells ala Hogwarts, like the Hummus Hypnosis which has the ability to stun enemies with just a single bite of pita bread. But, alas this was my A.D.D. overactive imagination and I'm left with a kufi-topped, Elmo knock off, puppet named Adam to thank for that. Or perhaps it was the magical bird named Hud-Hud (which btw literally translates back to bird, in English). Still I'm left wondering where were the Muslim Superheros!? In fact, where are the Muslim super heros?

Then my Google reader gave me the answer, granted it gave me the answer 2 weeks ago when the brother updated his blog but, those are minor details. Meet the 99, 'who personify the 99 attributes of Allah, according to Islamic tradition.

"The 99"

What will unfold on the pages of the collaboration between DC Comics in the US and Teshkeel Comics in Kuwait is yet to be seen, but the appearance of The 99 – who already appear in comics in the Muslim world – alongside archetypal American heroes would have been unlikely during the Bush years. DC Comics’ president and publisher, Paul Levitz, believes the cross-cultural project is unprecedented. A few accuse DC Comics of betraying the US: “Muslim-pandering, anyone? Thank you, Time Warner, for showing us whose side you’re on. I guess we can add you to the list of traitorous companies who have forgotten 9/11.”

Unlike their western counterparts The 99 do not wear disguises, unless you count the burka-wearing Batina The Hidden, nor are they outsiders with secret identities. They are ordinary people who develop extraordinary abilities...although characters pray or read the Qur’an, they are meant to appeal to children of all faiths." Sounds promising and exciting to say the least. It's not the hummus hypnosis I prayed for as a child but, it's a worthy start none the less.

Shout outs to: Saad @ Chill Yo Islam, Yo for the inspiration!