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Islamic-friendly comedian e book content material finds a rising viewers

(RNS) — In a November panel at San Diego’s famed Comedian-Con, Sohaib Awan described “Past the Forest,” an upcoming graphic novel sequence, as “a Muslim Narnia,” referencing the fantasy novels written by British writer C.S. Lewis (a sequence that, itself, features a handful of references to Islamic culture).

“Past the Forest,” by Noor Yusuf, Tati Nuari and Anny Maulina, focuses on a bunch of kids guided by an ostensible “wise-woman” who helps the get together journey to a mystical land in a magical Mihrab — or prayer area of interest that usually factors towards Mecca. The fantasy sequence is a part of Fictional Frontiers, a brand new initiative introduced at Comedian-Con, which seeks to help Muslim voices with key roles in creating artistic storytelling. 

Fictional Frontiers will launch in early 2022 as a subscription-based, all-digital platform to inform tales that usually, however not solely, have an Islamic body of reference. Whereas comics will likely be a key a part of the content material on provide, Fictional Frontiers hopes to additionally develop prose, poetry and video.

“Graphic novels are sometimes a solution to check new tales and new concepts which are ultimately developed into TV reveals or movie; everyone seems to be hungry for excellent content material proper now,” mentioned Awan, the CEO of Jabal Leisure, which is behind the brand new effort.

The primary two comedian books underneath the initiative have been introduced on the fall Comedian-Con, together with “Past the Forest,” which pulls on fantasy themes. The opposite, “MODAL,” a science fiction sequence written by Ink and Hack and drawn by Dedy Koerniawan, takes place within the close to future, the place information is used to micromanage the lives of peculiar individuals.

Whereas the July Comedian-Con attracts 130,000 contributors to San Diego, the smaller fall occasion is targeted on trade insiders with a watch to developments within the subsequent yr. 


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Awan, who’s of each Czech and Pakistani heritage, had no intention of moving into the comedian e book trade when he had an concept for a comic book e book sequence. However his distinctive story about battles between jinn and aliens drew the eye of one of many main publishers within the comedian e book trade. When the writer provided to buy it, the Philadelphia-area legal professional discovered himself refocusing on artistic efforts.

Sohaib Awan. Picture courtesy of Fictional Frontiers

“I simply knew there could be pursuits in dynamic storytelling outdoors of the superheroes, wizards and dragons on the market,” Awan advised Faith Information Service. Awan launched the Fictional Frontiers radio present, initially centered on the Philadelphia space. It grew to turn into, as Awan put it, the “nation’s solely weekly radio program devoted to critical dialogue about common tradition.”

Awan’s affiliate within the new Fictional Frontiers initiative additionally has a background outdoors of the comedian trade. Sarah Mughal is a literary fiction author who practices kung fu in her free time and has a background in creating extra inclusive areas for artistic content material. Mughal based #APIpit, a Twitter pitch occasion in Might 2021 designed to attract consideration to self-identifying Asian and Pacific Islander writers and illustrators. A second occasion is deliberate for 2022. 

“The leisure trade has typically restricted portrayals of Islam to sure acceptable archetypes for Muslim characters and an overuse of a desert aesthetic as properly. But, most Muslims should not from the MENA area,” Mughal advised RNS, referring to the Center East and North Africa.

The Pakistani-Canadian author is predicated within the suburbs of Toronto. Her writing has drawn on the Quranic custom and can be devoted to exposing the violent historical past of colonialism. 

The duo believes the initiative arrives on the proper time as the buyer base for comedian e book tales has diversified. The November panel was reportedly the primary because the occasion was based in 1970 to characteristic Islamic content material developed and written by Muslims.

But when Muslim heroes aren’t but seen on the large display, Muslim comedian followers can more and more be discovered at comedian e book conventions, such because the attention-grabbing group of Muslim girls who appeared at New York’s Comedian Con dressed as the various Avenger characters


RELATED: ‘Dune’ novels draw on Islamic motifs and have in turn inspired Muslim artists


San Diego’s 2019 Comedian-Con occasion included a panel titled “SuperSalaam: Muslim Nerds, Geeks and Fandom.” Simply as newsworthy was Blair Imani, a Muslim lady who attended the panel in cosplay because the “Star Trek” character Geordi LaForge — with the addition of a hijab.

Her costume drew worldwide media protection and reward from LeVar Burton, the actor who performed LaForge within the “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era” tv sequence. Imani reported some Comedian-Con attendees opposed her inclusion of a hijab, however she identified that LaForge could have been of Muslim heritage, on condition that the fictional character was born in Somalia.

Whereas Fictional Frontiers and Muslim cosplay could also be grassroots reflections of rising Muslim engagement in comics, a variety of new initiatives are underway by main studios to convey Muslim actors and heroes to the display. Egyptian American actor Abubakr Ali was forged this yr to star because the hero in Netflix’s forthcoming “Grendel” sequence. He’s the primary Arab Muslim to be forged as a superhero in a serious franchise.

In the meantime, Disney is engaged on new “Blade” and “Ms. Marvel” streaming sequence. Each tasks will embody important Muslim expertise. “Blade,” which begins filming subsequent yr, will characteristic two Muslim People in outstanding roles — actor Mahershala Ali within the title function and Bassam Tariq because the director of the movie. “Ms. Marvel,” set to launch in early 2022, would be the first comic-book-based streaming sequence to characteristic a Muslim character in its titular function. 

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