Egyptian comics are gaining some form of notoriety by showing the strength of Egypt’s people. Anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary Egypt know about the dictatorships and protests surrounding them. So artists try to raise people’s hopes while spreading their concerns around. Some are more successful than others however.
The First Tries
Egyptian comics technically start with the hieroglyphs of ancient times. These sequential records within monuments depict the rituals and rites of people and gods. But true comics that travel to the reader do not appear on record until the 21st century. The earliest examples are from AK Comics in 2004. It’s at this time that President in name only, Hosni Mubarak, uses his party to limit free speech. Not helping is the Islamist terrorist group Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya attacking writers and foreigners. But then comes the Middle East’s first large scale comic publishing company AK Comics.
The goal of this company is to provide Arab role models in the form of superheroes; as well as a swords and sandals barbarian character. Yet there comes problems in trying to appeal and get help from the people AK Comics reaches out to. With the censorship laws as well as trying not to take sides, the characters cannot openly show religious affiliations. Not to mention there aren’t many artists for Egyptian comics at this time, so the company has a Brazilian art studio do most of the art. For a while, things are looking fine with US and UK releases as well as Diamond Comic Distributions spreading AK Comics. In fact, the franchise even has TV show pilots. Unfortunately, the company couldn’t sustain itself from a number of uncertain factors and now sells untranslated American Comics.
Egyptian Comics For Revolution
With military power consolidating in Egypt, the people decide to take matters into their own hands. In an almost fast-forward approach to how comics start to form, the graphic novel Metro appears. Displaying how Mubarak’s dictatorship creates financial hardship, two men set out to rob a bank until things don’t go right. So they have to hide out in the metro. No hand holding to kids in these parts as there’s even sex, which is Mubarak’s excuse for banning this book.
Following this is a magazine called Tok Tok appears. Featuring stories that any adult can pick up, it shows the hard lives of the people’s neighbors. No matter the religion or ethnic group readers unite upon seeing relatable stories of love, joblessness, and people’s experiences with the authority through satire. In just two weeks after the first publishing the united people begin the Egyptian Revolution 2011 protests. With Mubarak now losing his grip on the country, he resigns and flees Cairo. If that’s not enough Tok Tok wins the second prize of the International Festival of Comics for independent comic magazines.
Missing The Scorpions
With Tok Tok and street art’s influence, local artists take to the comic scenes as well. One artist Ganzeer even funds and distributes his own graphic novel, The Solar Grid from all of these influences. In reaction to more of the political crises, this story channels much of the struggles facing Egypt. Despite all the battles for freedom there are still a number of structures that favor the militants in Egypt. While the people are mostly united, they’re going to have to find their own ways to solve problems.
One series that demonstrates how people tell the issues of their society is the superhero web comic Qahera. Appearing after the revolution and the coup of 2013, the title character enacts her brand of justice. Wearing a hijab, she goes around fighting against any harassers or people without insight while helping any victims. This includes Christians and dogs in addition to victims of street misogyny.
Egyptian Comics: A Steep Uphill Battle
Egypt strives not just for its freedom of expression but also lifestyles that can be shared. Through comics and other forms of art many people communicate love and struggles. While being one of the factors that drive people to act against corrupt politicians, it’s going to need a lot more for real changes to take place. It’s something Egypt’s new premiere superhero series El3osba tries to do. Coming from all parts of life, the heroes tackle the issues in the streets of Cairo. It’s getting together and keeping themselves afloat that’s hard. But much like Egypt itself, the Egyptian comics are building themselves up so the ink’s not dry yet.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.