Arabian Comics: Crammed With Interests

Arabian Comics …was originally going to cover just Saudi Arabia, but most of them are interconnected by their shared language. That said, Egypt has its own post and Algeria’s got a section somewhere else. I’m working on it! Gotta tell you though, sometimes you really have to look to get a better idea of something. Finding about just the anthology Majid led me down a very deep rabbit hole.

Arabian Comics Beginnings

Apparently most Arab comics were influenced from the Franco-Belgian stuff. Probably because France colonized the former Ottoman Empire in WWI and brought their political commentary. So Lebanon made its first local satirical commentary magazine Al…or Ad-Dabbour in 1922 to speak out against France. Even if the founder went to jail and was physically harassed throughout his life. Thankfully it was influential enough to restart in 2000 when Syria started doing the colonizing.

As for actual comics, there were plenty of children’s series in the 1940s and early 50s. These were more than likely Arabinized newspaper strips of popular characters like Mickey Mouse. By the mid-50s, magazines like Lebanon’s Dunia Al-Ahdath and Egypt’s Samir appear. Dunia Al-Ahdath at the very least got around thanks to helping kids get interested in reading.

Comics’ Day In The Sun

The heyday of Arab comics was the 1960s and 70s, with translated Superman and Little Lulu starting the trend. As for local content, there were plenty of experiments especially with the Lebanese Civil War forcing mature comix underground. But there are basically none that people talk about. Unless you count Majid in 1979 and 1980 graphic novel Carnival. At the very least, comics are still expressing the world around them like Lebanon’s multiple military conflicts in From Beirut.

Or how in the 90s, English and other languages started to be regularly adopted. Hence why comics like Tintin became so popular and why less Arabic comics came out.

Except for one (that survived). Remember the magazine that started this journey? Majid is still around today with a growing audience thanks to adapting to the times with the backing of Abu Dhabi’s local government. Like how it got around Covid with a successful app offering great entertainment. Overall it helps give Arabs a sense of cultural identity with a legacy. Especially since it includes short writings from kids all over the Arab states. But even this and a few other comics have problems.

Arabic Comics Have Their Opponents

For example, Kuwait’s The 99 has been celebrated throughout the Arab and Muslim world. But there are plenty of conservatives who want to ban this and many other comics ventures. Because they believe a comic merely trivializes central virtues of Islam like the 99 Attributes of Allah. All despite the fact that this comic served as a bridge between younger generations and the source material. Even ex-President Barack Obama praised it.

This highlights a pretty sad reality one creator notes: “Unfortunately in the Arab world you are only recognized when foreigners recognize you.” David Hirsch continues with: “In terms of graphic novels, the Middle East is not nearly as developed as many other places in the world.” With that in mind, I thought that comics in Algeria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi, and the UAE were more recent developments. So you can understand how amazed I was to be wrong. But it’d help if some publishers could archive their works.

But Arabian Comics Can Fight Them

It’s not like Geek Culture is uncommon in this part of the world. There are a number of fans singing the theme song of Japan’s Grendizer series. Plus, there are plenty of festivals and conventions too, some are even endorsed by royal families. If anything comics can be a sign of social progress.

For example Saudi Arabia recently celebrated Enas Al Shuwayer, the country’s first female comic writer. Her creation, The Legend of Shera is a passion project that became a best-seller. It’s about three cousins out to save their aunt as it turns into a save-the-city story to inspire local kids. It joins a growing list of Arabic comics trying to inspire change by awareness.

Thankfully in more recent times, comics’ whole field is easier to celebrate. Some comics aren’t even limited to the Arabic language. Non-profits like Samandal and Tosh Fesh are dedicated to advancing comics as an art form. They publish in multiple languages like English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Partly because alternative comix like these have distribution issues in some Arab countries. Then there’s the Arab Comics Exhibit showcasing historical pieces. Don’t forget the online resources where you can find links to all modern Arabic comics.

Are You Looking For Arabian Comics?

Arabian comics could use a bit more support. So far Egypt is the only one more readily available to others. Which is a shame because the Arab states have way more to show the world than just conflicts. There are artists who want to express themselves without any pressure. Some like Shuwayer show that it doesn’t have to a risk for all, but a means for inspiration. Because as Majid shows, the people willing to be in comics are out there and they don’t have to worry about pitfalls like missing archives.

Thanks for coming to the end, and as always remember to look between the panels.