Davos 2010 - IdeasLab with Social Entrepreneurs - Naif Al Mutawa | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The creator of the comic book series "The 99" shares his journey of rethinking Islam and creating a global product that promotes positive values through diverse superheroes.

Key Insights

• 🔇 Witnessing the survivors of political torture program inspired the speaker to rethink and redesign Islam.
• 🛄 The comic series aimed to challenge negative perceptions by promoting inclusivity and shared values.
• 🌐 "The 99" gained global recognition through controversies and media coverage.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker come up with the idea for "The 99" comic book series?

The speaker was inspired by his son's approach to getting his attention and realized that Islam needed to be rethought. This led him to create 99 heroes representing different countries and religions.

Q: How did the comic series challenge negative perceptions of Islam?

By featuring heroes from various countries and religions, the comic series aimed to create a global product that encouraged inclusivity and shared values. It countered the belief that Islam is associated with terrorism and violence.

Q: How did "The 99" gain international recognition?

The comic series gained attention when a controversy surrounding Muhammad cartoons emerged. The New York Times featured an article, leading to global coverage and translations in multiple languages.

Q: What challenges did the creator face in turning "The 99" into a global product?

The speaker struggled with balancing the philosophy of the comic series while pursuing merchandising deals. He wanted to maintain positive messages and values while generating revenue and gaining trust from multinational companies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker, a Kuwaiti clinical psychologist, decided to rethink and redesign Islam after witnessing the survivors of political torture program.

• Inspired by his son, he created "The 99," a comic book series featuring 99 heroes from different countries, genders, and religions working together to make the world a better place.

• The comic series gained popularity and went global, leading to merchandising deals, a theme park, and a joint venture with an influential TV production company.