For my readers who can read Arabic...

This is the first time I have ever installed a piece of software that has invoked God, The All Beneficent and Most Merciful. Sort of fitting I guess.

Check this out-A comic based on the 99 Names of God.
I may have to pick up a copy, if only for humor's sake. There is an Arabic edition too!
All the character's names are of course based on the إسم فاعل of the various attributes of God's 99 names as per hadith. "Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates [and believes in them and the one god behind] them would get into Paradise."
Of course without the definite article though. To be honest it looks a litte hokey, a little cool, and a little tragic, but who knows? Attempts to make religion relevant through modern music (electronic, rock or otherwise) is usually painful, and linked with comic books, this has the potential to excruciating. It might be even more painful to realize that some Muslims feel that Islam is so maligned to the point that it has to represent itself as so benign as to have a comic book.
It actually sort of looks cool, if only because it is very self-aware and cognizant of Islamic history. Any comic book in which the plot is anchored by the Mongol sacking of Baghdad in the 13th century has to be sort of interesting, no? Plus, while the characters are blatant attempts at hipness, maybe they actually are hip!
"The 18-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman from the United Arab Emirates, Noora realizes her power after she is kidnapped. As she tries to dig her way out of imprisonment, she discovers a gemstone. The stone allows her to manipulate light and create holograms, and she uses her new powers to escape. She can also now see the "Light of Truth" within others but also their dark side. With her ability to see the ugly side of human nature, she adopts a more nihilistic view of the world and struggles with depression."



Online copies are available here, but I think I am going to see if I can track down paper copies in both Arabic and English. You can download the "Pilot" for free, which I am doing right now, and will have a review of later!


Then again, I've been wanting to watch Cowboy Bebop again, so what do I know?

Currently listening to My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless." I had forgotten what an amazing album this is.

(How on earth did I manage to get OS X, comic books, anime and My Bloody Valentine in one post? Maybe my own attempts at hipness are getting desperate...China would subject me to her usual ruthless half-teasing.)