How do you say "Webhead" in Arabic?

March 17, 2006 10:51 AM

Spider-Man in Arabic. Through a licensing arrangement with Marvel Comics, Kuwait-based Teshkeel Comics has started producing the adventures of your favorite heroes in Arabic, starting with Spider-Man. The Hulk is next. But don't miss their own in-house pack of super-powered do-gooders: The 99 ("the world's first superheroes conceived from Islamic culture"). India in 2004. Saudi Arabia in 2006. Where will the world-travellin' webslinger be in 2008?
posted by grabbingsand (23 comments total)

I guess that in this incarnation Spidey won't even get time off for a quick smooch with M-J.
posted by mpk at 11:00 AM on March 17, 2006

Supermen Donuyor!
posted by Pollomacho at 11:00 AM on March 17, 2006

The 99 looks like the Saudi Arabian Burger King Kidz Club
posted by elr at 11:03 AM on March 17, 2006

Buger King Kids Club -- the 99
posted by bigmusic at 11:19 AM on March 17, 2006

Okay. That's just spooky.
posted by grabbingsand at 11:36 AM on March 17, 2006

Looking forwards to the 9/11 special edition to be published in Arabic. That'll sell like hot cakes. Probably.
posted by longbaugh at 11:44 AM on March 17, 2006

Globalization is an interesting thing to observe - especially through the lens of comic books. But where the Indian version of Spiderman was a cultural translation, the Arabic Spidey seems to be more word-for-word. The Green Goblin still carries Jack-O-Lantern bombs in the cover linked above; I don't think that translates well into Arab culture.

Regardless, kids in Kuwait (and adults too) will absolutely love this. No doubt it'll get passed around and make its way into Iraq. Perhaps Peter Parker can win hearts and minds where the United States as a whole has failed.
posted by aladfar at 11:50 AM on March 17, 2006

Now if only Frank Miller would do a story arc where Bat Spider-Man takes on Al Roker The Great Satan.

That'd be awesome.
posted by djeo at 11:51 AM on March 17, 2006

I wonder if Mary Jane and Aunt May will wear burkas.
posted by fandango_matt at 12:00 PM on March 17, 2006

web-burkhas.
posted by jonmc at 12:07 PM on March 17, 2006

With great power comes great responsibility.

Which is why we need to show the Zionists and the Great Satan the error of their ways. Now climb into the cockpit and fly this jet into that tower.
posted by frogan at 12:14 PM on March 17, 2006

Why are The 99 all in mid-pelvic thrust in their group picture?

I guess I'd rather not know.
posted by gurple at 12:28 PM on March 17, 2006

I'm not sure why this is interestin. Unlike the Indian version in which the characters and storyline are completely reimagined, this appears to be just a translation.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:49 PM on March 17, 2006

Batman the animated series has been dubbed in both standard arabic and the egyptian dialect of arabic. The first is regularly aired in Syria (and probably other countries nearby), the latter is regular aired in Egypt.
posted by mulligan at 1:34 PM on March 17, 2006

Does anyone know where I could buy these in the US? (Arabic student looking for non-newspaper/Korannic summer reading.)
posted by The White Hat at 3:00 PM on March 17, 2006

Uh, isn't the Hulk Jewish?
posted by zaelic at 3:31 PM on March 17, 2006

The 99's claim to be the "first superheroes conceived from Islamic culture," debunked.
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:34 PM on March 17, 2006

I am never going to be able to think of the 99 without thinking of the Burger King Kids Club now.

I also can't figure out what the deal is with the white Kurt Cobain-lookalike in the wheelchair. It's like the 99 were standing around and some retarded American kid was zooming by and wanted to have his picture taken with them.

(I mean that in a nice, tolerant way)
posted by blacklite at 3:45 PM on March 17, 2006

posted by zaelic Uh, isn't the Hulk Jewish?

That bris must've been terrifying. HULK'S WEE WEE HURT!
posted by fandango_matt at 5:24 PM on March 17, 2006

The White Hat: I don't know about Spiderman exactly, but I got a bunch of Tin Tin comics in Arabic off eBay in addition to some crappy novels and other stuff. If you're more adventurous, I've also successfully ordered books from here before. If you're just looking for variety, not specifically comics, a Google search of any variation of "Arabic", "foreign", and "books" yields pretty promising results.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 9:28 PM on March 17, 2006

Another brainwash for arabs!!!
posted by zarisa at 4:49 AM on March 18, 2006

They are The 99 and the fate of the known universe depends on them.

This is the most retarded thing I've ever read. And I read 1602.
posted by Sparx at 6:10 AM on March 18, 2006

Hal, thanks much for the pointers. I actually just ordered a few Tin Tin comics through eBay about a week ago. Now, if only I could find tapes of MBC's Arabic Simpsons, "Al Shamsoon." I don't care what the critics say about it.
posted by The White Hat at 5:33 AM on March 19, 2006