In one way or another, we’re all fans of superheroes. Whether it’s the action sequences that captivate us or their undying commitment to protect the innocent that touches our hearts, most superheroes played a vital role in shaping our childhoods and understanding of the world.
Thanks to AK Comics, Egypt was lucky enough to pave the way for the superhero community in the MENA region, introducing four heroes that played a crucial role in paving the way for Middle Eastern comics across the globe.
AK Comics was founded by Egyptian businessman and college professor, Ayman Kandeel, no later than 2004. The first of its kind in the MENA Region, the aim was to introduce a diverse group of Middle Eastern superheroes as inspiring role models to boost the younger generations’ pride and understanding of their cultures through the heroes’ noble acts.
The company introduced four superheroes operating across the MENA region, each protecting their cities and timelines, including Zein, a philosophy professor who comes from an ancient line of pharaohs, Jalila, a scientist gifted with superpowers after surviving a nuclear explosion, Aya, a law student by day and vigilante by night, and Rakan, a Mesopotamian warrior.
Released in English and Arabic, the comics were made accessible to both Middle Eastern and American audiences. American illustrator Richard Gröss, who collaborated with Marvel and DC Comics, was AK Comics’ editor-in-chief during the company’s brief run. Although initially successful, AK Comics shut down its operations a few years later due to insufficient funding.
At one point, Zein was set to have his own animated cartoon. Titled Zein: The Last Pharoah, the cartoon’s intro was screened at the 2006 edition of the Cairo Animation Festival. However, no further updates were revealed and the cartoon never came to fruition.
Despite its short time, AK Comics proved its crucial influence in the Egyptian comic book industry and the MENA region. By 2007, Teshkeel Comics, a Kuwaiti comic book publisher, launched The 99, a superhero comic series that lasted for seven years.
In 2015, John Maher, Ahmed Raafat, and Maged Raafat introduced El Osba, a new Egyptian superhero team that continued AK Comics’ legacy and vision, paving the way for new superhero stories set in the Middle East.
