Every culture has its narratives and its legends. These have the tendency to evolve and morph with time, going from simplistic forms to complex narratives. The transition from verbally communicated stories to visually rich text is complex and demanding, but societal structures almost conspire to make these journeys happen.

As far as pop culture is concerned, the West has almost always had a monopoly on capturing the scope of the ‘superhero’ genre. From Biblical grandeur to the edgy wonder of world mythology, the creators of superheroes have shaped some of the most interesting characters till date. Enter Naif Al-Mutawa, a man who has taken a step beyond the norm and has created superheroes based on the 99 names of Allah. Borrowing heavily from Islamic religious mythos, these superheroes are creating waves across the globe. In this talk presented at TEDGlobal last week, Naif shares his vision and his motivations for pursuing this idea, and why he believes it is worth spreading.