Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Bloomberg
There's an excellent Bloomberg business article on AK Comics here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=aZ.VkHgVyWrA&refer=culture
It raises an interesting question that the AK staff are struggling with at the moment:
On the one hand, the aim of AK Comics is to show that the Middle East can accommodate modern, US-style superheroes as part of its cultural mix and as positive role models for its children.
On the other hand, if they are simply clones of American superheroes, why not just buy Spiderman instead? How can AK appeal to a western audience if the heroes lack any Middle Eastern identifiers?
It's a difficult puzzle and I would personally welcome your comments on it. Perhaps the solution would be to have two different strains of MEH - one published for the Middle East and leaning towards western imagery; and one published for the west and leaning towards Middle Eastern imagery?
It's just a thought
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=aZ.VkHgVyWrA&refer=culture
It raises an interesting question that the AK staff are struggling with at the moment:
On the one hand, the aim of AK Comics is to show that the Middle East can accommodate modern, US-style superheroes as part of its cultural mix and as positive role models for its children.
On the other hand, if they are simply clones of American superheroes, why not just buy Spiderman instead? How can AK appeal to a western audience if the heroes lack any Middle Eastern identifiers?
It's a difficult puzzle and I would personally welcome your comments on it. Perhaps the solution would be to have two different strains of MEH - one published for the Middle East and leaning towards western imagery; and one published for the west and leaning towards Middle Eastern imagery?
It's just a thought
Comments:
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Hi there
I am the publisher for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Archie Comics in the Arab World-as well as of The 99 (www.the99.org) the first group of superheroes based in Islamic Culture. I share your thoughts that there is not much to differntiate these characters from Western ones outside of their names. And the numbers show that you are indeed correct Spiderman does tremendously well in their core markets even at almost twice the price point.
Naif (naif@teshkeel.com)
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I am the publisher for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Archie Comics in the Arab World-as well as of The 99 (www.the99.org) the first group of superheroes based in Islamic Culture. I share your thoughts that there is not much to differntiate these characters from Western ones outside of their names. And the numbers show that you are indeed correct Spiderman does tremendously well in their core markets even at almost twice the price point.
Naif (naif@teshkeel.com)
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: 1:14 PM
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