The 99: Batman's Muslim allies

The 99 teams up with the Justice League of America in a DC Comic which goes on sale this week. A multi-million dollar, 26-part animated TV series of The 99 will screen in America early next year Photograph: klopez/DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

The first 99 Origins comic. The characters superhero traits are based on Islamic ideas but their religion is never made overt and the intention is that they ‘transcend all language and cultural barriers’ Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

A cartoon image of Kuwaiti businessman Naif al-Mutawa, who created The 99, and hopes to 'fix Islam from the inside' by focusing on the positive aspects of the religion and by inculcating a peaceful, tolerant, multicultural version of Islam to the rest of the world Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Batina the Hidden, Mumita the Destroyer and Jaleel the Majestic from The 99 team. Of the 99 characters, who have not yet all been introduced, 49 will be male and 50 female Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

More characters from The 99 team, including their leader Dr. Ramzi Razem in the foreground. Dr Ramzi is a direct descendant of the Huras Al-Hikma, and discovers Jabbar - the first of the 99 gem-weilders - after researching and trying to find the stones for many years. His mission is to find and unite the 99 gem-holders to change the course of human civilization Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

The evil Rughal. One of the original members of the Huras Al-Hikma, he was destoyed after attempting to absorb the power of the Noor Stones, his body was destroyed. Presumed dead, he in fact passes through space and time eventually resuming human form and building a multinational business consortium. His vision is to harness the power of the Noor Stones rather than protect it as the Huras Al-Hikma wished Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Scenes from the adventure that teams The 99 with the Justice League of America... Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Scenes from the adventure that teams The 99 with the Justice League of America Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Scenes from the adventure that teams The 99 with the Justice League of America Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

The powers of the 99 come from 99 gemstones, or Noor Stones, created by the Huras Al-Hikma (Guardians of Wisdom). The Noor Stones contain knowledge from the great libraries that were destroyed when Baghdad fell to the forces of Hulagu Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan, hundreds of years ago Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Scenes from the adventure that teams The 99 with the Justice League of America Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Scenes from the adventure that teams The 99 with the Justice League of America Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Jabbar The Powerful, the first of the 99 to be found by Dr. Razem. He becomes one of the 99 after stepping on a landmine, shattering a hidden gem which embeds itself into his skin. His main power is his superhuman strength Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Noora The Light is a rich university student who discovers a gemstone when escaping a kidnapping. Her power is seeing the light of truth in others and helping them to see it in themselves, and is 'a light to overcome darkness' Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group

Samda the Invulnerable is an 8 year old girl whose main power is her inpenetrable force field. In the DC Comics series, she is due to form an interesting relationship with Wonder Woman Photograph: DC Comics/Teshkeel Media Group