I’ve heard about this comic book superhero some months back but didn’t mind until I saw a print ad of its theater play version. I thought it might be selling well that’s why the producers thought of bringing it on stage. It was shown at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC) last August and ran for a month.
Ajaaj is touted as the first UAE superhero and set in the year 2020. The book was released in a hard cover format with a 44-page maiden issue which can also be downloaded in their website. Cover illustrations and promotional pages are excellent and could be so far the best that they’ve done here in the region. On the other hand drawings from the inside pages especially of the current episodes are just fair enough for their target audience who are basically kids from primary and secondary schools.
The site however is appealing and informative, it gives you all you need to know about the characters. It also lets you download latest pages from current issues and even has a dramatic trailer. http://www.ajaaj.ae/english/trailer.html
To pioneer in this industry is very refreshing in this region with conservative cultural background and it’s a good start to say the least. However my point of view dictates that the comic book needs a lot of consistency especially with the illustrations. At this point it was like Mark Waid doing “Kingdom Come 2” after Alex Ross did the first one. Got my point?
Ajaaj is produced by WATANI, a social development program headed by Mohammed Baharoon, Deputy Coordinator General.
