Malaak: Angel of Peace
Malaak: Angel of Peace, written and illustrated by Joumana Medlej and published in Beirut, is Lebanon's first superhero comic. Though set in an alternate reality, it is heavily inspired from the author's own experiences growing up during a seemingly endless war, during which life carries on as best it can. The comic can also be read online on its official website http://www.malaakonline.com .
The Plot:
Part I
In an alternate reality, Lebanon is trapped in an unending, incomprehensible war. As chaos is reaching a peak, a mysterious child is found in a cedar forest. Not until she is grown does an otherworldly encounter unlock both the memory of what she is, and powers beyond her understanding - powers which she will need to discover the source of the war, and to end it once and for all...
Part II
Having joined forces with the Citizen Defense Brigade, Malaak earns a place in the hearts of the people, who call her the Guardian. The Jinn don't stand a chance against her growing powers until a more serious adversary arises, one against which she seems to have no power at all. As an enigmatic stranger enters the scene, it becomes clear that things aren't as simple as they seemed...
Part III
The series takes a darker turn as Nryz, a sinister red-haired woman, starts wreaking havoc and picking off characters, and once more Malaak finds herself unable to combat this new menace. Malaak is forced to enter a world of dreams to find help in fighting the new threat.
Part IV
Through recurring flashbacks, we are told the story of a young Phoenician man who had a nasty encounter with the Jinn. Meanwhile, in the present, the Jinn are up to no good...
- Acceptable Targets: Using mythical Jinn as enemies helps set a story in a (still) politically volatile region.
- Evil Twin: Female sniper Nryz is practically the Jinn answer to Malaak.
- Fictional Document: All newspapers and book titles are subversions of the existing ones.
- Impossibly Cool Clothes: Lampshaded, as they were designed by the redblooded, male helper.
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Malaak: AAAAARGHHH! Men!!! I can't show myself in this! |
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- Marked Change
- Photographic Background
- Puberty Superpower
- Weirdness Censor: Apparently, most people see the Jinn as humans.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: In the Jinn.
- Secret Identity
- Secret Keeper
- The Stoic (Adrian)
- Action Girl (Malaak, obviously)
- Sealed Evil in a Can
- Shown Their Work: And how! This ranges from Phoenician history to the origin of modern words.
- The Call Knows Where You Live: The hippocampus.