One of my favorite readers wrote in to say that he’s planning a course focused around Arabic graphic novels. Please add your recommendations; my list is very Egypt-centric:
Graphic novels or novellas
Metro (مترو), by Magdy al-Shafee, published by The Comic Shop. This fast-paced genre fiction shows us a world of corruption, sexual harassment, and hopelessness, and faced banning, fines, and its own harassment from the Egyptian government. It is now finally available in Arabic again in Cairo, in addition to English and Italian.
The Use of Life, (استخدام الحياة), by Ahmed Naje. Between a novel and a graphic novel, illustrated by Ayman al-Zargani. More on Goodreads.
Ruins of the Future, (أطلال المستقبل ), by Ganzeer/Mohamed Fahmy. Set at the Giza pyramids in the future, Ruins of the Future pits a group of scholars against an incarnation of the ancient Egyptian god Seth, and is described by its authors as “an 80-page piece of sci-fi pulp.” I’m not sure this is available any longer.
This Story Passes (هذه القصة تجري), by Mazen Kerbaj, published by Dar al Adab. Also a collection of comic strips rather than a novel, but by the fantastically talented Kerbaj, who has done his more recent graphic-novelling in French. Thanks to Francesca Gilli.
Series
This well-inked series is campy, satiric science fiction. In the words of its creator, Sherif Adel, “Pass By Tomorrow is my answer to an extension of that question, ‘How will Egypt be like in 1,000 years?’ In my opinion, it will also be about the same. Our chaotic foolish half-assed way of dealing with our problems and the world will prevail. On the bright side, we get a lot of surreal comedy on a day-to-day basis, so there’s always that.”
Magazines
Samandal (http://www.samandal.org/). Ditto Lebanon, although this magazine is trilingual.
Skefkef (سكفكف), a “mutant” collection by young Moroccan comic artists, now with two editions. More on Facebook.
Jewelry Box (الشكمجية). A newer feminist-collective comix initiative, mentioned here in the NYTimes.
Compilations
Out of Control (خارج السيطرة), published by Dar al-Ain, ed. Rania Amin. A mixed bag, but there is charm in a number of the pieces, including Sally Abd el-Aziz’s anti-romance “Badreya” and Amin’s own short piece.
Les Déchainés, published by Dalimen editions. Among the works is “Fatma’s Memories,” (ذكريات فاطمة ), by Safia Ouarezki and Mahmoud Benameur. This work, set in 1942, traces the story of a dreamy young girl made to marry her cousin Amar. Amar soon leaves to fight for and in Europe, and American troops are posted in the village soon after. Written in Darija.
Young-adult
Budrus (بدرس ), created by Irene Nasser. This short work, for emerging readers, is based on the documentary Budrus (directed by Julia Bacha), and looks at a village protest movement through the eyes of 15-year-old Iltezam Morrar.
Online
There are a number of interesting comic artists to follow online, and among blogs, certainly Oum Cartoon is a must-read.