sonofjeddah

[sonofjeddah]

Thank You, Peter Cullen, from Saudi Arabia

On December 17, voice actor Peter Cullen received Life Time Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for his contributions towards character development through voice acting

He is a legend for every Transformers fan out there (including me and many like me in Saudi Arabia) for being the voice of Optimus Prime. He has been the voice of the Autobot leader since the time when Hasbro partnered with Marvel to produce Transformers content in the form of comics and animated series (with Sunbow Productions)

Transformers' Saudi fandom first came across their content in 1989 as a VHS 📼 (sold by Almansour Video). The title of it was:

This was a pivotal moment. Not only were the kids introduced to one of Hasbro's most successful franchises but they would also learn that sometimes, even the good guys end up dead in their quest for justice and freedom. The scenes of Optimus Prime's death in this feature shook the kids down to the core. I still get teary-eyed when I see Prime on his deathbed saying:

"Do not grieve. Soon...I will be one with the Matrix"

This scene and the dialogues within, the conveying of emotions by Peter Cullen made the kids fans of Optimus for decades to come. But this wasn't the first time kids in Saudi Arabia came across Cullen's work

In 1979, a Hanna Barbera animated series slowly made its way to Saudi TV around 1982 and continued till '85. The series was Mighty Man and Yukk, a story of a superhero and his ugly dog (weird plot, I know) and in it, Peter Cullen and his long-time colleague, as well as friend Frank Welker, were the main voice actors with Cullen being Mighty Man while Welker being Yukk. Suffice it to say that it was one of the most popular animated series in the country but we never paid attention to credits since we were mostly school-going kids in KG or Primary at max

But what it did was introduce us to Cullen's voice acting before we actually came to know his name later in life

While today's generation of Millenials to Gen Z might know him from the latest Transformers productions in Hollywood, on Netflix, or video games, we the 80s fandom will always remember Peter Cullen for Mighty Man and Transformers, even though his body of work goes back to Sonny and Cher show and covers even children's features like Winnie the Pooh in which he voiced Eeyore

I hope one day we get to host him in Jeddah

FUN FACT: Peter Cullen is also the voice behind Ironhide in the Transformers G1 animated series

#peter cullen #optimus prime #transformers #80s #mighty man and yukk #eeyore #winnie the pooh #ironhide #transformers g1 #Youtube

[sonofjeddah]

The MARVEL-ous Red Sea International Film Festival

Marvel's Cinema Stars assembled in Jeddah along with other Movie Stars, Directors, and Producers from around the world at this year's Red Sea International Film Festival Besides them, one of the biggest names in Superhero TV, Animation, and even Gaming participated this year. Still, the highlights belonged to the In-Conversation sessions of our favorite stars who played our favorite superheroes over the years. You can watch them here:

Red Sea 360 Panel Discussion on Video Games and Animation with Mike Fischer (Halo, Fortnite, and Sonic The Hedgehog) and Karim Zreik (Fmr. Head of Marvel TV and Exec. Producer of Marvel's Netflix Series)

#red sea international film festival #rsiff 23 #mcu #marvel studios #vlog #nicolas cage #ghost rider #chris hemsworth #thor #andrew gar #spider man #gwyneth paltrow #pepper potts #halle berry #storm #zoe saldana #gamora #avengers #x men #guardians of the galaxy #jeddah #red carpet #film festival #Youtube

[sonofjeddah]

Pepsi's Nostalgic Journey with DC Comics: Green Arrow and Comic Con Arabia

In the mid-1980s, the world witnessed a unique and unforgettable collaboration that combined the love for carbonated beverages with the fascination for iconic superheroes. Pepsi Saudi Arabia teamed up with DC Comics, unleashing a wave of excitement among fans and collectors in Jeddah and beyond. These limited edition cans, featuring beloved DC superheroes, have left an indelible mark on the hearts of enthusiasts like me and continue to hold a special place in pop culture history

A Collector's Dream: Pepsi's DC Comics Cans

Pepsi's collaboration with DC Comics brought to life an extraordinary series of beverage cans. The entire lineup included Pepsi Cola, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Teem, and Shani, each adorned with a DC superhero on its back. The idea behind this partnership was nothing short of genius, as it merged the joy of sipping a refreshing beverage with the thrill of holding a piece of superhero history

One can, in particular, became an instant favorite among collectors: Teem, a beverage that Pepsi had introduced to compete with 7-Up, featured the Green Arrow. The introduction of this emerald archer onto the soda can brought an unprecedented level of excitement to fans in Saudi Arabia. It was as if the Green Arrow himself had taken up residence in Jeddah, adding a touch of superhero magic to every Teem-drinking experience

Nostalgia on Display: Green Arrow and Stephen Amell

Fast forward to the present, and the emotional value of these Pepsi cans has only deepened. The news of Stephen Amell, the actor who portrayed Green Arrow in the widely acclaimed CW Arrow series, attending Comic Con Arabia in Jeddah, sent waves of excitement through the pop culture community. This announcement is a testament to the enduring love for superheroes in Saudi Arabia, where fans have cherished these collectible cans for decades.

I and fellow collectors can undoubtedly attest to the special place that Green Arrow holds in our hearts. The nostalgia tied to these cans goes beyond mere collectibles; they represent a piece of history, a tangible connection to the superhero universe that so many hold dear

Comic Con Arabia: Bridging the Past and Present

The upcoming Comic Con Arabia event promises to be a celebration of all things pop culture, where fans like me can relive our fondest memories and create new ones. The presence of Stephen Amell, the man behind the iconic Green Arrow, is a testament to the enduring power of these beloved characters and their influence on global culture

As collectors gather at Comic Con Arabia to celebrate the superheroes that have captured our imaginations, the vintage Pepsi DC Comics cans featuring Green Arrow will surely take center stage. They serve as a tangible reminder of the lasting impact that these characters have had on fans and collectors, not just in Jeddah but around the world

In conclusion, the collaboration between Pepsi Saudi Arabia and DC Comics in the mid-1980s remains a cherished chapter in pop culture history. The Green Arrow can, in particular, hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, and the announcement of Stephen Amell's presence at Comic Con Arabia in Jeddah only adds to the emotional value of these unique collectibles. As fans and collectors come together to celebrate their passion for superheroes, these cans will continue to serve as a bridge between the past and the present, reminding us all of the timeless magic of comic book legends

#80s #pepsi #dc fandom #dccomics #retro saudi arabia #vintage saudi arabia

[sonofjeddah]

They had Transformers but We had GoBots

For anyone growing up in Saudi Arabia and much of the Arab world in the 80s, Robots were a huge thing back then

Anime and American pop culture, both offered a great deal of robot content as well as merchandize. However, Hasbro's Transformers weren't here so the void was filled by GoBots, a line by one of Bandai's now-defunct toy divisions Popy. They had miniatures as well as 6-8 inches tall figurines that could transform into various vehicles. These would be sold initially at Al Fao Supermarket which later became Al Fao Center, whose site is now occupied by My Store Outlet

This was before the establishment of Toy Land, even Jeddah International Market didn't have these toys at the time. Naturally, as a lover of toys especially those that presented a unique combo of robots and automotive thanks to the craze that was accelerated by Turbo Teen cartoons on Saudi Channel 2, I had to have these

The collection spree began. The miniature ones were around SR. 10 ($2.67) while the bigger figures were between SR. 20-30 each ($5-$8). I had Cy-Kill, Leader-1, and Bug Bite which I still remember but the only one that has survived till today is Warpath

#gobots #toys #robots #transformers #80s #jeddah #saudi arabia #Saudi Channel 2 #Turbo Teen #tonka #hasbro #bandai #Popy #زمن الطيبين #جدة #حكاية العاب #مركز الفاؤ

[sonofjeddah]

Comic Verse: Saudi Arabia’s First Comic Book Store is a MUST Visit

(Read all the way to the end to watch the vlog and podcast episode with the store’s owner)

In the summer of 2022 came the news that the geek community of Saudi Arabia would be getting its first comic book store but with the prevailing mentality in the business community, people didn’t know what to expect 

The store started with an impressive opening, bringing all the major titles, imprints, and indies for the readers in the country. However, comic book stores are best experienced through in-person visits and that’s what happened to me

Two weeks ago I was invited to attend a collectors' gathering hosted at Comic Verse store in Riyadh. The organizers were kind enough to arrange for my trip. The gathering was on a Friday, and it brought together collectors mostly from Riyadh with only me being the exception (being a representative of Jeddah and someone who collected comics and vintage action figures) 

As soon as I entered, I realized that this place besides being a historical landmark (due to being the country’s first comics store) was also a haven for the community. Shelves were adorned with statues and posters but the biggest display belonged to the collected editions (hardcovers and paperbacks), weekly comics stacks, and boxes full of back issues. The collection wasn’t only DC and Marvel, the store has it all. Being a comic book reader myself and having visited stores in Orlando, San Francisco, London, and Dubai; this store has really outdone our expectations   

Obviously, I had to make a vlog about it but I also needed to know what inspired its owner to invest in such a niche venture, especially in a market that mostly prefers to invest in real estate, general contracting services, general retail, or e-commerce 

He was kind enough to sit down with me at his store and talk about his journey. What really impressed me about him was the fact that he was not driven by profits or sales but rather by the community’s needs when it came to comic book reading. Furthermore, if anyone would ask about a particular story or any arc or any collected edition, he would have it. And there were more, collectible action figures from DC Universe, Marvel Legends, Marvel Select, and Star Wars. What more could a geek want? 

Watch my Vlog

Watch the Superheroes of Arabia Podcast Episode with Sultan Saad (Owner of Comic Verse Store)

#comic verse saudi arabia #comic verse riyadh #riyadh #saudi arabia #comic book store #DC comics #Marvel Comics #imagecomics #vertigo comics #idw comics #dark horse comics #comics #graphic novels #statues #متجر #كوميكس #الرياض

[sonofjeddah]

Transformers Theme Parks Coming Soon in Saudi Arabia

Al Hamra Entertainment Complex rendering

Recently a landmark deal has been signed between SEVEN (Saudi Entertainment Ventures) and Hasbro for developing theme parks of various properties of the global toymaker in the Kingdom 

The $13 billion deal will add multiple theme parks across the country with one of its most famous properties seeing three theme parks being built starting with Riyadh’s Al Hamra district, according to Arabian Business

It is expected that the other two Transformers theme parks will be built in Jeddah and one of the cities in the Eastern region (Dammam, Khobar or Dhahran) 

The Kingdom has been home to a Transformers fan base since the 80s when Robots in Disguise’s animated series were available in the form of VHS at toy stores and video stores, distributed by Almansour Video and later by Hadeel Video 

In the mid-90s, the broadcasting of the pan-Arab Fun Channel introduced Beast Wars to the fanbase but with the availability of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy on Netflix, it reinvigorated the excitement amongst older fans as well as gained traction amongst new ones 

With the prospects of Transformers theme parks becoming a reality, it remains to be seen if the community will see something related to G.I. Joe 

#transformers theme parks in saudi arabia #transformers #saudi arabia #hasbro #saudi entertainment ventures #g.i. joe

[sonofjeddah]

Batman Executive Producer to attend Ignite the Scene Event in Riyadh

Recently, the Superheroes of Arabia podcast had the honor to host the Superhero Cinematic Legend Michael E. Uslan, who kickstarted the project of bringing the Caped Crusader onto the silver screen back in 1989 

During the interview, he said that he will be in Riyadh to attend Ignite the Scene event which is being organized by IGNITE 

This interview is a MUST watch for every comic book reader, every superhero fan as well as every Batman fan out there as it sheds light on his struggles, his collaborations, especially with the late Stan Lee, and how he got the go-ahead to start a program at Indiana University about superheroes and comics 

In addition, you can also check out these links to know more: 

BEST SELLERS written by Michael Uslan: https://amzn.to/3yzyaBk 

DC Comics Stan Lee's Just Imagine Series: https://amzn.to/403QWMO 

BEST SELLERS produced by Michael Uslan: https://amzn.to/3Jyrd9U

#Superheroes of Arabia podcast #michael uslan #the batman #batman 89 #batman #Ignite the Scene #podcast

[sonofjeddah]

A Local Saudi Restaurant chain partners with DC 

Recently I learned about a local Saudi fast-food chain Wister partnering with DC Comics. Naturally, I had to check it out since I am a DC fan What did I order, how was the food, and how reasonable was their effort? In this vlog, I answer these questions

Watch the full vlog with details in the video description 

#DC Comics #Batman #Wister Restaurant #saudi arabia #joker #cosplay #jeddah

[sonofjeddah]

Superheroes of Arabia Podcast: J.M.DeMatteis Interview

I grew up reading his work in the 80s and 90s. He dared to take on obscure or B-list characters and made them an instant hit at DC Comics. He took A-list characters at both DC and Marvel Comics to new heights through his unique storytelling style. True story: He brought me and John Romita Sr. to tears with one of his stories 

Now, he is the creator of The DeMultiverse consisting of 4 new comics co-created by artists Tom Mandrake, Shawn McManus, Matthew Dow Smith & David Baldeón. Superhero, fantasy, Western & more! Published by Spellbound Comics

The DeMultiverse Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spellboundcomics/surprise-four-secret-comics-by-jm-dematteis-demultiverse Spellbound Comics Website: https://spellboundcomics.com/the-demultiverse/ 

J. M. DeMatteis' works for DC and Marvel: 

Justice League International Omnibus Vol. 1: https://amzn.to/3FO25dT 

Justice League International Omnibus Vol. 2: https://amzn.to/3NDLBXD 

Doctor Fate: https://amzn.to/3E4NXvs 

Superman Speeding Bullets: https://amzn.to/3t0ptxl 

Defenders Epic Collection: Ashes, Ashes...: https://amzn.to/3fxSm0R 

Captain America Epic Collection: Monsters And Men: https://amzn.to/3DENsa8 

Spider-Man - Kraven's Last Hunt: https://amzn.to/3DJiQUW 

Spider-Man - Best of Enemies: https://amzn.to/3DDhtqN 

Spider-Man and Batman - Disordered Minds: https://amzn.to/3fBnSLc 

The Amazing Spider-Man no. 400 (Death of Aunt May): https://amzn.to/3E49RPy 

#Superheroes of Arabia podcast #j. m. dematteis #DC Comics #Marvel Comics #Spellbound Comics #DeMultiverse

[sonofjeddah]

Welcome اهلاً

➡️ Become a Patron and get EXCLUSIVE Merch

You have reached the official website of Saudi Arabia’s first Content Creator on everything related to Superheroes, and other action-packed dramas of the bygone era

My website is here to help you connect with the regional Superhero Community with a lot to offer to the world. In addition, you can also subscribe and follow my social links from here as well as read interesting posts about the local pop culture scene

As someone who has been collecting comics, and action figures and watching American pop culture since 1984, there’s a lot of interesting stuff here for you to fathom no matter where you’re from 

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Follow Me on Twitch for Superhero Gaming

Join the Community on Facebook and Discord

#Youtuber #Superheroes #Marvel #DC comics #Comic Cons #Cosplay #Action Figures #Saudi Arabia #twitch #Superhero Gamer #content creator

[sonofjeddah]

When DCAU Writer Stan Berkowitz was in Jeddah

Kids from the 90s would remember a name that would appear in credits of many episodes of Batman Beyond, Superman The Animated Series, Justice League Animated Series as well as Justice League Unlimited 

This name is also associated with some of the best-animated features produced like Superman-Batman: World’s Finest which brought together DC’s flagship characters together for the Animated Universe whose foundation was laid by Bruce Timm with Batman The Animated series in the early 90s 

The personality under discussion is Stan Berkowitz, who has been responsible for some of the best episodes and features produced for DCAU (DC Animated Universe). In 2017, he was one of the featured celebrities at Saudi Comic Con (the Kingdom’s 1st comic con) which took place in Jeddah

Stan Berkowitz is seen here at Latifa's booth, the 1st Saudi female superhero at Saudi Comic Con 2017, Jeddah. Photo by Lulwa Shalhoub for Arab News

Looking back, I feel happy that my hometown has hosted big names when it comes to my favorite superheroes. The only downside of this flashback is that I couldn’t meet Stan. I wish I had 

His work on Injustice for All episode (Justice League Animates Series) and Superman-Batman: World’s Finest remain my all-time favorites 

#Stan Berkowitz #Jeddah #Saudi Comic Con 2017 #Flashback #Comic Con #Saudi Arabia

[sonofjeddah]

Shang Chi starring Bruce Lee - NFT Art

I grew up with Kung Fu. There's no other martial art that I love more than it, even Taekwando and Ninjitsu Bruce Lee and David Carridine are my favorite actors. I love Marvel Comics, I have been reading them since I was 4, and now I'm 43. When I came to know that Marvel Studios is planning to make a Shang-Chi movie, I was overjoyed as well as sad. Sad because the legendary Bruce Lee is not with us and in my opinion, there is one better than him to be Shang Chi (no disrespect to Simu Liu). That's when my imagination started to kick in. I started searching for the best Bruce Lee pics on Google, one thing led to another, and today, I ended up making an imaginary poster of a movie that could have happened in the 1970s I tried my best to ensure that all elements in this poster are about the early 70s and nothing beyond that. Whether the legendary actor Yul Brynner would be cast as Fu Manchu or The Mandarin, I leave it to the fans to debate about it This is my imagination for lovers of NFT art with 3 different variants with limited quantities, available on OpenSea 

Check out the Collection: https://opensea.io/collection/untitled-collection-79047760

#nft art #marvel comics #mcu #shang chi #bruce lee #yul brynner #70s #kung fu #opensea

[sonofjeddah]

Are Superheroes Important for Humanity?

My 1st talk for every superhero fan discussing the impact #superheroes have had on humanity other than media box office sales Are these characters merely for kids or does their existence offer a deeper meaning? Should we read comics or are movies & tv shows enough?

Watch Now 🎥    

#comic book talk #superheroes #dc comics #marvel comics #superman #marvel age #jeddah #saudi arabia

[sonofjeddah]

The Future of Comic Book Industry: NFT 

In June, I had the honor to moderate a discussion about the future of comics during Stan Lee’s SuperCon in Jeddah. The panel included: Aleks Paunovic (Star of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye, Van Helsing, #SnowPiercer, and Executive Producer of Gen Zeroes) and Mike Bundlie (CEO of Stan Lee's SuperCon and Creator of Reactor 2042) It was an insightful discussion, to say the least. Creative talents all around the world (incl. in Saudi Arabia) now have the opportunity to be part of the future

This video was made possible with tremendous support from Discover Jeddah 

#jeddah season #Stan Lee's SuperCon #jeddah #nft comics #nft art #nft #comics #gen zeroes #reactor 2042

[sonofjeddah]

🎙 A Talk with Alan Brennert

Before there was such a thing as a Superhero Cinematic Universe, Alan Brennert was writing for Wonder Woman comics as well as TV series back in the late 70s. From that point onwards, his career at DC Comics reached new heights with his highly resonating stories for Batman, Deadman, and Black Canary   

While his work at Marvel may have been very limited, his art of storytelling didn't fall short 

Watch Now

#Alan Brennert #Podcast #Interview #DC Comics #Marvel Comics #batman #Wonder Woman #Wonder Woman TV Series #Deadman #Black Canary #Daredevil #Namor #superheroes of arabia podcast #superheroes of arabia

[sonofjeddah]

The First time X-Men figures were sold in Jeddah

This was early 90s and Jeddah had 3 major toy stores namely Toy Land (Tahliah Street, Al Andalus Street, Al Kandarah Gold Market), Kids’ Island (Tahliah Street, current site of Jamil Square) and Toy Center (Palestine Street and current site of Mobile Phones Market). None of them were selling Marvel figures

At the time, a small toy shop in Jeddah International Market was selling these. It was the only commercial establishment to do so. Later on, Kids Island was the only store to bring in the entire X-Men series acknowledging the demand that was there for Marvel’s mutants

Was I able to buy them? Yes. Being in my early teens, my parents used to give me ‘pocket money’ so that we could learn how to manage finances at an early age but most of the time, I would save it only to buy my favorite toys. Luckily my birthday was few months away, so my mom promised me to buy me Wolverine action figure but that wouldn’t be complete because I had to wait for Sabretooth’s action figure until next year. That’s when my pocket money came in use and I was able to buy it

I still have these figures in near mint condition but this story reminds me how much of a struggle it was to get our favorite toys here. We were simply at the mercy of toy stores and small shops. I’m glad things have changed for the better

#jeddah #saudi arabia #life in saudi arabia #old stories about jeddah #toys #action figures #marvel #toybiz #x-men #jeddah international market #فيجرز #سوق جدة الدولي

[sonofjeddah]

Stan Lee’s SuperCon Jeddah: My Full Vlog

The last Comic Con I attended was back in 2019 in Riyadh

The last Comic Con that took place in Jeddah was in 2018 

Just imagine the excitement

We in Jeddah were fortunate to be celebrating the late Stan Lee's 100th birthday and seeing so many happy faces was a priceless experienceI was humbled to see how my vlogging journey, which started in 2017, connected me with people who loved what I did but the climax was to learn that I would be asked to moderate a panel and be interviewed about my journey of collecting comics, graphic novels, and action figures while growing up in Jeddah 

Thank you Stan Lee’s SuperCon team, we are waiting for next SuperCon already 

Jointly produced with and thanks to Discover Jeddah 

DISCLAIMER: This is a vlog chronicling an event of personal importance to the vloggers. This is not a paid promotion. Any vendors or artists shown here are solely for information purposes for the geek community in Saudi Arabia

#Comic Con #Stan Lee's SuperCon #Jeddah Season #Cosplay #Comics #Graphic Novels #Action Figures #Statues #celebritie #Saudi Arabia