Shubeik Lubeik

A brilliant and imaginative debut graphic novel that brings to life a fantastical Cairo where wishes are real. Author, illustrator, and translator Deena Mohamed presents a literary, feminist, Arab-centric graphic novel that marries magic and the socio-political realities of contemporary Egypt.

Shubeik Lubeik—a fairytale rhyme meaning “Your Wish is My Command” in Arabic—is the story of three characters navigating a world where wishes are literally for sale; mired in bureaucracy and the familiar prejudices of our world,  the more expensive the wish, the more powerful and therefore the more likely to work as intended. The novel’s three distinct parts tell the story of three first class wishes as used by Aziza, Nour, and Shokry, each grappling with the challenge inherent in trying to make your most deeply held desire come true.
 
Deena’s mix of calligraphy and contemporary styles, brings to life a vibrant Cairene neighborhood, and a cast of characters whose struggles and triumphs are deeply resonant. Shubeik Lubeik heralds the arrival of a huge new talent and a brave, literary, political, and feminist new voice in comics. 
 

DEENA MOHAMED is an Egyptian designer and illustrator. She first began making comics at eighteen when she created the viral webcomic strip “Qahera.” The comic addressed social issues and starred a visibly Muslim Egyptian super-heroine. It was featured in multiple local and international outlets such as the BBC, Foreign Policy, The Times, Al Arabiya, and others.  In 2017 Deena was named by the The Washington Post as one of “five women changing the world for the better” on the occasion of International Women’s Day.