There’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sequential arts. Between the upcoming San Diego International comic-con (July 9 - 12) and the plethora of geek-centric movies and TV shows out now - the online chatter surrounding graphic novels has pierced the stratosphere. In fact, even the Manchester United football club and the members of teen-pop band,‘One Direction’ have their own graphic novel today. Our nation has a wide array of serious pencil-panel chasers, as will be witnessed at the 2015 edition of the Hyderabad comic-con (June 6 - 7). We take a sneak peak, at some of the most-awaited upcoming Indian graphic novels.
“There’s never been a better time to get into Indian graphic novels. Though they are few in number, the amount of creative talent amongst our graphic novel publishers, is insane. Nowadays, content is vibrant and original and does not circle around mythology, anymore. Studio’s like Kokkachi bring out books where, the storytelling completely encapsulates a readers attention,” shares Jatin Varma, founder ComicCon India.
Mixtape Volume 1 and 2 | Studio Kokaachi
Price: Rs 250 | Release date: Tomorrow
Pratheek Thomas, along with his wife Tina Thomas, is the co-founder of Studio Kokaachi, a small, independent storytelling house based out of Kochi and Bengaluru. Their upcoming graphic novel Mixtape, is a black and white anthology series that deals with real concepts including anti-social elements, homosexuality and voyeurism - in a surreal setting. But this studio is not just about graphic novels, they have also lend their expertise to motion pictures. “We were headlining the animation segments in both Gangster and OK Kanmani,” says Thomas, who wrote the popular silent graphic novel Hush. Up next, they plan on putting out Matchbox Comix (6-part series), which are “probably the smallest comics in the world”, since these are the size of matchboxes, and come inside matchboxes too. Details: store.kokaachi.com
Odayan - Pratiyogitam | Level 10 comics
Price: Rs 250 | Release date: December 19
Odayan has been touted as the book that kickstarted the revival of serious (non-mythological) Indian graphic novels. Every page by the award-winning team of writer Suhas Sundar and illustrator Deepak Sharma transports you to feudal era Kerala (14th - 16th century), which draws parallels to the time of Samurai’s in Edo-era Japan. “In Pratiyogitam (Volume 3), we provide some insight into the vigilante and Kalaripayattu master, Odayan’s childhood and in-depth socio-political scenario in Kerala, when it was ruled by the nefarious Zamorin or Samoothiri,” concludes Sharma. Details on nihodomedia.com.
SWorld War Two: Against The Rising Sun | Campfire Graphic Novels
Price: $11.68 (Global market) | Release date: September 15
Written by Jason Quinn (author of Steve Jobs:Genius by Design), ‘Against the Rising Sun’ is a much awaited book, as its predecessor (World War One) won the best graphic novel of year award at the 2015 Bangalore Comic Con. This work of art showcases a less documented side of the war - the Pacific theater, right through to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Working with Jason is always a unique experience as he ensures that the greatest amount of research goes into even the smallest details,” shares illustrator Naresh Kumar. Campfire plans to release the follow-up to this book, titled ‘In the Shadow of the Swastika’ shifting the focus to Adolf Hitler’s actions, in November this year. More details on campfire.co.in
Shaitan : Volume 2 | Holy Cow Entertainment
Price: Rs 195 | Release date: June 15
Set in Pakistan’s Astola Island, Shaitan, tells a gripping and action-packed story of a covert black ops unit that stumbles into the shaitan at the ‘heart of darkness’ within the Indian subcontinent and how this crack team of military experts, deal with containing it. “Next phase of our graphic novels and comics (includes books like Dehek and Viridian), will be based on characters in the Kula Kangri mountain range (Bhutan) and dense forests of Arunachal Pradesh thereby giving our books, some depth via cultural and racial diversity,” explains ceo Vivek Goel. Holy Cow has clearly set their crosshairs upon readers who have had it with - mythology-inspired comics and the positive response to volume 1, proved that they are on the right track.