Indian creator Ananth Maruthi has officially released his graphic novel Mumbai Titans. The book is a doujin manga, an independent tribute work, created with deep respect for Attack on Titan and its director Tetsurō Araki, whose visual style and storytelling have had a lasting global impact on manga and anime.
Mumbai Titans reimagines the concept of “Titans” through an Indian lens, rooting the narrative in Mumbai’s people, history, and cultural spirit. The work is positioned as a creative homage rather than an imitation or replacement, reflecting a conscious and respectful engagement with its inspiration.
The release marks a significant milestone for Indian independent creators, highlighting India’s growing participation in global manga culture and the emergence of doujin practices within the country. For Maruthi, the project also stands as a sincere artistic salute to one of anime’s most influential directors. The graphic novel has been released under the banner of StudioKapi0369.
Marking the auspicious occasion of Shardiya Navratri, Chitragaatha has unveiled both the Hindi and English covers of its anthology series Vichitra Puraan. This unique collection is a vibrant showcase of imagination and artistic collaboration.
The vision of Gautam Yadav finds powerful expression through the illustration of Deepjoy Subba, enhanced by the striking colors of Prasad Patnaik.
Creative credits include:
Writer: Gautam Yadav
Illustrators: Spandan Gogoi, Sushil Sonare
Colorists: Ujjwal Bhargav, Harendra Singh Saini
Lettering: Gautam Yadav
Stay connected with Chitragaatha for more updates:
FlyDreams Publications is set to release the next comic in its "Legends from Ramayana" series, titled "Pakshiraj Jatayu." This comic follows the storyline of the previous release, "Nal-Neel," which depicted the lesser-known tale of Nal and Neel from their birth to the construction of the Ram Setu, culminating in the defeat of Ravana and the return of Sita to Ayodhya. The "Nal-Neel" story was crafted to appeal to readers of all ages, from children to the elderly, and has been well-received for its engaging narrative.
Continuing in the same vein, "Pakshiraj Jatayu" explores the life of Jatayu, from his birth to his battle with Ravana, emphasizing his significant contributions to Lord Rama's army and his life. This comic delves into the lesser-known aspects of Jatayu's story, bringing together references from various versions of the Ramayana to present a comprehensive portrayal.
The "Legends from Ramayana" series aims to bring these timeless stories to readers, highlighting the unwavering heroes in Rama's army. FlyDreams Publications hopes that this effort will continue to resonate with readers and that the series will successfully reach audiences who appreciate these ancient tales.
Inker-Artist Jagdish Kumar recently posted a page from his debut comic, "Meri Bhookh Mitao (Parmanu)," as well as a preview of his current project, to commemorate his two-decade career in comics. Kumar's inking has made an everlasting impression on readers worldwide, with a portfolio that includes Raj Comics as well as international collaborations with Top Cow Productions, Pocket Jacks Comics, CMON and other companies. Kumar's commitment to pushing artistic limits remains unwavering, and he promises more compelling stories, artworks in the future.
Fans of the classic Bollywood film "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" can now experience the story in a bright new format. Egmont Publications has created a 44-page colour comic that faithfully recreates the film's plot and characters, making it feel like you're viewing it all over again.
The comic also provides fascinating info regarding the film's production, providing greater insights into the process. It also comes in two variations, each with a distinctive cover design for collectors.
In an exciting announcement, Arc Comics management took to social media platforms to reveal their plans for expanding their comic book universe. After nearly a year of captivating readers with their stories, the comic publisher unveiled their latest addition to the superhero roster, Detective Abhiraj.
The post highlighted the journey of Arc Comics, which began when a passionate comics fan decided to share their own stories and construct a unique universe. The foundation of this universe was laid with the release of "The Ghost Planet," leaving readers eager for more. Responding to the enthusiasm, Arc Comics introduced two popular heroes through the Unwanted series, both of whom were embraced by fans.
Phase 1 of Arc Comics boasts an impressive lineup of superheroes, as unveiled in the post. Among them are Satyaraj, an enigmatic character with mysterious origins; Aksh Mathur, a hero whose abilities and motivations are yet to be unveiled; Anirudhh Malhotra, whose powers and role in the universe are shrouded in secrecy; Sanki, a force to be reckoned with; and Maharathi, a formidable character whose strength knows no bounds.
The stunning artwork and vibrant colors bringing these superheroes to life are attributed to the talented artist, Manish S Mittal.
In a bribery case, a police sub-inspector from the Lodhi Colony police station in Delhi was found guilty by a court on Thursday. Judge Namrita Aggarwal, presiding over the case, emphasized the public's expectation for police officers to be readily available and uphold societal standards, owing to their public service and authority. The judge, drawing inspiration from Marvel comics, invoked the famous quote: "with great power comes great responsibility."
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from the complainant, Anita. Anita and her husband had sought the bribe as a means to resolve a complaint related to an ongoing investigation led by the accused inspector. The dismissal of the complaint was contingent upon receiving the requested bribe.
Paperback Large Print (34 Pages) - Lissa Coffey, Rajesh Nagulakonda
Description - Arjuna is undecided if he should play in his team's crucial soccer game. He chats with his friend Krishna, who clarifies him on the real meaning of the game. This is a modernised version of Krishna and Arjuna's conversations from the Bhagavad Gita made mainly for children. It's never too early to introduce kids to the Gita's lovely, universal truths. The Bhagavad Gita is the world's best-selling and most-translated book. The wisdom offered inside its pages is both timeless and contemporary.
Tragedy strikes young Xavi’s family when his mother is abducted and killed. Following which, Xavi‘s father sends him off to a boarding school. Due to little contact with his father and being forced to stay away, he becomes resentful of his dad. After spending years away from home, when he finally returns, he finds things are far different from what he expected. His father is no longer the law-abiding citizen he once was. Even though their relationship is far from ideal, little does Xavi realize that his own motivations and outlook towards life are not too different from his father‘s. In this twisted world of power, will his struggles and choices against chaos help him see the light he desperately seeks… or will it only lead to more chaos? Witness the story of an ordinary boy forced into extraordinary circumstances- A boy who refuses to live a life dictated by others.
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Review by Himanshu Khatri
ye story h xavi naam ke ladke ki jiski life ek aise event ne change kr di aaj uske pass apna kehno ko kuch nhi hai . jindagi ki struggle ne usse ekdum change kr diya h wo har bure event ke reaction dene ko tayar rehta hai par unproper training ki wajah se mat kha jata jiske liye wo khud ko tayar krne lagta. main iss issue me yahi par iske saath aise bahut event hote xavi ke saath jisse aap padh ke khud ko usse juda payengy.
writer ne jiss khubi se har charcter ko bnaya hai aur unke beech ki bonding wo aapko real life me kahin na kahin dekhne ko mil jayegi. art and color iss comics ki jaan specialy action scene.....tadam ka art isse pasand aayega unke pichle work se aur naval ji ki coloring shandaar huyi hai. kulmila ke new grounded heroes type story ke liye iss cmx ko chance de sakte hai nirash bilkul nhi hongey...
17-18 November 2018 - Comic Con India (Bangalore), Comic Con India handed out a goody bag to the visitors who bought the super fan pass. Goody bag included an explicit graphic novel to all superfan pass holders including many kids. One of the Parents filed an FIR against the organizers.
Debjani Aich (Parent of 8-year old girl) -
"*UPDATE - After being at the police station from 11.15 am till 4 pm, I was able to file a FIR against the organisers.
We talk about child safety in India and children, including my 8 year old daughter, at Comic Con Bengaluru 2018 on November 17-18, 2018 were handed out comics with graphic sex and violent content by the organisers Comic Con India. This was in the goodie bag my child got along with her ticket, the wrist band and a Batman poster. Shame on you. The covers (front or back) of the comic do not carry any disclaimer about graphic content, age restrictions or parental supervision. They only carry the authors names and the Comic Con India logo. The back cover states that it is an exclusive copy for Comic Con India pass bundles and is not for sale. I have shared photos of some objectionable material, certain images blurred by me due to the explicit sexual acts depicted.
Folks - please help escalate this terrible, shocking and scary matter. Absolutely negligent and illegal to give children obscene, age inappropriate, pornographic reading material."
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Similar Incident in 2015
In 2015, Comic con Bangalore hosted a tournament where star players were allowed to hurl abuses openly near stalls and in front of kids. They were not disqualified or escorted out of the event with a permanent ban. Instead, they were allowed to keep on playing and management even posted videos online as a cheap way to gain publicity stunt.
I'm seeing a lot of outrage about this. Just some things I want to say:
1. In India, there's this idea that 'comics' means 'children's books' because we all grew up on Tinkle. No. Comics and graphic novels deal with a wide range of subjects - dark, violent, depressing, explicit, insightful. Just because the medium is more visual and less textual does not automatically make it a child-friendly one.
2. Graphic novels are NOT pornographic just because they depict sexual acts. This particular comic under fire is an award-winning one which is about an inter-galactic war. It's not naked-homemaker-meets-pizza-delivery-boy. I'm shocked to see people describing this as 'sex comics' and 'porn'.
3. There are several such graphic novels which contain nudity and explicit images, including the controversial The Book of Genesis by R Crumb which is based on the Bible. It was No. 1 on the NYT graphic novel bestseller list.
4. Comic Con isn't a children's only festival, just as graphic novels and comics aren't only for children. The most pioneering work in this field is being written for adults. If you take your child for it, it's your responsibility to keep watch on them and what they do. The goody bag was given to people who bought tickets online - not specifically to children. Isn't it your job to open the goody bag, examine the contents and decide what's appropriate for your child?
5. It may not have been the best idea for Comic Con to give this comic out in the goody bag, considering the general paranoia about sex and sexuality in the country. Perhaps it isn't age-appropriate for a 10-yr-old to read this (though I must say that we have allowed our daughter to look through The Book of Genesis when we first got it because she was curious to see it - we're all alive, thank you). But I wonder if these same parents would cover their children's eyes if they were to take them to a museum that has Renaissance art? Or an ancient Hindu temple where sculptures show everything, including group sex?
6. If a child views age inappropriate content, the fault lies with the adults who either gave the material to the child (if it was specifically given to the child) or were ignorant that the child had chanced upon it. Please don't insult the creators of the art for it.
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Conclusion
Art of all form should be allowed to exist and flourish. The issue is with it being handed out to kids without warning of explicit content. There is a very clear obligation on the organizers (not the creators of the comic) to ensure that age appropriate comics are handed out and not one with sexually explicit images. I am all for all kinds of art and sexual content when represented for a truly creative endeavor. But let's step back and understand that handing out this kind of material without age appropriate warning etc is unacceptable.
This was the second comic that I read in the first package of TBS Planet's annual subscription pack. And frankly speaking, I was as much impressed after reading this as disheartened I was after reading the Shivaay comic.
Story: Literally, this comic is one of the most decent comic I have ever read by any Indian publisher in the horror genre in terms of story. The story's fresh, interesting and very gripping. The concept's very well thought and written. Some turning points in the story make it really wroth reading and a page turner. The ending's really horrific and unexpected. I just hoped the story would have been longer(it would have been completed in one part only).
Artwork: Story and artwork plays 50-50 role in a comic book. Artwork needs to be specially well in a horror genre comic otherwise 90% of the horror will be gone. The art of this comic is really well. The inking and special effects added to the art enhances it even much more. It takes the horrific events of the story to the next level.
किसी व्यक्ति, उत्पाद या उद्योग के प्रशंसक कई प्रकार के होते हैं और अनेको लोगो की रोज़ी-रोटी फैन्स पर निर्भर होती है। हर जगह की तरह फैन के पॉजिटिव/नेगेटिव पहलु होते हैं। आज हम भारतीय कॉमिक्स के तरह-तरह के प्रशंसकों के बारे में बात करेंगे। संभव है कि फैन्स खुद को एक से अधिक श्रेणी में पाएं, तो शुरू करते हैं।
बरसाती फैन: ऐसे फैन हाल की किसी घटना, फिल्म, टीवी सीरीज से प्रेरित होकर कॉमिक्स कम्युनिटी में जोश के साथ आते हैं। बड़े उत्साह के साथ "तिरंगा कैप्टन अमेरिका की कॉपी है", "डायमंड कॉमिक्स में डीसी वाली बात नहीं", जैसे स्टेटमेंट देते हैं। फिर अचरच में पड़ते हैं कि रेस्पॉन्स क्यों नहीं मिल रहा। यहाँ जमे Indian Comics के पुराने फैन्स इस अचरच में होते हैं कि 2 दशक पहले याहू चैट, रैडिफ मेल से चले आ रहे सवाल कुकुरमुत्ता प्रशंषको को नए कैसे लग सकते हैं? खैर अक्सर कम्युनिटी, ग्रुप्स के अन्य सदस्यों से बॉन्डिंग न होने के कारण ऐसे मित्र 1 हफ्ते से लेकर 6 महीनो के अंदर हमेशा के लिए संन्यास ले लेते हैं। इस बीच इनके सोशल मीडिया पर कुछ कॉमिक्स प्रेमी मित्रों का जुड़ना इनके लिए बोनस है।
आई, मी और मैं फैन:ओहो भाई साहब! ये लोग किसी के फैन हों ना हों अपने सबसे बड़े फैन होते है। इनके शरीर में आत्ममुग्धता का हॉर्मोन अलग से सीक्रीट होता है। कम्युनिटी, ग्रुप या असल जीवन में ये लोग बस अपने बारे में बातें और अपना प्रमोशन करने में लगे रहते हैं। देखो मेरा गोपीनाथ मुंडे, भैंस के लुंडे हार्डकवर कलेक्शन, देखो मैं उल्टा आइस क्रीम कोन खा रहा, देखो मेरा दादी माँ के नुस्खे वाला पेज (जिसका कॉमिक से कोई सरोकार नहीं पर ढाई सौ रुपये देकर हज़ार लाइक करवा लिए हैं तुम्हे जलाने को), देखो मुझे बैंगनी कुतिया ने काट लिया, हम किन्नौर के शहज़ादे अभी फॉलो करो। कॉमिक्स से जुडी कोई अपडेट इनसे ना के बराबर गलती से निकलती है या तब निकलती है जब इन्हें अपना कुछ प्रमोट करना हो।
वेटरन फैन: ये फैन बरसाती फैन्स के विलोम होते हैं। व्हाट्सएप्प, फेसबुक, ट्विटर फलाना हर जगह अगर कॉमिक से जुड़ा कोई समुदाय बनता है तो इन्हें बाय डिफ़ॉल्ट उसमे शामिल कर लिया जाता है। हालांकि, वर्षों से सक्रीय रहने की वजह से इनमें पहले की तरह भयंकर जज़्बा तो नहीं रहता पर फिर भी इनकी एक्टिविटी दिख जाती है। कुछ प्रशंसक कॉमिक्स कम्युनिटी को बढ़ाने और अन्य जुडी बातों में इतना योगदान दे डालते हैं कि एक समय बाद इन्हें किसी क्रिएटिव जैसी इज्जत मिलने लगती है। ये जब किसी कॉमिक इवेंट में जाते है तो कई लोग इन्हें आसानी से पहचान लेते हैं। समय के साथ कई वेटरन सन्यासी हो जाते हैं पर फिर भी इनके काम की वॉल्यूम इतनी होती है कि इनका नाम गाहे-बगाहे आता ही रहता है।
नकली वेटरन फैन: वैसे इनके खाते में बड़ा योगदान या कोई नोटेबल काम नहीं होता फिर भी इनका बहुत नाम होता है। आम जनता इन्हें वेटरन सा ही सम्मान देती है। ये फैन्स कभी बरसाती हुआ करते थे जिन्होंने संन्यास तो नहीं लिया पर अब 4 महीनो में एक बार कॉमिक्स पर डेढ़ पैराग्राफ वाला कमेंट या अपडेट मार कर समझ लेते हैं कि इनका धर्म निभ गया। इस Recurring डेढ़ पैराग्राफ और कभी-कभार के लाइक से धीरे-धीरे कम्युनिटी को इनका नाम याद हो जाता है और ये बड़े कॉन्फिडेंस से वेटरन श्रेणी की सीट झपट लेते हैं। कुछ ग्रुप के तो ये गुडविल एम्बेसडर तक बन जाते हैं फ्री-फण्ड में।
येड़ा बनके पेड़ा खाने वाले फैन:कुछ लोग मृदुभाषी, "भोले-भाले मगर गज़ब के चालाक फाइटर दोस्त" होते हैं। उदाहरण के तौर पर बड़ी कम्युनिटी के कई सदस्यों से छोटे-छोटे फेवर लेते हुए अपना बड़ा करना...कलेक्शन! ताकि किसी पर बोझ भी ना पड़े और हमारा छप्पर भी फट जाए। इतना ही नहीं अपनी बातों से कलाकारों, प्रकाशकों पर डालडा की इतनी परत चुपड़ देते हैं कि समय-समय पर इन्हें कुछ ख़ास गिफ्ट्स, प्राइज आदि स्पेशल ट्रीटमेंट मिलते रहते हैं। समय बीतने के साथ ये लोग अपने किरदार में टाइपकास्ट और कॉमिक कम्युनिटी में बदनाम हो जाते हैं इसलिए नए शिकार पकड़ते हैं।
कॉमिक प्रशंसकों की कुछ और श्रेणीयां अगले भाग में....
