Rajat's Random Rambling 2-In-1 Review : Chairman Meow + Widhwa Ma Andhi Behen

Last year at the first Indian Comic Con India (2011) in New Delhi, for me, the find of the 2-day event was without doubt UBiMa. I have written about it in detail in one of my first few reviews for Comic Addicts.

After a few months, I heard that a sequel was in motion and that excited me to no end, I hounded both Adhiraj Singh and Abhijeet Kini to send me pics, and Abhijeet even promised to send a few sample art pieces but I guess they got busy or something, the sequel hasn’t happened yet. Disappointing, but what the hell. Life goes on, right?

Since there was no UBiMan #2 or for some unexplained reason Retrograde #2 either (fellow addict Akshay can perhaps shed some light on this!), and Sumit Kumar wasn’t launching anything, I had no major expectations from this Comic Con, as far as the artist and writers I knew were concerned.

There were going to be some new launches and Rovolt looked totally kickass, but didn’t expect much from the humor section. Anyway, 3 days went in a breeze. Due to Cosplay, I missed out checking out and buying anything from the stalls this time as well!!! Note to self: Next CC BUY stuff on day 1 and then follow it up with the fooling around in costumes!

Wishing Well : Indian Comics in 2012

 In a lot of ways, the future will remember 2011 as the year the Indian comic-book geek came out of the closet. The success of the first ever comic-book conventions in the country being held in Delhi and Mumbai went a long way in illuminating fanboys in regard to the presence of their fellow comic addicts.

It’s a year that saw Ravan’s side of the story, the beginning of an indigenous Martial Arts epic, Shiva finding his way back into comic books, the conclusion of India’s first home-grown Zombie comic book series and an arguably ballsy move from print to digital (and free), among many other exciting prospects.

Keeping in mind all these developments, It’s difficult not to imagine what this oh-so-beautiful monster, currently in its infancy, is going to grow into tomorrow. Bear in mind, however, that this is all just speculation and wishful thinking, but its fulfillment would make this little geek very happy:

A Shared Universe

In my mind, this is the one thing from a creative point of view that needs to happen soon. We are already seeing the seeds being sowed for this, with Yumi coming to a computer screen near you soon, as a Shaurya spinoff, but there is still quite a long way to go. The reason a shared universe is important is that it opens a whole world (literally) of literary possibilities, and helps give multi-dimensional looks at a character and settings. If the upcoming Avengers movie can’t convince you it’s awesome, I don’t know what will. Picture the cast of Shaurya stuck in a zombified Bangalore or a Daksh-spinoff Ravana escaping from hell into the modern day, keen for redemption.

Rajat's Random Ramblings: Retrograde in Review (Too many R's?)

 

Imagine an Earth, very similar to our Earth, yet different.

Different in many ways, despite being so similar.

Residents of this other earth do not use iPhones – they can only trust and rely upon their own "eye".

The world wide web means less than a spider’s web to them.
The only computer they can use, is their own brain.
There are none of the easily recognizable gadgets and products which we have become so used to that we can’t even imagine leaving our house without them.

What? Getting mixed up, yet intrigued?
Welcome to the world of Retrograde.

A whole new world born from within the folds of imagination that had found its roots in the brain of Akshay Dhar.

After a few independent stories, Warblade and WereHouse, we finally get to witness Akshay’s solo work on a series and I must say it was well worth the wait.

Retrograde is the story of a world without technology, where modern science no longer has much meaning and humans have to rely on their own mind and body to survive from day to day.

No, we are not talking about an Amish colony (although that might have been fun). It is a much darker and bleaker place and the residents' struggle to stay alive and carry on to the next day is a regular exercise.

It is a black and white book which, as I have previously stated, is one of my favorite mediums and suits the tone of the story well. Color might not have looked as effective as the shaded black and white does.

Avik Kumar Maitra is the artist for the series with inking and coloring by Swapnil Singh and Naval Thanawal respectively.

The artwork is raw and exciting to look at. If it does not look immediately impressive or striking, that feeling will subside quickly as you move ahead through the story.

The pencils are executed very finely and Avik seems to have done a commendable job in giving it exactly the kind of tone that suits the environment.

Exclusive Preview: Retrograde!!!

The wonderful portable digital dictionary on my computer describes the word 'Retrograde' as 

Retrograde [re-truh-greyd] adjective, can be used in several contexts:

1. (astronomy) moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to that of the Earth
2. Of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma
3. Going from better to worse
4. Moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction

Going by the preview images, I'd say it contains elements from all of these and more!

My dear readers, I feel extremely pleased to introduce you to the upcoming 2-part Graphic Novel by our very own fellow addict, Akshay Dhar.

Retrograde is being published by Pop Culture Publishing, who are also the good people behind Comic Con Express - Mumbai, which is taking place on 22nd and 23rd October in Mumbai! I'll be there, will you?

A great reason for you to be there will be to get your hands on the first issue of Retrograde. It is being launched at Comic Con Express - Mumbai, on Day One. I wouldn't want to miss out on this one. Retrograde along with the next issue of Ravanayan are on my personal top 'must-haves' list for this season.

We have the first five pages of Retrograde for your viewing pleasure. They are more of a teaser, if you ask me, coz the point at which the preview ends is nail-biting and gripping enough to keep me excited until the 22nd of October!

It is a story set in a post-apocalyptic world where only a handful of individuals are left, fighting for survival and a chance to live their lives again, as few men (and women, of course).

Nish's Notepad: The Itch You Can't Scratch

Post India's first Comic Con, I read an awesome book, which admittedly I should have reviewed somewhere in February, but my apologies for being late people!



After 20th Feb, 2011 or Day 2 of the Comic Con, as some like to call it; the first graphic novel I read was "The Itch You Can't Scratch".

Nish's Notepad: UBIMA

Hello there! Last week I reviewed Sufi Comics, a religious comic with illustrated teachings from the Holy Qur'an. And as promised, this week, it's completely DESI!
BTW Thank you people for 52 likes on the previous post, and continue the same :P


This week on my Notepad is Uud Bilaw Manus, or UBIMA in short.

Art: Abhijeet Kini
Script: Adhiraj Singh

From the i-don't-know-what-he-ate mind of Adhiraj Singh, badly drawn comics returns! but with a slight difference this time, thanks to Abhijeet Kini that it's not badly drawn now :)