Feb 19, 2011

Comic Con India – New Delhi - 2011

In another few hours, India will have its first-ever Comic Con, a kind of which have been in existence in Americas, Europas, and Japan, for near 4 decades, but only has been in talk in India up recently. It’s truly a chance for India, to stake its claim in the international arena, with its range of offerings, which aren’t dictated by the Westerners or the Easterners.

We here at Comicology, give you a heads-up on with few know-hows, and about what you could expect from the 2-day event extravaganza, set to showdown at the capital city of New Delhi.

Convention for Comics, what about Book Fairs then?

Books and its related Conventions have happened over the years, since the time it has come into existence. While a general Book Convention brings readers of all genre’s, it doesn’t focus on one particular way of story telling, or that matter an original take. Comics are the one’s which takes the story telling, and keeps it close to the ways in which it was originally been in use from Stone Age, the Graphical way.

Comic Cons (aka Conventions), are the result of that love towards Comics or Graphic Novels. You get to focus on one, you cherish reading the most, and meet fellow like minded people, whom you always wanted to gang up with.

How many Comic Cons are happening around the World?

Well, it seems almost every major city in the West, and the Japan, Korean hemispheres hosting an Comic Con event of its own. But the most famous ones, and the one which every Comic fan cherishes to attend in our life time, can be brought down to

  • San Diego Comic-Con InternationalIt’s the 4th largest Comic Con in the world, but the one which usually pulls all the media and happening crowd among its strength, especially considering that it’s from the American heartland.

  • Japan’s ComiketsIt’s the largest Comic Con in the world, and the only one which is exclusively organized for the Self Publishing creators working on Manga genre.

  • Angoulême International Comics FestivalIt’s the 2nd largest Comic Con in the world, which heralds the world of Comics, away from the impact of American or Manga, promoting the Franco-Belgian goldies.

  • Lucca Comics and GamesEven though considered the oldest (started in 1966), and the second largest, it has never been able to break out of its traditional and geographical mould. But it has its own takers.

New Comic Con Header

Is India ready to host it’s own Comic Con Yet?

I would say it’s long due, even though I must also admit that we haven’t grown to a stage where we have number of players in the business, to have a Comic Con of our own. But, the last couple of years, we have seen a lot of enthusiasm among Comics fans, and it’s ably supported by a new wave of creators working on Comics, who have all geared to make them count in the international arena.

Indian Comic Con, is certainly a one which is much needed to nurture and channel this talent, and make it be heard in a common forum, published internationally.

Who are the Organizers, and how it evolved?

One of the first talks about Comic Con in India, I heard was from a Comic fan based out in Mumbai, who Jatin Verma - Twenty Onwards Mediawanted to have it set for the same 2011, in his city. But an idea, like that needs not only the passion, but  also the able to put their hard earned money in the picture, and more importantly support of a business house which thrives on the media, which matters most for such events and bring the involved companies all under one roof.

That was made possible by Twenty Onwards Media, based out in New Delhi, and it was it’s chief, Jatin Varma, who can now proudly be called as the Founder of the initiative. Much kudos should go to him and his team, to bring this event into fruition.

Why is it in Delhi, and not any other City?

It’s an obvious choice, since the organizers, are based out in the City.  Being the national capital, one can’t question its choice of selection either.

But, what would I like to see is the Comic Con India, being hosted across each metro cities of India, every year. That will help it reach much wider audience. It’s the first one, so let it happen, before we ponder over city loyalty and affections :)

Who all are participating?

You normally expect only Comic Companies or Graphic Novel affiliates, to find in a Comic Con. But, Comics or GNs have become more an enabler for a number of other businesses, like Merchandising through Toys, Movie Features, and more. And considering, that India doesn’t have a number of players in the field yet, to fill an event with only those companies, the organisers have ensured to rope-in companies who can be linked up to Comics in some ways, like Toys and Merchandising shops, Print Media, etc.

CampfireVimanika LogoLevel 10That said, there are still a handful of Comic Companies, who are going to make their presence, and these are three, whom I am looking forward to.

Some of them are going to have their new launch up of titles, while the others would bring their collections, to be bought and signed over from the creators themselves.

Apart from them, the long awaited independent projects like ChitrakathaRavanayanChitrakatha, and Ravanayan, would also be present The chance to sync up with the folks, also offers a chance to barge them with questions on their target date, one you can’t let go, for sure.

What could I expect in the Event?

Everything, what you could normally expect on a Comic fans and creators, get-together. But, most importantly, it’s going to be a chance to interact with niche people, who share your passion towards Comics.

Let’s ask this to ourselves. How many times we wanted to explore and share our readings or new finds on Comics, with anyone other than your usual circle? Why is it so, because we expect to hear and share another person’s perspective, over the ones you loved reading, and discover new items for our reading in the process. And What’s more interesting then syncing up with the people, who have worked on them.

Comic Con Gathering

The introduction of World of Internet in mid 90’s, could have paved the way for more such interactions  happening over the net, and the ages of Web forums, have now only been pushed to a back alley, by the Costume Contestmore faster Websites promoting Social Networking (like Facebook, Orkut), where the like minded can interact with a bunch of people, and share and cherish their reads and finds, all the while not having to know personally.

But, still there is nothing better than the olden ways, of face to face interaction, and here is a chance to do so.

Apart from that, there is a chance to bring the Superhero (or may I dare to say, the Kid) in you, as a series of prizes have been announced by the organizers. So don’t be surprised, if you see Supermans and Batmans, and even some of our homegrown superheroes, eavesdropping on you at the event.

Is there an Agenda to the Event?

Comic Con India 19 Feb 10Comic Con India 20 Feb 10There is a set plan spread over two days, which gives you an option to plan your visits and be engaged with the happenings over time. Here is a Two Pager, sourced from the Organizing team.

There is almost a workshop happening, every half an hour, so the hard choice of picking and choosing the ones you like the most, is upon you.

I guess it’s, going to be tricky :)

So, here we are, to celebrate the most unique passion, among all readers of arts. Let’s be Comical and let our heart out on the event, and get attached to the one we dear the most, Comics. 

Comicology wishes the Indian Comic Con, all the best, and hope we can have some good moments to take out from the event.

For further readings, here are our fellow Bloggers who have blogged their heart-out about the event, which all deserves a look and a read.

13 ComiComments:

Excellent writeup Rafiq. It's a great news to have a comic con of our own. It gives me hope of seeing some positive changes in Indian comic industry. May be some more publishers with new and better ideas will come up in future.

நண்பரே,

உங்கள் டெல்லி சாகசம் வெற்றிகரமானதாகவும், உல்லாசமாகவும் அமைய என் பிரார்த்தனைகள் :) நீங்களும் விந்தை உடை அணியும் போட்டியில் கலந்து கொள்கிறீர்களா? உங்கள் வேடம் என்ன என்பதை அறிய ஆவலாக உள்ளேன் :) மேலும் பாண்டிச் சித்தர் பாடல்கள் ஒரு கிழிந்த ஓலைத் தொகுப்பில் பின்வரும் பாடல் காணப்படுகிறேதே... இந்தியாவில் ஒரு நகரம் டெல்லி... பாடலை முழுமையாக தருவதற்கு காப்பிரைட் இடமளிக்கவில்லை :))இப்பாடல் உங்கள் டெல்லிப் பயணத்தை முன்கணித்து எழுதப்பட்டதா? விளக்குவீர்கள் என நம்புகிறோம். அடுத்த வருடம் இந்த விழாவில் தமிழ் காமிக்ஸ் பதிப்பாளர்களும் இடம்பெறுவார்கள் என நம்புவோமாக. வழமைபோலவே சிறப்பான பதிவு அன்பு நண்பரே.

ஆஹா... இது ஒரு நல்ல தொடக்கம்.. வாழ்த்துக்கள்.... சில வருடங்களில் சென்னையில் எதிர்பார்க்கலாம்..... இந்த தொடக்கம், காமிக்ஸ் படிக்கும் பழக்கத்தை புதியவர்களுக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தும்.

its good that we have a large crowd of comic lover and we can even outrun the foreign comic books too. If you want to have some good comic visit www.fullbc.in, a very good webcomic strip.

Yes, I agree with you. I found this post is quite an interesting one. Thanks a lot for sharing this good info.

Hi, I liked your blog
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உயிரை தேடி கதையின் மீதி பாகங்களை வெளியிட்டால் நன்றாக இருக்கும் நண்பரே.....

உங்கள் ஆசை நிறைவேறிவிட்டது காதலரே. தமிழ் காமிக்ஸ் ஆர்வலர்கள், அடுத்த பெங்களூர் காமிக் கானிற்கு படையெடுக்க ஆரம்பித்து விட்டார்கள் :P

Thanks TPH. It took me more than a year to since I last blogged. But these are the words, which has fuel the desire to be back.

There are more Indian comics publishers these days, with variety of content. I will start sharing them one by one, over the next few months. Hopefully, you will find something of your interest in there. But, the Classics does not seem to be on their agenda. If that's what you are looking for :P

ரமேஷ், சென்னை இல்லை என்றால் பெங்களூரிலாவது நடக்காதா என்ற ஆசை நிறைவேற தான் போகிறது. :P

Thanks for the referral, @3575cbacda613cf4a5113c0d1d6cb911:disqus

விரைவில் அதற்கான ஏற்பாட்டினை தொடங்க எண்ணியுள்ளேன், நண்பரே. நேரம் பொறுத்து கண்டிப்பாக வெளிவரும்.

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