Abstract

There has been a renaissance in Indian comics, especially in the independent space, driven by the development of an ‘indie fest’ circuit that promotes creators and original storytelling. At the same time, the staple of Indian comics – mythological adaptations – are being reimagined and refashioned.

This talk, through a practitioner’s perspective, will offer a snapshot of Indian comics in a time of change; it will examine the rise of a highly influential superhero imaginary that can be called “techno-Vedic”, it will also look at how rural, “earthy” narratives have emerged due to the space offered by social media platforms. The talk will explore how this renaissance interacts with the re-configuration of the national project exemplified by the rise of political Hinduism.