Someone asked me recently why Indian comics are stuck with mythology as a core theme. I gave a brief answer as it was only an email, but I think should elaborate. There is more to this than is obvious at a first glance. Complaining aside, I think we should try and focus on ways to make this marriage work.
Comics and mythology gain from each other’s respective specialties. Both have qualities that the other can profit from. While some think Indian comics are doomed to retell tales from Indian mythology forever, I feel that in the long run, the trend will help the cause of comics becoming a popular medium in the country.
Ideas from Indian mythology are deeply ingrained in all of our daily lives. ‘Ram-Ram’ is a greeting in our villages and good brothers are called ‘Ram Lakhan ki jodi’. Family disputes are referred to as Mahabharats and mischievous babies are frequently compared to the image of Krishna when he was a baby. This awareness of mythic themes spreads across lines of region and religion, all over India. Comics are a popular medium. They tell stories to the masses, just like Bollywood does. But comics in India are not as pervasive as movies are. So comics as a medium can ride on the reach of mythology as a language that every Indian understands. Mythology as a core theme can help a lot of people overcome the initial obstacle of getting comfortable with a new medium.
On the other hand, stories and ideas from Indian mythology haven’t really had the ‘pop’ treatment until recently. One of the first things that pop into most people’s minds when the word ‘mythology’ is uttered are memories of TV serials with bad special effects and theatrical dialogue. India’s ancient tales have evolved along with India herself. The Ramayana alone has been retold more than 300 times in at least 300 different ways. Comics as a medium can be a whole new grassy field for our mythic cows to feed on and grow fat. Comics dealing with mythology, both as retellings and as reinventions, can expose people to a whole new way of looking at our thousand-year-old stories.
Comics dealing with Indian mythology in any way can be a great tool for Indian soft power the world over. I have often marveled at the magic that the Bruce Lee worked for the popular perception of Chinese culture. Nowadays, whenever I see a grim looking actor with Chinese features on the screen, I expect him to break into Kung-Fu and destroy everything and everyone around him. 
Granted, it is a stereotype, but it is an empowering and positive stereotype — way better than the bumbling and clueless chinaman image early Hollywood perpetrated.
Imagine retold mythology doing the same for India. Our stories are the most powerful export we can give to the global market in this age. India has always been a land where fantasies flourished. Mythology can help strengthen that image in modern times.
I think you could reasonably claim that mythology is as common a theme in comics from many other parts of the world as well. Perhaps with Indian comics the connection is simply more obvious.
Mythology undoubtedly plays a fundamental role in many Western comics. Examples of this range from Marvel’s interpretation of figures from Nordic and Classical mythology (Thor, Ares, Hercules) to DC and Wonder Woman’s Amazonian heritage.
Comic books, as an art form, have always been closely linked with archetypal characters and ideas. This might be because doing so helps to convey stories to readers in a simple way and without needing too many words. In comics, as in mythology, the heroes and villains are usually obvious.
In the West, many of us have become disconnected from our myths, possibly because many of us cannot reliably connect with our family heritage. Because of this, Western comics often appropriate mythology from a variety of different sources, creating a sort of “new mythology”.
My point is, the mythology is still there. We just dress it up in blue spandex.
Nice post!
I love the fact that Indian comics concentrate so much on Indian Mythology. Its what makes mythology so much more interesting. I mean, I wouldn’t really read The Mahabharata by C.Rajagopalachari as a kid, but I would want to read the Mahabharata in an Amar Chitra Katha ‘coz it makes the reading colourful and more expressive.
Hi
I completely agree with your analysis. Growing up with Indrajaal and Amarchitra Katha comics, I think they are an extremely powerful way to communicate – especially to kids since they have such rich imagination.
Vinayak
PS: I have been hunting around for JUMP in Delhi, but have been unable to find it.
Thanks Vinayak!
Re: JUMP – It was available for quite some time after the release. I suspect it’s out of stock now. The official site will soon have an online purchase option.
This is so true.
The gods and goddesses we come across in our myths are as much superhero as supernatural. They are beautiful, strong, tempestuous, powerful, have their own peculiarities and struggle as much with their mortal avatars as with their immortal ones. As such, they make for a magnificent character cast where Indian comic book characters are concerned.
India has always rooted for the fantastic and dramatic more than the mundane and commonplace and I think Indian comics adapting mythical elements is not only a reflection of our mindset but apt as well.
Plus, with such a vast and vibrant character cast in the hindu pantheon of gods, you simply _can’t_ go wrong!
I agree with it too. Indian mythology has lot to offer not only to comics but also other entertainment media like animated movies and computer games. I wrote a blog few days ago on same lines.
Indian Mythology, an Idea Bag for Games
Official first look, Cloud9Comix http://socialwizz.com/?p=1706 Australia’s first independent digital comic book publisher. ). At the moment we are negotiating with a large number of authors and publishers throughout the world for digital rights to comic books and we would very much be interested to explore any possibilities in offering some of your titles in our digital catalogue.
Interested in hearing from you,
Regards,
Prashant
I like
*grin* RT @vimoh: Indian comics, Indian mythology and the Indian image – http://ow.ly/234Dq
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Agree with comment that comics is about updating myths RT @vimoh: Indian comics, Indian mythology and the Indian image – http://ow.ly/234Dq
This comment was originally posted on Twitter