Indian Superhero Comics

February 27, 2007 4:04 PM

Super Indian: Superhero comics from the culture that invented the genre. Check out Nagraj (and Nagrani?), Tiranga, and Shakti. The somewhat less muscular Chacha Chaudhary. And... whatever is happening here. Meanwhile fun British rich guy Richard Branson brings you Indian-themed comics Ramayan 3392 A.D., Snake Woman (another Naga), Devi and The Sadhu. previously. Dishoom!
posted by Methylviolet (16 comments total)

the name: "Virgin Comics" hits a little too close to home I think...
posted by geos at 4:41 PM on February 27, 2007

Here's the link to a somewhat different Nagraj for anyone who missed my old post.
posted by tellurian at 4:43 PM on February 27, 2007

Well, I missed it -- thanks. Tellurian's post.
posted by Methylviolet at 5:05 PM on February 27, 2007

And here's yet another appropriate opportunity to link Nina Paley's ridiculously brilliant animated Sitayana.

Jai SitaRam!
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:54 PM on February 27, 2007

I have never read much of the Indian superhero comics, but I was a huge fan of the mythological comics from Amar Chitra Katha. It seems like a lot of the mythological elements make for an easy transition into crazy superhero stuff.
posted by rks404 at 7:33 PM on February 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

How is it an invention of the genre over, say, Greek mythological heroes, or other heroes of mythology?
posted by Eideteker at 8:12 PM on February 27, 2007

... and there is always Estricks, who, in 50 Isa ka poorva versh, when Romanos kabja-ed all of gol ki dharti, lived in a gñaav [sic] surrounded by four nearby chavniyou, 'Majhadharam', 'Cheekhpukãram', 'Mrüchhakatikam', and 'Dekhat-bhãgam'.

Never has an Indian translation delighted me as much as this one does! :-)
posted by the cydonian at 9:15 PM on February 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

rks404 -- I'm with you there. I ate that stuff up as a kid. Many fond memories. Great stories, great mythology.
posted by ajshankar at 10:19 PM on February 27, 2007

With the assistance of the sadhu Getaficks and the enormous Obhimaicks (who fell into a kumbh of amrita while still a baby), Estricks defends his community against the empire of the evil Pakiromanos...
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:48 PM on February 27, 2007

Wow, the Virgin Comics stuff look great. Thanks for this post. I also recommend the recent retelling of the Ramayana by Ashok Banker (as a fantasy genre novel), or even Ian McDonald's River of Gods.
posted by dhruva at 10:59 PM on February 27, 2007

"River of Gods" has a US edition
posted by homunculus at 11:23 PM on February 27, 2007

Really wild stuff. THanks.
posted by Sukiari at 11:51 PM on February 27, 2007

Also previously on Metafilter : Nagraj v. Shakoora The Magician from Raj Comics. UFF!. Wherein Nagraj meets Spider-Man, Superman and Batman and copyright hilarity ensues!

Oh wait, I see Tellurian and Methylviolet have linked back to the very thing - it's funny stuff!

Well, I don't think anyone has linked the previous Amar Chitra Katha thread here.
posted by Slothrop at 12:54 AM on February 28, 2007

How I love Sitayana -- it's like Dennis Potter: only animated, and Indian. As it turns out, those are the only things that could have improved it. Those books look fantastic, Dhruva and Homunculus -- I just reserved them at my library.

... And is this where you got your name, Dhruva?
posted by Methylviolet at 8:24 PM on February 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

Uncanny!

That's the spitting image of dhruva!
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:48 PM on February 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

Heh. no, I'm sad to say. I just picked the Sanskrit name for the pole star...
posted by dhruva at 7:00 PM on March 1, 2007