Terror stripped: Increase in comics based on fighting terror

It’s a day when the bravehearts of the country ought to be remembered. And while it may sound like the most unlikely medium, comic books come into the picture when it comes to commemorating those heroes. Comic books highlighting terrorism isn’t a new phenomenon. While internationally there have been books like Captain America, in India it isn’t an oft-treaded territory. However, in a bid to reach out to a wider audience, Indian War Comics released titles depicting the life, bravery and martyrdom of the heroes who lost their lives. The books include — Braveheart of Mumbai — 26/11 (Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC), The True Maratha (Col. N. J Nair, AC, KC) and Yeh Dil Maange More  (Capt. Vikram Batra, PVC) and more are slated to release in this series. To ensure that these real-life stories reach out to the younger lot, they were even launched for the tablet.

“With the world going into digital space, this was the best possible option to take the patriotic feeling forward. If the heroes are not highlighted, they remain unsung. If terrorism is what we fight now, then it’s still a fight. These comics tell what inspired the heroes to be in that space and fight it out. The fact that these stories have delved into the upbringing and the families of the heroes, gives them a punch despite being an easy read fit for all age groups,” says Prathibha Sastry, Head Publications of Techjini that introduced this comic series on the digital platform.

Earlier, Chacha Chaudhary and Saboo would chase terror away from the country in their comic strips. At present, comics like Mumbai Confidentials first installment Good Cop, Bad Cop — about the encounter specialists of Mumbai police — try to take the issue forward. But does it work? Comic book artist Abhijeet Kini says, “I know there is a lot of comic literature on terror out there. But the 26/11 incident is too fresh in people’s memory. If not treated sensitively, it’s too touchy a subject to fictionalise in a comic strip.”

Jatin Varma, founder of Pop Culture Publishing, feels simply eulogising won’t work: “Doing a thriller around terrorism, like the commando versions, can work. Take Sarnath Banerjee’s Kashmir Pending for instance. One way of reaching out surely is via graphic novels. We’ll probably do something where the hero saves the day in a comic format."