Where are the Voice Bubbles?

With the advent the Internet, videogames and TV, comic books may well be on the way to the museum...

There was a time when kids hid their Phantom, Mandrake and Archie comic books in their school bags and text books just to unfold the thrilling suspense created by their favourite popular heroes. They did this even when the elders frowned and told them it'll ruin their English. Sadly, this marvel got lost somewhere down the road when television, videogames and the Internet made their entry.

“As a kid, I was a huge fan of comic books, which helped not only to kill boredom but also improve my vocabulary and reading habit. My favourites were Chacha Chaudhary, Champak, Pinki and Billu. They gave me a whole new dimension of thinking and I was always fascinated by their characters, which were funny and imaginative. Animals that could even talk grabbed my attention instantly,” says Mohit Gupta, a student.




Filled with melodrama, action, romance and legends, these comic books were very popular and entertaining. Clever pricing encouraged readers to build up their own collections of Archie, Wonder Woman, The Adventures of Tintin and X-Men. Among Indian comics, Chacha Chaudhary, Raj Comics, Indrajal Comics and even Spider-Man: India and were well received by readers. Indian comics were not only entertaining but also inspiring, containing tales from the Ramayana and adaptations from the Mahabharata.


“I have been a lifelong fan of comic books and comic strips, especially Indrajal Comics. I loved reading Phantom, Mandrake, Peanuts, Laurel and Hardy, Flash Gordon and Archie comics. The list is endless. When we were kids, we eagerly waited for the new issue and there was a craze among us to find out about Mandrake the magician and who he had hypnotised,” says Renu Shukla, a fashion designer. “I still retain my love for them and whenever I go through them I get nostalgic,” she adds.


Pran, one of the most successful Indian cartoonists and the creator of Chacha Chaudhary, received his fame, and later on his other characters like Billu, Pinki and Raman were also enjoyed by readers. Diamond Comics and Marvel Comics were the two publishers whose comics were the most read and sold.


Gulshan Rai of Diamond Comics says, “During the early 90s, we could expect to sell around three to four lakh copies of comic books per month. But the period between 1997 and 2003 saw a decline in sales and shrinking readership due to the advent of television and Internet. But there are those who still are huge fans and interested in reading comic books while travelling or passing time or even those passionate about collecting these.”


Alternatives to these famous superhero comic books are found in the new Noddy comics, Harry Potter books or even Mills & Boon for adults. Some might even say that increasing pressure of academics and tuitions offers no time to read anything but syllabus books. Another reason behind the dwindling readership is the latest trend of Webcomics available on the Internet, attracting youngsters and fast gaining momentum. Voicing the same concern, Yash Pal Satija of Ajanta Book Sellers says, “Earlier there was a huge demand among kids for superhero comics that they once knew and loved. But because of new means of entertainment there has been a drastic decline in readers. Archie, Diamond and Raj Comics were the most sought-after but now these are all available on the Net and even on mobile phones, so there is lesser demand.”


Events like the annual Comic Con International in the U.S., which brings together comic book artists, enthusiasts and popular celebrities from the world of film together, are a welcome step in reviving comic books or at least creating a hype. The thing is, such events are far and few between.




RIDHIMA SHUKLA


http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/08/14/stories/2010081450841300.htm