Bengaluru is all set to host the 12th edition of Comic Con India on January 18 and 19 at KTPO Whitefield, promising a fun-filled weekend for fans of comics, anime, gaming, and pop culture. From celebrity guests and exclusive merchandise to the country’s best cosplayers and live performances, this year’s event, the organisers promise, will be bigger and better than ever.
With a sprawling gaming arena, immersive experiential zones, and geek shopping opportunities, Comic Con Bangalore 2025 promises to cater to every fan’s passion. Participants can expect panels featuring comic legends including Ron Marz and Jamal Igle, as well as homegrown creators who are reshaping the landscape of Indian storytelling.
Among the star-studded line-up, we shine the spotlight on four distinct comic artists: Tinkle veteran Savio Mascarenhas, Sufi comic artist Mohammed Ali Vakil, Dakhni storyteller Rahil Mohsin, and Marvel artist Tadam Gyadu.
(Bengaluru Comic Con 2025 will be on January 18 and 19 at KTPO Trade Centre, Whitefield. For more information, visit comicconindia.com. Tickets on insider.in)
Mohammed Ali Vakil (Sufi Comics)
Sufi Comics
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Special Arrangement
Mohammed Ali Vakil with his brother, Mohammed Arif Vakil, occupy a unique space in the Indian comics scene as they combined comics with Sufism. Co-creators of Sufi Comics, the duo’s journey began in 2011 with their first book, 40 Sufi Comics, which brought centuries-old Islamic tales to life in a format that tries to bridge cultures and generations.
For Mohammed Ali, the seeds of storytelling were planted in his childhood in Dubai. Comics, he recalls, were not just entertainment but a window into Indian culture and a medium to explore stories he learned at Madrasa. “The stories I grew up with shaped my ethics and worldview,” he reflects. When he moved to India in 2002 and discovered his talent for art years later, combining this skill with storytelling felt natural.
The Vakil brothers’ comics are more than just stories — they are tools for understanding. At an early Comic Con, a parent expressed gratitude for their work, saying it made Islamic tales accessible to curious young minds. “Comics are powerful. They tell spiritual and philosophical stories in a format that connects deeply,” Mohammed Ali explains.
Their work, inspired by Persian and Turkish miniature art, is steeped in tradition yet tailored for contemporary audiences. “We include a verse from the Quran in each comic, written in Arabic calligraphy by one of India’s finest calligraphers, based here in Bengaluru,” he shares. These verses, paired with visually evocative narratives, create a bridge between the spiritual and the visual.
Adapting to the digital age, their latest project, 40 Sufi Comics Volume Three, was designed with Instagram in mind. “We formatted each story for the carousel format and released them weekly,” he says, noting the platform helped them grow from 3,000 to 70,000 followers in just two years.
For him, comics are more than just a medium; they are a bridge between worlds, a way to share timeless stories in a format that resonates with today’s readers. “Comics tell stories, and we humans love stories,” he says.
To see Sufi Comics’s works, visit suficomics.com
Savio Mascarenhas (Tinkle Magazine)
Shikari Shambu in Tinkle magazine
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Special Arrangement
For over three decades, Savio Mascarenhas has been a cornerstone of Tinkle, one of India’s most iconic children’s magazines. His journey as a comic book illustrator began in 1982, and since then, he has breathed life into characters that have become household names including the beloved Shikari Shambu. Growing up, Savio was deeply influenced by the works of Ram Waerkar and Pradeep Sathe from Amar Chitra Katha, as well as the colourful illustrations in Tinkle. He often found himself doodling alongside the sketches in his favourite comics.
After a stint as a copywriter in advertising, a newspaper ad led him to Tinkle. “I showed them my cartoons, and they offered me ₹50 per drawing. That’s how my freelance journey began.” His life changed irrevocably on a New Year’s Eve in the mid-90s, when Tinkle’s founder, the legendary Anant Pai, offered him a full-time role. “He asked me what truly made me happy,” Savio remembers. “I realised it was drawing.”
In 1997, another milestone came when he was handed the reins of Shikari Shambu after the retirement of its original artist, Vasant Halbe. “It was overwhelming. I didn’t think I could do justice to Shambu,” he recalls. But Halbe’s advice – “Draw Shambu in your style, not mine” – spurred him on. Over time, Savio made the character his own, turning Shambu from a hunter to a conservationist. Guns were swapped for tranquiliser darts, and the stories began championing wildlife protection.
Savio has also helped Tinkle evolve with the times. “Children today are exposed to global standards. Our stories tackle issues like mental health, gender equality, and inclusivity, but we weave these messages subtly into fun narratives.”
Now mentoring the next generation of artists, he encourages young talent to embrace the arts. “Art is a career without boundaries. With tools like YouTube and Coursera, learning has never been easier,” he says.
For Savio, his journey with Tinkle is nothing short of destiny. “It doesn’t feel like a job. It’s a gift,” he says.
You can follow Savio Mascarenhas on Instagram at mascarenhas.savio
Rahil Mohsin (HalluBol)
Hallu Bol
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For Rahil Mohsin, co-creator of HalluBol, storytelling is both a creative passion and a cultural mission. With over 13 years of experience as a comic book artist, Mohsin with his partner, Alankrita, launched the world’s first Dakhni comic book series. “Growing up in Bengaluru’s Shivaji Nagar, speaking Dakhni often came with a sense of low self-esteem,” recalls Rahil. “We were made fun of, and media representations of Dakhni people only reinforced stereotypes.”
Determined to challenge this narrative, the duo created HalluBol, a bilingual series that makes the Dakhni language accessible to wider audiences. For every Dakhni dialogue, an English translation is provided, allowing non-Dakhni readers to engage with the stories. “Representation matters,” he explains. “When someone from a Dakhni background tells Dakhni stories, it challenges the misconceptions perpetuated by outsiders.”
The series delves into universal themes through a uniquely Dakhni lens. Their debut book, Mard Bann, explores toxic masculinity, generational trauma, and parental abuse, offering a sensitive portrayal of Dakhni men. The follow-up, Abba Ari, continues this narrative, spotlighting a dysfunctional family disrupted by the return of a toxic patriarch.
Grounded in reality, the comics depict real locations from Rahil’s childhood in Bengaluru. “The house in the comic is based on where I spent my teenage years,” he says. This authenticity not only humanises Dakhni people but also provides readers with a vivid glimpse into life in the city’s Dakhni-speaking communities.
Beyond addressing stereotypes, HalluBol is committed to embedding social commentary into its narratives. “Our stories tackle big issues—gender equality, mental health, toxic family dynamics—but we present them in an engaging way,” Rahil says.
Despite their success in cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai, the reception in Bengaluru has been surprisingly lukewarm. “It’s puzzling,” Mohsin admits. “Being from Bengaluru and having a strong Dakhni circle here, I expected more enthusiasm. Maybe this year will bring a shift.”
For more information, visit hallubol.com
Tadam Gyadu (Marvel Comics)
Spider-Man
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Special Arrangement
For Tadam Gyadu, becoming a comic book artist was a childhood dream nurtured by stacks of Raj Comics. Growing up in Arunachal Pradesh, Gyadu immersed himself in the adventures of Nagaraj, Super Commando Dhruva, and Doga. Later, movies introduced him to Western superheroes, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion. “Comic book fans always dream of creating their own comics,” he says. “I’m no different.”
Fast forward to 2023, and Gyadu is living that dream, creating art for Marvel Comics. His recent projects include contributing to Ghost Rider and illustrating Spider-Man India, a character revived after its 2005 debut. “When Sony decided to feature Spider-Man India in Across the Spider-Verse, Marvel relaunched the character with a new comic series. They wanted Indian creators for the project, so the writer, colourist, and I all have Indian roots,” Gyadu explains.
Although Tadam’s art is influenced by Western comics, he incorporates subtle Indian elements — Hindi signage on walls or Indian characters in crowd scenes. However, he resists being typecast as a North Eastern artist. “There’s less representation from the North East because it’s such a remote region,” he acknowledges, “But I don’t feel pressured to represent it in my work. My stories from the North East come from its rich storytelling traditions, not a need for tokenism.”
Beyond his Marvel projects, Tadam is developing creator-owned comics with a writer friend. “We want to tell our own stories, grounded in the North East but with universal appeal,” he says.
Working with Marvel has brought its challenges, particularly the tight deadlines. “In India, publishers are more flexible. But Marvel operates on a strict monthly schedule,” he shares. Yet, the creative freedom he enjoys at Marvel offsets the pressure. “They don’t nitpick. Once I get the script, I’m free to interpret it my way.”
Tadam’s art remains deeply personal. Locations in his drawings often reflect his own life, even if the stories themselves don’t directly reference Arunachal Pradesh. He views Comic Cons as a chance to connect with fans and peers, and he’s excited to showcase his work in Bengaluru.
You can follow Tadam Gyadu on his Instagram page _tadammeh_
Published – January 09, 2025 02:13 pm IST
