BBC Report On The Decline Of Indian Comics Seems Rather Familiar

[Rich Johnston]

The BBC have reported on the current decline in the Indian comics industry from its glory days. See if you recognise any of the following statements.

"Like many other youngsters around the world, he has abandoned comic reading and instead catches up with his favourite characters on the Cartoon Network."

"Ayan's knowledge of the daily offerings provided by this satellite TV channel is no doubt every bit as detailed as his parents' knowledge - when they were his age - of comic book characters."

"In the industry's heyday, a popular comic could easily sell more than 500,000 issues over the course of its shelf life of several weeks. Today its equivalent will sell between 50,000 and 60,000 copies over a similar period."

"Comic expert Peter Dias says that it was during this "golden era" that comics held the monopoly on the reading entertainment of most children."

""I loved the character of Chacha Chaudhary," he reflects, "and in a way it was an age of innocence."

""Comic characters were so powerful that it is no exaggeration to say that they even played a role in shaping our personalities.""

"Another reason put forward for the decline in comic sales is the price, which ranges from 190 rupees ($3.80;£2.40) to 4,000 rupees ($80;£50) for a collector's item."

"Manoj Gupta, the owner of Raj Comics, says that spiralling prices have undoubtedly affected sales, which declined significantly from 1997 to 2003."

"Comic publishers meanwhile have been accused by critics of lacking innovation in the face of digital competition - allowing complacency to set in rather than spearheading the fight against TV and the internet."

""There is a shortage of new titles and a lack of long-term investment. Moreover distribution plays a big role in our business and in recent years this has become weaker," Mr Gupta said."

""These days there are better marketing opportunities - remember that in the 21st century it's possible for a comic character to be turned into a money-spinning animation character."

It's like deja vu...

"Competition is tough," says Mr Varma, "but that doesn't mean that comics - like the death-defying characters that are sometimes portrayed in them - cannot stage a remarkable comeback and survive against the odds."

[Mad_Man_Moon]

The BBC have reported on the current decline in the Indian comics industry from its glory days. See if you recognise any of the following statements.

"Like many other youngsters around the world, he has abandoned comic reading and instead catches up with his favourite characters on the Cartoon Network."

"Ayan's knowledge of the daily offerings provided by this satellite TV channel is no doubt every bit as detailed as his parents' knowledge - when they were his age - of comic book characters."

"In the industry's heyday, a popular comic could easily sell more than 500,000 issues over the course of its shelf life of several weeks. Today its equivalent will sell between 50,000 and 60,000 copies over a similar period."

"Comic expert Peter Dias says that it was during this "golden era" that comics held the monopoly on the reading entertainment of most children."

""I loved the character of Chacha Chaudhary," he reflects, "and in a way it was an age of innocence."

""Comic characters were so powerful that it is no exaggeration to say that they even played a role in shaping our personalities.""

"Another reason put forward for the decline in comic sales is the price, which ranges from 190 rupees ($3.80;£2.40) to 4,000 rupees ($80;£50) for a collector's item."

"Manoj Gupta, the owner of Raj Comics, says that spiralling prices have undoubtedly affected sales, which declined significantly from 1997 to 2003."

"Comic publishers meanwhile have been accused by critics of lacking innovation in the face of digital competition - allowing complacency to set in rather than spearheading the fight against TV and the internet."

""There is a shortage of new titles and a lack of long-term investment. Moreover distribution plays a big role in our business and in recent years this has become weaker," Mr Gupta said."

""These days there are better marketing opportunities - remember that in the 21st century it's possible for a comic character to be turned into a money-spinning animation character."

It's like deja vu...

"Competition is tough," says Mr Varma, "but that doesn't mean that comics - like the death-defying characters that are sometimes portrayed in them - cannot stage a remarkable comeback and survive against the odds."

Did you write a article on this at some point?

[jmyoung]

Did you write a article on this at some point?

Not sure if you are being ironic or I am missing your point, but Rich's post appears to be highlighting the comments made with respect to the decline in Indian comics that have been made with respect to US comics.

[Mad_Man_Moon]

Not sure if you are being ironic or I am missing your point, but Rich's post appears to be highlighting the comments made with respect to the decline in Indian comics that have been made with respect to S comics.

Oh, I get it now, thanks!

(I keep telling people I'm stupid, but they never believe me until it's too late!)

Yeah, I though Rich was mock-bitterly pointing out an article swipe from the article title " BBC Report On The Decline Of Indian Comics Seems Rather Familiar" ... I realise that I was delusional, now.
Thanks again!

[Blade X]

I still think (and I could be wrong) that either well animated silent (no voice actors in order to keep the costs down) monthly motion comics or silent flash animated monthly animated series sold as either collectable DVD's,collectable flash drives/memory sticks,or available for download online are going to replace traditional comics.

[fredmanson]

It's like a deja-vu: same errors, same results...

But, one of the main cause of the disinterest for the Indian comic book industry, is that except Virgin, no international heavy weight publishing companies have signed for an international distribution.

Asian comic books are not dead but they are not in phase with their time. And, unfortunately like in the USA, the price rising is really a comic book killer.

That's why you are currently founding Asian graphic studios which are working now with international based publishers. These studios have made the vital forward step to stay alive, to adapt their techniques and story telling to international readers, to have digested what an international comic book is.

I think that this is just the beginning of a long and hard march for the Indian comic industry to adapt their titles to an international audience. I also think that the next countries will be South Korea and China. In France, some publishers have started to publish graphic novels from their studios and I have seen that the French publisher specialized in excellent Chinese comic books, "Les Editions Fei", is publishing its first HC graphic novel in the December 2011 Previews: "Judge Bao".

But their top of the top is "The Ballad of Yaya", it's like you are reading a Miyasaki's beautifully washed tones fantastic comic book in the Italian format - try it when it will be available!!! And do not forget to buy "Judge Bao", it's a really excellent B&W medieval Chinese story with real existing characters of this era.

[stygma]

Thanks for the heads up.
i prefer an english-based format and i wish LCSs would carry more of the translated Asian stuff. not just Manga, which is a glut of crapola nowadays IMO.

[bottleHeD]

But, one of the main cause of the disinterest for the Indian comic book industry, is that except Virgin, no international heavy weight publishing companies have signed for an international distribution.

I think that this is just the beginning of a long and hard march for the Indian comic industry to adapt their titles to an international audience.

Umm, no. International audiences is what Virgin was targeting, and they bombed miserably. They didn't get a lot of respect here in India, and I doubt they sold anything in respectable numbers worldwide. We don't need to look globally, our home audience is big enough. A billion folks. The problem is most of the local comics haven't kept up with the times, and the newer ones are aping the American style - high production values of both the art and paper - which pushes up the price of the magazine.

Here's a neat article by Bharath Murthy on what's really plaguing the Indian scene, and what the way forward can be - How to Build a Comics Culture in India