Ramayana series - The graphic novel
Jan 15th, 2008 by Ashok
I’m pleased to announce yet another comic book series written by me. (Apart from my ‘Kali’ comic for Vertigo Comics.)
This is the official graphic novel adaptation of my Ramayana series. Each book in the six-book series is being adapted into one full-length graphic novel in full colour. So there will be six graphic novels adapting the six books, with the same titles as the books. And of course, if the 7th and 8th books in the series are published too, then they will be adapted to graphic novel format as well.
The graphic novels are being written by that lifelong comicbook fan and aspiring comicbook writer since the age of 9, Shri Ashok Banker. That’s right. I’m writing the adaptation myself.
The artist is Enrique Alcatena or Quique as he’s affectionately known. Quique is an Argentinian artist based in Buenos Aires who’s known for his fantasy comic book art, particularly his collaborations with Eduardo Mazzitelli.
Visit Quique’s official website and gallery to see a few glimpses of his work. He has already turned in the first pages of art for Prince of Ayodhya and I can tell you that they’re scrumptious. Atmospheric, striking, and unforgettable. This isn’t ACK, folks. It’s the AKB Ramayana rendered in a visual style that you haven’t seen anything quite like before.
Rather than hype it further, I will post some samples from the first graphic novel here on my website in time. Probably in March or April 2008, once the first section is complete.
The series will not be issued as individual comics, by the way, except perhaps as a sample issue or two to let readers with limited budgets get a ‘taste’ of the work before investing in a more pricey full-length graphic novel. The graphic novels themselves are the main body of work, and the adaptation is meant to be read as complete graphic novels.
As a fan of alternative comics–or ‘comix’ as we used to call them back in the 70s–I must also say that Quique’s art looks so great even in black & white that I actually wouldn’t mind seeing the series in B&W too. But that decision will depend on various factors, mostly to do with retail pricing and what readers want.
Either way, I have to say, I’m thrilled to be working on this project and constantly amazed at how little time it actually involves (for me, at least–for Quique it’s a lot of work, obviously). I guess that’s because I know this story so well now, and the characters and plot, that it’s as if I had the graphic novel script in my head all along, and all I’m doing now is transcribing it to paper.
It’s a great experience, and, I believe, a really great graphic novel series in the making. And sometime this year, when the first book is published in India, I hope you’ll agree with me.
