Comic Con Express, the travelling version of the Indian Comic Con — the annual comics convention which was held for the first time in Delhi last year — is set to kick off this year in Mumbai in October. The aim is to increase local participation in a country that the organisers, Twenty Onwards Media, believe has a lot to offer.
The inaugural event will be held at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, on October 22 and 23. The main attraction of the two days would be the release of over 10 books. One of these is 1951, a graphic diary in the life of the popular Indian cartoonist Mario de Miranda. After graduating in 1951, he moved to Goa from Mumbai for a year. The book features the cartoons, doodles and other works done by Miranda during that period.
Another interesting book is 40 Sufi Comics, a collection of short comic strips created by brothers Mohammed Ali Vakil and Mohammed Arif Vakil. A third is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, brought to you by Campfire Publishing.
Five years in the making, the War of the Independents will also be released at the event. This collection brings together over 200 comic characters. Other titles include Widhwa Ma Andhi Behen by Adiraj Singh; Ravanayan - Issue 3, created by Vijayendra Mohanty and Vivek Goel; Shiva-The Legends of the Immortal, published by Vimanika Comics and three titles of Chhota Bheem Comics, to be launched by Green Gold Animation. Besides the book launches, the two-day event also includes a number of workshops, interactive sessions and contests.