In 2011, I started Comic Con India as a comic book fan wanting to create something unique here. As my organisation has grown in size and reach in the past six years, I have had the privilege to meet and interact with some of the best writers and artists.
And some of these interactions have become milestones for me.
Anant Pai
Uncle Pai, as he was lovingly called, needs no introduction and I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing if it hadn’t been for his work. Thanks to him, I grew up with wonderful stories and developed a love for reading. Therefore, it was only apt that at the first Comic Con India we honoured him and his work. I got to speak to him and it was surreal.
Here was someone I had written to all my childhood and now I was speaking with him. The man behind Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha encouraged me, wished me well and told me he was looking forward to visiting the show. Unfortunately, owing to ill health, he never made it and some time later, he passed away.
While I was never able to meet him in person, even the tiny interaction that I had with him is something I’ll always treasure.
Robert Crumb
I had always been into comics, but in college I got hooked to indie comics or alternative comics, thanks in part to the American Splendor series to which Crumb was a contributor. Soon, I became absolutely obsessed with his work and started collecting everything and anything by him.
So, in early 2012, when he agreed to attend our Delhi convention as special guest, it was beyond surreal. The first two days, I was in shock; I could barely speak with him. I was eventually able to overcome my shyness and actually interact with him, something that I’ll always cherish.
Crumb is arguably one of the greatest graphic artists of his generation. If you haven’t experienced his work yet, you are missing out on a lot.
Stan Lee
This man does not require any introduction; most of our favourite superheroes were co-created by him. He is truly a living legend. Even at age 94, he is out there at different conventions each month, meeting and interacting with fans.
I have met him twice since I started Comic Con India. Once as a fan getting him to sign my Fantastic Four singles in San Diego and very recently — last October — when he was gracious enough to record a video for fans here in India and sign a few items to give out.
I admit neither of the interactions was long, but the very fact that I got to meet him and see him in person... is enough for me!
Mark Waid
I grew up on a healthy diet of superhero comics, but as I got to experience everything else, I ended up spending more time on indie comics, following the work of Crumb, Spiegelman, Pekar, almost everything from D&Q and Fantagraphics. However, whenever I come across anything written by Mark Waid, I always pick it up. He is truly one of the greatest writers ever, be it his work for DC or Marvel (Daredevil) or on the Irredeemable series at Boom or his new take on Archie.
Moreover, he is a great guy, despite his legendary status; he is extremely humble and supportive of anyone trying to promote comics. Hosting him at my show in Delhi was a treat, he was one of the best guests that we have ever had. He understood that many in the audience did not know him, but he was extremely charming and gracious towards them. I am looking forward to hosting him in India many more times and I will encourage fellow fans here to follow his work.
Pran
My office in Delhi is in a neighbourhood called Naraina. It’s not known for much except that it also happened to be the base for Pran Studios and the legendary cartoonist himself. Over the years, I would sometimes see him around the neighbourhood, and in 2011 when I started Comic Con India, I decided to invite him as special guest.
Over the years, till his passing in 2014, I had multiple interactions with the man behind Chacha Chaudhary and it was a wonderful feeling to acknowledge his contribution and his impact on our lives at the convention with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He is one of those creators without whom I would probably not be doing what I do.
Sergio Aragones
MAD was — and still is! — the greatest humour magazine ever. Nothing ever comes close to it. And among the many in the “usual gang of idiots”, there’s always Sergio; for decades fans have seen his amazing work in the magazine. With little or no words, his sections would be the funniest.
In 2012, I was attending San Diego Comic-Con; I was able to attend a panel on his work hosted by Mark Evanier and got to meet him in person and speak with him. Something I treasure forever.
Rick Geary
The 70-year-old is a well-known American cartoonist and illustrator. He has a very distinct style of art and I absolutely loved his work ever since I came across it in old copies of National Lampoon. But most notably, I started following his long-running graphic novel series, A Treasury of Victorian Murder. His work on the graphic biographies of J. Edgar Hoover and Trotsky is also amazing. His style of art is just something I connect with and obviously the subject matters that he selects for his books.
I met him in San Diego; I actually got to sit down and talk with him for a while. It was again an amazing experience. And I recommend his work to anyone who loves old murder mysteries and biographies.
Abhijeet Kini
He is a wonderful artist based out of Mumbai, well-known for his work in Tinkle as well as his independent work. I have included him on this list because I live and breathe comics, and many times I imagine what it might be like to meet a young Anant Pai or a Crumb or a Harvey Pekar... to witness the creation of some of their best works before they became legendary.
Kini is basically allowing me to have that experience, because he is clearly one of the best artists in the country and I get to witness first-hand everything he creates... and I get to be part of history, thanks to him!
Jatin Varma is the founder of Comic Con India and grew up on a
healthy diet of comics, movies and games... like any other kid.
Though he likes Star Wars, deep down he knows he is a Trekkie for life.
He is introverted and prefers reading books than talking to people.
He has recently taken up collecting socks!
