Shivaji in a graphic novel

An eight year-old who fights global warming, brings college bullies to book and solves the city's water crisis, Bal Shivba is a child superhero. And like all superheroes, he has his origins in the pages of a colourfully illustrated book. More specifically, a graphic novel, possibly the first in Marathi.

The brainchild of Minister for Industry, Port, Employment and Self-employment Narayan Rane's son Nitesh, Bal Shivba, available in English and Marathi, is their company, E Sense's desire to cash in on the graphic novel genre through a character who will appeal to more than just urban readers.

"We want to reach out to people all over Maharashtra, not just in Mumbai.

So it's imperative to release Bal Shivba in Marathi," says Nikhil Ojha, CEO, E sense.

Admitting that the graphic novels available today cater mainly to city audiences, Ohja says they chose the genre for its appeal and popularity.
u00a0
"The character of Bal Shivba is our take on how Shivaji would have dealt with society's problems if we were alive today. The concept works best in a graphic novel format."

Another one excited about graphic novels is comic book lover Abid Mohammed. So passionate is he about the genre, that four months ago, he launched his own company to organise the Mumbai Comic Convention, India's first event that brings creators and customers of everything from manga and anime to graphic novels under one roof. "I've been reading comic books since I was a child, and I'm not ashamed to say I still love them," laughs the 38 year-old about the two-day convention scheduled for January.

But has a small reader base
The numbers, however, tell a different story. Despite its potential, graphic novels have not taken off as was expected, say publishers. "It's a slow moving category," admits Karthika VK, publisher and Chief Editor, Harper Collins. Considering that print runs for most graphic novels range between just 3,000 to 10,000 copies, you get the picture.

Sivaraman Balakrishnan, Manager, Marketing, Crossword Bookstores India, agrees. "Graphic novels have not done all that well. The books don't move at a rate even close to regular fiction." As an example, he cites Persepolis, one of the more popular graphic novel titles at their stores. "Since April this year, we've sold only 23 copies across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru." That's not even a drop in the ocean of total sales.

The numbers are even more grim at Bahari Sons, one of Delhi's best loved bookshops. "The audience for a graphic novel is extremely small. We stocked about 50 titles in 2010, and they accounted for less that one per cent of sales," says owner Anuj Bahari. "The genre has flopped in India," said the publicist at a major publishing house on condition of anonymity.

And the reasons range from expensive pricing to readers' resistance to a genre that they are not acquainted with. According to Bahari, "Most people just don't get it, and aren't sure of what they are dealing with in the first place. Then, there is the editing. A highly technical genre, this needs specific editors, but since most editors are dealing with graphic novels for the first time themselves, it doesn't help matters."

Looking forward to growth
Not everyone agrees, though. Paul Vinay Kumar, Editorial Director, Westland, is quick to disagree. "I'd safely assume that graphic novels, despite their steep price, have done reasonably well. There are now several authors and artists who are very well known among the growing community of graphic novel readers."

That 'community' is what Kaveri Lalchand and Rakesh Khanna, Directors of Chennai-based Blaft Publications, are betting their money on. "We think there's huge potential for the genre in India. It has a small but hardcore fan base. Some international graphic novels are also being translated into Indian languages, and doing well."

Madhu M, Head of buying, Landmark India is part of a group that believes it's a "fairly robust" category. It's their fastest-growing category at the moment, and sales of graphic novels have gone up by 40 per cent since last year, he shares.

Reduce price, up publicity
Balakrishnan is clear that it's the price that is doing graphic novels in. "I wouldn't call it a flop, but the average price point doesn't really help." Rattling off the figures, he says, "A box set costs around Rs 3,500. That's expensive...not everyone is going to want to spend that much on a set of books. It pushes a lot of customers away."

The price is a sore issue with Kumar too. "If these books were available at cheaper prices, that would really spike sales. For example, we'd import, say, a hundred copies of a front-list graphic novel at Rs 795. If the same book was available at Rs 395 (which means having to produce them in India), we'd be able to sell anywhere between 2,000 to 3000 copies!"

Madhu M disagrees. "Honestly, for someone into graphic novels, the price is not prohibitive. He will buy it regardless of the price."

But doesn't the very fact that graphic novels fall under a niche category meant for a select readership cut down the appeal? "In my experience, graphic novel buffs (young artists/writers), filmmakers, actors, etc form the bulk of the audience. Pricing is also crucial. Most titles are in the range of Rs 700+, thereby eliminating younger readers or even attracting newer ones," admits Kumar.

Then there is the question of visibility. The fact that not every book store stocks graphic novels, let alone devote an entire shelf, like Landmark does, is a deterrent. "Since the books don't move quickly, supply is automatically not great. But giving them more space could up sales," believes Balakrishnan.

The future holds promise
That said, most publishers agree that the genre cannot be written off. Not yet. Bahari is optimistic. "It's improving, slowly. It all depends on how much awareness is created. But honestly, it'll take another five years before we can make a concrete comment."

For Kumar, they have a bright future. "I don't think we know how large the market actually is. Spread the cost reduction across a few hundred imported titles and you'll see exactly how much potential it offers."

Read a graphic novel on your iPad
Liquid Comics will release the digital iPad version of Untouchable, a graphic novel by Samit Basu in collaboration with Mike Carey. This, before the print release of the book later this month. The 54-page digital edition is available for $2.99.

The story is set in the British Raj, where Vimal is trying to find his place in a society that doesn't accept him. When he accidentally awakens Jara, au00a0 demon, his life takes a turn for the evil. Fed by his pain, Jara twists his trauma into a thirst for vengeance, offering him a 'magic' powder with which to exact revenge on his tormentors. But such gifts come with a price...

Number crunching
Average print run of a graphic novel: 3,000/5,000 to 10,000
Average price: Rs 700 onwards
Popular titles (in order of popularity): Sandman, Persepolis, Maus, The Batman Series, The Buddha Series,
Sin City

'It's just a fancy phrase'
"I don't really see graphic novels as very different from comic books, to be honest," laughs George Mathen, Bengaluru-based creator of Moonward, a graphic novel that's been been chosen by The Book Office of the French Embassy asu00a0 a Laureate of the International Graphic Novel Festival, 2011, Angoul me, France.

"The phrase has worked for people who want to read a comic book without looking like they are reading one. The only real difference is that graphic novels are longer stories dealing with some serious subjects, making them independent, slightly alternative comic books," he says with refreshing honesty.

Mathen doesn't see a big future for graphic novels in India for the next few years. "The problem is that a mainstream comic culture beyond Tinkle is non-existent here, unlike in the West. So when people pick up a graphic novel for the first time, they're not usedu00a0 to the language, the absence of a neat beginning, middle and end.u00a0 I don't see that changing for some times."

What's the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book?
"Graphic novels are really just long comics, sometimes meant for a slightly older reader."u00a0-- Kaveri Lalchand, Blaft Publications "Both, graphic novels and comics tell their stories with pictures and words.

Having said that, graphic novels would cover only a single story in its entirety --u00a0complete with the basic components of beginning, middle and end. It's another issue that most graphic novels these days tend to have several sequels! On the other hand, comics might start a story, begin in the middle, or end a story, so often you can't read one comic book and get the full story.

Do they fall in the comic book category? Well, if you're a purist, you'd say no! But broadly speaking, they do."
-- Paul Vinay Kumar, Westland "Comics tell you a story through conversations within a layout.

A graphic novel has layers of characters and situations that run simultaneously through the text and illustrations."u00a0-- Anuj Bahari, Bahari Sons

Trend Forecast
"These books don't sell in the first month of release, like conventional genres do, but that doesn't make them au00a0 write off.

I'd still say the outlook is generally positive. But yes, I don't see it ever becoming a mass-market category.

It will always be a niche appreciated by a select audience."u00a0-- Karthika K, Publisher and Chief Editor, Harper Collins India

"We'd be excited to see some more adult-oriented stuff in Hindi, Tamil, other regional languages.u00a0

Some international graphic novels are being translated into Indian languages and are doing quite well.

The graphic novel as a medium is slowly getting popular in India."-- Kaveri Lalchand, co-director, Blaft Publications