If you are a fan of Samit Basu's earlier work — Turbulence, The Simoquin Prophecies , even ‘The Plasmoids’, his short in The Pao Collective — Local Monsters is a bit of a let down. A formula as old as pulp, mad scientists and the freaks they collect and cultivate, rehashed in Noida with nothing original except for some annoying alliteration and punch lines.
In the opening act, Delhi's Dynamic Damsel Distressing Duo — pimply Munna Molester and his pal Pappu Pincher — are whizzing off for a night of molesting, as Munna's parents look out from the window and glower with pride at their son, ‘a self-sufficient molester’, ‘upholding the family name’. Incidentally the duo target southern siren Latex Latha, a single girl trying to find herself in Delhi and a monster who can scream you senseless. Along with Indra, who does not realise his power up to the end of the book; Tashi a Nepali of few words, loves video games and can turn into a yeti; and Bela a vampire, these are the Local Monsters.
Basu oscillates between social commentary, parallel dimensions and, with absolutely no regard for restraint, throws a Rooh Afza romance between Indra and Latex into the mix. Another glaring flaw is the reader’s complete lack of attachment towards any of the characters. As the book progresses, they become increasingly intolerable and hare-brained; as incapable as Sandra Bullock in space.
The final nail is the shoddy art by Ghanshyam Bochgeri. The haphazard paneling also makes the story-telling more chaotic. The swell of Latex's chest and hips make her look increasingly like a local porn star, not a monster.
Samit Basu had a great opportunity — an Indian superhero comic that has nothing to do with mythology, that he could have spun in any direction — but this book does not rise above mediocrity. The irony is that, somewhere in the first 15 pages, he puts these words in Indra’s mouth, “The problem with scientists and storytellers is that they like to break everything down into patterns and formulae.”
Local Monsters;Samit Basu, Westland Books, Rs. 495.
