Long train journeys and boring classes would often fly past if you managed to get your hands on a comic book, but the mobile phone changed all that. Movies based on comic book characters are raking in moolah internationally at the box office, but reading comics is a hobby that is on the wane among readers.
To bring comic books back in vogue among new readers, Comic Con India, in association with Readwhere, is organising a Free Comic Book Weekend on June 6 and 7 that makes digital comics from various Indian publishers available for free download.
Publishers like Amar Chitra Katha, Campfire graphic novels, Pop Culture Publishing, Sufi Comics, Diamond Comics, Meta Desi and many others have teamed up with the aim of expanding the scope and access to comics across India.
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Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma says the event is in its third year now. Last year, over 15,000 comic book fans took part and this year the number is expected to triple thanks to the number of participating publishers.
Readwhere, an online reading and publishing hub, plans to offer more than 1,000 titles from over 50 comic book publishers. Users will have the option of choosing any five for free. The rest will be available at a nominal price.
Readwhere director and co-founder Manish Dhingra hopes the initiative will reach audiences across India and allow get them to relive their childhood or buy comics for their children. The titles featured this year will be a mix of iconic and latest, including Stan Lee’s
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A drawing workshop and a cosplay after-party is also being organised at Hard Rock Café, Saket, on June 6.
Fans can download or purchase the comics online or through the readwhere app on android and iOS from 8 a.m. on June 6 to 8 a.m. on June 8