Gotham Comics India: Greatest Issues of Collector’s Shelf
The Greatest Issues are Gotham Comics India. Remember this quote? Lakhs of 90’s Indian kids do! Amidst the likes of Raj Comics, Manoj Comics and Diamond, we had an imprint that became extremely popular during the late ’90s and the early years of the new millennium.
The difference between them and other Indian publishers was that Gotham’s complete focus was to publish stories of foreign superheroes that weren’t easily available to fans. During the heydays, it collaborated with the likes of industry giants, Marvel Comics and DC, to publish their Issues in the Indian market.
The Hit Format Bringing Superman, Batman & Other Superheroes to Fans in India
The most popular format was the pocket-sized Issues books which became a hit among book fans. At one time, Gotham was publishing 28 different titles and its collaboration with several foreign publications was allowing them access to over 10000 books featuring characters like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men, Tarzan, Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, The Flintstones, and Wonder Woman.
Gotham Comics India in Regional Languages
The books became so popular that they decided to publish them in regional languages like Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil and more. The Issues used to have a letters column known as Sharad’s Corner where the founder, Sharad Devarajan used to reply to readers’ letters on a regular basis.
What was the issue of bad paper quality?
In mid-2000s, they started printing their Issues on thin paper of poor quality. This move backfired BIG TIME, and sales plummeted like they had never before. During this crisis, They teamed up with Marvel and introduced the Indian version of Spiderman, who donned a “Dhoti”, a traditional attire. The character turned some heads but couldn’t sustain for a long time.
Reviving Hope: Gotham Comics’ Collaboration
By 2007, They started disappearing from bookshops and newsstands. This marked the end of the publication and it was never revived again, except for one time the very next year. Gotham teamed up with emerging publications called Virgin and published three series based on characters from Indian mythology- Devi, Snake Woman, and Sadhu. Additionally, the imprint published the critically acclaimed series, Ramayana 3392 AD, a futuristic Sci-Fi story based loosely on the epic, Ramayana.
Does Anyone Remember Gotham Comics India?
Yes, many comic book enthusiasts in India remember Gotham Comics. It was a popular Indian comic book publisher that brought iconic superhero characters like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man to Indian readers. They had a loyal fan base and their comics are still cherished by collectors today.
Conclusion
Publishers allowed Indian fans to read foreign superhero books, which wouldn’t have been possible without them, courtesy of the high prices of those issues. Today, They are considered as rare collector items among Indian fans, showcasing the growing interest in books and graphic novels in India.