Always wanted to make your own comic strip? Here’s your chance

Attend illustrator Abhijeet Kini’s workshop on creating comics. You might end up making the next Batman

The words ‘comic books’ instantly transport us back to our childhood. Even kids who were otherwise averse to reading would devour comics. Amar Chitra Katha, Champak, Tinkle Digest were like a companion to us. This weekend, get a glimpse into how the magic is created.

Illustrator and animator Abhijeet Kini is doing a workshop to take people through the process of creating comics. Apart from being a regular illustrator with Tinkle, Kini is known for his Angry Maushi series, about a middle-class Maharashtrian woman who turns vigilante.

Kini will walk participants through his creative process — from the idea to the final product. “I will play a slideshow containing samples of my work as well as some works in progress, and explain the various stages — ideation, designing, creating panels, colouring. But I make it clear that these are not rules, just the way I personally go about creating my own comics.”

Post that, an hour will be dedicated to participants sketching their own comics, based on a common theme. At workshops, Kini says that a few even carry their portfolio to get Kini’s feedback. However, he insists that no prior experience in drawing is required, nor is there a minimum (or maximum) age. “People come with a curious mindset. It’s not an art class; it’s an informal session,” says Kini, who has been hosting workshops with Comic Con India since its inception in 2011.

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To develop an individualistic style, Kini suggests starting early. “Style evolves over time. It happens as you sketch more, and you are exposed to different work and pop culture.”

Over the last couple of years, the interest around comics and cosplaying has grown. Kini feels now is the best time to read and collect comics. “Thanks to events such as Comic Con, and also the Marvel and DC movie franchises, people have taken to comics to read actively. We see a lot of people come to Comic Con looking for original Indian content,” he says. Kini recently launched a new series called Fanboys, about adventures of three comic book buffs.

Be there

What: Creating Comics 101 Workshop by Abhijeet Kini will be held on October 9, 3pm
Where: Anti Social, Social, Rohan Plaza, 5th Road, Khar (W)
Entry: Free