Comics on the go

Indian comic book publishers are launching comics on mobile platforms. But will children tune in to the new media to read about the exploits of their favourite heroes, asks Hemchhaya De

Media may change, but old reading habits die hard. Armed with this belief, Indian comics are re-inventing themselves in the brave new world of mobile phones, iPads and other such platforms to draw readers, old and new, local and global.

Hence you can reconnect with your childhood favourites Chacha Chaudhry, Shikari Sambhu and other such ageless characters not only in the thumb-worn pages of comic books but also while edging your thumb back and forth on the touchscreen of your iPhone!

Take Amar Chitra Katha. It has just launched a series on Mother Teresa both in print and on mobile platforms. Founded in 1967, Amar Chitra Katha, which has sold 90 million copies till date, is keen on reaching a wider audience through the new media. ACK Media — an entertainment and education company for young audiences which now runs the series — is collaborating with service providers to offer readers access to their popular comics on mobile phones. For instance, Vodafone enables its subscribers to read Amar Chitra Katha comics, listen to popular stories, and download ring tones and wallpapers of their favourite characters on their cellphones.

Full report here Telegraph