“A word after a word after a word is power”, wrote Margaret Atwood in “Spelling”. What happens when the written word is combined with pictorial narrative? Vivid, encompassing world-building. Graphic novels and comic books can defamiliarise reality, question deeply entrenched beliefs, and provide an antidote to reading fatigue. These comics are accessible and entertaining reading options, especially when pages of text feel daunting. The stories in this list cover a host of subjects, from the mundane to the political: they illuminate secret spaces of female solidarity and portray the complexities of childhood. In a time when blinking screens constantly beckon for attention, graphic novels become islands that anchor us in a sea of words.
Bhimayana, art by Durgabai Vyam, Subhash Vyam, story by Srividya Natarajan, S. Anand
Published by Navayana, Bhimayana is a graphic novel about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, one of India’s most significant thinkers, the anti-caste revolutionary who drafted the country’s Constitution, and enacted radical changes in India’s legal, political, and social functioning. Drawn from the autobiographical “Waiting for a Visa”, Bhimayana follows Dr. Ambedkar’s school life, experiences of travelling through the country, and accompanying battles with casteism. Bhimayana combines the individual life-story with collective representation, and is an important reading experience towards understanding the pervasiveness of casteism in India today.
The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang
This is a delightful graphic novel that provides a twist on an age-old fairy tale of transformation and makeover: here, the prince gets his own ball gown. Set in Paris at the cusp of modernity, it follows the tribulations of Prince Sebastian, the young royal preoccupied with hiding his secret life from his parents. At night, Sebastian dons wonderful dresses and regales all of Paris as Lady Crytallia, the beautiful, mysterious fashionista. Only Frances, his dressmaker and best friend, knows his secret. This heartwarming tale, woven with beautiful illustrations, follow the shenanigans of these two friends, as they navigate love, identity, and family.
Embroideries, by Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi is widely known for her autobiographical, two-part comic book Persepolis, a searing description of her childhood in Iran and her student life in Europe. This sliver of a story crackles with the same power that animates Persepolis, especially when we consider the stringent censorship women had to fight in Tehran. “To speak behind others’ backs is the ventilator of the heart,” declares Marji’s grandmother, and thus unfolds a discussion that embodies the radical power of humour, as the patriarchal men and society these women have to deal with are reduced to the sum of their sexual follies and ineptness.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is a manifesto of wholesomeness. Strings of simple wisdom ensure that every reader finds a page worth bookmarking—whether they relate to the boy who struggles to like himself, the fox who can’t trust people, the horse too scared to fly, or the mole who just wants to eat cake. Plot is eschewed in favour of the meandering journey of the titular protagonists’ friendship. Mackesy’s graphic novel employs hand-written narrative, tea stains that look like the moon, and fluid brush-strokes for an approachable take on the form.
Munnu: A Boy from Kashmir, by Malik Sajad
This is a deeply personal glimpse into the childhood of Munnu, a seven-year old boy growing up in Kashmir. Sajad, who lives in Srinagar, uses anthropomorphic art styles to portray his family, friends, and neighbours. Sajad deftly weaves the funny, coming-of-age narrative of Munnu’s life as a budding artist with the geo-political everyday realities of living in constant state-sponsored conflict. He uses small incidents to hint at larger, haunting realities: for instance, Munnu finds it easier to draw Ak-47s than paisleys or chinars. In this candid telling, Sajad looks both inwards and outwards, analysing his own responses while criticising global and national reactions.
Anushmita Mohanty is Senior Editor at ALMA MAG. She has studied postcolonial literature at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and is interested in women’s writing and book history. When not reading or writing, she can be found taking photos of trees and attempting sit-down comedy.
