About Remember f ighting for that particular comic book during library class in school? Or the times you just had to know what’s in store for your favourite character? From reading Tinkle digests to progressing onto Archie’s and discovering a whole new style of literature. These characters have lived with us, comforted us and made us laugh. We have come a long way since then and those old tales probably don’t hold the same allure. Our team, which is absolutely passionate about Manga and Comics couldn’t resist to select it as the theme of this week’s issue. We figured not many people are aware about its awesomeness so we made it our responsibility to let the world know. We will do our best to do justice to this highly misinterpreted and wrongly judged topic, which is sometimes not even considered a part of literature. If you aren’t already, maybe, just maybe, we will make you fall in love with this genre of literature. -The Editors
contents
editorial
a small note by our editors
on the house notes from our classmates
MUCH NEWS AT IT
HTSADO BEST!
lit AF! carefully picked literature by the literary Gods
ink recommends handpicked recommendations of
the best comics and mangas ever!
Editorial A stick thin figure, a shapely butt, busty and high chested, hair that is flowing and soft, paired luscious lips to boot. A brain that only recognizes jewelry or a body that is constantly in need of protection. Women often are hyper-sexualized, unnecessarily brutalized, stereotyped, and used as tokens. This bias occurs rampantly in the male dominated graphic novel realm. A lack or wrongful representation for LGBT+ community and the overlooking of female writers and fans alike is also practiced evidently. Female readers are often demeaned as ‘Fake Fans’ when they show their genuine appreciation towards comics Queer baiting is outright depicted to jazz up the sex factor. We see a typical clichĂŠ portrayal of gay male characters in these novels as well. Just like everything in this world that has an automatic pro and con appraisal so does the graphic literature world. In recent times, though there has been a radical shift and we have examples of women rising to the top, kicking butt and saving multiverses. From our alltime favourite Wonder Woman to the She Hulk the list is gradually on the rise. Fans have begun to prefer realistic and relatable characters and plot lines than superficial and exaggerated tales. With the brilliant use of vibrant colours and intricate detailing the graphic word has the power to pull any reader in. Without any further ado, we present to you Sketchy Manics. A one of a kind concept that gives a unique perspective on the comic and manga genre through the lens of gender. -Tanisha Mehta & Ilhaam Motlekar
By: Ali Shaikh
On The House By: Ilhaam Motlekar
By: Tanisha Mehta
Marvelous She-Hulk
The whole world is in chaos because they couldn’t hide their excitement about the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally bringing to life the Avengers: Infinity War on screen. This devotion towards the Male Superheroes as being the role models to many young audiences isn’t a new phenomenon. Isn’t it high time we learn about the mighty women of the comic verse? So, here’s to bringing them forward as role models. The first female superhero of the Marvel comics was The Invisible Girl a.k.a Susan Storm, a chief member of The Fantastic Four. This gave rise to a plethora of female superheroes like the Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Medusa, She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch and many more who fight the evil forces with the powers they have attained. My personal favourite is She-Hulk, who is perhaps, one of the greatest characters created. She has an Amazonian built and possesses superhuman strength. When Jennifer Walters was wounded, she received her powers through a gamma irradiated blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner a.k.a The Hulk which leads her to gain a milder version of Hulk’s condition. Unlike her cousin, she is known to have much better control over her angered self which shows great character stability, both intellectually and emotionally. She is a figure of freedom, confidence and assertiveness, a role model who fights to determine what’s right! She first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 (1980) and has been a part of 2420 issues. IGN has also placed her as the 88th greatest comic book hero of all time and to quote them “plenty of heroes have gained female sidekicks over the years, but few of these ladies have so capably managed to escape the shadow of their namesakes as SheHulk.” Replacing the Hulk after his death, She-Hulk, a part-time lawyer cum green superhero finally marks her rightful place as the main character in the Marvel Comic verse. As someone who experiences her share of anger issues daily, I like to take inspiration from She-Hulk and maintain my state of mind in situations that spin out of control. When She-Hulk was first introduced to me, I was in awe of how portrayal of women has changed from being vulnerable delicate darlings or side-kicks to being frontrunners in holding power and responsibility much like the many male heroes in all of comics and movies. I cannot wait to watch She-Hulk smash her way onto the big screen and add more girl power along with Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel.
-Jinal Baxi
Wonder Woman: The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder
With the complete package of beauty, brains, and brawn, Wonder Woman has been a feminist icon since her introduction in 1941. Wonder Woman is Princess Diana of the immortal Amazons from Greek mythology. In the comics, many stories depicted Wonder Woman rescuing herself, which defeated the “damsels in distress” phenomenon that was common in comics during the 1940s. With her powerful abilities, centuries of training and experience at handling threats that range from petty crime to threats that are of a magical or supernatural nature, Diana is capable of competing with nearly any hero or villain. DC Comics recently teamed up with director Patty Jenkins and made a movie on this Amazonian warrior who was played by Gal Gadot. I had never been this excited for any movie before. When it finally hit the theaters, it was a visual treat and exceeded all my expectations. In the 1987 relaunch of the Wonder Woman comics, the Amazons are said to be the reincarnated souls of women who were slain by men throughout history. In the movie, God Ares, convinces mankind to enslave the Amazonians as they pose a threat to the world. This change in the origin story which is reflective of the harsh realities of the woman’s treatment that still takes place in the world, was refreshing to watch. Remember how all the comic fans are crazy over Batman’s Bat mobile? Similarly, Wonder Woman has an Invisible Plane! The movie writers missed this opportunity to showcase her classy gadget that almost every comic book reader loves. Many people also argued that her costume being “short and skimpy” objectifies her. But I don’t consider this to be true. Her costume is her armor and makes it easier for her to fight in. Wearing this, she’s portrayed as confident and bold and not helpless and defenseless as most women were considered to be. One aspect that I adored the most about the movie was that Steve Trevor, who is usually portrayed as the gentleman-in-jeopardy in the comics, is shown to have his own individuality and smartness and he overcomes situations without any help from Diana. Wonder Woman clearly values her femininity and womanhood, but is never intimidated by fighting alongside or against men in battle. This superhero remains a feminist icon so many years after her creation because she symbolizes the idea that balance is the key to equality. Being able to embrace both the masculine and the feminine inside us – the tenderness and the tenacity – is a sign of strength. Perhaps that’s why she is one of the greatest superheroes that exist till date. -Rifat Syed
Manga
As an aspiring storyteller, I often juggle with words, as I never know what exactly to say, nor how to say it to convey the intended emotion. Five years ago, I came across a style of writing that shifted my perspective on narration and writing which opened up a new avenue for exploration- Manga. My life has never been the same since. Imagining the unimaginable. A great manga takes you on a journey, where each frame, carefully crafted and hand-drawn, lets you visualize the scene playing out across the pages... In other words, Manga- is everything you love about writing, art, film and theatre.... need I say more?
Reading. For a beginner, holding the manga in your hand is an utterly baffling experience. Note that yes, the panels are read from RIGHT to LEFT, so turning your gaze from one panel to the next is the first thing you need to get used to! But don’t worry, you’ll very soon discover the magic of visualizing each panel as an episode, to the point where you’ll probably find yourself using the words “chapter” and “ episode” synonymously. Style. In one word, diverse! Fundamentally, this style of writing can incorporate as many contexts as an epic, a novella, a play. It can be the mouthpiece to a different culture, context and diverges from archetypes. So, whether you like slice of life, fantasy, vampires and the supernatural (or all of those things), there might be a story waiting for you! Narrative. Heart-clenching? Shocking, thrilling, nerve-wrecking...I find that the best manga manages to capture your interest from the very first panel. The sizes and positions of panels are carefully decided to engage, intrigue, and many times shock. There is never a dull page, never a dull moment. Sound Effects. Something I look forward to reading every manga is the unique choice of sound effects by Japanese writers. Finally, the Boom Boom Pow! is replaced with GASHAAA! And DON! and the Thump Thump with DOKI DOKI! Japanese onomatopoeia has its unique charm. Characterization. From a reader’s perspective, characterization is salient in manga. While, albeit, some subtleties could easily be lost in translation in dialogue, illustrators (mangaka) reinforce sudden character changes visually (note in Death Note, Light Yagami’s eyes in Chapter 1 and Chapter 31 for instance). The insane. Once you start reading, you never turn back. Beyond the visual, auditory and literary treat, awaits a journey with the characters, and the mangaka (manga writer/illustrator) As you can see there is a lot more below the surface and breaking norms is not new in the manga world, subversion of power is often key to character development. Strong female protagonists are not new to manga unlike to comics. I find that archetypal roles are often not all that meets the eye with any character in a manga. Yes of course for your dose of light hearted reading, reverse harems fulfill the need for fan service and serve as a carefully crafted compilation of all character tropes that will have you in fits of laughter. The possibilities are endless and if venturing into new worlds is up your alley, I welcome you aboard to a whole new realm. -Shruti.S.
Much Ado Crossplaying At Comic Con, December 2015
Myriads of fandom stalls, to-kill-for merchandise, superb cosplays and a chance to meet some of the most famous figures from different fandom universes. In 2015, the Mumbai Film and Comic Convention had turned 5 years old and witnessed a spectacular line-up of events including Exclusive gaming zones, Cosplay, Book launches and Meet and greet sessions.
I had signed up to be a part of the convention as a volunteer a month prior to the con and ended up being shortlisted in the ‘Welcoming Committee’ category. One would think volunteering at Comic Con is the biggest blunder anyone could commit because it would mean work, work and no fun at all. In stark contrast, I ended up enjoying just as much as any other visitor. Also, to be honest, who wouldn’t volunteer if it assured you free entry at the con, free food, free merch and free tees?! The highlight of the Comic Con event is always the Cosplay. The cosplayers each year make sure that they surpass their own performance from the last. The 2015 Comic-Con too saw incredible cosplayers with brilliantly working minds put together the ensembles which were so convincing that they could be mistaken for the real characters. Be it Deadpool, Scarlett Witch, The Incredibles or Jessie & James from Pokemon, they all aced their looks! In addition, gender was clearly overlooked by the cosplayers. What if I tell you that underneath James’ costume and the blue wig was a girl who was a major Pokemon fan and who didn’t think twice before dressing up as James? It simply didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she identified with this character and simply wished to display it. Not just her, the girls who cosplayed as the mighty Thor and the devious Loki were both avid fans of the Thor franchise and their dedication towards it showed by how religiously they had worked with their costumes. Every little detail was paid attention to. If you ask me, they pulled off their looks like real bosses and did justice to the characters. Gone are the days when girls wished they could dress up as the dainty Snow White or the petite Rapunzel; the convention saw plethora of female Darth Vaders strutting around with their brightly lit light-sabers. In India, in retrospect, comics weren’t something which suited the likes of a girl and were considered to be typically of interest to a boy. However at the con, girls didn’t shy away from cosplaying as their favourite ‘manga’ and comic characters. Cosplaying in a way provides a safe environment for people to play with their gender identity. Crossplaying for these cosplayers is that shared moment of joy when your costume is recognised, and appreciated, by another fan. Cosplay is not necessarily about the gender or sexual orientation of the cosplayer or character – sometimes it’s just about the fun of dressing up!
-Gauri Sawant
Riverdale: Not an ace in hand
Archie Comics has always been a major part of the canon of American pop culture. This popularity only surged with this year’s TV adaptation, Riverdale. Fans of the comics were looking forward to the show and its fresh interpretation of classic characters. While the show was received with mixed reactions, many fans raised an outcry against the representation of Jughead’s sexuality. One year ago, comic writer Chip Zdarsky confirmed that Archie Comic’s Jughead was, indeed, asexual. Readers had long made assumptions about Jughead’s sexuality and his clear disinterest in women. He was ‘headcanoned’ by some as gay, but an overwhelming number of readers firmly believed that Jughead was asexual, and felt no sexual attraction at all. Having these assumptions confirmed by the writers was the validation that the asexual community had been searching for. Finally, they had a popular, likeable character who was unapologetically ace. Finally, they had a positive representation of themselves in the media they loved. Then, Riverdale happened. The show clearly takes much of its inspiration from Zdarsky’s version of the comics, which led fans to assume that Jughead would be just as out and proud about his asexuality as he is in in Zdarsky’s work. Many viewers were upset, then, when Jughead shared an on-screen kiss with Betty Cooper, and pursued a relationship with her. Of course, Jughead being asexual would not mean he can’t kiss Betty, but many in the ace community are still outraged at the shows disregard for Jughead’s characterisation. The show’s complete lack of acknowledgement of Jughead’s sexuality has been explained away by the show runners as a slow reveal, with Jughead beginning the journey to figure himself out in his own time. While many have given up on Riverdale ever letting Jughead be open in his asexuality, there is still hope. Jughead’s story is not over, and he may yet discover himself.
-Saumya Kaulgud
Notice me, senpai
‘Notice me, Senpai’ is a catch phrase that recently turned into an internet trend. Senpai in Japanese usually refers to a senior or a mentor in high school. It is usually used by a girl character in manga, where this character pines after someone in a higher grade (a senpai) who doesn’t show any signs of knowing who the character is or tries to ignore the character. This ranges from romance to seeking friendship. For many otaku* the phrase captures their struggles with relationships and their social awkwardness. Many of the struggles found in anime and manga, and the ubiquity of the high school setting, mirror the same struggles of fans. “Please notice me, senpai.” can be read as a painful plea or as a comedic meme or both, depending on circumstance. The phrase makes fun of popular culture and lets mainstream culture-senpai notice otaku culture. *otaku-a young person who is obsessed with particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills.
-Ilhaam Motlekar
Lit AF!
Ink Recommends Buffy Comics : Joss Whedon, Scott Allie
Contrary to popular belief the Twilight series is not the first work to celebrate Vampirism. Before the sparkly, have-it-all vampires invaded our screens Buffy was out there slaying vampire butt and saving mankind. Joss Whedon continued this legacy in form of comics. The Buffy comics started out in 1998 as a spin- off to the television show. To appeal the TV show viewers, another set of comics were released that provided an extension to the television show in form of seasons 8, 9 and 10. Buffy, a pop culture touchstone follows the story of a girl who is brave enough to deal with life issues that have been personified by Demons and Vampires. Each generation has a Chosen One (a girl) who is bestowed with the powers to slay vampires and save the world from the evil. The tables turned when the comic writers decided to add Billy Lane, an openly gay character who would use his self-defense abilities to protect his hometown from vampires. To add the cherry on top of this is the diversity of women portrayed in the comics. The writers and designers payed special attention by not giving the Slayer Army an unrealistic body type. Women’s sexuality is another aspect that has been thoroughly explored in these comics. Buffy’s BFF Willow, the most powerful witch of the generation and a fan favourite gay icon earned her own comic miniseries because of it. However, when Buffy was shown experimenting her sexuality with another Slayer, the comics received critical backlash. The fans would rather have a traditional human/non-human coupling. In my opinion, it was a very bold and progressive move to showcase such an important aspect of gender in the comics. Dwell into this world of fantasy and action by inspiring yourself with these characters! -Tanisha Mehta
Skip Beat: Yoshiki Namkamura The starry eyed and much in ‘love’ Kyoko Mogami follows her childhood friend turned boyfriend ShokouFuwa to Tokyo to support his career as a budding singer. She is his number one fan, and the ideal girlfriend. From cleaning the house, cooking meals and even paying the rent of an apartment that has her juggling two jobs. Until she overhears him telling his manager that the only reason he brought her along was so that he could have a personal servant at his beck and call. Instead of reducing to tears Kyoko’s inner ‘Pandora’s box’ is unleashed and she vows that she will rise to the top in the entertainment industry and leave him in the dust. With a new look and fire raging in her eyes she works diligently and sincerely to overcome the hurt and humiliation of her mistakes. Stunning illustrations coupled with beautiful character development, a plot line that keeps unraveling something new and a story that touches your heart. This manga will take you on a journey that will make you laugh and cry and sigh and it is not something that you will want to put down. What are you waiting for? You can read this for free on any manga reader app you find.
Comics Bitch Planet
Comics
Kim & Kim
MANGA 3. Boku to Rune to Aoarashi
2. One Piece
1. Akatsuki no Yona
Quiz Time
It’s time to show us your skills and abilities by solving these brain teasers based on this issue. Be quick and submit your answers at genderinkitis@gmail.com to earn some cool rewards!
1) What do you think about comics and manga? 2) Crossword Across 1. A man singing 2. Door key 3. A mentor figure 4. Manga + Comic 5. Sea-hip Down 1. India’ largest online store 2. Kill a princess 3. Furry Vaults
3) Riddles
a) Calm before the storm b) A heady pitcher c) Kyoki pyaar kiya d) The tree best friend e) Bet on a car