Professor Ashwatthama's latest series blends Manga, Marvel and mythos

Cover illustration by Tadam Gyadu

How does one imagine a hellscape? Research, says illustrator and writer Saahil Sharma. The latest edition of his series, Professor Ashwatthama, that was released in October, walks into the underworld.

As founder of Cheeseburger Comics, his latest series connects myth with a dystopian future. "The agony of strife carried through the Mahabharata, shows up through Ashwatthama. His past and present slowly begin to merge. It brings together the myth and reality of the story," Sharma explains. The portrayal of the underworld has been a popular archetype with storytellers, beginning with Dante Alighieri. "But you have to be exact," he remarks, adding that he spent months poring through translations to find characters that stood out. Among them is Sucimukha, a demon who sews those guilty of the sin of jealousy and suspicion together.

A panel from the comic series featuring demon Sucimukha

The visual, although gory, adds a creative colour to the story. "I wanted to go the anime way, which is where [artist] Marko Mikhal came on board. The challenge was to create a novel concept," he shares. One of the creative ideas was to create a different palette. It is effective as you are drawn to the many layers of cultural influences that show in the visuals, from Mongolian costumes to very Indian monsters. It adds a touch of global style to an Indian myth.

There is another visual influence that dictates the comic's action - the cover art by Tadam Gyadu. The Arunachal Pradesh-based artist has worked on characters such as the Avengers and Spider-man: India. "I asked him, and he agreed to work on the cover. I sent him a few panels, the idea of the underworld and its monsters, and that's how he came up with the cover," he says.

Saahil S Sharma

With the series already into its final arc - illustration on the fourth part will begin in December, he reveals - Sharma is at work on other projects. "I am working on a series called Tansen's Tanpura, and then, there is Anonymous; a story about a monk who returns to fight violence in his fictional hometown," he says. Another collaboration will see him work with Anand Radhakrishnan, Eisner Award-winning illustrator and creator on an anthology cover. "I have always admired and wanted to work with multiple global artists. I hope this is only the beginning," he adds.

Log on to: Professor Ashwatthama: Eat or be eaten (amazon.in)
Cost: Rs 299