Coming Soon: The Obliterary Journal

We've been delaying the announcement because we weren't sure it would be ready. But now it's confirmed: The Obliterary Journal, a book-length collection of short comics, street art, typography, and assorted other wacky strange visuals by many extremely talented contributors will be released at Delhi Comic Convention, Feb 17-19 (exact date of event to be announced.) We will most likely also be having a gathering to celebrate the launch at a Delhi bookstore on Monday, Feb 20th.

That's Kolai Kathirikkai there on the cover, a psychopathic killer brinjal who is a character in one of the stories in the book. We would like also to draw your attention to the fact that the title of The Obliterary Journal has been actually painted on a wall by virtuoso sign painter S. Venkataraman.  This is what it looked like when he first did it:

(Note: Straatkunst means "street art" in Dutch.  चित्र कथा means "picture stories" in Hindi. Tipografia means "typography" in Spanish, though technically it's supposed to have an accent over the second i. And ஓவியக்கலை means "painting" in Tamil.)

This is what the wall looked like shortly afterwards, with an auto parked in front of it:

This is what it looks like now.

As you'll notice, it's been totally obliterated.

Watch this space for further announcements about the book and the launch!

Happy Birthday Gurdas Maan!

Bhangra legend Gurdas Maan turns 54 today. To celebrate, we share with you this beautiful piece of collage art by Vishwajyoti Ghosh from his postcard book Times New Roman & Countrymen incorporating a scanned Gurdas Mann concert ticket, a tasty-looking dessert (yum!), and the text of an actual-absolutely-100%-no-kidding-real-deal Delhi newspaper matrimonial ad.

Buy the book here -- there are 24 more very attractive postcards in it!

 

Happy Durga Puja!

Stolen from Detective Comics #35, January 1940. 

I always wonder: is there much fiction written in Asian or African languages where the authors have used totally made-up European gods and religions and ethnic groups?  If anyone knows of such stuff, please to share your information.

While researching for Tamil Pulp Fiction Vol. II, we did find a Tamil pulp novel by Rajesh Kumar in which Coimbatore police detective Vivek solves a case of political intrigue in Coluba, a small independent island nation situated between the US and Canada... but that's the only example I know of so far.

Happy International Literacy Day!

You must learn to read and write

Then your mind will shine so bright

Just plain Love won't do for me

You must also learn your ABC!

Commemorate International Literacy Day by picking up a copy of Kumari Loves a Monster by Rashmi Ruth Devadasan & Shyam for that budding young reader in your life.

Coming soon -- "Stupid Guy Goes to India"

We're happy to announce that sometime in late 2011 or early 2012 we'll be releasing Yukichi Yamamatsu's 2008 non-fiction manga インドへ馬鹿がやって来た, in a new English translation by Kumar Sivasubramanian. 

It's the hilarious true story of Yukichi's first journey to India--his first trip out of Japan, knowing no English and no Indian language--and his slightly insane mission to introduce classic Samurai manga to Hindi readers, even if it meant sitting on a mat on the Delhi pavement and selling them himself.

 
Here's Bharath Murthy with a short strip about Yukichi.

Look alive there, boys! Keep your eyes peeled!

Tambu Main Bamboo Ke Baad

Hi all,

Wieden+ Kennedy in Delhi has a pretty fab-sounding exhibit of vintage A movie posters on until September 17th. If you're in Delhi, go check it out... read more here. (Apparently they are selling the posters from between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000. Gotta start collecting!)

If you like this sort of thing you may also dig Delhi Calm author and Pao Collective member Vishwajyoti Ghosh's superawesome postcard book Times New Roman & Countrymen, in which he uses bits and pieces of adult movie poster artwork along with the actual text of Delhi newspaper classified ads and a wide variety of other colourful things to make lovely images like these:

Buy the book here! Go retro! Send a friend a postcard!

eBook release: Where Are You Going, You Monkeys?

Blaft Publications is proud to announce the release of Ki. Rajanarayanan's Where Are You Going, You Monkeys? -- Folktales from Tamil Nadu as an eBook.

The stories are expertly selected and translated from the definitive 2007 collection of Tamil folklore, நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைக் களஞ்சியம் (buy Tamil version here), by Pritham K. Chakravarthy, whose translation of Ki. Rajanarayanan's Sahitya Akademi award-winning novel Gopallapuram is also out from Penguin this month.  

The book also features some illustrations by Chennai-based artist Trotsky Marudu. Here's his picture of a bootham, a sort of shape-changing genie-like ghost:

You can buy the book from the Kindle Store or the NOOK store or Lulu.com. Or buy the physical book from here.

Here's what reviewers have said about the book:

Pritham Chakravarthy’s translation is breezy, occasionally wicked, but always urging you to read on. Folklore buffs will love this one and so will other general readers. -- R. Krithika, The Hindu

At a time when it’s fashionable to define 'Indian culture' as a fixed conservative entity, to squeeze tradition into an airtight box, these stories are essential reading. -- Jai Arjun Singh, Tehelka

This delightful collection fully lives up to - enhances - Blaft’s young but confident standing. -- Vijay Nambisan, The Deccan Herald

If you're not convinced to pick up a copy yet, check out this funny video of Ki. Rajanarayanan (affectionately known as Ki. Ra.) telling one of the stories that couldn't make it into the book as it has a visual element to it. Warning: Mature audiences only. :-)