The Write Angle

Now,Marz has collaborated with the Indian comic company Rovolt Entertainment for the Aveon 9 series — an adventurous galore in a parallel world inspired from “mystical Indian classics” and Western sci-fi. While he is the editor,Indian comic book writer Shamik Dasgupta has scripted the story.

The comic that released last month is based in a futuristic mystical planet where the domination of humans irks the indigenous civilisation. “Unlike the previous comics I have worked on,with Aveon 9,I was making everything from the ground rules,” says Marz,whose tryst with comics came when as a child,he stumbled upon a box of comics that his elder brother had outgrown. By the age of 24,he was writing for comics,and has been a professional comic writer for 22 years now. Yet,he admits,“I have no artistic ability. I love the visual aspect and can write a script,but I cannot illustrate.”

The New York-based artist did not mind that the “global project” was carried out tediously — with the primary team in India,and a set of artists located in countries such as Mexico,Spain and Florida.

While Marz has never come to India,scripting for Virgin Comics’ titles such as Devi,Ramayana 3392 AD and The Sadhu earlier had exposed him to the Indian context of superheroes. “It’s a bit of a challenge for me because I come from outside,but I did my research. I’ve read the Ramayana and found its scope very fascinating. I have also read a lot of Greek,Roman and Norse mythology,but none of them are as complex and exotic as Indian,” says Marz,who is in the process of discussing another project with Rovolt.