BANGALORE: In April 2010, there came into picture a comic magazine called Comic Jump.The people behind it unequivocally express that they are ‘a motley group of individuals with varying backgrounds and vocations; all united under a singular passion and resilient desire to create the very best genre fiction in Indian comics.’ Deriving its name from the Japanese manga comic, Shonen Jump, the magazine, preferred to be called ‘just’ Jump by cofounders Suhas Sundar and Shreyas Srinivas, is planning to expand its reach among comic buffs.But this is how it all started.Rewind to 2010, when and Suhas Sundar and Shreyas Srinivas, two comic book buffs put their heads together.These young men were successful in their own fields.Shreyas Srinivas, hailing from the FMCG industry has previously handled some of the country’s largest brands and is the recipient of the ‘Best Management Student in India’ award by the Bombay Management Association and a University Gold Medalist during his undergraduate degree.Suhas Sundar was a software engineer based out of Chicago and has considerable expertise is various art forms ranging across the American, European and Japanese comic markets.When Suhas and Shreyas met, they knew that they were ready to make a new path in the world of comics in India, and they set up Level 10 Studios, that now brings out Comic Jump, the monthly anthology that brings together unique stories aimed at the older reading population.“When we first launched the magazine in April, we were surprised by the response.We thought the magazine would cater only to the teenagers.But we found out that the magazine was picked up mostly by their parents!” says Suhas.So, going by the response, they revamped the content to suite the tastes of the readers that thought they would not get.“We wanted to make it a collector’s item,” says Suhas.Comic Jump is now available on shelves across the country and recently hosted the first ever comic con in Delhi and the duo believe that it is an exciting time for comic magazines in India.“At the comic con, we really found out how much people appreciate the magazine,” recalls Suhas.“By day two, we were sold out.Interestingly, not one kid walked into the stall.Instead, parents were buying the magazine for themselves,” smiles Suhas.They also believe that there is quite an interesting pool of talent in the country when it comes to graphics, sketching and colouring.“Yes, there is a lot of talent.Unfortunately, we are losing them to the animation industry.But I see a lot of hunger to learn, and I believe that in the next ten years, India will be a leader in bringing out comic magazines,” points out Suhas.They have now opened the magazine to anyone in India.“People can send their ideas, or completed comic book page and we will take a look at them and publish it,” explains Suhas.
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