Daily Archives: October 11, 2006
Review of Devi, Virgin Comics
Devi, after Sadhu, is the newest offering by Virgin Comics. It tells the story of Gods, who have been defeated by a fallen God called Bala. Shades of Lucifer? Bala was different from the other Gods, as he grew more powerful from imposing his will on humans. So much so that the Gods each sacrificed a part of themselves to create Devi (inspired by the myth of Shakti), who inhabits the body of a warrior woman of the Durapasya, the humans who fight along the Gods.
Devi does defeat Bala, but Bodha, the king of the Gods decides not to kill him, but lock him up in Jwala, the prison of fire and stone.
From these mythical times the story moves to modern day Japan, where a female assassin fights Japanese Ninja gangsters while recieving a call from someone who wants to employ her services.
The assasin is Kratha, an apsara, whom Bala wants to employ to kill Devi.
The battle of the Gods will move to earth, and one really looks forward to the story’s next part.
Unlike The Sadhu, there is not too much metaphysical and philosophical mumbo-jumbo, but plain action and delicately made graphics by Mukesh Singh. Colours are bright but add to the story rather than distact from it.
Siddharth Kotian’s script is tight and those looking for Indian mythology echos would be a trifle disappointed. Devi is pure fantasy, except for that reference to Durga and Shakti mentioned earlier. I only hope that readers in India do get to see it soon.
Virgin Comics not available in India?
Sathish is wondering if the much hyped Virgin Comics is available at all in India. Even a couple of readers mailed me that they have searched in Mumbai and Delhi and haven’t been able to get their hands on it.
If Chopra, Kapur and Branson wanted it to be “export-only” commodity (for some tax sops??) then maybe they should have told us !
Ashok Banker in response to Sathish’s post says:
Incidentally, I can confirm that I am writing a very long epic story for DC’s VERTIGO division based on Indian myth, but set in contemporary times. it’s an original story and is as yet-untitled. I have worked on it for almost two years now, but unlike Virgin I haven’t hyped it anywhere. I am hoping VERTIGO will see fit to launch it in India too at an affordable price for us desi comic fans.
More Indian social networking sites
Got a mail from a new dotcom called Snehah. The challenge for all these Indian social networking sites like this and Fropper would be to make a niche and develop special offerings that can be monetized. I doubt only advertising will sustain them.
More Indian 2.0 sites are Ilaaka and Onyomo
Also check Dina’s blog, as she has a nice analysis on Indian Web 2.0 sites.
Saachi and Suruchi
Saachi and Suruchi
Originally uploaded by gautam ghosh.
During our recent visit to KIAMS (Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies) where I was invited to judge the paper writing competition.
This was clicked in the evening on their tower called the ‘lighthouse’.
Harihar is a beautiful and sleepy town…with an awesome 850 year old temple of a rare diety, Harihareshwar, half of Vishnu (Hari) and Half of Shiva (Hara). Apparently the temple was made to promote amity between the Shivaites and Vaishnavites.
Office Anthem
An email forward I recieved. Author unknown (to me). Too hilarious !
1. Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:00 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing.
2. If it’s really a rush job, run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it’s going. That helps. Or even better, hover behind me, advising me at every keystroke.
3. Always leave without telling anyone where you’re going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are.
4. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books, or supplies, don’t open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors with no arms is good training in case I should ever be injured and lose all use of my limbs.
5. If you give me more than one job to do, don’t tell me which is priority. I am psychic.
6. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work.
7. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a promotion.
8. If you don’t like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversations. I was born to be whipped.
9. If you have special instructions for a job, don’t write them down. In fact, save them until the job is almost done. No use confusing me with useful information.
10. Never introduce me to the people you’re with. I have no right to know anything. In the corporate food chain, I am plankton. When you refer to them later, my shrewd deductions will identify them.
11. Be nice to me only when the job I’m doing for you could really change your life and send you straight to managers’ hell.
12. Tell me all your little problems. No one else has any and it’s nice to know someone is less fortunate. I especially like the story about having to pay so much taxes on the bonus check you received for being such a good manager.
13. Wait until my yearly review and THEN tell me what my goals SHOULD have been. Give me a mediocre performance rating with a cost of living increase. I’m not here for the money anyway.
