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.

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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