Community Connect: Chennai has a comic story to tell

|M A Fahad Hussain | TNN|Sep 4, 2026, 09:48 IST
From quirky characters and witty dialogues to imaginative worlds sketched panel by panel, comic writing is finding its own creative circle in Chennai. For a growing community of writers, creating comics is not just about putting words on a page — it is about exchanging ideas, learning the craft, experimenting with stories and finding fellow creators who speak the same visual language. We spoke to members of the comic writing community to understand what draws them to the craft, what they learn along the way and how being part of a creative collective is shaping their journey…

‘Chennai comics scene is still evolving’

Sundara Murthy, founder of the community, shares, “I have been a big fan of Japanese manga and anime since childhood and started my career as a screenplay writer, which gave me a strong foundation to explore comic writing. That is how the idea of starting a comic community in Chennai came about. While the Chennai comics scene is still evolving, the digital era has opened up new possibilities for regional stories, removing many of the earlier limitations. While Western countries and the English language have long dominated the comics market, I believe this is the right time for stories from our region to reach a global audience.”

‘It offers people across the city an opportunity to explore comics’

He explains, “For Chennai’s comics community, one of the biggest needs is a space where like-minded writers, artists and creators can come together, exchange ideas and build stories collectively. The community is gradually creating such a space, bringing together talents from different parts of the world. It also offers people across the city an opportunity to explore comics, learn the nuances of comic writing, discover their creative interests and engage with others who share a passion for the medium. Members can work on their own story ideas, develop collaborative projects, seek guidance on publishing or connect with others based on their creative skills.”

Chennai has always had a strong creative culture, and comics are becoming another interesting part of that space. What is exciting is that people are now looking beyond superheroes and exploring local experiences, Tamil culture, humour and stories rooted in our own surroundings

Karthik Raj, illustrator
On confidence and creative freedom

“I joined the community because I wanted a space where I could share my ideas without feeling judged. Over time, the conversations and feedback have given me the confidence to experiment with different genres and storytelling styles. It has also shown me that there is no single way to create a good comic,” informs Vikram Suresh, comic creator & writer.

On feedback and improvement”One of the biggest advantages of being part of a comic writing community is receiving honest feedback. Sometimes you are too close to your own story to notice what is not working. Other writers can point out weak characters, pacing issues or confusing scenes, and those discussions have helped me rewrite my work with much more clarity,” says Rahul, a college student.

‘Working with artists has helped me understand these techniques better’“Comic writing is not simply about writing a good story. You have to understand panels, pacing, visual transitions, dialogue placement and how much information an image can communicate. Working with artists has helped me understand these techniques better. The community gives beginners a chance to learn these aspects by actually discussing and creating comics together,” informs Krishnan, a visual storyteller.

Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
end of article