Remember that time when comics were still a rage in India? Kids would gobble everything up the very moment they got their hands on them? Those were the days when learning about Chacha Chaudhary’s intelligence was as exciting as the tales of the Riverdale gang with Archie and Jughead.The readers were predominantly teens and pre-teens, but let’s be honest… all of us could connect with them and we all loved it equally! Here’s a list of 5 of the best comics in India that you grew up reading.
The 5 best comics in India you grew up reading
The comics you grew up reading will always hold a special place in your heart. Let’s take a look at the ones that never failed to put a smile on our faces.
Chacha Chaudhary
If you think of a red-turban wearing short person, Chacha Chaudhary will inevitably come to your mind. And why wouldn’t he? Created by the legendary Pran Kumar Sharma, the Chacha Chaudhary comics were among the best selling comics in India. Chacha Chaudhary’s brain was sharper and quicker than a computer, and alongside Chachi, the huge assistant Sabu from Jupiter, and the dog Rakka, he went on his adventures and made us realize that a strong mind is as important as a strong physique. But all while making us roll on the floor laughing (whoops)!
Tenali Rama
Who didn’t love Tenali Rama when it came out as a comic, and later as a cartoon?! Kids these days, who only know about comics reading online, don’t really know what they missed out on. Tenali Rama’s wisdom, wit and humor, and the ability to think quickly was admired by everyone across the country. As the court poet of Vijayanagara kingdom, he made everyone laugh and learn at the same time!
Archie
Archie and his friends in Riverdale first appeared in public eyes in 1941. But it wasn’t until the ‘90s that their adventures got popular in India. And once it did, it didn’t take long for it to become one of the best selling comics in India. Archie’s friendship with Jughead, his romantic affairs with Betty and Veronica kept the teenagers glued to the comic books and they could never get enough of it.
The Adventures of Tintin
Tintin, the most popular investigative journalist in the world, was ridiculously popular in India (he still is, by the way). The Adventures of Tintin left everybody wanting for more. Indians shared a special relationship with Tintin, in which every urban kid had read at least one Tintin story while growing up.
Tinkle
No list would ever be complete without Tinkle Digest, would it? You can’t find too many kids growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s who didn’t know about Tinkle. It was loved by children and adults alike across cities and towns and the characters were like the next-door kids you get to meet everyday. Be it Suppandi or Shambhu, the kids and adults admired them all, and would wait eagerly to read their stories in the fortnightly Tinkle Digest.
While our comics reading has shifted online nowadays, those days of reading them from the actual books will surely always mean something to us. The ‘80s and ‘90s kids were the generation that grew up reading the best comics in India. But come the new age shift of 2020s, rest assured, BlackMaster Comics is going to be the rage! Stay tuned, you’re in for a whirlwind!
