Sufi Comics, Shikari Shambu illustrator, and more: Artists to watch at Bengaluru Comic Con 2025
The Hindu
Meet the artists of Sufi Comics, Tinkle’s Shikari Shambu, Dakhni comic Hallu Bol and Marvel’s Spider-Man India at Bengaluru Comic Con 2025
Bengaluru is all set to host the 12th edition of Comic Con India on January 18 and 19 at KTPO Whitefield, promising a fun-filled weekend for fans of comics, anime, gaming, and pop culture. From celebrity guests and exclusive merchandise to the country’s best cosplayers and live performances, this year’s event, the organisers promise, will be bigger and better than ever.
With a sprawling gaming arena, immersive experiential zones, and geek shopping opportunities, Comic Con Bangalore 2025 promises to cater to every fan’s passion. Participants can expect panels featuring comic legends including Ron Marz and Jamal Igle, as well as homegrown creators who are reshaping the landscape of Indian storytelling.
Among the star-studded line-up, we shine the spotlight on four distinct comic artists: Tinkle veteran Savio Mascarenhas, Sufi comic artist Mohammed Ali Vakil, Dakhni storyteller Rahil Mohsin, and Marvel artist Tadam Gyadu.
(Bengaluru Comic Con 2025 will be on January 18 and 19 at KTPO Trade Centre, Whitefield. For more information, visit comicconindia.com. Tickets on insider.in)
Mohammed Ali Vakil with his brother, Mohammed Arif Vakil, occupy a unique space in the Indian comics scene as they combined comics with Sufism. Co-creators of Sufi Comics, the duo’s journey began in 2011 with their first book, 40 Sufi Comics, which brought centuries-old Islamic tales to life in a format that tries to bridge cultures and generations.
For Mohammed Ali, the seeds of storytelling were planted in his childhood in Dubai. Comics, he recalls, were not just entertainment but a window into Indian culture and a medium to explore stories he learned at Madrasa. “The stories I grew up with shaped my ethics and worldview,” he reflects. When he moved to India in 2002 and discovered his talent for art years later, combining this skill with storytelling felt natural.
The Vakil brothers’ comics are more than just stories — they are tools for understanding. At an early Comic Con, a parent expressed gratitude for their work, saying it made Islamic tales accessible to curious young minds. “Comics are powerful. They tell spiritual and philosophical stories in a format that connects deeply,” Mohammed Ali explains.
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