I have a confession to make—I’m late to the party. But better late than never, right? I recently discovered an Indian publisher that is creating some absolutely fantastic comics: Bullseye Press, run by Ravi Raja Ahuja. This homegrown publishing house is packed with talented creators working on multiple series in parallel.
I stumbled upon Bullseye Press at Comic-Con, and as you might have seen in my video, I picked up a bunch of their comic books. The first one I dived into was Dracula, which spans two issues and came highly recommended by someone who truly knows their comics. And let me tell you, that recommendation did not disappoint.
A Unique Take on Dracula
The first thing that grabs your attention is the brilliant cover art—just look at the quality! Inside, the comic is written by Sudip, with artwork by Deep Joy and colors by Macio. Ravi Raja Ahuja himself takes care of the lettering, design, and publishing.
But what really blew me away was the unexpected setting. You hear “Dracula,” and you immediately think of Gothic castles and Victorian horror. But this comic? It throws you into ancient Indian history!
Setting the Stage
The story kicks off with an epic battle between Alexander the Great and King Porus. From there, it seamlessly transitions into the Mauryan Empire, featuring Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya. Just pause for a moment and imagine this—Chanakya meeting Dracula! It’s an insane concept, and yet, the way it has been written makes it feel completely natural. Hats off to Sudip for crafting such a fascinating narrative.
Art & Storytelling
The artwork in Dracula is top-notch. The way it blends supernatural elements with historical settings is impressive. The covers are stunning, and there are even alternate covers available for at least one of the issues.
Inside the comic, the unique visual style keeps the story engaging. However, I did find myself flipping back a few pages occasionally to distinguish between certain characters. The setting—often underground caves and dark locations—adds to the mood but also makes it slightly tricky to follow the details at times. That said, Deep Joy’s artwork does an excellent job of bringing this eerie world to life.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely! At just ₹300 per issue, the quality of the printing, storytelling, artwork, coloring, and lettering is outstanding. If you’re looking to dive into homegrown Indian comics, Bullseye Press is the place to start.
Expanding the Universe
As I read Dracula, I realized that it ties into another Bullseye Press series called Yagya, which has four issues. That’s now on my reading list! But before I get to Yagya, I’ll be checking out Zalim Manga, a fresh new title that was recently launched at Bangalore Comic-Con.
Final Thoughts
A huge shoutout to Ravi Raja Ahuja, Sudip, Deep Joy, and Macio for creating such a fantastic comic. Dracula was a pleasant surprise, and now that I’ve discovered Bullseye Press, I’ll be keeping a close eye on their upcoming releases.
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Until next time, happy reading!