On demystifying the consumerist bubble and dismantling the obsession with superheroes: an interview with comic artist Appupen

ABSTRACT

Below is a telephonic interview with George Mathen (Appupen) by comics scholars from India about graphic novels, commercial sketching, and consumerism. Brooding on the similarity and differences between comics and graphic novels, the scholars involved in this interview problematise the trend of consumerism in the present-day scenario and situate the contribution of graphic novels in establishing mindful consumption. The contributors are the scholars of capitalism and consumerism, who lay the foundation of the readership cohort in India and discuss the role of graphic novels in essentializing moral values. Comic artist Appupen defines his motif as spreading awareness about excessive consumption and eventual environmental degradation by employing his advertising experiences. By insisting on demystifying the consumerist bubble, he preaches for ‘brooding before buying’ through his four well-known graphic novels, viz. Moonward, Legends of Halahala, The Snake and the Lotus, and Aspyrus. Addressing the silence in his work, he calls for a complete mental and emotional investment of the readers to decode the true meaning. Moreover, he digs the superhero-based mainstream comics and the essentiality of dismantling the obsession with superheroes to reach out to the central force of the consumerist circle.

KEYWORDS:

• Appupen
• consumption
• consumerism
• environmental degradation
• superhero

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).