Welcome to ComicBookChuck. On our site, we like to champion diversity and innovation. Gone Case is possibly the most innovative work I have seen in some time, and I read a lot of comics.
Let’s dive into why Gone Case is like nothing readers have ever experienced before.
Q1: The first thing that struck me about this book is the strong elements of film that are present. Though it is an entirely different medium, the book clearly incorporates scenes that were written and drawn as though they were meant to be viewed as film scenes. As a filmmaker, how difficult was it for you to write a comic?
Well, firstly thanks for having me here, Charles. I’m a big fan of your website and it’s lovely chatting with you. Gone Case was initially written as a feature film script by me. We pitched the script to an OTT platform in India and they asked us to add songs and a love story arc to it. That was completely against the vision I had for the franchise, so I decided to get an illustrator on board and turn it into a graphic novel, at least this way my original vision would always be out there. It was quite a task converting the initial script into a comic, as the rules for film and comics differ quite a lot. For instance, comics jump time a lot more. The only thing that stays constant is the storytelling. It took us around 9 months more, but it was one hell of a journey turning it into a comic book!
Q2: The marketing for Gone Case is impeccable. How much of it was done in-house? The introduction videos for the premise and the characters are amazing. Do you think your talent as a filmmaker has made the marketing process easier for Gone Case?
I appreciate the kind words. The marketing was something I came up with while writing the script itself. As a director, I wanted the trailers of the comic to have a taste of what the film would be like, so I decided to edit all the videos myself. I used the pages of the comic book itself and cut them together on FCPX and did a weekly upload. Before I realized it, two of the six trailers went viral!
Q3: What were the inspirations behind this book?
I’m a huge comic book fan. I will never forget reading Batman Hush for the first time and being in awe of the artwork by Jim Lee. Ever since I always imagined my own story told in an illustrated format. Then I read ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’. I loved how those novels were pushing the boundaries in terms of darkness and realism. As a storyteller, I wanted to create something like that of my own. The tone and the style of these books combined with the binge factor a few of Netflix’s mystery shows have actually inspired me to create a unique style for Gone Case.
Q4: You are a comic fan. What made you choose this specific criminal investigation/murder mystery genre as opposed to something more conventional to comics?
My favorite character is Batman. I’ve possibly read every single graphic novel or trade of Batman out there available in the market today. The reason, he’s my favorite character? He has no powers and has to rely on his unique skills of detective work. I’ve always been a fan of more realistic storylines. For instance, I would rather have the evil villain based in an apartment in a narrow alleyway over being in space. I think telling a story without any conventional “wow factors” like superpowers or time travel etc is harder to keep the audience engaged. But if you manage to tell a good story, the non-conventional way, at least you’ve done something right. I think even when I do eventually venture into the superhero genre, my characters won’t have any powers.
Q5: How important is cultural representation and diversity to you in the comics field? Personally, I see changes in the industry but we have a long way to go.
It’s extremely important. I think talent is what matters, over everything else, no matter what race or ethnicity. However, with that being said, coming from a multicultural background myself, I would appreciate the changes even more, if it’s not stereotypically done to just sell books, but to actually promote and represent talent.
Q6: Do you consider yourself a pioneer? Though you may be humble about it, the way Gone Case is presented is unlike anything I have seen in independent comics yet. Your team has put together a marketing campaign that is extremely difficult to compete with. Is this because of the passion behind the project, business acumen, or a combination of both?
I think passion supersedes all. As a filmmaker, I was always working on projects and commercials for other brands. Other clients telling me what to do or how to do it. All those late nights to see their vision completed. With Gone Case, I was putting in that same effort for myself and the team. So it’s definitely a mixture of experience, business acumen but most importantly passion is what counts. If you find a way to monetize your passion, you will never work a day in your life.
Q7: When did you first get the idea for Gone Case? How long did it take to finish?
I got the idea in March of 2019. We released the book on June 27th, 2020. We got the funding for the film and just signed on a screenwriter (Ensia Mirza) in Feb 2021. So even though the book is out, the idea ain’t finished yet 😉
Q8: I have a million questions for you but this is probably the most important: you are someone who followed your dreams. Not everyone can be a successful Filmmaker or Comic Writer, you are doing both. What motivated you and what gave you the confidence to break into such competitive and demanding fields? Was this something you have always dreamed of? Did you always know who Shiv Panikker was or did you become him after certain experiences? What is the “end-game” for Gone Case?
I think being a product of the social media generation, I always felt I wasn’t doing enough. But the one thing that social media taught me is that ‘life is what you make of it’. In today’s day and age, anything is possible if you just put in the hours and sacrifice a few weekends. Youtube can teach on a technical level and Instagram can inspire on a business side. So being surrounded in this digital age, I’m just a regular guy trying to become the best version of myself. Along the way, I’m working on monetizing my passions.
As for Gone Case, there will be a Gone Case 2 coming out next year, but above all else, the success of the first book has gotten us the funding to turn Gone Case into a movie, our style. No love story, no songs, but lots of suspense, mystery, and good old fashion horror!
