Uncovering the storytelling secrets of comics

German Weeks activities begin in Karachi


Students from Karachi University, Karachi School of Arts and Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture among others attended the graphic novel workshop, which will conclude today. PHOTOS: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS

KARACHI: If you want to learn how to draw graphic novels, the workshop organised by Klaus D Schleiter of Mosaik was just for you.

Starting off the German Weeks, a workshop was organised to teach students the techniques of illustrations and graphic designing while working on a given story line. The workshop, which was held at the Consulate General of Germany in Karachi, started on October 3 and will continue till today (October 7).

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Students belonging to Karachi University’s visual studies department, Karachi School of Arts, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Jugnu TV and Oxford University Press’s design department attended the workshop.

The world of graphic novels presents an enriching experience, remarked Schleiter while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Empowering the girls

For the workshop, students were given the storyline of an upcoming comic series revolving around the life of a female protagonist, Rabia, whose father runs a garage and repair shop. She drives around the town and one day meets a man stranded on the road after his car breaks down. The man, Kalim, does not know how to repair car so Rabia helps him and teaches him the technicalities of it.

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Talking about the comic, Schleiter said “It’s a magazine type of a comic book, which plans to target the young people in Pakistan and make them see a different way towards the future.” Currently, the series is in its initial stage, where its layout is being defined and characters are being designed, he said. The graphic novel will be 35 pages long, with Rabia appearing 70 times and Kalim appearing 50 times.



In today’s world, girls must possess knowledge about cars and mechanics as it is really helpful, he said while talking about the female protagonist.

“We are trying to support a strong story in the comic,” remarked Germany’s consul-general in Karachi Rainer Schmiedchen. “A skilled worker can make a good living in an industrial nation.

Seeing young Pakistani students engage in a vocational training enhancing graphic novel concept is very touching. We believe that vocational training is very important for young Pakistanis.”

Bridging gaps

According to Schleiter, he has been involved in creating the Mosaik series for the past 28 years, but it is the first time he has travelled to give a story a local touch for the local audiences.

Coming to Pakistan, Schleiter said he was quite apprehensive about how things will happen. “Initially, I wasn’t so sure,” he said.

“I just knew we had to do it.” However, he claimed, working with the students and connecting with them changed his perspective.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2016.

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