Inspirational illustrations: KODA – a comic on friendship, generosity
KODA – a comic book based in Lahore – is set for release this September. Author and cartoonist, Mudassar Butt, says he is presently fixing kinks and tying up loose ends in the book. He has four more comic books in production.
“KODA is set in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It’s about a group of friends living in Mozang. They’re from affluent families. They take out time to help the less fortunate. Their actions earn them respect in the community. The friends come together and use their extraordinary talents and abilities to take on certain evils in the society and learn lessons along the way while strengthening friendships,” Butt says.
He says his comic depicts the significance of lessons learnt during children’s formative years. “It’s about developing strong bonds, finding role models and never ever giving up.” A thought or a daily-life situation leads to a concept, Butt says, “You have to surround yourself with positive people and listen, not talk.”
Butt says he often keeps a voice recorder and notebook with him. He says he was advised to do so by his mentors: painter Saeed Akhtar, cartoonist Jawed Iqbal and Dr Ajaz Anwar, painter and activist.
“If a story is too long, I record it to listen later...or make a couple of loose sketches and doodles about it. When I go home, I start drawing and six to twelve hours later, I have a finished product.”
Butt says some people think that he has a contraption that does his work for him. “They think I just type in instructions and presto! It’s not like that...this is not a job for the faint hearted.”
He is a fan of stage shows featuring Omar Sharif and English, Arabic and Japanese comedy.
Commenting on Butt’s work, Dr Ajaz Anwar said, “He is my second apprentice. Mr Number 2...Need I say more?”
Cartoonist Javed Iqbal said, “I can’t wait for KODA to come out. This is a direction we should have explored earlier. There should have been more comic books by Pakistani artists. I wish him good luck.”
Artist Saeed Akhtar had words of advice for Butt: “Be humble my boy and keep yourself grounded.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2014.
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