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New Delhi: In a media landscape saturated with billion-dollar franchises and superhero fandoms, lived experiences often get lost. Yet, the realisation that comics are not merely for laughs, or for marvelling over superhuman chronicles, is gradually permeating into the mainstream. With the advent of comic journalism, indie publications, and candid personal accounts, comics have broken conventional moulds to encompass a myriad of narrative styles and themes over the past few decades. 

Independent comics have played a large role in shattering this artistic ceiling — dealing with ‘heavier’ themes such as political satire, queer rights, feminism, and social stigmas — bringing frequently-marginalised experiences of the societal underdogs to the fore of storytelling. They teleport readers to a liminal space between unflinching truths and uninhibited imaginations, providing glimpses into the artist’s psyche, an aspect glaringly lacking in corporate-driven comics. Independent comic festivals are integral to keeping this world of witty commentary, social critique, and self-expression alive.

The Indie Comix Fest (ICF) is one such platform that celebrates stories from independent creators, honouring nuanced protagonists and embracing the uncensored art of storytelling. 

First organised in Mumbai in 2017, as a space for self-expression through comics, the festival has since expanded into a multi-city endeavour: holding annual events in Delhi, Kochi, Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad, with an addition of Guwahati to the repertoire this year. The fest is returning to Delhi for its seventh edition on March 15, at the Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, with a diverse group of over 50 creators, small presses, and publishers. 

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Niloy Duttagupta (@thewordofboka)

A post shared by Niloy Duttagupta (@thewordofboka)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Indie Comix Fest (@indiecomixfest)

A post shared by Indie Comix Fest (@indiecomixfest)

Ideated as a volunteer-run, not-for-profit festival, ICF fosters a community of comic lovers, thriving on artistic expression and creativity. 

Organised this year by Anupam Arunachalam, Ashwitha........

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