Motalab:
The popular character from the Chorki Original web series Myself Allen Swapan has now been brought to life in a comic book titled Chronicles of Allen Swapan. The comic was officially unveiled at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela in Dhaka, available at Dhaka Comics stalls 949-950.
Event Highlights:
The official cover reveal took place at the Dhaka Comics stall yesterday, marking a significant moment for Bangladeshi comic culture. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including the actor Nasir Uddin Khan, who portrayed Allen Swapan on screen, and Redoan Rony, the CEO of Chorki. Mehedi Haque, the editor and publisher of Dhaka Comics, and Faisal Rahman, Chorki’s Business Lead, were also present at the event.
Comic Book Features:
While Chronicles of Allen Swapan is inspired by the web series Myself Allen Swapan, it features five distinct and original stories. The tales, which explore the darker side of the character in psycho-horror settings, are as follows:
Skondhokata by Zahidul Haque Apu
Dome, Munsunk, and Faad by Sheikh Korashanee
Peyaju, a collaborative work by both Apu and Korashanee
The comic’s illustrations are done by a talented group of artists: Mehedi Haque (Dome), Kazi Maruf (Skondhokata), Jabir Mahmud Ratin (Munsunk), Abdullah Al Zunayed (Peyaju), and Meherab Siddiqui Sabit (Faad). These illustrators shared their excitement and challenges during the launch event, with Abdullah Al Zunayed highlighting the learning experience of condensing a story into five pages, while Kazi Maruf expressed pride in contributing to this pioneering project in the Bangladeshi comic scene.
The Birth of Allen Swapan:
The character of Allen Swapan first appeared in the Chorki original series Syndicate (2022), where he made a brief but impactful appearance. His overwhelming popularity among audiences led to the creation of Myself Allen Swapan (2023), a spin-off series exploring his world in greater depth. Allen Swapan quickly became a significant pop culture icon in Bangladesh, known for his complex personality, distinctive mannerisms, and ruthless behavior.
Director Shihab Shaheen conceived the character, and his journey from a brief cameo to a web series and now a comic book reflects the growing appeal and cultural relevance of the character.
Cultural Impact and Industry Insights:
Dhaka Comics’ editor and publisher Mehedi Haque noted that Chronicles of Allen Swapan is the first comic book in Bangladesh to be adapted from an OTT series, marking a milestone for the industry. Haque also praised the collaboration between Chorki and Dhaka Comics, stating that the support from Chorki’s team and the creativity of the writers contributed to the comic’s success.
Chorki’s CEO, Redoan Rony, expressed his enthusiasm about seeing the character transition from screen to paper, hoping that fans of the series will also embrace the comic.
Artists and Writers’ Reactions :
The comic’s illustrators and writers shared their experiences during the event. Meherab Siddiqui Sabit admitted to feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness at working on such an important project, while Jabir Mahmud Ratin emphasized his enjoyment of illustrating intense moments from the stories.
Writer Sheikh Korashanee, who helped shape Allen Swapan’s character and voice, reflected on how the character’s unique traits, such as his language and demeanor, have made him a fascinating figure in Bangladeshi pop culture.
Zahidul Haque Apu, who wrote Skondhokata, shared a personal story, recalling his childhood passion for comic books and how it felt to finally see his dream come true with this project.
The Future of Allen Swapan:
Chronicles of Allen Swapan is rated ‘M’ (Mature) for adult readers due to its psycho-horror themes. The comic book is expected to be a significant addition to the Bangladeshi comic industry and could pave the way for more adaptations of popular OTT series into this format.
As the character of Allen Swapan continues to evolve, his journey from screen to print highlights the growing intersection between digital media and traditional storytelling forms in Bangladesh.
Background Information for Readers:
Syndicate (2022): A Chorki original series where Allen Swapan made his first appearance.
Myself Allen Swapan (2023): A spin-off series that delves deeper into the character’s backstory, which led to the creation of the comic book.
Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: An annual book fair held in Dhaka, a major cultural event in Bangladesh.
The comic book is available for purchase at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela and is expected to appeal to fans of the series as well as new readers interested in exploring the darker, more intense side of this iconic character.
