{{Short description|Indian comic book publisher company}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Level10 Comics | logo = level10comicslogo.jpg | foundation = 2010 | location_city = Mumbai, Bangalore | location_country = India | industry = Comics | homepage = {{Official website|http://www.level10comics.com/}} }} '''Level10 Comics''' is an Indian comic book publisher company, based out of Mumbai, India. Founded in late 2009<ref>[http://usanx02.indiantelevision.co.in/index.php?file=story&id=28911 Article by Raoul Lobo.]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> by Shreyas Srinivas and Suhas Sundar, the company started publishing comic books for the teen audience in April 2010. Its flagship monthly publication '''JUMP'''<ref>[http://www.thisweekbangalore.com/issue185/news9-level-10-studio.html Level10 Studio] This Week Bangalore {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726195901/http://www.thisweekbangalore.com/issue185/news9-level-10-studio.html |date=26 July 2011 }}</ref> is India's first full-fledged comic magazine targeted at the 18–30 male audience.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/jump-at-it/article2526785.ece|title=Jump at it|first=Anurag|last=Tagat|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 October 2011|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The company is currently in the process of creating a digital comic publishing platform.
==Company== In late 2009, Shreyas Srinivas – a former Unilever Manager and Suhas Sundar – a former software professional decided to form Level 10 Studios. The Indian comic scene mainly comprised public domain mythological characters inspired from Ramayana and Mahabharata. Level 10 Studios focused on creating original intellectual properties.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/myths-work-a-new-magic/article1712302.ece | newspaper=The Hindu | title=Myths work a new magic | date=20 April 2011 | first=Anusha | last=Parthasarathy | access-date=17 June 2019 }}</ref> The company also ran a full-fledged Studio division offering visual graphic and design services to external clients.
In December 2010, the company managed to raise angel funding from Seedfund<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seedfund.posterous.com/?tag=level10comics|title=Good night, Posterous|website=seedfund.posterous.com}}</ref> and Mumbai Angels, two of India's prominent early-stage venture capital firms. The company was renamed as 'Level 10 Entertainment' and eventually shut down its studio division to focus on the creation of new intellectual properties. It also re-launched its flagship publication 'Comic JUMP' and decided to shift focus to the 18–30 Urban Male demographic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/comic-blast/cid/390753|title=Comic blast|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>
===Titles=== Level 10 Entertainment experiments with a variety of genres. Some of their titles include the zombie thriller ''The Rabhas Incident'', superhero epic ''Shaurya'', fantasy series ''Batu-Gaiden'', dark-hero titles ''Daksh'' by Shamik Dasgupta, and ''Odayan'' by Suhas Sundar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationxpress.com/animation/anitracks-media-to-launch-graphic-novel-the-caravan-at-comic-con-bangalore-quick-qa-with-shamik-dasgupta-creator-and-writer-of-the-graphic-novel/|title=Anitracks Media to Launch Graphic Novel ‘The Caravan’ at Comic Con Bangalore- Quick Q&A with Shamik Dasgupta- Creator and Writer of the Graphic Novel|website=AnimationXpress.com|date=28 May 2013}}</ref> Other titles include ''Northern Song'' and ''Sando''. They also published a variety of creator-owned titles during 2010–11.
* ''The Rabhas Incident'' is a Zombie survival horror story set in the urban Indian city of Bangalore.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pune.thetossedsalad.com/2010/09/review-jump-from-level-10-comics/ |title= Review: Jump from Level-10 comics |website=pune.thetossedsalad.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825091219/http://pune.thetossedsalad.com/2010/09/review-jump-from-level-10-comics/ |archive-date=25 August 2011}}</ref> A mysterious virus that turns its victims to a feral, savage and rabid state has been released in Bangalore. Within a week, the entire city with its teeming populace is quarantined. Almost five weeks later, a lone R&AW agent enters this once prosperous city, as a last resort, to salvage some hope for a cure. He expects to find death, destruction and carnage, what he isn't expecting to find, is survivors. It is considered as best and first series of zombies in India.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120311141745/http://www.level10comics.com/category/titles/rabhas-incident/ Titles. Rabhas incident]}} level10comics.com</ref> * ''Shaurya'' is about 5 Indian teenagers with superhuman abilities which they use to defend the country against villainous characters. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, five gifted teenagers from different parts of the country, unite to overcome their personal differences and emerge as a unified front to take on the might of a globe-spanning terrorist organization. * ''Daksh'' is the half son of Lord Yama. Inspired loosely from Meghdutam by the great poet Kalidasa, Daksh is the story of a Yamdoot banished to earth because he dared to love in hell. Because of his desire to save the damned woman he loves, Daksh ignores his duty as a gatekeeper of hell and a score of the worst sinners escape the realm of retribution. Angered by his carelessness Yama banishes Daksh to earth to bring back the sinners, and until he completes his task his lover will burn in the deepest pits of Narrk (Hell). Thus begins Daksh's quest all across Earth to destroy the heinous sinners who escaped the bowels of hell. * ''Batu Gaiden'' is a Manga fantasy series that incorporates cricket into mythology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/let-kree-kaht-begin/story-c70s3q2TZKmPrg2vqpPIdM.html|title=Let 'Kree-Kaht' begin!|website= Hindustan Times|date=March 2011 }}</ref> It was a time of great turmoil. The gods had abandoned the earth and the three races of Humans, Asuras and Vanars (Apes) were embroiled in a bitter struggle. The final apocalyptic battle left many brave warriors dead, and the kings of the three races finally realized the folly of war. That day on the battlefield of Lords, they made a pact; there would be no more war, no more pointless loss of lives. Instead, each of the kingdoms would train their finest Yoddhas (Warriors). Train them to become Dandavas, wielders of the mystic Blade and the power Orbs. From that day hence, they would settle disputes and conflicts through the ancient sport of the gods. They would bring their mastery of shastras and celestial weapons to the playing field and this sport would be known as Kree-Kaht. A 73-minute anime adaptation, titled ''Batu Gaiden – The Return of Asi,'' was produced by Level 10, Polygon Magic and ThanksLab as a Japan-India co-production.<ref name="Batu Anime PR">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/finance/batu-gaiden-the-return-of-asi-premiering-13th-april-2013-on-cartoon-network-india-news-press-releases-nemquhdjhaesi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303131238/http://www.sify.com/finance/batu-gaiden-the-return-of-asi-premiering-13th-april-2013-on-cartoon-network-india-news-press-releases-nemquhdjhaesi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2017|title='Batu Gaiden – The Return of Asi', Premiering 13th April' 2013, on Cartoon Network India|agency=BusinessWire|website=Sify|date=12 April 2013|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cinando.com/en/Film/batu_gaidenthe_return_of_asi_246770/Detail|title=BATU GAIDEN-THE RETURN OF ASI-|work=Cinando|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref> The film premiered on Cartoon Network India on 13 April 2013.<ref name="Batu Anime PR" /> Its theme song was performed by JAM Project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://makusonia.com/news/177.html|title=インドTV向け日本アニメ「BATU GAIDEN」主題歌歌唱|author=Okui Masami|author-link=Okui Masami|date=13 April 2013|access-date=2 March 2017|publisher=Lantis}}</ref> * ''NORTHERN SONG'' Set in a world inspired by Indian myth, Northern Song tells the tale of the mysterious Bala and his quest that takes him all over this mystical land, into little-known towns and villages and pits him against rakshasas, yakshas, and other fantastical creatures from Indian folklore. * ''Odayan'' is an epic martial arts series from Level 10 Comics. Set against the backdrop of feudal Kerala, the mysterious criminal and vigilante known simply as Odayan, slowly amasses wealth and power through subterfuge and brute force and builds himself a criminal empire that ultimately challenges the reign of the Zamorin himself.
Each of the above-mentioned series' have unique design and art styles and are popular among both adults and children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Comic-capers/article15710815.ece|title=Comic capers|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 June 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
==Graphic novels== Level 10 has made graphic novels of ''Odayan'' and ''Daksh''.
==See also== * Indian comics
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406015150/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=8&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=16-10-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI Level 10 and its characters mentioned in an article about the upsurge in the maturity of Indian graphic novels and comics] Source: The Times of India October 2011. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111126163603/http://bangaloremirror.com/article/81/20111119201111192138127049ce7f2c9/Japanese-Manga-in-our-backyard.html Level 10's Batu Gaiden featured in Bangalore Mirror in November 2011] * [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110312/saturday/main1.htm An article about the changing scenario of graphic comics in India and how Level 10 is affecting this] Source: The Tribune * [http://www.adgully.com/media/print/adgully-exclusive-comics-is-just-the-beginning-the-future-is-infinite-level-10-studios-shreyas-srinivas.html Shreyas Srinivas, Co-Founder and CEO, Level 10 in conversation with AdGully] * [http://graphicnarratives.com/Level-10-Comics.html Indian Graphic comics site on Level 10 Comics] * [http://www.wherevent.com/detail/leaping-windows-leaping-windows-mocha-trip-present-an-afternoon-with-level-10 Level 10 Comics in a panel discussion in Mumbai about Writing for Comics]
===Interviews=== * [https://sites.google.com/site/gothamcomicsindia/blogs/suhassundar Interview with Suhas Sundar, Co-Founder and Editor of Level 10 Comics, 11 March 2011] * [http://www.enterdbase.com/interviews/media/11-01-13/Hoping_to_Level_up.aspx Enterdbase in conversation with Suhas Sundar of Level 10 Comics, 13 January 2011]
Category:Comic book publishing companies of India Category:Publishing companies established in 2009