Image and word come together to tell the story in the 12 graphic narratives of "PAO - The Anthology of Comics 1", published by Penguin India.
The visual interpretations range from the highly stylised to the raw, provocative and seemingly natural. And, in tempo and texture, the stories vary from the quirky and dazzling to the profound and contemplative, taking readers on an expansive and hugely enjoyable journey.
Aliens write science fiction, clouds drift through sleepscapes, a boy struggles to comprehend his mother's death, the Helmetman drives through a metropolis under attack, a spinster aunt holds her family hostage till strawberry ice cream arrives on the scene and the stories go on.
PAO is group of five comic book artists based in Delhi: Amitabh Kumar, Orijit Sen, Sarnath Banerjee, Vishwajyoti Ghosh and Parismita Singh.
"Many in the Indian art would live as tiny puddles of self-styled geniuses. There are very few forums for introspection, criticism and debate. Pao Collective is one such