Lion born, #1 premier issue created by Sachi Ediriweera is a something that a Sri Lankan reader would expect from a Sri Lankan artist in the present days.
Below is an artwork by Sachi.
This comic book is extremely creative, and an amazing artwork. The artist builds on a unique artistic framework for himself. And that is something I never experienced personally as a reader since "Neelo" a Sri Lankan fantasy comic from the 70's and the current political satire in daily and weekend newspapers.
This is a comic book which is based on the following historic legend of Sri Lanka.
Lion Born is based on Sinhabahu (Sinha = Lion, Bahu = Hands) who is a legendary king of ancient India, mentioned in Sri Lanka texts. He was a father of Vijaya of Sri Lanka and King of Sinhapura.
According to the Mahavamsa folklore (the chronicled history of Sri Lanka), Sinhabahu's father was a lion and his mother a princess of Kalinga. His hands and feet were lion's paws.
When Sinhabahu was sixteen, he escaped with his mother and sister, Sinhasivali, and arrived in the capital of Vanga. He later killed his father for a reward and was offered, the throne of Vanga.
He refused the throne, instead found the city of Sinhapura, in the country of Lala. He lived there with his sister Sinhasivali, whom he made his consort. They had thirty-two children, of whom Vijaya was the eldest and Sumitta the second.
Lionborn has made a delicate twist to the story from Mahavamsa and made it more like a realistic story giving it a fusion of dark artistic touch and also some action packed comic book tradition in every strip it was drawn.
Now in summary Lion born is in every way what the art of Sri Lanka needs right now. It's a strong depiction of the Sri Lankan culture and folklore in a unique way to the artist, that opens freedom of the writer to express his feelings and emotions to the reader allowing them to have a mutual experience.
When a Sri Lankan watch Lord of The Rings (LOTR), Harry Potter or any other western fantasy or historic film and thinks of where is something from our country? Lion Born will provide the answer filling the gaps of the Sri Lankan modern art and literature.
Lion Born gives a more of a Batman (DC Comics) kinda effect to the story. The character "Lion born" or Sinhabahu is drawn like Batman with him in his armour and his acts of vigilantism, protecting vanga, according to the mahavamsa itself.
Therefore the writer manages to keep in touch with the folklore as well without overly deviating and damaging the roots of the culture and history of Sri Lanka.
It was a very powerful storyline with darker aspects of violence infused with shady artwork. Shady artwork mostly has a "noir" like background to the story presented in the comic book. Creating more of a "historic noir" fusion in the comic book.
Overall this is a strong comic book adaptation of local folklore to bring one of the greatest comics of to the local scene with western fusion of language and artwork.
References
Newspaper article found on a website
·
- Alles, M. (2017). Article Title – Of Lion Born and
Heroes. Newspaper – The Sunday Leader. [Online]. Available at : http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/09/11/of-lion-born-and-heroes/(Accessed date : 2017/03/05)
· - Attanayake, D. (2016). Article Title – Lion born
Marriage of Comic and Lore. Newspaper – Nation. [Online]. Available at : http://nation.lk/online/2016/08/13/lionborn-marriage-of-comic-and-lore.html
(Accessed date : 2017/03/05)
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