Saurav Mohapatra: Theology and Comics

Saurav is a writer and filmmaker primarily known for his work on the crime-noir graphic novel Mumbai Confidential and his collaboration with Deepak Chopra for the comic book series Deepak Chopra Presents India Authentic. He is also the author of the essay “Echoes Of Eternity” for the Graven Images anthology that examined Hindu reincarnation motifs in American Superhero comics, especially in the work of Grant Morisson’s “Animal Man” and Alan Moore’s “Supreme.” ​In this episode, Saurav and I discuss the intriguing intersection of religion and comic books as we compare aspects of Hinduism and Christianity. We explored how themes like sacrifice, morality, and resilience in superhero narratives resonate with theological concepts from these two traditions, revealing the universal aspects underlying both religions. Whether examining parallels with ancient religious art or the modern dilemmas of comic characters, we navigated the rich landscape where theology and comics converge.