Forty-three-year-old Rishi Kumar often sketches comic panels and studies military history at his Greater Noida studio. But in the last few weeks, he has spent hours glued to news updates and field reports on Operation Sindoor. He is now turning India’s military action against Pakistan-based terror camps into his next graphic novel.
An illustrator dedicated to telling stories of real-life military heroes and historic Indian war events, Kumar began his journey in 2012. Since then, he has brought to life tales from the Siachen Glacier, the Kargil War, and beyond — combining patriotism, research, and art into a unique medium. Operation Sindoor, however, marks a new chapter in his career. For the first time, he will create a comic about a major conflict that he has witnessed unfold in real time.
“Even if I start today again, writing about our real-life heroes, it will never end. So why create anything fictional? We have more than enough real stories that deserve to be told,” said 43-year-old Kumar.
Most comic books revolve around superheroes, fantasy worlds, or mythological epics. Very few publishers attempt to transform real-life stories into graphic formats, and even fewer dedicate themselves to portraying the lives of war heroes. AAN Comics is one of the very few publishers dedicated entirely to real-life military narratives. Founded by Kumar, an Applied Art graduate from Delhi College of Art, AAN stands for Army, Air Force, and Navy. The comic is trying to turn military history into a powerful visual experience.
“The stories of our real heroes from the Indian Armed Forces are far deeper than what we usually hear or see,” said Kumar. “I wanted to create a simple, reader-friendly medium to share these powerful narratives — something that can inspire and motivate young minds, and help them emulate the courage and values of our gallant soldiers.”
Readers said that AAN Comics captures the courage of our soldiers in a way textbooks never could.
“I read their comics in one sitting. They’re raw, real, and so beautifully illustrated,” said 16-year-old Alimul Haque, who dreams of joining the Indian Army one day.
Haque, who often reads fictional war comics by Diamond Comics, Raj Comics, and Commando Comics—a British comic magazine known for its World War I and II stories—was thrilled to find something closer to home. While scrolling through Facebook one day, he came across AAN Comics and immediately ordered Siachen: The Cold War and The Wily Fox.
Harsh Sharma, a Mumbai-based illustrator collects comics from around the world to keep learning and improving his craft. And he finds AAN ’s work top-tier.
“It’s not just cartoonish drawing. They put real effort into their illustrations, and alongside the storytelling, that’s what impressed me the most,” said the 34-year-old.
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Ground to graphics
10 September 1965 is witness to one of the most crucial battles in India’s military history- the battle of Assal Uttar in the Khem Karan Sector. Flying Officer Dara Chinoy attacked a Pakistani Army camp. The Mystere aircraft was badly hit and Chinoy had to bail out in enemy territory. Then started a long chase by the enemy to capture him. Flying Officer Dara Phiroze Chinoy walked, crawled and, when required, ran for over five hours to evade capture until he safely crossed the front line and reached the Indian Forces.
AAN Comics’ ‘Behind Enemy Lines – The Wily Fox’ captures the story of Chinoy and his daring escape from enemy territory.
“My uncle’s story has been written and told in many ways, and this is yet another beautiful way to inspire the youth and remind us all to serve the nation in our own way,” said Darius Chinoy, the war veteran’s nephew.
Determined to bring his uncle’s story to life through powerful visuals and share it with the world, Darius reached out to Rishi Kumar.
“The moment I mentioned it, it instantly became Rishi’s next project,” said Darius.
Darius actively supported Rishi throughout the process — from gathering information and scripting to editing and overseeing the entire development of the comic.
The difference between AAN Comics and other publishers like Amar Chitra Katha, Roli Books lies in the kind of stories they tell. While these houses have created comics mainly focused on Param Vir Chakra awardees and well-known war heroes, AAN Comics goes beyond. They make comics not only on decorated soldiers but also on real war events, lesser-known operations, and even unsung heroes whose stories are rarely told. Their storytelling is grounded in detailed research, often involving direct interaction with regiments, families, and veterans.
“In our work, we do the best we can to depict accurate weapons, equipment, uniforms etc or the face of the soldier shown in our comics. We strive to ensure accuracy along with precise detailing in order to match the actual elements used on the ground,” said Kumar, showing a sketch of a soldier he drew after contacting the battalion and requesting his photo.
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When fiction meets reality
Rishi Kumar’s bookshelf is lined with copies of his own published comics, books on Indian wars, and classic fictional comics featuring heroes such as Nagraj, Doga, and Super Commando Dhruva. RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations by Yatish Yadav, The Ultimate Goal: A Former R&AW Chief Deconstructs How Nations AndIntelligence Agencies Construct Narratives by Vikram Sood, 1971: Stories of Grit and Glory From the Indo-Pak War by Ian Cardozo also feature.
Kumar grew up on stories of both superheroes and real-life military heroes. But the stories that stayed with him the most were the ones his mother told him—accounts of bravery and sacrifice from his maternal grandfather, who once served in the Indian Army.
After graduating in 2002 from the Delhi College of Art, Kumar spent several years working with advertising agencies as an illustrator. Despite professional success, something was missing.
“We never imagined that our son would show the world that true heroes aren’t just the ones we see in films, but those who serve in the field,” said Kumar’s mother, Reena Kumar. “Through his work, he pays tribute to the real heroes in a way that inspires generations.”
Kumar’s dedication and hard work are reflected throughout his one-room studio. The cluttered table, scattered rough sketches, and printouts of information sourced from Google—all speak volumes about his creative process.
AAN Comics are displayed and sold at major war memorials, including those in Delhi, Leh, and Jaisalmer. The comics are directly supplied to various Indian military institutions and establishments, ensuring wide access
Among these are two books specifically on the Siachen conflict. Cupboards and drawers hold traces of his efforts — research papers, old sketches, and carefully preserved blueprints.
In one corner of his studio, a small temple stands quietly, and right beside it, a tiny Indian flag.
“We already have so many real-life heroes whose stories have been told, and many more who remain unsung. So I never felt the need to create fictional ones,” said Kumar, as he gently unfolded the first-ever blueprint of his work — a rough layout from 2010 for a comic based on the Siachen War.
“What I focused on was using my art to tell their stories in a way that’s simple, memorable, and inspiring.”
While pulling out some recent work and old files from the cupboard and drawers, Kumar explained that every comic begins with a blueprint: first, he sketches rough layouts in pencil, carefully mapping out each panel and aligning them with the script. Once satisfied with the composition, he refines the drawings by hand, adding details and structure.
The finalised pencil sketches are then scanned and digitally inked using graphic software, where clean, bold lines replace the rough ones, giving the artwork its sharp comic-book style. After the inking is complete, each frame is digitally colored. Once the visuals are fully colored, the final step involves arranging the text and illustration.
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Research and the support
Inside Kumar’s studio room stands an easel, currently holding rough sketches from his ongoing comic project based on Param Vir Chakra awardee Naik Jadunath Singh. Alongside the artwork are black-and-white printouts of various rifles — including the AK-47 — pinned up as reference material.
“Every step of the process has layers of internal work within it,” said Kumar as he held a copy of his comic Where Eagles Dared, based on Operation Safed Sagar. It is one of his most detailed works, taking five years to fully complete.
To date, AAN Comics has produced around 60 graphic stories, each based on significant war events and military operations.
“I often visit war museums across the country, and sometimes I discover the heroes for my next story there,” said Kumar. During these visits, he studies the names etched into museum plaques and memorials, asks about the stories behind them, and carefully selects a name that resonates.
Kumar is truly a one-man army, tirelessly driving every aspect of AAN Comics—but not without the unwavering support from his family. From selecting the next story to sketching early drafts, scripting, and conducting deep research, including meeting families of war heroes and coordinating with Army units, he leads the process. He even handles the logistics of printing and distribution.
I often visit war museums across the country, and sometimes I discover the heroes for my next story there
Rishi Kumar
His wife, Ashoka Bali, plays a key role in managing the AAN Comics website and helps ensure timely deliveries. Mother, Reena Kumar, maintains financial records. While father Ravi Varma often accompanies him during research trips, especially when meeting retired officers or the families of soldiers.
“We feel that this is our way of serving the nation. Rishi’s work also gives us a chance to share the untold or lesser-known stories with a wider audience,” said Reena Kumar.
Kumar often sends draft versions of his comics to the relevant Army units for review, allowing them to crosscheck the script, technical details, and historical facts.
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A source of inspiration
AAN Comics are displayed and sold at major war memorials, including those in Delhi, Leh, and Jaisalmer. The comics are directly supplied to various Indian military institutions and establishments, ensuring wide access. In the civilian market, AAN Comics are distributed through The Variety Book Depot and HarperCollins India.
AAN Comics also receives direct orders from military units, commands, and various military schools across India. On average the sale is between 300 to 400 copies per month, including both military and civilian market. The work is all self-financed.
There are standard individual comics priced between Rs 70 and Rs 150. The publisher also offers special war-themed packs such as The Warrior Pack priced at Rs 1,899 and the Yodha Pack at Rs 850. Some hardcover editions, like A Soldier and a Mountaineer, are priced at Rs 499.
The publisher has gained institutional recognition and is now endorsed by the Ministry of Defence. The comics have also been distributed to key educational and military institutions such as the National Defence Academy, Army Welfare Education Society, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and the National Cadet Corps.
“Seeing young people get inspired by these stories—and knowing that some of them start thinking about joining the Indian Armed Forces after reading these real-life heroic accounts—is the most rewarding feeling of my life,” he added.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)