How AR/VR Is Revolutionizing Visual Storytelling in India

As Indian creators push the boundaries of graphic fiction, VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) comics have emerged as game-changers for the country’s comic ecosystem. These next-generation books merge immersive technology with visual storytelling, transforming conventional panels into interactive playgrounds where readers experience storylines through animation, sound, and even spatial exploration using smartphones or headsets. Unlike the static, old-school 3D comics, AR/VR comics are dynamic. They are bridging India’s linguistic cultures and genre diversity through innovations from pioneering studios like TBS Planet Comics and Kolkata Komics. 

What Are VR/AR Comics?

VR and AR comics infuse traditional graphic storytelling with interactive, digital overlays. AR comics allow readers to point a smartphone or tablet at printed comic panels and watch characters animate, listen to voiceovers, or unlock hidden treasures digitally. VR comics go further, offering entire story segments or environments that readers "step into" using a headset, where they can interact with the comic's world or witness events from a character's perspective.

This is a leap beyond the historic 3D comics, which used colored lenses for static visual effects; VR/AR brings movement, sound, and choice, turning isolated reading into an immersive experience that echoes video games or animation.

Evolution of AR/VR Comics in India

India's comic studios and publishers are adapting global tech to deeply local contexts. TBS Planet, founded by Rajeev Tamhankar, is among the industry leaders, with a catalogue of superhero comics that transitioned from standard print to AR-enabled editions. Kolkata Komics has pioneered AR-capable comics in regional languages, with an emphasis on translating Bengali comics to English and enabling interactions on mobile devices. These initiatives expand the comics’ reach while preserving linguistic inclusivity, a challenge for legacy comics which often remained locked in one language or format.

AR comics employ image recognition software and mobile apps. When a reader hovers their smartphone over a page, invisible markers trigger animations, bonus content, voice acting, or pop-up games. For example, in TBS Planet’s superhero comics (notably "Varun" and "Karma"), readers may discover hidden treasure chests or clues, merging the reading experience with puzzle-solving and gamified rewards.

VR comics take place in headset-enabled platforms. Rather than reading panels, users enter an environment styled on the comic’s artwork. They may move through a story’s landscape, observe pivotal scenes, or even interact as one of the characters. This format is much rarer in India, but TBS Planet has experimented by creating dedicated VR comic content, where stories unfold with spatial audio and interactive objects, reimagining how plot and setting are consumed.

TBS Planet Comics' Innovations

TBS Planet, Bangalore-based and IIT Roorkee incubated, started with print comics and quickly recognized the distribution power and creative potential of AR/VR tech. Rajeev Tamhankar’s team developed comics where readers use smartphones to access extra layers, finding hidden objects, solving in-universe mysteries, and unlocking alternate story endings.

Their AR-enabled comics like superhero series "Karma," "Raat," and "Varun," integrate reward systems and narrative branches activated via mobile devices. Besides superheroes, TBS Planet diversified into horror and mythological genres, using AR to deepen storytelling through animated scares, contextual sound effects, and more. 

Facing high digital customer acquisition costs via mobile apps, TBS Planet innovated with WhatsApp Business subscriptions for delivering digital content, showing that AR/VR comics can be both tech-forward and accessible.

Kolkata Komics: Bridging Cultures With AR

Kolkata Komics has emerged as a standout for AR comics focused on Bengali stories and bilingual accessibility. Their print editions use AR triggers to animate local characters or environments, often teaching readers about Bengal’s rich cultural legacy. Crucially, their translations from Bengali to English enhance access for non-local and global audiences, helping regional stories reach new readers on mobile devices.

This approach resonates with Bengal’s tradition of literary comics, where the adaptation to digital AR/VR means classics like Handa Bhonda, Nonte Fonte, and Rabindra literature are revitalized with modern interactivity.

Redefining Indian Comics

VR/AR comics are distinct from the traditional 3D comics, where simple stereo imagery is used, because they unlock responsive, narrative-driven engagement rather than spectacle alone. AR and VR tools make comics accessible to visually or physically challenged readers through audio descriptions and dynamic translations, open new revenue channels for publishers (paid extras, subscription bonuses), and bring comics into educational and gamified learning settings.

Further, AR/VR comics build communities through digital sharing, social media challenges, and interactive events. Companies like TBS Planet and Kolkata Comics often stage online giveaways, workshops, and collaborations with Bollywood films to extend storytelling into pop culture.

The AR/VR comic movement in India is shaped by a fresh generation of creators who blend grassroots storytelling with high-tech delivery. As regional translation improves and smartphone penetration rises, the boundary between visual fiction and multimedia adventure continues to blur and the legacy of Indian comics enters a promising new phase.