The lead character from the Chorki Original series "Myself Allen Swapan" is now all set to appear in a comic book. Titled "Chronicles of Allen Swapan", the comic has been released at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela and is available at stalls 949-950 of Dhaka Comics.

Yesterday, the comic book's cover was officially unveiled at the Dhaka Comics stall. The event was graced by the presence of Nasir Uddin Khan, who brought Allen Swapan to life on the screens. Also present were Chorki's CEO Redoan Rony, Dhaka Comics' editor and publisher Mehedi Haque, and Chorki's Business Lead Faisal Rahman.

Nasir Uddin Khan

Although inspired by the web-series, "Chronicles of Allen Swapan" features five distinct and original stories. Among them, "Skondhokata" was written by Zahidul Haque Apu, while "Dome", "Munsunk", and "Faad" were penned by Sheikh Korashanee. The two writers collaborated on "Peyaju". 

The illustrations for these five stories were done by Mehedi Haque ("Dome"), Kazi Maruf ("Skondhokata"), Jabir Mahmud Ratin ("Munsunk"), Abdullah Al Zunayed ("Peyaju"), and Meherab Siddiqui Sabit ("Faad"). They were also present at the unveiling ceremony.

Read more

The country’s first spin-off comic

Chorki's CEO, Redoan Rony, expressed his excitement about introducing an on-screen character to readers. "This is a truly rewarding experience for us. We hope the audience's favourite character will also gain popularity among readers," he said.

Dhaka Comics' editor and publisher Mehedi Haque described the project as a remarkable endeavour. "As far as we know, this is the first time in Bangladesh that a comic book has been adapted from an OTT series. As a collection of psycho-horror stories, this project was particularly exciting for us. The four young illustrators did an excellent job, and Chorki's team was incredibly supportive with their amazing scripts. We are grateful to Chorki for including Dhaka Comics in this pioneering venture."

Kazi Maruf, one of the illustrators, shared his enthusiasm about being part of the first-ever Allen Swapan comic book. "It is truly an honour and a joy to have my artwork featured in this project. My sincere gratitude to Chorki and Dhaka Comics for their trust and support. This is undoubtedly a significant milestone for the Bangladeshi comic book industry."

Illustrator Abdullah Al Zunayed highlighted the learning experience that came with the project. "The challenge of condensing a short story into just five pages taught me how to narrate a story efficiently. I also learned from Mehedi bhai how to keep a story straightforward without overcomplicating it."

Similarly, Meherab Siddiqui Sabit admitted to feeling both excited and nervous upon receiving the script. "I was excited because it was such a fantastic short script, but I was also nervous because I loved the story and the character so much that I feared I might ruin it. A huge thanks to Mehedi bhai for guiding me and having faith in me."

Jabir Mahmud Ratin praised Allen Swapan as a fascinating character, saying, "I loved the script. I really enjoyed illustrating the intense moments within these short segments."

Storywriter Zahidul Haque Apu recalled his childhood passion for comics. "As a schoolboy, I used to lose myself in comic books and dream of creating my own. I never imagined that dream would one day become a reality. Thanks to Chorki and Dhaka Comics, it has finally come true! I am deeply inspired."

Writer Sheikh Korashanee commented on how Allen Swapan has become a part of pop culture. "It's rare to see an on-screen character integrate into pop culture so seamlessly in Bangladesh. His language, attire, and mannerisms delight people, yet his ruthlessness is equally fascinating. It has been an incredible opportunity to write about such a character, and I hope we have done him justice."

From left, Redoan Rony, Nasir Uddin Khan, Ahsan Habib, and Mehedi Haque.

Allen Swapan's journey on OTT platforms has been groundbreaking as well. "Myself Allen Swapan" (2023), a spin-off series, offers a deeper look into the character's world. His presence was first hinted at in "Syndicate" (2022), a Chorki original series where he made a brief but striking appearance. The overwhelming audience demand led to the creation of "Myself Allen Swapan". The character was conceived by the series' director, Shihab Shaheen.

The cover art of "Chronicles of Allen Swapan" was designed by Asifur Rahman, with editing by Mehedi Haque and Sheikh Korashanee. The comic is rated 'M' (Mature) and is intended for adult readers.