Graphic Passages

“Graphic Passages” makes high-quality German comics and graphic novels accessible to readers across South Asia through translations into regional languages. The project fosters cultural exchange between the comic scenes of Germany and South Asia, while strengthening graphic storytelling as a diverse and meaningful literary form for adult audiences.

About the project

While the comic and graphic novel industries are expanding across both South Asia and Germany, the two markets differ considerably in terms of public perception and readership. In South Asia, comics are still widely seen as a medium for children, and there is only a limited range of titles for adult readers exploring a broader spectrum of themes in South Asian languages. Most graphic novels aimed at adult audiences are published exclusively in English, while only a small number of German works have so far been translated into regional languages.

Graphic Passages addresses this gap by supporting the translation of selected German graphic novels into Bangla (Bengali), Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Urdu. Through workshops and mentoring, the project provides translators with training and guidance throughout the translation process. Participating publishers also receive support in bringing these editions to market.

The translated works will be published by the end of 2026 and presented, together with publishing partners from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, at book fairs, comics festivals and cultural events across the region. Confirmed publication dates will be added below as soon as they become available.

Contact

If you have any questions or comments, you can reach us at priyam.gupta@goethe.de.