Liquid Comics
Liquid Comics was an Indian-founded comic-book publisher that developed mythology-inspired, creator-led and multimedia properties for international audiences.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Liquid Comics was an Indian-founded comic-book publishing venture created in 2006 under the name Virgin Comics. It was established through a collaboration involving Virgin Group entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Gotham Entertainment executives Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Chopra, and Indian advertising executive Suresh Seetharaman. The company was conceived as an international entertainment business rather than solely as a conventional comics imprint: its stated ambition was to draw on Indian mythology, history, art and storytelling while developing characters and concepts that could travel across comics, animation, film, television and other media. The venture grew out of an earlier plan associated with Gotham Studios Asia, a proposed collaboration between Chopra, Kapur and Gotham Entertainment. With Branson joining the project, the enterprise was reorganized as Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation. The comics operation initially had a New York headquarters while the animation and production activities were associated with India, particularly Bangalore. Sharad Devarajan served as chief executive, Gotham Chopra acted as chief creative officer, and Suresh Seetharaman was associated with the Indian animation operation. The business intended to build a substantial Indian creative workforce and to use the country as both a source of artistic inspiration and a production base. Virgin Comics launched several editorial lines. Shakti focused on Indian mythology, classical stories and related cultural themes, often recast in contemporary superhero or fantasy forms. Its early titles included Devi and The Sadhu. Director's Cut was designed around projects developed with prominent film directors, including Shekhar Kapur, John Woo and Guy Ritchie. Its best-known early release was John Woo's Seven Brothers, written by Garth Ennis and based on a Chinese folklore concept adapted into a modern global action story. The line also included Snake Woman, developed by Shekhar Kapur, and Gamekeeper, associated with Guy Ritchie. A third line, initially called Maverick and later renamed Voices, emphasized new creators and projects connected to musicians and other entertainers. Its first release was Dave Stewart's Walk In, expanded into comic form by Jeff Parker. The company also pursued projects outside its core lines, including a Dan Dare miniseries, environmental and children's concepts, adaptations and reinterpretations of Indian stories, and collaborations with high-profile creators such as Grant Morrison and Stan Lee. It explored user-generated development through Coalition Comix on MySpace and sought television partnerships, including a relationship with FremantleMedia Enterprises and reported development work with the Sci-Fi Channel. These activities reflected Liquid's broader strategy of treating comics as the starting point for adaptable entertainment properties. In August 2008, the company closed its New York office and announced a restructuring and move to Los Angeles. On September 24, 2008, Virgin Comics announced that it had been renamed Liquid Comics following a management buyout. The change separated the publisher's identity from Virgin while retaining its emphasis on creator-driven, internationally oriented entertainment. Liquid also entered an agreement with FremantleMedia Enterprises to develop television projects, including First Family and Ani-Max. A graphic novel project titled Fated, associated with Gotham Chopra and Michael Jackson, was announced for publication through Villard and was copyrighted to Liquid Comics. By February 2013, Liquid Comics was reported to be refocusing on Graphic India, Sharad Devarajan's digital comics and animation startup. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about Liquid Comics after that transition, and its current operating status, ownership and catalog administration are not clearly documented. Historically, the brand is significant for combining Indian creative and mythological influences with Western comics production, film-industry collaborations and an early attempt to build cross-media entertainment properties for audiences beyond South Asia.
History
Liquid Comics originated in a proposed partnership linking Deepak Chopra, Shekhar Kapur and Gotham Entertainment. The earlier Gotham Studios Asia concept was intended to develop Indian-oriented entertainment properties, but its planned initial release did not materialize. In 2006, the project was expanded through the participation of Virgin Group entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and became Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation. Gotham Entertainment executive Sharad Devarajan became chief executive of the comics business, Gotham Chopra became chief creative officer, and Suresh Seetharaman was associated with the Indian animation operation. The companies were designed around a division of creative and commercial functions. India was positioned as a source of stories, artists and production talent, while the publisher sought access to international readers and entertainment markets. The business promoted the idea that Indian mythology and visual culture could supply material for new global characters and franchises. Comics were not treated only as print products; they were intended to serve as development platforms for animation, television, film and other media. Virgin Comics launched with several distinct editorial programs. The Shakti line adapted Indian mythology, history and classical themes into modern comics. Devi presented a contemporary warrior figure connected to a reimagined divine mythology, while The Sadhu used the story of a former mystic pursuing revenge. The Director's Cut line was built around projects developed with filmmakers. Snake Woman was created with Shekhar Kapur, while John Woo's Seven Brothers transformed a Chinese folklore premise into a contemporary international action narrative with a screenplay by Garth Ennis. Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper was another prominent project and was reported to have been optioned by Warner Bros. for film development. A Voices line, formerly known as Maverick, was intended to provide a platform for new talent and projects connected to musicians and actors. Its first release, Dave Stewart's Walk In, drew on autobiographical ideas from Stewart and was developed in comic form with Jeff Parker. The catalog and development slate extended beyond those lines. Virgin Comics produced a Dan Dare miniseries and explored children's, environmental and literary projects. It publicized planned work involving Grant Morrison and the Mahabharata, as well as a proposed superhero project involving Stan Lee. It also experimented with participatory development through Coalition Comix on MySpace. The company's work with film directors and entertainment personalities supported its effort to make comics function as early-stage intellectual property for possible screen adaptations. Operationally, the company faced a major transition in 2008. In August, Virgin Comics confirmed the closure of its New York office and a restructuring around Los Angeles. The company stated that its published properties would remain under its control. On September 24, Virgin Comics announced that it had become Liquid Comics after a management buyout. The rebranding removed the Virgin name while preserving the business's international and cross-media orientation. Under the Liquid Comics name, the company announced a television-development agreement with FremantleMedia Enterprises. Early projects included First Family and Ani-Max. A separate high-profile project, Fated, was associated with Gotham Chopra and Michael Jackson and was announced for publication through Villard. These announcements demonstrated Liquid's continued interest in connecting comics with mainstream publishing and screen entertainment. In 2013, the company began refocusing on Graphic India, a digital comics and animation startup operated by Sharad Devarajan. Available reference material does not establish a clear current corporate structure, active publishing schedule or definitive closure date for Liquid Comics. Consequently, the brand's present status is best treated as unknown rather than confidently classified as active or defunct. Its historical contribution lies in its attempt to internationalize Indian-inspired comics, combine local creative production with global media partnerships, and use recognizable directors and creators to develop properties across multiple entertainment formats.
- 2013
Strategic focus shifted toward Graphic India
[1]Liquid Comics began refocusing its activities on Graphic India and its digital comics and animation model.
- 2008
New York office closed and operations moved to Los Angeles
[1]The company announced a restructuring that closed its New York office and relocated the comics operation to Los Angeles.
- 2008
Virgin Comics renamed Liquid Comics
[1]A management buyout was followed by the adoption of the Liquid Comics name.
- 2008
Television partnership announced
[1]Liquid Comics and FremantleMedia Enterprises agreed to develop television projects based on Liquid properties.
- 2006
Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation formed
[1]The venture was established with participation from Virgin Group, Gotham Entertainment and the Chopra-Kapur creative partnership.
- 2006
Initial comic lines launched
[1]Virgin Comics introduced Shakti, Director's Cut and Maverick, later renamed Voices, as its principal publishing programs.
- 2004
Gotham Studios Asia concept announced
[1]Gotham Entertainment, Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur were associated with an earlier plan to develop India-focused comics and entertainment properties.
Products and positioning
A cross-media comics and entertainment publisher using Indian cultural sources, international creators and film-oriented development to create globally accessible stories.
Comic-book line · 2006
Shakti
Shakti was Liquid Comics' mythology- and culture-oriented publishing line, originally developed under Virgin Comics. It drew on Indian mythology, classical stories, history and visual traditions, but presented those sources through contemporary fantasy, superhero and adventure formats. Devi and The Sadhu were among its early and most recognizable titles.
Creator-led comic-book line · 2006
Director's Cut
Director's Cut was designed to let prominent filmmakers develop comic projects without the production limitations of a live-action film. The line included work associated with Shekhar Kapur, John Woo and Guy Ritchie. Its projects were positioned as both complete comics and potential sources of ideas for later screen development.
Comic-book line · 2006
Voices
Voices, initially called Maverick, emphasized emerging creators and collaborations with people from music and entertainment. Its first release was Dave Stewart's Walk In, which used elements of Stewart's early performance experiences and was adapted and expanded into comic form by writer Jeff Parker.
Comic-book series · 2006
Devi
Devi reworked Indian religious and mythological ideas into a modern superhero-fantasy narrative. The central character becomes a warrior associated with divine forces responding to the deterioration of the fictional city of Sitapur. The series exemplified Virgin Comics' goal of combining Indian cultural material with internationally familiar genre storytelling.
Comic-book series · 2006
The Sadhu
The Sadhu was written by Gotham Chopra and centered on a former sadhu, or mystic, whose story is driven by revenge. It used an Indian spiritual and cultural setting while adopting the pacing and dramatic structure of an action-oriented graphic narrative.
Comic-book miniseries · 2006
John Woo's Seven Brothers
Seven Brothers originated with a Chinese folklore concept associated with John Woo and was developed into a modern global adventure by writer Garth Ennis. The project was promoted as a strongly cinematic comic, with covers by Yoshitaka Amano and additional variant artwork by Greg Horn.
Comic-book series · 2006
Snake Woman
Snake Woman was associated with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and artist Zeb Wells. Its premise followed Jessica Peterson, a young Los Angeles woman whose ordinary identities as student and waitress collide with a violent and extraordinary transformation.
Comic-book series
Gamekeeper
Gamekeeper was developed with Guy Ritchie as part of the Director's Cut strategy. The property was reported to have been optioned by Warner Bros. for possible motion-picture development, illustrating Liquid's effort to use comics as a route to broader screen franchises.
Comic-book miniseries
Dan Dare
Virgin Comics produced a Dan Dare miniseries written by Garth Ennis. The project extended the company's catalog beyond Indian-inspired material and into an established British science-fiction character.
Brand decisions
2013
Refocus activities on Graphic IndiaStrategyBackground
The company faced a changing digital-media environment and was connected to Sharad Devarajan's new comics and animation venture.
Action taken
Liquid Comics began redirecting its focus toward Graphic India.
Aftermath
Public reference material provides insufficient detail to determine whether Liquid Comics continued as a distinct active publishing company.
2008
Restructure and relocate the comics operationStrategyBackground
Virgin Comics announced the closure of its New York office and a move to Los Angeles as part of a broader restructuring.
Action taken
The company consolidated its operations around Los Angeles and stated that it would continue to control rights to properties it had published.
Aftermath
The restructuring preceded the company's rebranding as Liquid Comics later in 2008.
2008
Adopt the Liquid Comics identity after a management buyoutM&ABackground
The management buyout created a need to operate independently from the Virgin Comics brand.
Action taken
Virgin Comics changed its name to Liquid Comics.
Aftermath
The company continued pursuing comics, television development and cross-media licensing under the new identity.
Recent events
- 2013
Liquid Comics refocuses on Graphic India[1]
Other
The company began shifting its focus toward Graphic India, a digital comics and animation startup led by Sharad Devarajan.
- 2008
Virgin Comics announces restructuring and Los Angeles relocation[1]
Other
The company confirmed that its New York office had closed and that the business was restructuring and relocating its operations to Los Angeles.
- 2008
Virgin Comics is renamed Liquid Comics after management buyout[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The publisher announced a new name following a management buyout, ending its use of the Virgin Comics identity.
- 2008
Liquid Comics enters television development agreement with FremantleMedia Enterprises[1]
Other
Liquid Comics and FremantleMedia Enterprises announced a partnership to develop television projects, including First Family and Ani-Max.
Sources1 sources
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