Grafity’s Wall: Expanded Edition
Written by Ram V
Art by Anand RK and Jason Wordie
Lettering by Aditya Bidikar
Published by Dark Horse Comics
‘Rama Rating: 9 out of 10
If Guy Ritchie and Richard Linklater had a baby and raised it in Mumbai, it would grow up to become Grafity’s Wall, a tour de force graphic novel from These Savage Shores writer Ram V and breakout artist Anand RK that is getting a much-deserved new edition from Dark Horse. Following four down-on-their-luck teenagers growing up amidst the hustle and crime of their bustling city, Grafity’s Wall is a small-scale story that still reads larger-than-life, thanks to the incredible synergy of RK, colorist Jason Wordie and letterer Aditya Bidikar. There’s nothing else like this book on the stands, as Grafity’s Wall succeeds not just as a narrative, but as a sumptuous visual experience.
In a city of more than 12 million people, everyone has a story — and more importantly, everyone is searching for meaning. And that’s where Ram V’s characters really soars with his five short stories. From titular street artist Grafity, who longs to leave his mark on Mumbai, even as his father tells him having dreams are too pain, to more poignant stories like drug courier Jay or would-be actress Saira, you can’t help but feel a tug on your heartstrings. It’s a struggle that every artist has had to undertake — pushing past doubt and circumstance to grab a hold of your ambitions — but V is able to explore so many different storytelling angles.
Of course, while V shows the same sort of structural chops that he displayed in the critically acclaimed These Savage Shores, it helps that he has an impeccable eye for artistic collaborators. Ananda RK’s artwork here is breathtaking, and colorist Jason Wordie’s palettes of oranges, pinks, teals and yellows is absolutely pitch-perfect. The artwork is sketchy and cartoony, almost like a late-stage Damion Scott with a dab of Brandon Graham — but unlike the superhero and sci-fi pedigrees of those artists, RK is content with the small moments, the moments where his characters stand and breathe. It’s the kind of poetry that elevates even Ram V’s prodigious scripting, with the almost Darrow-esque levels of detail he uses to render Mumbai.
That said, not all of these stories are created equal — V and RK peak early with Grafity’s story, and for those who aren’t expecting the vignette structure, you might feel a pang of disappointment to not continue his narrative further. While their sophomore chapter featuring Jay trying to escape a life of crime adds a sense of tension to the book, the third story featuring Chasma feels perhaps the most esoteric, or even self-indulgent, of the mix. Indeed, in many ways, the third and fourth stories feel a little less independent than the first half of the book, as the two narratives rely on one another to really pay off. Granted, that adheres to the small-scale storytelling that V has committed to, but as thrilling as it is to experience these narratives, the ending comes across as a bit abrupt.
But focusing on the narrative of a book like Grafity’s Wall is honestly an exercise in missing the point. As much as I like Ram V, and as talented as he is, this is not a book you read for the writing — RK and company’s artwork is so electrifying that you wouldn’t need a narrative behind it to love it. The fact that there is such a poetic and thoughtful throughline to this book is just icing on the cake — if the worst thing I can say about Grafity’s Wall is you’ll be disappointed that it ended, it stands in great company. If you want to see an early work from a team of virtuosos, definitely don’t miss out on this book.