My roots may be genetic, but we must seek step by step. Let's ask where the King's house is, before asking where the King might be. Environment first.
Before I became a fantasy and mystery-thriller writer, I wrote poetry; before poetry, I wrote military and warfare stories. And before even THAT I wrote... strangely... Super Hero stories (i.e. before I discovered who "real heroes" actually are). My roots seem to have taken foundation in the land of dreams, where the world was a playground to me. I curiously dabbled in things unknown to me, and even the strangest and dumbest things seemed "fun". I began drawing and coloring, just as any child (and often even in the middle of class lectures, which got me severe scoldings and beatings), and
regularly tuned into "PappyLand" so the old fella would teach how to draw outta doodles (and
then there was "Beakman's World" that got me interested in intense Science, but that's another story). The books that I tapped into were those of Noddy, Oswald, and such, even Hiedi (and I constantly dreamed about going to the Alps one day). Old Cartoons at Cartoon Network, like Flintstones, were entertaining, but it wasn't until the launch of "Power Zone" that I truly felt at home -- the two hours "zone" featured special action series, such as
Centurions*, G.I.Joe (which arrived late),
Swat Kats**, and Ninja Robots***. I became upset when Power Zone was gone, so I went back to my comic books and video games. (It was at one point I saw on my friend's pencil case an artwork of DragonBall Z, with Goku and Vegeta fighting; I never heard the name before, but I instantly knew I wanted to see that show badly, just because Vegeta looked like a ninja who could ride giant robots.)
I remember that, as a child, I used to love comic books very much and went hungry for lunch / breakfast hours just to save up enough money to buy "Gotham comics" from a hawker selling books at the pavement nearby. He did not necessarily have every kind of comic in publication, nor was I old enough to know where else to buy or venture far on my own, so I simply satisfied myself with what I got (even now I have them collected and secured in my bookshelf). Gotham Comics consisted of many DC, Marvel and Cartoon Network comics that almost always amused me with every kind of entertainment that fiction could provide. (I also remember that my Godmother from Kolkatta donated her son's old "Amar Chitra Katha" comics, based on non-fiction literature, which piqued my interest in historical events. Again, another storyp)
But that drove my uncle and parents to the point of annoyance (not that my uncle was that bad, since he loved playing video games with us), especially since I was from a poorer class and father couldn't afford buying me toys, video games or comics (even at the age where "Sega" and "Super Famicom" ruled, it took a lot of great deal of effort for dad to afford buying me an NES console from bootlegged Chinese markets; that's the only video game console I ever had in my life). Since uncle has been through his life of hardships, having his own dreams crushed under the weight of responsibility, he told me to "stop buying those comic books, and read newspapers instead; newspapers are a 100 times cheaper, and it will help develop my reading comprehension, making me better educated."
But soon, AXN began showing more Anime, such as Grander Musashi****, Yamata Takeru*****, Fatal Fury, etc. until that too was gone. Then "Curious Play / Fushigi Yuugi" appeared -- an amalgam of Fantasy, Erotic Romance, and Action that would guy and girl scream in delight -- and eventually disappeared again. I remember trying to draw the characters, and realized how difficult these professional animations were made. But then, even better, Cartoon Network's Power Zone was back with another name, Toonami, featuring something that probably shocked me out of my life: DragonBall Z. I instantly recalled that artwork on my friend's pencil case, and was eager to watch the show, even if it meant late at nights (and dad hated me for it). As the shows aired, it was Conan (whom I envied for being rich, having a computer and knowing how to use it, and having plenty of toys) who eventually printed a "Super Saiyan Goku" picture for me that I could gawk at all day (I can't seem to find that picture on the net anymore). When I wasn't satisfied with just one, I decided to learn how to use a computer and annoyed Conan until he did. Since then, I constantly played DBZ flashgames, collected printable cards and pictures, which probably burned a hole in my father's pockets.
Knowing that he wouldn't be able to afford them anymore, I began "tracing" the prints onto papers. Simply the "want" of these pictures forced me analyze the way such art was constructed and redo them in different poses. When they turned horrible, I went back to my "Justice League of America" comic book and traced Superman instead (even now those analysis and practice reflect in my current drawings). Eventually, I began making "better" drawings and poses than I could before. But drawings weren't enough for me. I wanted MOAR STORIES, but could neither afford more comics nor did any channel show any interesting show. Eventualy, I was able to purchase a cheaper one, and noticed an ad for a contest: "Create your very own Superhero, and win a Robotic Dog!" It was then that I realized that my imagination was good enough to construct more interesting characters than what the DC roster consists of, and arrogantly I began creating my very first story. The aim was, "something better than Superman", and my newfound "art" powers could help me accomplish just that.
Despite my attempts at creating my very first story, my parents forbid me from submitting my art and fiction. I became disheartened when I noticed that, in the next issue, all the submissions from across India were so horrible in comparison that I COULD HAVE WON! That robotic dog was a fleeting dream, and I found myself in the verge of failure. But I did not exactly hate my ability to dream and create; far from it! I did know, however, that this newfound passion I had would bring more interesting phases in my life. (And it did!)
So what was that "more awesome than Superman" superhero that I ended up creating? It wasn't just "one", of course, but a whole roster that could have me build my very own Justice League / Avengers team! But I think I'll reveal that some other time.
(Hint: Unfortunately, it did not feature any character that could turn into, or ride, a FREAKING ARMORED BIKE!)
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* Interesting fact: Centurions affected me so much at childhood that often bought, with hard earned money, some G.I.Joe action figures and demanded the store-owner to give me "jet packs" for them, often even pleading dad to buy me vehicles for them too (he couldn't, since he hadn't the money, but Grandpa did buy me one... just before he passed away). I even used to go downstairs to play with my friends, wearing cardboard boxes around me, pretending to be Jake Rockwell who can turn into a FEAKING ARMORED BIKE! And people thought I was crazy (except Charles, who fashioned himself as the ninja "Storm Shadow" by wearing his mother's sash around his head).
** This used to be both mine and Hussain's favorite. For some reason, we both wished we were born as T-Bone and Razor, or at least had the weapons they did. This probably also influenced me to take up science, just so I can take garbage (like T-Bone and Razor did) and turn them into awesome weapons and utilities. Probably even a FREAKING ARMORED BIKE!
*** Being my very first "anime", this probably broke the "Crazy Meter", because I fantasized so much about being a Ninja and having a Robot that it never occured to me that Ninjas having Robots would probably make the universe explode in awesomeness. At the age of 7, after having conquered my dyslexia, I began to get the highest untouched grades in class that my teachers and peers thought I was a genius incarnate... until I told them that I go for top-secret Ninja training at China-Town, and being one of the last remaining Ninjas of my clan I needed to be THE BEST so I can save the universe from evil Robots, while I ride a FREAKING ARMORED BIKE!
**** Crazy overload, with kids battling each other with a fishing rod, on the quest to catch a Legendary Fishes with Legendary Lures that could make them Legendary Fishermen. And you know what? I loved it!
***** With Ninja Robots gone, only this anime could ever hope to console me.
