Step aside Batman, Hanuman is here!

Move over Batman and Superman, Indian animators are now bringing out graphic novels based on India's mythological characters.

Spiderman and Batman are in for stiff competition from Indian mythological characters, whose supernatural powers are drawing attention of American and European kids, long used to the antics of the western superheros.

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Creating a new wave of global comic entertainment, Indian animators are bringing out books and graphic novels based on mythological characters, especially for western readers.

"World over people are now worshipping these new Gods - Devi, Shakti, Hanuman, Akaash, Dharti...," said noted filmaker Shekhar Kapur, adding India's 600 million teenagers are now at the forefront of the creation of these new Gods.

"The art of two-hour captive, non interactive product called the movie is history. Comic book characters - traditional and digital - are the new cult, the new religion," said Kapur, noting the Indian comic characters are derived directly from the vast ocean of mythology.

"While we launched with our comics in the US market our belief is that youth across the world are similar and hence our content is designed to cater to the homogeneity of this youth audience. The comics are going to be distributed across the globe - North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia," Suresh Seetharaman, of Virgin Animation, India Operations, said.