The inspiration behind Uncle Subbu Comics came from the real-life dynamic between the creator and his daughter. He shared, “Well, it started as a fun thing between my daughter and me. We have these everyday chats and funny moments, and one day, she said, ‘Appa, we should make a comic about this!’ She drew the first one, and we thought, why not share it? Uncle Subbu is basically a mix of me, my old stories, and all our little arguments. We didn’t expect anyone outside the family to like it, but people did!”
Deciding which real-life moments to turn into comics is a natural process for the duo, focusing on their own day-to-day interactions. “Honestly, we just use whatever happens at home! Like when I can’t figure out something on my phone or when she’s teaching me about something new. If it makes us laugh, my daughter sketches it out. It’s all the everyday stuff—small arguments, misunderstandings, and those funny moments we all have in families.”
Balancing humor with deeper emotions in their comics is key to resonating with their audience, especially when depicting family dynamics that can be both challenging and heartwarming. Here's what Uncle Subbu shared with Bored Panda, “Family is like that, right? We fight, we laugh, we make up. We don’t plan too much; we just show things as they are. My daughter says the funny moments are everywhere if we look for them, even in the arguments. So, we try to show both the laughter and the love. It’s just about being honest with what happens between us.”
The response from their growing audience has been overwhelmingly positive, influencing the themes and direction of the comics. Reflecting on the journey so far, he said, “We are so surprised and happy! My daughter reads me the comments, and it’s amazing how many people say it reminds them of their own families. It makes us feel like we’re all part of one big family. It’s nice to see that people enjoy our little moments, and it pushes us to keep going. Sometimes, people even suggest ideas, and we love that!”
Some of the most memorable reactions from their audience highlight the deep connection people feel with the father-daughter dynamic portrayed in the comics. “Oh, there are so many! One girl said our comics reminded her to spend more time with her dad, and that really touched us. Another dad said he started drawing with his daughter because of our comics. My daughter loves reading those messages, and I feel proud too. It’s all about making people smile and maybe seeing a bit of their own story in ours.”
