ABIDA Brings A Fresh ‘Sufi-Punk’ Vision To Pakistani Comics
Pakistani creative studio Puffball Comics has introduced ABIDA, a graphic novel that imagines a distant future in Multan, where advanced technology and religious traditions exist side by side. But despite the futuristic setting, society remains deeply influenced by fanaticism and rigid beliefs.
Created by a team led by Arafat Mazhar, the project explores this imagined world through an aesthetic described as sufi-punk. It combines South Asian and Islamic cultural influences with speculative fiction, offering a setting that feels distinctly Pakistani rather than borrowing entirely from familiar Western science-fiction worlds.
At the centre of ABIDA is a society that worships a mysterious entity known as Al-Mutahir, believed to communicate through digital prophecies. These files are stored inside people called recordkeepers, whose bodies have been modified to carry information, making them revered figures within this system.
The protagonist and her companions set out to steal one of these files, leading to a carefully constructed heist sequence. The mission introduces readers to the technology, rules and power structures governing this world, while setting the stage for Abida's larger journey.
Beyond its storyline, ABIDA stands out for presenting a version of the future shaped by local architecture, spirituality, language and cultural memory. Its approach offers an alternative to the usual science-fiction settings and shows how Pakistani influences can become the foundation for imaginative new worlds.
The graphic novel is written by Arafat Mazhar, illustrated by Arsalan Rafique, coloured by Samra Shireen and lettered by Breeha Tarar. It also marks Puffball Studios' move into comics, following earlier short films including Sheher-e-Tabassum and Swipe.
Pakistani creative studio Puffball Comics has introduced ABIDA, a graphic novel that imagines a distant future in Multan, where advanced technology and religious traditions exist side by side.
Pakistani creative studio Puffball Comics has introduced ABIDA, a graphic novel that imagines a distant future in Multan, where advanced technology and religious traditions exist side by side. But despite the futuristic setting, society remains deeply influenced by fanaticism and rigid beliefs.
Created by a team led by Arafat Mazhar, the project explores this imagined world through an aesthetic described as sufi-punk. It combines South Asian and Islamic cultural influences with speculative fiction, offering a setting that feels distinctly Pakistani rather than borrowing entirely from familiar Western science-fiction worlds.
At the centre of ABIDA is a society that worships a mysterious entity known as Al-Mutahir, believed to communicate through digital prophecies. These files are stored inside people called recordkeepers, whose bodies have been modified to carry information, making them revered figures within this system.
The protagonist and her companions set out to steal one of these files, leading to a carefully constructed heist sequence. The mission introduces readers to the technology, rules and power structures governing this world, while setting the stage for Abida's larger journey.
Beyond its storyline, ABIDA stands out for presenting a version of the future shaped by local architecture, spirituality, language and cultural memory. Its approach offers an alternative to the usual science-fiction settings and shows how Pakistani influences can become the foundation for imaginative new worlds.
The graphic novel is written by Arafat Mazhar, illustrated by Arsalan Rafique, coloured by Samra Shireen and lettered by Breeha Tarar. It also marks Puffball Studios' move into comics, following earlier short films including Sheher-e-Tabassum and Swipe.
