Collateral by DOCMIX: A Dark Psychological Thriller That Asks Who Owns the Joke?
When comedy echoes real-life murders, the line between performance and reality begins to blur.
What happens when a comedian’s jokes begin to echo real murders? What if a playwright’s imagination becomes a maze of delusions, while a detective struggles to separate trauma from truth?
These unsettling questions lie at the heart of Collateral, a psychological thriller comic published by DOCMIX, an initiative of Doctor Comics LLP. Created by Dr. Siddhartha Bose, with artwork by A Zom and P Gosh, Collateral explores the darker intersections of comedy, crime, media and human psychology.
Available in both colour and black-and-white Noir editions, this graphic narrative invites readers to look beyond the punchlines and question the stories we consume, the suffering we turn into entertainment, and the thin line separating fiction from reality.
For readers who enjoy dark psychological narratives and unconventional Indian comics, Collateral is a title worth exploring.
Collateral: Three Characters, One Disturbing Mystery
At the centre of Collateral are three characters whose lives bring different dimensions of the story into focus.
Kaya: The comedian whose jokes hit too close to home
Kaya is a stand-up comedian whose jokes eerily echo real murders. Comedy is supposed to entertain, provoke thought, and sometimes make audiences uncomfortable. But what happens when the material begins to resemble actual crimes?
Kaya’s premise raises an intriguing question about the responsibility of performers when real suffering becomes part of their act. Is a joke merely a joke, or can it take on a darker meaning when it mirrors real-world tragedy?
Parag: The playwright chasing shadows
Parag is a delusional playwright caught in a world of shadows and uncertainty. His character introduces another layer of psychological complexity, challenging the boundaries between imagination, perception, and reality.
For a story built around performance and storytelling, a playwright struggling with his own perception of the world is a particularly compelling element.
Daiwik: The detective caught between trauma and truth
Daiwik, the detective, must navigate a maze of trauma and truth. His presence brings the investigation into focus while reinforcing one of the narrative’s central tensions: how do we uncover the truth when perception, performance, and psychological distress complicate the picture?
Together, these three characters establish the foundation for a story that promises more than a conventional crime mystery.
A Non-Linear Narrative in the Age of Media Spectacle
One of the defining aspects of Collateral is its non-linear narrative.
Rather than relying solely on a straightforward progression of events, a non-linear approach can challenge readers to reconsider what they have seen, how different incidents connect and whether their understanding of the characters is complete.
This structure also complements the comic’s larger themes. In a media driven world, stories are frequently presented in fragments, amplified for attention, and consumed without the full context. The distinction between an event and its representation can become increasingly difficult to recognise.
Collateral brings these ideas into a psychological thriller framework, exploring how trauma can be commodified and how the act of telling a story can influence the way an audience understands reality.
The result is a premise that encourages readers to engage with the narrative beyond the immediate mystery.
Who Owns the Joke?
The question associated with Collateral — #WhoOwnsTheJoke which captures its central thematic tension.
Comedy often draws from uncomfortable realities. Crime stories, meanwhile, transform real or imagined suffering into narratives designed to engage an audience. Both forms of entertainment raise questions about perspective, responsibility, and the distance between the people experiencing an event and those consuming its story.
When a comedian’s material resembles real murders, those questions become even more unsettling.
Does the performer own the joke? Does its meaning change because of the circumstances surrounding it? And what happens when the audience can no longer separate the performance from the events it appears to reference?
These questions give Collateral a contemporary point of entry. In an era dominated by viral clips, sensational headlines, and the rapid circulation of information, the relationship between tragedy and entertainment deserves scrutiny.
Rather than treating comedy as merely a source of humour, the comic’s premise uses it as a lens through which to examine uncomfortable questions about representation and the consumption of trauma.
The Creative Team Behind Collateral
Collateral is created by Dr. Siddhartha Bose, with artwork by A Zom and P Gosh.
The project also has an interesting creative footnote: a rejected cover for the comic was drawn by Siddhartha Bose’s son, Shourjyesh Bose. This offers an additional glimpse into the creative process behind the publication.
For readers who follow independent Indian comics, the people behind a book can be as interesting as the story itself. Creator-led projects bring together different storytelling approaches, artistic interpretations, and ideas that may not always fit within the conventions of mainstream superhero comics.
Published under DOCMIX, a Doctor Comics LLP initiative, Collateral is another title to watch for readers interested in exploring the diversity of Indian graphic storytelling.
Collateral Colour vs Collateral Noir: Which Edition Should You Buy?
Collateral is available in two editions: a full-colour version and a black-and-white Noir edition.
The choice depends on your preference as a reader. If you enjoy colour artwork in your graphic novels, the colour edition is the natural option to consider. If you prefer monochrome artwork and the visual language associated with Noir storytelling, the black-and-white edition may appeal to you.
Both editions offer readers a way to explore the same intriguing psychological thriller premise.
Collateral Colour Edition
- Listed price: ₹339
- MRP: ₹399
- Discount: 15%
- Buy Here
Collateral Black-and-White Noir Edition
- Offer price: ₹254
- MRP: ₹299
- Discount: Approximately 15% off the MRP
Collateral Combo
Can’t decide between the two? A combo option is also listed for readers who want both editions.
- Combined MRP: ₹698
- Listed offer price: ₹524
- Buy Here
Additional offer: Use coupon code SUPERSQUAD for an additional discount. Free shipping is available on orders above ₹400, according to the seller’s offer details. Check the current checkout terms and final price before placing your order.
The editions and combo are listed by Comics Deals For U. Prices and promotions may change, so readers should confirm availability at the time of purchase.
Watch the Official Promotional Video
Want to explore Collateral before deciding whether to buy it? Check out the promotional video shared for the comic.
Watch here:
The video provides another way to discover the title and get a closer look at its promotional presentation.
Comics Byte’s Quick Review of Collateral
If you prefer a quick take before committing to a full read, check out the Comics Byte quick review of Collateral as well.
Our coverage of Indian comics aims to bring readers closer to titles, creators, and publishing initiatives that deserve a place in the wider pop-culture conversation. Independent comics offer an opportunity to explore stories and perspectives beyond the familiar superhero universes, and psychological thrillers such as Collateral add another dimension to that landscape.
Comics Byte Take: A Psychological Thriller Worth Exploring
Collateral brings together an intriguing combination of stand-up comedy, psychological instability, crime investigation, and the commodification of trauma.
Its premise raises questions that extend beyond the pages of a comic book: how much responsibility do storytellers have for the material they present, what happens when entertainment mirrors real suffering, and can we always trust the boundary between performance and reality?
With a non-linear narrative, three central characters caught in different forms of uncertainty, and two visual editions to choose from, Collateral offers an interesting proposition for readers seeking something darker and more psychologically driven than a conventional superhero adventure.
If Indian indie comics, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and unconventional graphic narratives interest you, consider adding Collateral to your reading list.
And as you explore its world, keep its defining question in mind:
Who owns the joke when reality becomes the punchline?
Cheers – Comics Byte!!
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