In India, Batman, Archie and Tintin rule the shelves

The Times of India glances at the shelves at book stores and libraries, and discovers the country's traditional comics are being replaced by the likes of Batman, Spider-Man, Archie and Tintin:

While the old may still have retained their place on the book shelves, modern day comics like Spidermans' and Batmans' are gaining over, says Pravina Deshmukh, a homemaker.

"While parents have a preference for the comics that they read as children, today's kids prefer comics with more action and adventure," she adds.

Her son Aditya often accompanies her to the bookstore and inevitably fetches a copy of X-men for his weekly leisure reading.

One bookseller told the newspaper that although international comics are more expensive, young readers are undeterred: "For those who love books and those who can afford, price doesn't matter. Many parents spend loads on their kid's favourite book."