NPR’s Fresh Air interviews Sharad Devarajan, CEO of Gotham Entertainment Group, in Spider-Man, Swinging Through India. Their first publication is Spider-Man India, featuring Pavitr Prabhakar (Peter Parker).
Unlike his American counterpart, Pavitr isn’t unpopular because he’s a good student — working hard is hardly unpopular in India. Instead, he’s a traditional village boy with traditional values, not up on the latest trends in Mumbai (Bombay).
Also, his powers aren’t a result of science; they’re bestowed upon him by a mystic yogi. The villains have mystical origins too. The Green Goblin is a reincarnated rakshasa (demon), and Doc Ock doesn’t have mechanical arms; he’s a typical multi-armed Indian mythological character.