Created by Iman Vellani
(2002–)
It’s 1979, and Hollywood-obsessed Leila, a 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian college student, is a long way from home. She’s in Tinsel Town, hoping to hook up with with her estranged uncle — her “Chachu,” the brother of her late father.
I have no idea what his real name is — Leila simply calls him “CHACHU,” which is Pakistani for “uncle.” He’s a middle-aged PI, although more or less out of the Shamus Game, pulling a Nick Charles after marrying up. In his case, it’s to Cleo Chandler, a hot shot movie star whom he met when he was initially hired to find.
Now they’re happily (theoretically) married and living in Hollywood splendor, with Chachu taking an occasional case when he’s not fixing up their new mansion.
But when Cleo goes missing, it’s not quite clear if she’s run away — or something worse. Niece and uncle head to Vegas in Leila’s sporty little convertible to track her down. They’re an uneasy match, with Leila trying to learn why her uncle has been cut loose from her close-knit family back in Toronto and hoping top learn more about the father she never knew. Meanwhile Chachu is suspicious of the precocious but fiercely independent niece that he never even knew existed.
Things aren’t helped along by threats by Cleo’s hotheaded father, who also serves as her agent, but acts more like a crimelord. He tells Chachu he wants Cleo back for the opening night premiere of her latest film in three days.
Or else.
The odd couple bond over their shared love of chain-smoking, and their desire to seek out the truth, whatever it might be.
It’s an appealingly fresh spin on an old tale, written stylishly told with verve and pluck by Iman Vellani, helped along considerably by imaginative and clever layouts by artist Marianna Ignazzi and bold colour choices by Jordie Bellaire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Iman Vellani is a Canadian actress and comic writer. She starred as Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (yawn), and has co-written two Ms. Marvel limited series, but Chachu is her first non-Marvel comic, and it’s awesome.
COMICS
- CHACHU |Kindle it!
(2026, Image Comics)
5 issues
Written by Iman Vellani
Art by Marianna Ignazzi
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- City of Angels, City of Dicks
Los Angeles Eyes
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
