The 90’s were a truly golden time for Indian comics. At the same time, Raj Comics gave us many such heroes who still live in the hearts of people. But among them all, a hero was the most different, the most dangerous, and probably the most real – Doga. Doga was not a shining superhero, he was an anti-hero. For criminals, that was not a law, but a decree of direct death. He was the father of Mumbai, whose name made goons tremble.
The comics we are talking about today is “Doga Haran” (issue number 2235). This is not just another Doga comic, but it challenges the concept of Doga’s “terror” in a new way. The team of writer Tarun Kumar Wahi, concept by Vivek Mohan, and pictorials by Manu Rang and Sunil Pandey has created a story that becomes a memorable experience for Doga fans.
A strange contradiction arises when you hear the name of the comics “Doga Haran”. ‘Haran’ means kidnapping – the same crime that broke Doga’s life in childhood. – “Doga’s childhood was kidnapped as it says on the front page. His youth was recovered in ransom.” So the question arises – what if criminals go out to kidnap the same terror that makes them sleepless? This is the real root of this story.
Plot and story: the new ‘safe’ business of crime and the shadow of Doga
The story begins with a new idea of crime. Professional criminals are now beginning to consider “kidnapping” as an easy and safe business. Why? Because there is less risk and more money in it. The story takes us to Bihar, where a bully named ‘Bihari Bhai’ is a big player in the kidnapping business. He has power – meaning blessings of police and leaders. He explains to his henchmen how ‘safe’ this business is.
Then he gets a call from his friend ‘Munna Bhai’ sitting in Mumbai. Munna Bhai’s frustration is understood by his voice. He says, “Hey, look brother. Dogwa has played dugdugiya in Mumbai.” Doga has ruined his business of “Matka Pani”, so like Bihar, he is also starting a safe business of ‘kidnapping’ in Mumbai. He has picked up a millionaire’s ‘bachwa’ (son).
From here the story turns towards Mumbai. We see a grieving father named Vishal, whose son Monu has been kidnapped. The kidnappers demand ransom and threaten not to inform the police. Vishal knows that the real hope in this darkness is not the police, but Doga.
Unique way to meet Doga
A great twist to the story is how Vishal reaches Doga. He knows that it is almost impossible to find Doga himself. That’s why he finds a strange but intelligent way. He makes himself look like a criminal – with a cloth tied to his face, runs on the streets as if he has committed an incident. He is confident that Doga will definitely notice him.
And that’s what happens. Doga catches him, mistaking him for a criminal. Then Vishal tells his entire story. This whole scene shows Doga’s presence and his vigilance – he can be anywhere, and the smell of crime pulls him. Seeing Vishal’s helplessness and his pain, Doga agrees to help.
The Rescue: ‘Fighter’’s nose wonders and Doga’s havoc
Doga takes the baby’s handkerchief from Vishal and lets his dog ‘Fighter’ (member of Doga’s dog-squad) smell it. Fighter takes them to an old ‘Mumbai Hide’ (leather) warehouse with the help of the smell. Doga already tells that the cloth has a mixed smell of leather and chemicals.
The action scene inside the warehouse is completely in Doga style. No long conversation, no warning. Just swift, merciless and direct justice. Doga pounces on the gang like lightning and kills them within moments. He takes the child Monu out safely.
Real twist of the story: ‘Doga’ hijacked itself
So far the story seems like a common ‘rescue’, but the real bang is yet to come. Seeing his business collapsing in Mumbai, Munna Bhai again calls Bihari Bhai. This time Bihari Bhai is filled with anger. He says that now he himself will come to Mumbai. And his plan?
He declares, “No person, no ‘thing’! Just ‘Doga’ name ‘panic’! Kidnapping we just ask for a little ransom.”
This is the coolest twist in this comics. The villain’s plan is not to kill the hero, but to ‘kidnap’ him. He wants to break the terror of Doga and prove that the real father of this city is someone else – and he is not Doga.
Hijacking Suraj: Doga’s biggest ‘weakness’
Bihari Bhai comes to Mumbai. But what will be the way to catch Doga? This is where the story uses Doga’s alter-ego ‘Suraj’. We see Suraj ‘Lion’ in the gym – a simple, helpful guy, who no one knows is actually Doga. He meets Ginger Chacha (who is Alfred-like to Doga), and has a light fling with Sonia (Andarek’s niece).
Bihari Bhai’s men consider Suraj as Doga’s weakness and lay a trap for him. They create a drama of an accident and entangle Vishal (the same father) and Suraj in this mess. In this chaos they ‘kidnap’ Suraj.
They think they have captured Doga, or at least the human closest to him. But they don’t know that they have put matchsticks in the powder keg.
Climax: When the ‘Doga’ inside Suraj explodes
Suraj is kept tied at some unknown place. On the other hand, Vishal himself reaches the base to save his friend Suraj, but he is also caught. Bihari Bhai’s goons beat Vishal badly, thinking that Suraj will break down in fear.
They tease Suraj, make fun of him, and beat his friend in front of him. But Suraj cannot bear all this.
The moment when Suraj breaks his ropes is one of the most powerful moments in Doga comics. There is no more innocence on his face, but Doga’s boiling anger.
He says to the goons, “Doga address—where… ‘death’!”
What happens after this is a direct disaster. Even without wearing Doga’s attire, Suraj falls on those goons as if the real Doga has appeared. He kills them one by one so brutally that they panic. They thought they had kidnapped “Suraj”, but in reality they had freed “Doga”.
Result: A message that will reach Bihar
In the last round of the fight, Suraj (who is now fully awakened as Doga) captures Bihari Bhai’s special henchman, who is talking to Bihari Bhai on the phone at the same time. Doga takes the phone in his hand, but does not say anything. He gives the henchman a clear and strong message:
“Tell Bihari Bhai… return back to Bihar… and if he ever heads to Mumbai again… then Doga himself will come to Bihar and take away his entire business.”
The comics end with Suraj’s strong, calm and winning face. The plan of ‘Doga Haran’ had failed miserably.
Characterization: Two faces, one true identity
Doga/Suraj: The difference and conflict between Suraj and Doga is shown in the best way in this comics. It tells that ‘Doga’ is not just a mask or dress; it is the face of the fire of hatred and pain that has been burning inside Suraj for years. The biggest mistake of the criminals was that they mistook Suraj for a common boy. They made the mistake of waking up the animal hidden inside him.
Bihari Bhai: A clever, organized and mind-playing villain. He doesn’t think like common goons. His plan (kidnapping Doga) itself makes him different and more dangerous than other villains. He is intoxicated with power and feels that anything can be achieved with strength.
Vishal: He is a symbol of hope and trust of the common man. His faith in Doga, and later his life-saving loyalty to his friend Suraj, make him an essential character in the story.
Art and portraiture: photographs that speak for themselves
The artwork of Manu Rang and Sunil Pandey captures the dark and gritty mood of the story very well. The action scenes are extremely spectacular and dynamic. Be it Doga’s anger, Bihari Bhai’s pride or Suraj’s innocence, every expression is clearly visible on the face.
The biggest miracle is that the artist has shown Doga’s anger not only in his costume but also on Suraj’s face. Especially in the climax, when Suraj fights, his body language and eyes clearly tell—it is no longer Suraj, it is Doga.
Writing and dialogue: small, stinging and memorable
Tarun Kumar Wahi’s writing is the backbone of this comics. The pace of the story is absolutely right. It starts with a simple kidnapping and gradually reaches a bigger and more dangerous plan.
The dialogues are short but powerful. Bihari Bhai’s Bihari style in his dialogues (“hamra,” “sala,” “bachwa”) gives a fun taste to the story. And Doga? He speaks little, but when he does, fear and anger drip into every word. “Doga address—where… is death!” — This line is still fans’ favorite.
Why is ‘Doga Haran’ a classic?
“Doga Haran” is not just an action comics. It is a deep psychological story that brings out Doga’s weaknesses, his fears, and his true strengths. It tells that Doga is not just a human being, but an ‘idea’, a fear that criminals may catch, but cannot control.
Criminals could kidnap Suraj (human being), but cannot imprison Doga (terror). On the contrary, by imprisoning him they further inflamed his anger.
The comics brilliantly show the depth of Doga’s character, the ordeal of his double life, and the fear he harbors in the minds of criminals. This reminds us of that era of Raj Comics when stories contained not only fights but also hearts and minds. If you are a Doga fan or want to read a great crime-thriller, “Doga Haran” is a ‘must read’ for you.
