Here the comic “Kaan and Dr. Fat” published by Manoj Comics and written by Tarun Kumar. A detailed review of “Fat” is presented. This review will not only highlight aspects of the story but also its picturization (portraiture), characterization and the 90’s era of Indian comics.
Comic Review: Kaan and Dr. Fat (Manoj Comics), Publisher: Manoj Comics, Author: Tarun Kumar
Illustration: Naresh Kumar, main characters: Kaan, Dr. Fat, Neera, Jackie, Inspector Ravi Verma
Topics (Genre): Action, Thriller, Espionage, Crime
Golden age of Indian comics
Raj Comics was ruling the market with its superheroes (Nagaraj, Dhruv), while ‘Manoj Comics’ had created a distinct identity for itself. Manoj Comics stories were often based on espionage, social crimes and mysterious adventures. In this series, ‘Kaan’ (Kaan) was a superhero known for his martial arts, sharp intelligence and his unique style of fighting crime.
The comic we’re reviewing today is “Kaan and Dr. Fat”. This comic not only presents an exciting story but is also a great example of the art and writing style of that period. Kaan is shown picking up a heavy-handed man (Dr. Fat) on the cover page, which immediately attracts readers and lets them know that the combat is going to be between strength and technique.
Plot (Storyline)
The story begins with a very interesting and mysterious advertisement – “Slim Plus”. It’s a center that’s run by Dr. Fat. Dr. Fat claims he can make any fat person slim and fit in just 15 days. There is a lot of discussion about this center in the city. But there is a dark truth hidden behind this shiny advertisement. Dr. Fat’s real business is not to make people thin, but to smuggle their organs.
The main flow of the story begins when a young woman named ‘Neera’, possibly an associate of Kaan or a spy, goes there disguised to find out the truth about this center. She sees that Dr. Fat removes kidneys and other organs from patients in the name of an operation. In a very exciting scene, Neera finds a box containing a human kidney instead of water in the fridge. This scene is enough to send shivers through readers’ minds and establishes Dr. Fat’s cruelty.
Meanwhile, another parallel story takes place in the city. Inspector Ravi Verma, who is in the Crime Branch of Surya Nagar Police, is close to busting a big smuggling racket. They have some “tash ke patte” (playing cards) that reveal the address of a large treasure (diamonds). Ravi Verma is attacked and, taking his last breath, he hands over the cards to ‘Kaan’ and his companion ‘Jackie’.
From here the story gets divided into two parts which finally match. On one side Kaan uncovers Dr. Fat’s dark adventures and on the other hand he has to solve the clues given by Inspector Ravi Verma.
The mystery of the cards turns the story into a ‘Treasure Hunt’. Kaan and Jackie follow the clues to the zoo. Here’s a great action scene where they have to take a diamond out of a crocodile’s stomach. However, it is later revealed that it was not a real crocodile but a dummy, but still the thrill of the scene does not diminish.
The climax of the story comes when Kaan learns that Dr. Fat is the mastermind behind all these crimes. Kaan and Dr. Fat have a fierce fight. Dr. Fat demonstrates his physical strength, but Kaan defeats him with his martial arts and agility. Ultimately, Kaan brings the truth of “Slim Plus” to the world and Dr. Fat is handed over to the law.
Character analysis
1. Kaan (Kaan):
Kaan is a major hero of Manoj Comics. In this comic he is shown as a fearless and intelligent warrior. His costumes—jacket, visor on eyes (visor) or glasses and modern weapons—give him a stylish look. The story shows that Kaan is not only a fighter, but also a good spy. The way he solves the card clue shows his intelligence. A glimpse of Kaan’s childhood is also shown on page 16, where he is shown receiving respect from the Prime Minister, which gives depth to his character.
2. Dr. Fat (Dr. Fat):
The main villain of the story, Dr. Fat, is a classic comic book villain. He is fat and unsightly in appearance, but his mind is diabolical. His name ‘Dr. Fat’ is a satire on both his profession (slimming center) and his physical appearance. He is cruel and can go to any extent for money. The author has presented him as a person who commits heinous crimes (organ trafficking) under the guise of social service (reducing obesity). This character makes readers think that there can be black businesses behind white coats as well.
3. Neera:
Neera’s character is a good example of female empowerment in this comic. She’s not just a heroine screaming for help, but she spies in the face of danger. Her intrusion into the slimming center and her attempt to gather evidence show her bravery. Later, however, she is caught, allowing Kaan to save her, a common trope (trope) from comics of the time.
4. Jackie:
Jackie, Kaan’s companion, adds a touch of collaboration and action to the story. He fights side by side with Kaan. His role is important in the crocodile scene and in other battles. He is Kaan’s confidant and their friendship strengthens the story.
Illustration and art
The portraiture (artwork) by Naresh Kumar is in line with the 90’s style.
Action Scene: The fight scenes depict movement and effects (impact) perfectly. The fight scenes shown on pages 7 and 14 are very dynamic. Body anatomy (anatomy) has been worked well, especially Kaan’s muscles and Dr. Fat’s heavy body.
Color combination: Bright colors have been used in the comic, which is quite good for the printing technology of that time. Yellow, red, and green have been prominently used.
Paneling: The layout of the panels maintains the pace of the story. Pictures have been taken out by breaking panels at some places (such as cover pages and action scenes), which makes the scene more impressive.
Expression: The expressions are clearly engraved on the faces of the characters. Dr. Fat’s facial expressions of cruelty and Neera’s are very vivid.
Writing and Dialogue
Tarun Kumar’s writing is tight. The story doesn’t bore anywhere. The dialogues are filmy and dramatic according to the times, which readers liked.
Dramatisation: “Kaan! Who can’t just see crime… but can even bump into it!” Such dialogues enhance the hero’s charisma.
Mystery: The secret that the author has woven through playing cards is praiseworthy. Readers also start solving puzzles along with the characters.
Social Message: Even though it is a fiction, the author has raised serious issues like “organ trafficking” and “fake clinic”. This shows that Manoj Comics was not only a medium of entertainment but also a medium of social awareness.
Critical Analysis
Positive side:
Fast pace: The story moves very fast. Not even for a moment does it feel like the story is dragging.
Suspense: Inspector Ravi Verma’s death and the mystery of the cards keep readers engaged till the end.
Balance: The story has a good balance of action, drama and suspense.
Villain: Dr. Fat is a memorable villain. His personality and the way he commits crimes make him scary.
Weak side:
Lack of logic: In some places cinematic liberty (cinematic liberty) has been taken in the story. For example, getting into the crocodile enclosure at the zoo so easily and having a dummy crocodile there seems a little incredible.
Predictive endings: As soon as Dr. Fat is introduced, readers can guess that he will lose in the end. The climax could have been a little more shocking.
Role of Neera: Although Neera had a strong debut, she was ultimately reduced to being a “saved character” (damsel in distress). She could have been shown to be more active in the climax fight.
Conclusion
“Kaan and Dr. Fat” is an excellent rendition of Manoj Comics. This is a great gift for those readers who are fond of old Hindi comics. This comic reminds us of a period when stories were straightforward and simple, but without any lack of adventure.
The character of Kaan represents an ideal Indian superhero—who is powerful, intelligent and follows the path of morality. Dr. Fat, a unique villain, makes the story interesting.
There is espionage, fighting and also a social message. If you want to understand the history of Indian comics or just enjoy a good old action story, “Kaan and Dr. Fat” is definitely worth reading. Its artwork, story structure and character development give it the status of a ‘classic’.
Finally, it can be said that Manoj Comics had given readers a hero through ‘Kaan’ who was not only physically strong, but who also had an equally sharp mind. It was stories like “Dr. Fat” that promoted the habit of reading comics among Indian youth and memorialized the childhood of an entire generation.
