“Hunters” is one of those stories of Super Commando Dhruv which is not limited to just fighting or saving the world. This story touches Dhruv’s personal life, his family and his old wounds. Anupam Sinha, known for his deep and interesting storytelling, shows Dhruv in physical combat as well as internal conflict in this comic. This comic is an important link connecting the “Balcharit” series and the secrets related to Dhruv’s past with today’s story. At the beginning, the story opens with a fear that is too personal for Dhruv… and at the end a big mystery is revealed.
Detailed plot
The story begins with a very dramatic and fear-inducing scene. A high-tech theft is going on in a very secure hotel in the city of Kyiv in Ukraine. ‘Hunters’, a gang consisting of professional criminals with different skills, steals a laptop from there. It becomes clear from this scene itself that this time Dhruv is not going to face any common goon or mawali, but dangerous criminals trained at the international level.
After this, the story shifts directly to India—Rajnagar. Here Shweta (Dhruv’s sister) finds something wrong in the old Jupiter Circus building (warehouse). She goes to check there by becoming her second identity ‘Chandika’. While there, she encounters a villain named ‘Uluk’ (Owl), a member of the Hunters. Uluk has the power to fly and also uses deadly weapons. There is a fierce fight between the two, but the number of Hunters and their preparation is so high that Chandika is left alone. Uluk and his companions badly injure her.
Dhruv reaches there, but by then the situation has worsened. He finds Shweta soaked in blood, unconscious. This is a big shock for Dhruv. He immediately takes her to the hospital—where the doctor tells him that Shweta has gone into a coma.
Family discord and emotional conflict:
This is where the strongest and most heart-touching part of the story begins. Seeing Shweta’s condition in the hospital, Commissioner Rajan Mehra (who is Dhruv’s adoptive father) is unable to control himself. He scolds Dhruv a lot in sadness and anger. He accuses Dhruv that it was because of him that Shweta (Chandika) walked on this dangerous path. Mehra’s statement that “blood is blood after all” and making Dhruv feel alien is a very painful moment for the readers too. Dhruv, who is always calm, breaks down inside this time, but still remains silent, respecting his father’s words.
Investigation and Natasha’s entry:
Dhruv turns his sadness into anger and courage. He begins a quest to capture the Hunters. He learns that the Hunters came to find something in the old stuff from Jupiter Circus. During this time Natasha comes to help him. Dhruv and Natasha’s relationship has always been a bit complicated, but here Natasha seems to stand with him like a true friend. However, Natasha’s presence becomes another talking point for the media and police, further increasing Dhruv’s troubles.
Action and Climax:
Dhruv follows the clues to a container depot (dockyard). He learns that Jacob Uncle (who is an old member of Jupiter Circus) has been kidnapped by the Hunters. Here Dhruv encounters another dangerous member of the Hunters, ‘Gilly-Gilly’. Gilly-Gilly is a magician and a master of hypnosis. He tries to weaken Dhruv by trapping him in hallucinations.
The battle in the dockyard is very exciting. Dhruv uses both his intelligence and martial arts extensively. There comes a time when Dhruv is disarmed, but he turns things around like a kung-fu fighter, using the turban he wears in his disguise and the ropes lying there. At last he saves Jacob Uncle, but at the same time it also comes to light that all this is part of a huge conspiracy, which is related to Dhruv’s past. The comic ends on a suspense, setting the stage for the sequel ‘Flashback’.
Character Analysis
Super Commando Dhruv:
A different form of Dhruv can be seen in this comic. He is not completely balanced as always. Shweta’s condition has given him a deep shock. When Commissioner Mehra scolds him, the pain of an orphan child is clearly visible in his eyes—a child who has always struggled to be fully accepted into his family. Nevertheless, Dhruv’s sense of duty remains supreme. He continues his investigation despite being stopped by the police. His detective skills—like finding clues from Uluk’s broken wings or tracking laptop data—prove him to be a really ‘super’ commando.
Commissioner Rajan Mehra:
Rajan Mehra looks like an ‘emotional villain’ in this story. Being a father, his anger is understandable, but his words to Dhruv were very hurtful. Anupam Sinha has shown in a very real way how under extreme stress a person can hurt even the people closest to him. It also tells that Dhruv’s family is not perfect—there may be cracks and misunderstandings in it too.
Chandika (Shweta):
Although Shweta’s role is mostly to be in a coma in the comic, initially her fight completely shows her bravery. She knew that the ones in front were bigger and stronger, yet she did not back down. This courage of hers proves her to be Dhruv’s real sister.
Villains (The Hunters):
‘Hunters’ is not a common hooligan gang. Anupam Sinha has given different identity and different style to every villain:
Uluk (The Owl): It can fly and specialises in attacking from the air. Its design and its gadgets give a very modern feel.
Gili-Gili: This character is very interesting. It has the look of a magician, and it knows how to play with the mind. With his words and hypnosis, he tries to mentally weaken Dhruv.
Who is their leader and what is their real purpose? This is not told completely in the comic, which increases the mystery even more.
Natasha:
Natasha strikes a kind of balance in this story. When Dhruv is left alone by his family, Natasha supports him. Her straightforward, “no-nonsense” attitude and her trust in Dhruv bring a positive energy to the story.
Art and Portraiture
Anupam Sinha’s artwork feels detailed and very alive as always.
In the opening pages, hospital scenes, ICU machines, and sweat and tears on the faces of the characters—everything is drawn very closely.
The drawing of the dockyard fight between pages 80–84 is amazing. Especially the scene where Dhruv fights in a ‘Jackie Chan’ style using rope and clothes—it looks very dynamic. Speed lines have been used brilliantly to show movement.
Rajan Mehra’s anger on page 41 and Dhruv’s broken, painful face on page 42—both say a lot even without dialogue.
The use of colors also changes according to the story—bright colors in action scenes and light, melancholy tones in hospital parts.
Adoptive Son’s Struggle (The Struggle of an Adopted Son):
This comic presents the most painful truth of Dhruv’s life. Even though the Mehra family loves him, in difficult times the difference between “blood relation” and “adopted relation” is clearly visible in their behaviour. It also shows a bitter reality of society.
Shadow of the Past:
Jupiter Circus is burnt down, Dhruv’s real parents are no more, but the Hunters’ search for something there shows that the past never ends completely. This makes Dhruv’s past with “Balcharit” necessary again.
Teamwork vs. Loneliness:
Dhruv usually likes to work alone, but here he sees Natasha, Karim and even the media in their roles. The Hunters, on the other hand, are an organized team, and this is what makes Dhruv change his strategy.
Critical Analysis
Positive side (Pros):
Emotional Depth: It’s not just an action comic. It shows Dhruv in human form. Watching him break down, suffer and suffer humiliation further connects readers to him.
Pacing: The story doesn’t seem to stop or become boring anywhere. From hospital emotional drama to warehouse fights, everything moves quickly and is engaging.
Dialogue: Anupam Sinha’s dialogues are as powerful as ever. Especially the confrontational conversation between Mehra and Dhruv is straight, bitter and memorable.
Downside (Cons):
Incompleteness: Because it’s part of a bigger story, “Hunters” doesn’t have a complete ending feel. The real motive of the villain and the entire mystery of ‘Jacob’ is left for the next comic. People who expect everything to be clear in a single comic may feel a little incomplete.
Role of Police: The police have been shown to be a little weak. Even after such a big incident, they seem completely dependent on Dhruv to catch the Hunters. The Commissioner’s behavior also sometimes seems too emotional and ill-thought-out, even if he is angry and stressed.
Conclusion
“Hunters” is one of those important comics of Raj Comics which will be especially liked by those who want to understand the depth of Dhruv’s character and its changes. This comic clearly shows that Dhruv’s biggest strength is not his body, but his will-power, mental strength and courage to stand up for his people.
Anupam Sinha has once again proved why he is considered the top storyteller of the Indian comics industry. The family drama and emotion he has added to the superhero style is truly praiseworthy.
If you are a fan of Super Commando Dhruv, then you cannot miss this comic. It will not make you laugh, but will make you feel Dhruv’s pain and make you cheer for his next victory. It is difficult to reconcile every aspect of this comic in 1500 words, but to say in one line—it is a “must read”.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Also keep the next comic “Flashback” nearby while reading it, because its suspense will not let you stop.
