‘Raj Comics’ is considered to have the highest position in the history of Indian comics, and when it comes to sword, witchcraft, mysterious world and fantasy, the name of ‘Mahabali Bhokal’ comes to mind first. The protector of Vikas Nagar and this brave warrior of fairyland always takes his readers to a world where gods, demons and humans all live together. The comic we are reviewing today is called “Mrityujit”. This comic is one of the best stories of Bhokal which, along with tremendous action, also gives a deep feeling like Indian mythology.
The name itself makes sense — “Mrityujit” is the story of a villain who has defeated death in person. In this story, a wonderful combination of power, ego, fight within the family and the great war between religion versus unrighteousness can be seen.
Challenge to Death
The story itself starts with a very powerful scene. A demon named ‘Rakshjeet’ is engrossed in rigorous penance in the Himalayan caves. His penance and power are so tremendous that when Yamdoots come to take his life, he attacks them instead and drives them away. Then Yamraj himself appears before him, but just as they are about to kill Rakshjeet with their death loop, Lord Shiva’s trident appears and protects Rakshjeet. As soon as you read this moment, you come to know that this time Bhokal has to fight not with any ordinary demon, but with a warrior who became immortal with the boon of Lord Shiva. From here Rakshjeet gets a new name — ‘Mrityujit’, that is, the one whom even death could not kill.
After becoming immortal, Mrityujit’s pride starts touching the sky. He wants to establish his rule over both heaven and earth. His craze increases so much that he wants to cut off the body of his own brother ‘Kalkoot’ (who himself is a very powerful demon) and make a throne out of it.
On the other hand, the gods become suspicious of this untoward incident. They know that stopping the victory of death is just a matter of one warrior — Mahabali Bhokal. Narada Muni and other gods give Divyastra to Bhokal and prepare him for this great war.
The thrill of the story increases when Mrityujit targets Vikas Nagar and Bhokal’s family. Bhokal, who is spending moments of peace with his family and friends, is suddenly drawn back into this storm of battle.
Another big twist in this story happens with the arrival of ‘Atikrur’. Atikrur, who used to be a friend of Bhokal, now stands in front of him as the commander of Mrityujit’s army. It is later revealed that Atikrur did not actually become evil of his own free will, but is under the influence of a magical ring that has made him cruel and merciless.
Bhokal and Mrityujit come face to face on the battlefield. Bhokal fights with all his might and also uses the Divyastra given by the gods. He even cuts off Mrityujit’s head with Kali Maa’s sword, but due to Brahma’s boon, Mrityujit’s head gets connected back and his power becomes greater than before. This moment is a turning point in the story where it seems that Bhokal will probably never win — as if the path is completely closed.
At last Bhokal understands that death cannot be defeated by force alone. He then breaks the magical ring from Atikrur’s finger, making Atikrur back to what he was before. Then Atikrur, who is extremely adept at archery (also called superior archer or ‘archer’ in the story), starts fighting together with Bhokal.
The climax of the story is very interesting and mind-boggling. Because any piece of Mrityujit’s body reconnects when it falls to the ground, Bhokal and his companions make a new plan. They cut thousands of pieces of Mrityujit’s body and fill them in bags and throw them out of gravity — i.e. into space (zero gravity), from where they are never able to return to Earth. And thus an immortal demon comes to an end.
Character Analysis
Mahabali Bhokal:
In this comic, Bhokal is seen not only as a brave warrior but also as a wise strategist. When he feels that it is impossible to win only with sword and strength, he does not give up, but finds the weakness of the enemy with a calm mind. His journey shows that victory is achieved not only through weapons but also through patience and intelligence.
Mrityujit (Rakshjit):
Mrityujit is counted among the most powerful and terrible villains of comics. His story reminds of mythological demons like Ravana and Hiranyakashyap — did penance, got a boon and then misused the same boon. His ego is the cause of his destruction. His treatment of his brother and stepmother shows his ruthlessness.
Atikrur:
The most interesting and emotional character of the story is Atikrur. He is a character who is neither completely bad nor good — i.e. ‘gray character’. In the beginning he is standing as an enemy of Bhokal, but in reality he is a victim of the situation. The moment his ring breaks and he regains consciousness gives the story a heart-touching depth. Bhokal and Atikrur’s friendship, separation and coming together again — this entire journey makes the story very strong.
Hanuman ji and Gods:
Another special thing about this comic is that it shows direct interference from the gods. Hanuman ji coming to help Bhokal and giving him Sanjeevani is a kind of ‘fan-service’ for Indian readers. This also establishes more strongly that Bhokal is a warrior standing in favor of religion and justice.
Illustration and Art
The artwork of ‘Kadam Studio’ is a great example of the 90’s style.
Action Scenes: Excellent detailing is seen in the battle scenes. When Bhokal and Mrityujit collide face to face or when rained with ultra-cruel arrows, the speed, strength and energy in every panel feel clear — as if the fight is happening in front of your eyes.
Portrait of Demons: Mrityujit and his army are shown in a very scary and huge form, making the hero’s challenge to them seem even bigger.
Color Combination: Bright and dark colors are used in the comic. Colors like red, yellow and blue are more visible, which suits the atmosphere of the fantasy world.
Expression: Emotions like anger, arrogance, pain and madness are very well engraved on the faces of the characters. Especially when Mrityujit’s head falls off and he still laughs — that scene is going to leave an immense impact.
Main Aspects and Themes of the Story
The Curse of Immortality:
The story of Mrityujit shows that immortality, i.e. such a boon that even death cannot win, changes a person — and often makes him bad. As soon as Mrityujit got immortality, he considered himself God. But this is the law of nature, the end of the one who is born is also certain, no matter how unique the method may be.
Power versus Intelligence:
No matter how many times Bhokal hits Mrityujit, he comes back to life. This proves that victory cannot be achieved by strength alone. Ultimately victory is achieved when Bhokal uses his brain and makes a unique space plan. That means the ultimate victory lies with the intellect.
Family Discord:
The family angle is also very important in this story — even between death and war there is a brother versus brother conflict (Mrityujit and Atikrur). Stepmom, jealousy and revenge give the story an emotional and family twist — a little Mahabharata-like glimpse.
Mythological References:
Sanjay Gupta has added Shiva, Brahma, Yamraj and Hanuman ji to the story in a very beautiful and easy-going manner. Like the “Raktabeej” monster, here Mrityujit gets double the power every time he is cut — this idea reminds of Indian mythology and connects readers to culture.
Critical Analysis
Positive Side (Pros):
Strong Villain: Hero becomes great only when his enemy is dangerous — and Mrityujit is truly a villain who seems impossible to defeat. This is what keeps the tension and thrill throughout the story.
Twist: The twist with Atikrur and his magic ring gives the story a different depth. With this the story is no longer just a comic with “fight and win.”
Closing: The ending is extremely satisfying and logical — the scientific solution to the magical problem (throwing pieces of the body out of the Earth) sounds fantastic.
Downside (Cons):
Dialogue: In some places the dialogues are much longer and more dramatic, which may seem a bit heavy today.
Role of Gods: Some readers may feel that Bhokal seems to be more dependent on the help of the gods than his own strength, due to which his personal bravery seems to be decreasing a bit.
Conclusion
“Mrityujit” is one of the finest stories of the golden age of Raj Comics. It looks like fantasy, magic, fencing, flying horses, presence of gods and a villain who can defeat even death — i.e. a complete package of entertainment.
Sanjay Gupta’s writing holds the story and Kadam Studio’s drawing brings that entire imagination to life. This comic tells that no matter how great evil is, the protectors of religion and truth find a way to win against it.
If you’re one of those 90’s readers who grew up reading Raj Comics, “Mrityujit” will immerse you in a sweet wave of nostalgia. And if you are a new reader and want to understand the roots of Indian superheroes, then you must read this story. That’s why Bhokal is included in Raj Comics’ ‘Big Three’ — with Nagraj and Dhruv.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Last word: “Mrityujit” is not just the story of the end of a demon, but it is the story of courage and stubbornness that has the power to make even the impossible possible. This victory of Bhokal will add glory to your comic collection — no doubt.
