Super Commando Dhruv’s place in the Indian comics world is that of a hero who has no magical powers, but his greatest strength is his brain and indomitable courage. Anupam Sinha, who is considered the father of Dhruv, has tried to define Dhruv’s past anew through the ‘Balcharit’ series. “Pheonix” is a very important chapter of this epic. As the name suggests, ‘Pheonix’ is the legendary bird that regenerates from its own ashes. This metaphor fits perfectly in this story, returning from the mouth of death and revealing the secrets of his past that occurred before he was born.
Not only is this comic action-packed, but it also tells the story of emotions, the struggles of parents, and the wonderful sensations of an unborn child.
Plot and screenplay
The story starts from where ‘No Man’s Land’ ended. Dhruv is in the hospital, swinging between life and death. In medical language, he may be declared ‘clinically dead’, but Dhruv’s mind is still active. He is in ‘no man’s land’—a mental state where he is reliving his suppressed memories.
Flashback: The Struggle of the Past
A large part of the story takes place in flashback. We reach the era of Jupiter Circus when Dhruv was not even born. His mother, Radha, is pregnant, and father Shyam is a star performer of the circus. But this atmosphere of happiness is being overshadowed by the ‘Hunters’. Hunters is a secret organization that wants something extremely precious from Jupiter Circus—a mysterious formula that can make them invincible.
This comic shows how the Hunters carry out several murderous attacks one after the other to kill Radha and her fetus (Dhruv).
Rabbit with a bomb: In one scene, a time bomb is tied to a rabbit and sent to the circus.
Poisonous Nurse: Disguised as a murderous nurse, tries to inject Radha with poison.
Predatory eagle: An attack is carried out using a trained eagle.
Man-eating Lion: He is provoked to attack Radha by opening the lock of the circus lion’s cage.
Shyam foils all these attacks with his bravery and wisdom. The special thing is that Dhruv in the womb feels these dangers and kicks his mother to alert her. This is a very interesting concept which Anupam Sinha has presented as ‘sixth sense’ or ‘spontaneous knowledge’.
The adventure of the present
Parallelly, the action is still not low at present. Hunters’ henchmen are active in the hospital to kill Dhruv. Black Cat (Natasha) and Chandika (Shweta) stand as Dhruv’s shield. They are fighting enemies inside and outside the hospital. The thrill of the story reaches its peak when Dhruv, who is in a coma, wakes up with the help of his memories—just like a Pheonix. He realizes that the same threat that his parents were facing is now also facing him and his current family (Commissioners Rajan Mehra and Igawan).
Character analysis
Super Commando Dhruv (past and present):
Dhruv’s character is in two forms in this comic. One is the unborn baby who is sensing dangers from his mother’s womb, and the other is the adult superhero who has returned after defeating death. The title ‘Pheonix’ symbolizes Dhruv’s will to live. His belief that “I can’t die because I need answers to my questions” reflects his character’s tenacity.
Shyam and Radha:
Often in superhero stories, the parents are only meant to die in flashbacks, but here Shyam and Radha are shown as full action heroes. Shyam is an ideal husband and protector. He is not only physically strong, but also extremely smart. Radha, despite being pregnant, is not shown to be weak. They also fight to protect their child. This explains Dhruv’s genes that he inherited heroism.
Hunters (Villain):
The diversity of the Hunters gang is the life of this comic. They’re not just gun-toting hooligans. They use animals (lions, eagles, rabbits), specialize in disguise, and play with psychology. Their main purpose is still not entirely clear, which keeps the reader eager for the next comic.
Supporting characters (Jacob, Natasha, Shweta):
Jacob Uncle’s role in the past is very cute. He emerges as Shyam’s true friend and well-wisher. Currently, the roles of Natasha and Shweta are action-oriented. They take charge in the absence of Dhruv, which is a good example of women empowerment.
Art and portraiture
Anupam Sinha’s artwork has always been the identity of Raj Comics. His work in ‘Pheonix’ has become even better.
Action Scene: The fight scene with the lion (around pages 70-75) is very vivid. The ferocious eyes of the lion, muscle tension, and struggle of the black—everything is very closely engraved.
Detailing: There is a lot of detailing in the circus atmosphere, tents, animal cages, and crowded scenes.
Coloring: Sunil Dasturia’s color decoration sets the mood of the story. The tone of the colors is set slightly apart in the scenes of the flashbacks so that readers can easily distinguish past and present.
Cover Page: The cover page is very dynamic. It features Dhruv in action, and the background shows all the dangers of the past (lion, clown, fire) he (or his parents) faced.
Narrative flow and dialogue
The flow of the story is very fast. Anupam Sinha’s specialty is that he does not give the reader a chance to breathe. One trouble does not end, and the other comes.
Dialogue: Dialogue is very effective. For example, the doctor’s statement that “according to medical science it is dead, but its mind is still fighting” establishes Dhruv’s willpower.
Emotional Connect: The dialogues between Radha and Shyam are very emotional. The concern of a future father and the courage of a mother touch the hearts of the readers.
Logic: Anupam ji takes great care of logic in his stories. Even though the unborn child’s sensing of dangers may seem a bit exaggerated, he has tried to make it credible by combining it with ‘the mental connection between mother and child’ and Dhruv’s ‘mutant-like abilities’.
Thematic Depth
Hereditary Valor (Inherited Heroism):
This comic underlines that Dhruv ‘Super Commando’ is not just made of training, but he is a ‘born hero’. The circumstances faced by his parents laid the foundation of Dhruv’s personality.
Burden of the past:
“Pheonix” also shows that you can’t run away from your past. Jupiter Circus burned down, people died, but enemies of the past are still alive. Dhruv will have to look back to move forward.
Reincarnation and Hope:
In the hospital scenes, Dhruv’s struggle continues even when everyone gives up hope. It reflects a positive attitude towards life and a passion to never give up.
Critical review
Positive aspects (Pros):
Expansion of Origin Story: It is very exciting for older readers to know what happened before the destruction of Jupiter Circus.
Suspense: What are the ‘Hunters’ looking for? What is that ‘formula’? The mystery remains intact until the end and piques the curiosity for the next comic.
Multi-Layer Story: It doesn’t just involve beating a villain, but exposing a larger conspiracy.
Negative aspects (Cons):
Repetition: Some parts of the story may seem a bit repetitive. The Hunters send assassins one after the other, and Shyam defeats them. This pattern becomes predictable a little later.
Complexity: For new readers who have not read the previous parts of ‘Balcharit’, the story may be a little difficult to understand. A lot of references are taken from previous comics.
Incompleteness: Since it is part of a long series, no final conclusion emerges in this comic. It’s just a link, which may leave some readers dissatisfied who expect a complete story.
Conclusion
“Pheonix” is a memorable comic in the history of Raj Comics. It provides a new depth to Dhruv’s character. Anupam Sinha has proved that he is not only an excellent painter but also a skilled storyteller who can breathe new life into a decades-old character.
This comic reminds us that Super Commando Dhruv is not an ordinary human being. He is the ‘Pheonix’—no matter how many times you burn him, he will rise again from his ashes and fight for justice.
Who should read?
If you are a fan of Dhruv, then it is mandatory for you (Must Read). Even if you like the mix of suspense thrillers and family dramas, this comic won’t let you down.
Rating: 4.5/5
Last word:
After reading this comic, you will definitely be desperate to read the sequel “Dead End”. The ‘Balcharit’ series marks the return of the golden age of Indian comics, and ‘Pheonix’ is one of its shining stars.
