The character of Super Commando Dhruv is considered to be the most interesting and layered character in the history of Indian comics. Anupam Sinha tried to show the events before Dhruv’s birth and his childhood from a completely new perspective through the series ‘Balcharit’. “Dead End” is a very important turning point of this whole series. As the name “Dead End” (last end) tells, the story reaches a point where almost all the escape routes for the hero are closed, and he has to fight a final, extremely difficult battle to save his existence.
This comic moves back and forth like a pendulum between the past and the present. On one hand Dhruv is confronting his current enemies, and on the other hand we see his parents (Shyam and Radha) struggling with the difficult circumstances that later laid the foundation of Dhruv’s life.
Detailed plot
The story progresses in two different time frames (Timelines):
Current tense (The Present):
The story begins with the same scene in the hospital where the previous comic ‘Phoenix’ ended. Dhruv has come out of coma, but danger is still looming around him. The ‘Hunters’ attacking group, whose leader is a dangerous ‘Vakr’ (Curve), attacks the hospital and police headquarters to eliminate Dhruv.
Here comes a very exciting moment — a fake cop (Dadwal) tries to kill Dhruv, but Dhruv escapes him thanks to his wisdom and ‘sixth sense’. In this ongoing fight in the hospital, Shweta (Chandika) and Natasha (Black Cat) stand as Dhruv’s security shield. Dhruv is not completely cured yet, but handles himself on the strength of his willpower. He realizes that his old enemies (Hunters) are preparing to attack not only him but his family and the entire Rajnagar.
The present story revolves around the efforts of Dhruv, Natasha and Shweta, who are struggling to reach the Hunters’ main base by foiling their planning.
Flashback (The Past):
The most passionate and strong part of the story is the flashback, which takes us back to the heyday of Jupiter Circus. Here we see Dhruv’s parents Shyam and Radha in a new color. Radha is pregnant (Dhruv is in her womb at the same time), but despite this her courage appears no less than that of a warrior.
In the flashback, an important sub-plot (Sub-plot) “is associated with poachers”, i.e., poachers. Shyam and Radha love animals very much. When they discover that animals are being poached in the forest and being taken away for a circus or game park, they fiercely protest. In this part we get to see a wonderful combination of Shyam’s bravery and Radha’s love.
Main developments of flashbacks:
Love of animals:
Shyam and Radha are shown to have a very deep relationship with animals. Be it a lion, an elephant or any other creature, they not only take care of them but also understand their language and emotions.
Hunters attacks:
The gang, named the Hunters, is looking for a mysterious “formula”, and that’s why they keep sneaking and spying at Jupiter Circus. Sometimes they send “bombed pigeons”, sometimes they use an “explosive dart”. The atmosphere of the circus is always in fear and tension due to these attacks.
Role of the unborn Dhruv:
Anupam Sinha has shown here a very unique and interesting concept — Dhruv’s “danger detection power” (sixth sense) developed in the womb itself. Whenever any danger came to Radha, Dhruv present in the womb would stir and warn her. This gives Dhruv’s introduction of superpowers (Origin) a scientific and spiritual form simultaneously.
Towards Climax:
In the last part of the story, present and past come together at the same point. Dhruv understands that the clue to the “formula” that the Hunters are so desperate to look for may be hidden in his birth and his parents’ old diary or belongings. The comic ends at a juncture where Dhruv and his companions stand ready for a final and decisive encounter with the Hunters. It directly points to the next and final link “End Game”.
Characterization
Super Commando Dhruv:
In “Dead End”, Dhruv trusts his mind and courage more than his strength. Clashing with enemies despite being in a hospital bed shows that Dhruv’s real weapon is his unwavering willpower. He is extremely protective of his adoptive father (Commissioner Mehra) and his sister. This dialogue of his — “a man’s present and future always depend on his past” — clears the theme of the entire comic.
Shyam and Radha:
The biggest strength of this entire series is the brilliant character creation of Shyam and Radha. They are not just “Dhruv’s parents” — they are heroes in themselves. Shyam’s clash with the poachers to save the animals and Radha dodging the enemies despite being pregnant prove that Dhruv’s bravery is in his blood.
Radha’s character is shown to be particularly strong; she is not just a mother, but also a cunning strategist and patient warrior.
Natasha and Shweta (Chandika):
Both these women are strong supports in Dhruv’s life. Natasha’s sharp, aggressive style and Shweta’s balanced bravery both complement each other. When Dhruv is weak, both of them stand as his strength. The untold relationship and trust between Natasha and Dhruv is clearly visible in this comic also.
Hunters (villains):
The gang of Hunters is mysterious and extremely cruel. They use technology, cunning and violence — all three mixed. ‘Curve’ is a villain that directly competes with Dhruv in strength, while other villains working behind him keep making their moves. They use animals as weapons (like bombed pigeons), which clearly shows their brutality and mercilessness.
Art and portraiture
The biggest attraction in Sinha’s art is his action scenes, which always look fast, lively and extremely dynamic. The scene of the lion breaking out of the cage and then falling into the trap on pages 12–14 is so spectacular as if the whole event is happening before the eyes.
Sinha draws the animals’ make-up (Anatomy), their movements and anger very closely, making the action feel even more surreal.
Talking about emotional scenes, the art is very impressive here too. Fear, anxiety and restlessness are clearly visible on the faces of the characters in the hospital scene. The page 80 scene, when Radha discovers her pregnancy—the combination of facial expressions and colors in it feels very pleasant and deep, which makes the moment special and emotional.
The cover page is also quite powerful. In this, Dhruv and his companions are seen surrounded by Hunters. The whole scene makes the uneasiness and seriousness of the story title “Dead End” feel instantly.
Sunil Dasturia has done wonders in coloring. The scenes with flashbacks have the colors lightened and set aside, immediately revealing that times have changed. This further strengthens both the flow of the story and its visual identity.
Writing and dialogue
The biggest feature of Anupam Sinha’s writing is to blend fantasy and reality very beautifully.
There are deep and thought-provoking dialogues at many places in the story, which talk about big things like life, death, karma and humanity. This makes the story not just an action-comic, but a mind-touching one.
To explain Dhruv’s special powers, the author has taken the help of DNA and genetic science, which gives a logical basis to its fantasy. This makes science-loving readers find the story even more believable.
The dialogues are short, effective and written according to the nature of each character. The Hunters’ dialogues clearly show their ruthlessness and pride, while the dialogues between Dhruv and his family reflect love and concern.
Critical Analysis
Positive side (Pros):
Suspense: The mystery in the story remains constant — What do the Hunters want? What is this “formula”? This question keeps the reader engaged till the end.
Emotional Connect: Dhruv reading his mother Radha’s diary and feeling his past is a heart-touching part.
Story expansion: This comic does not limit Dhruv’s Origin to just the fire of Jupiter Circus, but opens layers older than that. This makes Dhruv’s character deeper.
Downside (Cons):
Complexity: Since this is the fifth of a long series, new readers may have some difficulty understanding the background of events and characters.
Pace (Pacing): In the middle parts, especially in flashbacks, the story feels a little slow.
Cliffhanger: This is also an incomplete story like the previous episodes, ending at “End Game”. Readers who want the whole story there will have to wait a bit.
Conclusion
“Dead End” is a great offering from Raj Comics, further strengthening the legacy of Super Commando Dhruv. Anupam Sinha once again showed that he is not only a great artist but also a tremendous storyteller. He has presented Dhruv’s past in such a beautiful and subtle manner that readers themselves start feeling a part of that period.
This comic serves action, emotion, suspense and drama — all at once. It also shows that in situations where we do not see any way (Dead End), a new path can be found with courage and understanding.
Rating: 4/5
Last word:
If you are a fan of Super Commando Dhruv and want to know every layer of his life, then you must read this comic. This is not just a story, but an important link in Dhruv’s history. Once you finish this, the restlessness to read the next and last link “End Game” will increase.
