The 90s is considered to be the real golden period of the world of Indian comics. At the same time, Manoj Comics gave such heroes to the readers who are remembered even today. These heroes were not only powerful, but their exploits were also amazing. A big name among these heroes was Jatayu. Jatayu was not a common hero, but a mighty warrior. He was a master of sword-wielding, always accompanied by his faithful lion ‘Sinhraj’, and he often appeared to fight for justice in a world full of kings, queens, demons, and magicians.
The comic we are talking about today is called — “Jatayu and Dharti Palat”. On hearing the name, it can be guessed that the story is going to revolve around a very dangerous enemy who has the power to turn the earth upside down. Author Papinder Juneja and painter A.M.G. have presented fantasy and adventure very well in this comic, which keeps the story captivating from beginning to end.
Plot (Storyline): Fire of Vengeance and the Boon of Immortality
The story begins in Hades, which has been a well-known and favorite setting in comics of that period. Here we see Dumak-Dumma, the wife of a demon named Vishasura, crying. She reaches her brother, the demon king Dharti Palat, and pleads for revenge. Dumak-Dumma tells him that Jatayu, a brave warrior of Prithvi Loka, has killed her husband Vishasura and made her a widow.
It is from here that we get a true introduction to the main villain of the story, Dharti Palat. He is the king of the underworld, very powerful, and has a cruel nature. Seeing his sister’s tears, he vows revenge on Jatayu. Meanwhile, the entry of Dharti Palat’s younger brother, ‘Antshunt’, takes place, which adds a little humor to the story. Antshunt tries to lighten the atmosphere with his foolish words, but the anger of Dharti Palat silences him immediately.
The scene then changes, and we reach the earth world, where Jatayu ‘Kavach is saving Nagar’ from the terror of the robber Jagga. Here Jatayu’s bravery comes out openly. He single-handedly wipes out the entire band of bandits. Then he gets the news that Seth Jagat Narayan’s house in Kundan Nagar has caught fire. Jatayu reaches there without wasting any time and saves people’s lives by risking his own life.
The real adventure begins when the earth turns and comes face to face with Jatayu himself. Jatayu and Earth Palat stand face to face. Jatayu cuts the neck of Earth Palat with a single strong blow of his sword. At this moment, the reader feels that the story has ended here, but this is where the real twist comes. Earth Palat does not die, but comes back to life.
The biggest strength of this comic is its villain. Earth Palat has received a special boon, which reminds us of demons like Raktabeej from Indian mythology. As long as his body continues to touch the earth, he cannot be killed. Every time he dies and comes in contact with the earth, he comes back to life, and his strength doubles from before. Proving his name right, he angrily uproots and turns over the entire land of Kirti Nagar, causing massive devastation all around.
Jatayu repeatedly tries to kill Prithvi Palat, but every time he comes back to life. During this struggle, Jatayu and his lion Singhraj fall into the water. Then Jatayu understands that strength alone will not suffice here; the mind will have to be used. Meanwhile, Neha, the princess of Dev Nagar, comes to the forest for hunting, where Earth Palat tries to kidnap her.
Later, Jatayu meets Mrigang Rishi. The sage tells Jatayu the whole secret of the earth’s immortality. He explains that as long as the body of Earth Palat remains in contact with the earth, he will remain invincible. The only way to kill him is to separate him from the earth.
The suspense in the story increases further when Earth Palat creates many of his own clones with his illusive powers. Now it becomes difficult for Jatayu to understand which one is the real enemy. For help, he goes to Devlok, where he faces many strange and dangerous obstacles, like fake sentinels and demonic ant monsters, etc.
At last, Jatayu understands that the real Earth Palat is the one who is retreating. After this, there is a tremendous and fierce war. Jatayu uses his ‘time power’ and sharp mind to attack Earth Palat upside down so strongly that he bounces into the sky. Before Earth Palat can overturn and fall back to the ground, Jatayu blows him apart in the air. In this way, he loses contact with the earth, and Jatayu ultimately ends him.
Character Analysis
Jatayu (The Hero):
Jatayu’s character is like that of an ideal Indian superhero. He is completely selfless, whether it is fighting bandits or saving innocent people trapped in fire. Jatayu does not have any high-tech or super-scientific gadgets. His true strength is his sword, his faithful lion Singhraj, and his wisdom. In this comic, Jatayu has to go through a tough test not only physically but also mentally. When he realizes that strength alone will not suffice, he takes guidance from sages. This shows the humility and wisdom of his nature very well.
Earth Palat (The Villain):
Dharti Palat can be counted among the most memorable villains of Manoj Comics. His look—green body, a garland of skulls around his neck, and a huge mace in his hand—makes him look like a classic monster. His power, that is, the ability to turn the earth, is extremely different and dangerous. His pride ultimately becomes his biggest weakness. He is not only cruel, but he is also shown to be a little ‘flirty’, especially when he is fascinated by Princess Neha. This was a common but interesting feature of villains of that period.
Princess Neha:
Neha’s character is completely that of a ‘damsel in distress’, that is, a heroine in trouble. Yes, she goes to the forest for hunting, which shows her courage, but in the end, she has to depend on Jatayu to save her. At the end of the story, her showing love to Jatayu and Jatayu quietly running away from there creates a light and fun moment.
Antshunt and Dumak-Dumma:
Antshunt’s role is small, but quite entertaining. He strikes a little balance between the cruelty of Earth Palat. Dumak-Dumma is the beginning point of the entire story. Due to her desire for revenge, the entire incident progresses; hence, she can be considered the catalyst of the story.
Portrayal and Art Side
Painter A.M.G.’s work is completely in accordance with the comic style of that era.
Color combination: Bright and dark colors have been used openly in this comic. Green and red colors for the demons, simple but heroic-looking attire for Jatayu, and yellow and blue colors in the background bring the story to life.
Action scenes: The fight scenes are very fast-paced and impressive. Especially the scene on page 23 with the ‘rain of blood’, and the scene of Earth Palat on page 7 are shown in a very powerful way. The effect of the rain of blood and the melting of people is a bit scary (gory), but that only strengthens the seriousness of the story.
Character design: The facial expressions of the demons, especially their laughing and angry expressions, are very well made, making their characters look even more effective.
Writing and Dialogue
Papinder Juneja’s writing style is straight, sharp, and without unnecessary twists. The story doesn’t seem slow or boring anywhere.
Dialogue: The dialogues are quite dramatic and have a direct impact. Like—“I’ll give you such a death that the world will remember!” or “Wait, brother! Hee… Hee… Hee…!”. Such dialogues are reminiscent of the Ramsay Brothers’ horror films of the 90s.
Speed (Pacing): The story moves very fast. The journey from Hades to Earth, then to the forest, and then to the world of gods continues without stopping. The sequence of events is quite tight.
Humor: At the end of the story, Jatayu saying, “I have to meet magician Huddanga,” and Neha saying “Hello” shows great comic timing. This makes it clear that Jatayu is a wanderer-type hero who does not want to get tied down in any relationship.
Critical Conclusion
Positive Side (Pros):
The name ‘Earth Palat’ and his power—turning the earth upside down—is a very creative and new idea. The condition of his immortality, that is, staying in contact with the earth, creates a strong and logical challenge in the story. The action in the comic is plentiful for that time. Scenes like rivers of blood flowing and neck cuts make it exciting for children as well as teenage readers. The whole story is pure entertainment. There is no heavy philosophy in it, just the victory of good over evil, which gives satisfaction to the reader.
Downside (Cons):
In some places, the lack of logic irritates. For example, how do demons reach Devlok when Jatayu goes there? Why is the security of heaven shown to be so weak? Apart from this, the character of Princess Neha seems quite conservative. She is mostly limited to screaming and waiting for Jatayu to save her.
Conclusion
“Jatayu and Dharti Palat” is a great offering from Manoj Comics. It takes us back to a time when stories were simple, but adventure was at its peak. If you are fond of old Hindi comics, then this comic will not disappoint you at all. It contains the complete spice of fantasy, magic, sword fights, and the world of monsters.
Especially its climax is very satisfying, where Jatayu defeats the enemy not just with his strength but with his intelligence. The end of the story also arouses curiosity for the next part, “Magician Huddanga”.
Rating: 4/5 (for entertainment and nostalgia)
This comic proves that Jatayu is not just a swordsman, but also a sensible and clever warrior. It will be remembered as a classic in the history of Hindi comics.
