Super Commando Dhruv has always been known as a superhero who has no supernatural powers (superpowers). He faces any big danger with the help of his intelligence, scientific thinking and physical ability. But what happens when he encounters an enemy who is outside the laws of science, who has been alive for centuries and who is almost impossible to kill? “Dracula’s Attack” answers this question.
This comic marked a major turning point in the history of Raj Comics, as it added horror and supernatural elements for the first time in Dhruv’s world. Count Dracula, a famous villain of Western stories, coming into Indian comics was a big and daring experiment— and it was a complete success.
‘Dracula’s Attack (Dracula Series Part-1)’ is a special issue that is a great blend of horror (Horror) and superhero action. This comic not only puts Dhruv in front of an immortal and fabled monster ‘Dracula’, but the presence of ‘Nagraj’s enemies ‘Nagpasha’ and ‘Gurudev’ in it connects it to the larger universe (Universe) of Raj Comics. The 25 bucks comic was kind of like a blockbuster story in its day.
Plot and story expansion
The story begins with a scene that is very intimidating and full of adventure. A hungry vampire, Count Dracula, is roaming around looking for his prey. He breaks into a sleeping girl’s room, but it turns out to be a trap for him. That girl is actually a mannequin. ‘Vampire Elimination Committee’ (Vampire Eradication Committee) members Dolan and Pastor are present there.
Dracula is sure that he is immortal and will not be affected by the cross, nor garlic— because he has received Gabriel’s boon that he can only be killed by the bones of a particular saint.
This is where the story takes a very interesting turn. The Committee has Saint Eulogian’s bones, who recently received the title of saint. The structure of those bones suddenly comes to life and captures Dracula, causing him to become dust and scatter.
Conspiracy of Nagpasha and Gurudev:
The story now returns to the present, where Nagpasha and Gurudev plan to revive Dracula’s dust. Their aim is to include Dracula in their army, so that they can defeat Nagraj. The two arrive at the old fortress of Dracula, located in Romania. Here it also turns out that Nagpasha is ‘immortal’, which plays a huge role in the story ahead.
Lori and Mark’s struggle:
Near the fortress live ‘Lori’ (who is a descendant of Saint Eulogian) and her fiancé ‘Mark’. Nagpasha and Gurudev’s tantric powers wake up magical creatures defending the fort—like the ‘feathered wolf’ (Wolf Vampire).
In a very creepy scene, the wolf swallows Nagpasha, but due to his immortal power, Nagpasha comes out by reconnecting his body and rips the wolf apart. This part gives a full sense of the dangerous power of Nagpasha.
The Rebirth of Dracula:
Gurudev’s plan finally succeeds. They think of using Lori to remove the ‘bone cross’ (Bone Cross) sunk into Dracula’s chest, but in the end Nagpasha’s ‘nectar-mixed blood’ falls on Dracula’s dust.
This brings Dracula back to life. And the most surprising thing that comes out is that because of Nagpasha’s blood, Dracula has now become more powerful than ever. Now he is not affected by sunlight or the common cross.
Arrival of Dhruv:
Lori, who is a ‘sadhika’, calls Dhruv for help with her psychic powers. Dhruv, who is beating up goons in Rajnagar at that time, is suddenly pulled by an invisible force and reaches Romania directly.
This part is a bit fantasy (Fantasy), but pushes the story and makes it just as exciting.
As soon as Dhruv arrives, he has to face many strange and dangerous troubles:
Aqua Vampire (Aqua Vampire): It is a scary monster of water, almost invincible in water. Dhruv shows his wisdom by joining wooden logs to form a pipe-like structure and preventing it from breathing, killing that vampire.
Wolf Vampire (Wolf Vampire): Dhruv comes to understand that these vampires can only be killed by their own body parts. Taking advantage of this, he breaks the wolf’s cage using its sharp teeth.
Devastation in Rajnagar: Dracula sees that it is not easy to kill Lori, as Dhruv is protecting her. So he sends his most dangerous servant ‘Frankenstein’ (Frankenstein) to Rajnagar to divert Dhruv’s attention. Frankenstein, made up of the separate limbs of the dead, wreaks terrible havoc in the city. He turns the church into a total wreck.
When Dhruv returns back to Rajnagar, he realizes that Frankenstein is sucking ‘earth energy’ (Static/Earth Energy) from the ground. Dhruv uses his agility and intelligence to lift him into the air so that he loses contact with the earth.
Extremes (Climax):
The ending of the story is full of thrill at its best. Dracula himself reaches Rajnagar and starts making people vampires one by one. Chandika (Dhruv’s sister/associate) also gets hit by him and becomes a vampire. Circumstances start getting completely out of hand.
Pastor and Dhruv make a special plan. There is just one way to kill Dracula—‘bone cross’, which must be made of bones of a descendant (Lori) of Saint Eulogian. But Lori is still alive.
This is where Dhruv makes a very clever move. Lori is ‘clinically dead’ (Clinically dead) for a few moments— meaning her heartbeat is stopped for a while. Dracula is then tricked into having (or having it inserted into his body) a small cross made from her teeth, placed into a gelatin capsule.
Because at that time Lori was in a ‘dead’ position, her teeth show the same effect as the bones of the saint— and this eliminates Dracula.
Character analysis (Character Analysis)
Super Commando Dhruv: Dhruv is at his full brightness in this comic. He handles every difficulty not just with physical strength, but with science and understanding.
Scientific thinking: When confronting Frankenstein he is not afraid to think of something like magic, but immediately understands that it is a matter of ‘static electric charge’. The idea of making a pipe while fighting the Aqua Vampire perfectly shows his sharp mind. Dhruv makes sure that Lori does not lose her life, even if the clergy are advising her to make sacrifices.
Dracula: The author has not just shown Dracula to be a monster, but has presented him as a proud, cunning and self-confessed villain. Nagpasha’s strength multiplies after drinking his blood and he becomes a “super vampire”.
But his ego is the reason for his defeat—he makes the mistake of considering Dhruv as just an “ordinary human”.
Nagpasha and Gurudev: These two are the real masterminds of this comic. Even though they do not directly confront Dhruv, their presence in the story constantly makes the reader realize how big the danger is. Nagpasha’s immortality and his body becoming attached repeatedly adds both fear and mystery to the story. Their real motive is only to bring Dracula back to life and use him against Nagraj.
Lori: Lori emerges as a strong and courageous female character in this comic. She is not just a “weak girl” who has to be saved, but she is a ‘sadhika’ whose mental forces help stop Dracula’s servants. At the end of the story she makes a big contribution to fulfilling Dhruv’s plan by putting herself in danger.
Frankenstein: The character is reminiscent of classic horror. Anupam Sinha has made him very huge, scary and dangerous. His repeated attacks despite his body being made up of different parts make him a challenging enemy for Dhruv.
Art and portraiture
Anupam Sinha’s art has a big contribution in the success of Raj Comics, and ‘Dracula’s Attack’ is a great example of this.
Romania’s fortresses, dense forests and old churches are depicted very beautifully and finely. The view of Dracula’s fortress on page 14 seems extremely scary and mysterious.
Action scenes: Dhruv’s acrobatics and fight scenes show great movement. Dhruv’s motorcycle stunt on page 39 and his bout with Frankenstein on page 54 are tremendously made.
The color combination done by Sunil Pandey matches the atmosphere of the story perfectly. The use of dark blue and black in night scenes, and the bright red color for blood, all combine to create a powerful scary atmosphere.
The expressions of the characters: The cruelty shown on Dracula’s face and the confidence on Dhruv’s face are very beautifully made.
Main themes and elements
Science vs Magic (Science Vs. Magic): This has always been a big theme of Dhruv’s stories. Here too Dracula and his companions represent occultism and magic, while Dhruv relies entirely on science— be it physics or biology. As an example, using the principle of ‘earthing’ (Earthing) to defeat Frankenstein.
Sacrifice and Love: The love story of Lori and Mark is the emotional part of this comic. Mark repeatedly tries to save Lori without caring for his life. At the same time, Lori also agrees to risk her life to save the world.
Endless cycle of evil: At the end of the story Nagpasha and Gurudev are not seen giving up. They again plan to bring Dracula back to life. It shows that evil does not end once—every time it has to be defeated in a new way.
Critical Analysis
Positive side (Pros):
The story progresses at a fast pace. From Romania to Rajnagar and then to the climax— there is no slowing down or boredom at any place. By connecting Nagpasha, the author did not limit this story to just Dhruv, but linked it to the larger universe of Raj Comics. The ‘clinically dead’ idea was quite different and much smarter. It seemed more fresh and interesting than the common technique of defeating villains with a magic sword or mantra. Dracula, Werewolf (wolf), Aqua Monster and Frankenstein— in the same comic is a big visual fun for readers.
Downside (Cons):
It seems a little easier and more convenient for Dhruv to reach Romania. Suddenly being teleported at Lori’s mental call—it seems a little different from Dhruv’s realistic-style stories. Chandika could have been shown a little more powerful. Her getting hypnotized so quickly can disappoint her fans a bit.
Conclusion
‘Dracula’s Attack’ is a shining diamond from the golden age of Raj Comics. This comic is special not only for the fans of Super Commando Dhruv, but is also a great experience for readers who like horror and thriller. The story of Jolly Sinha and the art of Anupam Sinha make this comic a memorable journey.
This comic also proves that becoming a superhero does not always require superpowers— a sharp mind, courage and a never-say-die spirit are also enough. Dhruv is truly praiseworthy as he has defeated an immortal and almost invincible demon with his mind.
If you are a fan of Raj Comics, then this issue must be in your collection. It has story, action, fear, adventure and above all— the beautiful message of the victory of science and goodness over superstition.
Nagpasha and Gurudev finally getting away and preparing to hatch a new plot again leaves readers excited for the next comics (like the possible clash of ‘Nagraj and Dracula’). This special issue fully meets the high standards set by Raj Comics in the Indian comics world.
