‘Hauaa’ is a comic that creates a tremendous balance of fear and curiosity in the minds of readers. The author of this comic is Tikaram Sippy, and the illustrations are done by Vinod Kumar. This 62-page story is not just the story of a demon, but it shows such a mixed game of greed, revenge, science, and tantra-mantra, which makes the story even more interesting.
Brief description of the plot
The story begins with a very scary and hair-raising scene. A strange and terrible monster is wreaking havoc in the city, which people start knowing as ‘Hauaa’. It is not a common monster, but a combination of several scary forms—it has a mummy-like face, bat-like wings on the back, and also a huge python-like long tail. As soon as people see this, their condition worsens, and their thinking power also suffers due to fear.
The real center of the story is a dangerous woman named ‘Pretali’, who runs this Hauaa with a remote control. Pretali’s motive is not just to spread fear, but she wants to gain both money and power. Hauaa is used by her to rob banks and eliminate her enemies.
During this time, ‘Pret Uncle’, i.e., Jacob, enters the story. Jacob is a phantom himself but has a common man’s heart. He loves children very much and considers it his duty to protect innocent people. The story also features a little girl named ‘Baby’, who unknowingly gets caught up in this dangerous game. When Pretali kidnaps Baby, Jacob sets out to rescue her. This is where a tremendous confrontation between the phantom and the phantom-powered begins, in which truth and goodness finally triumph.
Deep analysis of characters
JACOB (Phantom Uncle):
Jacob is the main hero of this series. He is identified by his long white hair, overcoat, and mysterious mannerisms, which make him stand out from the characters of the rest of the comics. Jacob’s human emotions are shown very well in this comic. He not only trusts his own strength but also understands the situation and takes decisions with his mind. His affection for Baby adds an emotional depth to the story, allowing readers to connect with him instantly.
Pretali (main villain):
There has been no dearth of villains in Raj Comics, but Pretali is left with a special memory due to her cunning and ruthlessness. She controls a dangerous monster like Hauaa by combining modern science, i.e., remote control, and old Tantra-vidya. Her character clearly shows how terrible a disaster she can cause when power goes into the hands of the wrong person.
Hauaa (monster):
The word ‘Hauaa’ was often used to scare children in childhood, but in this comic it has been given a real and concrete form. This character shows the height of imagination. Its individual body parts symbolize different fears and powers. Hauaa’s calmness or becoming violent depends entirely on the remote, making it feel like a living machine or ‘biological machine’.
Baby:
Baby’s character is a symbol of innocence in this horror story. When a small child is involved in a horror story, readers automatically relate to it. Baby’s courage later gives a new twist to the story, and this makes her the most important part of the story.
Art and portraiture
Vinod Kumar’s portraiture is the greatest strength of this comic, bringing the classic 90s style and the characters’ special make-up to life. The design of the Hauaa is so scary and detailed that from the mummy straps to the python scales and the webbed wings of the bat, every little thing has received special attention. The violence and the outspokenness with which the gore is shown in the opening pages, where Hauaa hunts down humans, do not let it be just a children’s comic, but rather a dark fantasy for adult readers. Along with this, the artist has also done a great job on the characters’ facial expressions, allowing Jacob’s hidden sadness and the greed shining in Pretali’s eyes to reach the readers without any dialogue.
Dialogue and script
Tikaram Sippy has kept the pace of the story very accurate and balanced. There are few dialogues, but they are effective. The dialogues of ‘Pret Uncle’ sometimes have a philosophical touch, while the dialogues of Police Inspector Namboree and other characters give a sense of realism in the story.
The suspense in the story has been maintained till the end. The mystery of ‘Iri’ (an ancient magician/sadhu) and his cave creates a mysterious and mythological atmosphere in the story. It’s fun to see how something as modern as a ‘remote’ wreaks terrible havoc in the magical world.
Themes and messages
‘Hauaa’ is not just entertainment; it also shows how dangerous the misuse of power and technology can be. Pretali’s ambition clearly shows that when science falls into the wrong hands, the consequences can be devastating. The end of the story also shows that even the biggest demon gives up in front of innocence and truth. For example, when the baby puts the remote in melting gold, it proves that innocence is the greatest strength.
A wonderful combination of science and tantra-mantra can be seen in it. Some scenes are particularly memorable—Hauaa’s blocking of bullets during the bank robbery, the mysterious atmosphere of Iri’s cave, and Jacob’s blocking of the giant demon in the climax. All these take readers to a different, exciting world.
Critical assessment: merits and shortcomings
Pros:
The concept of ‘Hauaa’ is unique and scary in itself, which looks completely new and fresh for that time. The pace of the story is so fast that it never seems dull, and new events on every page keep the reader interested. Jacob and Baby’s emotional relationship makes this story not just horror but also a human experience. Also, its cover art is so brilliant and attractive that any reader is forced to read it after seeing it.
Deficiencies:
According to today’s standards, some scenes may seem a little more violent.
The character of the cop (Inspector Namboree) is shown to be a bit weak and helpless, an old trend often seen in Indian comics.
Conclusion
Raj Comics’ ‘Hauaa’ is a classic work, which is a great blend of horror and action. It reminds us why Raj Comics is called the golden age of Indian comics. Characters like Jacob (Phantom Uncle) teach us that we should always use our strengths and powers for the welfare of others, no matter how the world views us.
If you like old-age comics and mysterious stories are of interest to you, then ‘Hauaa’ must be in your collection. It is not only exciting, but also brings back memories of the old heyday.
Finally, this comic proves that Indian writers and artists could compete with any international comics house. The fear of ‘Hauaa’ is as impressive today as it was two-three decades ago.
Rating: 4.5/5
