This review is based on ‘Ashwamani’, a very important issue of the famous ‘Ashwaraj’ series of Raj Comics. This comic reminds us of the era when Indian comics were in their golden age, and legends like Tarun Kumar Wahi and Pratap Mulik used to take readers to a different magical world with their words and pictures. This 31-page comic is not limited to just action, but it has a combination of love, deception, trust, and heroism that makes the story even more effective.
Prelude and Creative Team
‘Ashwamani’ is written by Meenu Wahi, and Tarun Kumar Wahi also contributes to strengthening the story. The names of the Wahi brothers are taken with great respect in the history of Raj Comics. Editing is done by Manish Gupta, while art direction is handled by Pratap Mulik, whose drawing style gave a distinct identity to Indian comics. The artwork is by Chandu, who has depicted the facial expressions, fear, anger, and fight scenes of the characters very closely.
Extending the Plot
The story progresses right from where the previous part ended. Ashwaraj’s path is blocked by Mithun, a disciple of Maharishi Phuk-Masan. Mithun is not a common man; both male and female qualities are present in his body. He chains Ashwaraj with his magical forces and makes murderous attacks on him. This is where Ashwaraj’s wisdom and bravery come to the fore. Despite great difficulties, he defeats Mithun and moves ahead.
On the other hand, Maharishi Phuk-Masan is watching everything with his divine vision. After Mithun’s defeat, they send their next disciple, the crab sage ‘Curc’. Cancer’s body is half human and half crab-like. His claws are as strong as iron, and his grip is so powerful that the other person cannot escape. The battle between Ashwaraj and Cancer becomes the most exciting part of this comic. Here, Ashwaraj uses his willpower and takes the form of Cancer himself to defeat him.
The biggest twist of the story comes when Ashwaraj reaches the valley of Karoon with his girlfriend, Princess Ashvakirti. This is where the world’s largest and most precious treasure is hidden. Ashwaraj has complete faith in Ashvakirti, but this is where the readers get the biggest shock. Ashvakirti does what no one expects—she turns out to be treacherous.
She laughingly tells him that she never loved Ashwaraj. She was with him only to learn the path to the treasure and Ashwamani. Throughout the journey, she kept dropping beads from a string of pearls so that the army of her father, Emperor Ashwantaka, could reach there. This cunning act of Ashvakirti breaks Ashwaraj’s heart.
Not only this, Ashvakirti frees five dangerous demons using Tutabuta’s magical boxes—Kalakhjur, Chandal, Panjal, Earthquake, and Absorbent. All these demons attack Ashwaraj together. Ashwaraj alone fights all five, while Ashvakirti stands at a distance, watching the show and laughing.
Meanwhile, another important part of the story comes to light, where Suryavanshi Emperor Tarpido, the father of Ashwaraj, is shown performing severe penance. He obtains the ‘Ashwamani’ by burning even his bones and blood. This gem is the greatest shield protecting the Suryavanshis. The story ends on a powerful note of suspense when Emperor Tarpido learns that the enemy army has changed its course and is now heading straight towards Ashwaraj.
Analysis of Characters
Ashvaraj (The Hero):
In this issue, Ashvaraj comes across as a hero who is broken inside despite being strong. He is extremely powerful physically, but getting carried away by emotions becomes his biggest weakness. His trust in his girlfriend is what hurts him the most. Yet, his agility and form-changing power in battle prove him to be a tremendous warrior.
Ashvakirti (The Antagonist):
Ashvakirti’s character is that of a beautiful but extremely cunning woman. This princess, who looks innocent from the outside, is completely selfish and deceitful from within. Her betrayal creates hatred for her in the minds of readers, and this becomes the biggest success of the character.
Maharishi Fook-Masan:
He remains a mysterious spectator throughout the story. His calmness even after the defeat of his disciples indicates that even bigger tricks are still going on in his mind.
Monsters (The Monsters):
Monsters like Kalakhjoor and Chandal have extremely scary and imaginative designs. They are not just symbols of strength, but also truly test the patience and courage of Ashvaraj.
Review of Art and Pictorial
Pratap Mulik’s art direction is the real strength of this comic. The special identity of Indian comics of the 80s and 90s—a little rough, a little raw, but very effective—is clearly visible in every panel. Ashvaraj’s struggle with Mithun and Cancer feels so lively that the sounds of chains breaking and the anger emerging on the warriors’ faces reach the reader directly. In many places, it feels as if we ourselves are standing on that battlefield.
Especially the scene with the ‘carousel treasure’ becomes very spectacular. Gold treasures scattered all around, shields adorned with gems, and shining swords give the feeling of a dream-like world. When the five demons come together, the entire scene feels like a big film climax. The bone-like body of the demon and the scary, wolf-like appearance of Chandal leave the same impact even today. All this clearly shows Pratap Mulik’s imagination and command over his art.
Writing and Dialogue
Meenu Wahi and Tarun Kumar Wahi have kept the dialogues very powerful and effective. While courage and confidence are reflected in Ashvaraj’s words, sarcasm, bitterness, and pride are clearly felt in Ashvakirti’s dialogues. When Ashvakirti says, “You idiot, Ashvaraj! Blank fool!”, that dialogue hurts directly in the heart and deepens Ashvaraj’s pain. The language used in the penance scenes of Emperor Tarpido is serious and full of respect, which further strengthens his sacrifice and greatness.
Themes and Messages
‘Ashvamani’ is not just a superhero or fantasy comic, but it also deeply touches upon human nature and the values of life. The story of love and betrayal explains the great devastation that excessive attachment and blind trust can bring. Ashwaraj’s blind faith in his girlfriend becomes his biggest weakness.
The character of Emperor Tarpido sets an example of duty and sacrifice. To reduce the suffering of his subjects, performing rigorous penance and putting himself through pain is the hallmark of an ideal king. On the other hand, Ashwaraj’s persistence despite the attacks of demons and greedy circumstances shows that true strength lies not only in the body but also in the strength of the mind and character. This is what elevates this story from a simple adventure to a meaningful message related to life.
Technical Side and Printing
The paneling and layout of the comic are very balanced and easy to understand. The use of colors is quite bright and impressive according to the printing technology of that time; especially red, yellow, and blue enhance the darker atmosphere of the story. The speech bubbles used for dialogues and sound effects like ‘tadak’ and ‘tadam’ make the story more lively and maintain a good reading pace.
Conclusion (Final Verdict)
‘Ashwamani’ is a great and memorable issue from the ‘Ashwaraj’ series of comics. This comic fills the reader with thrill and, at times, strong emotions. On one side, there are tremendous war scenes, while on the other, Ashvakirti’s betrayal makes the mind restless. The point at which the story ends automatically forces the reader to pick up the next issue, ‘Tilism ka Player’.
This comic is a great experience for readers of all ages. For old readers, it feels like sweet memories of the past, and for new readers, it offers a great opportunity to know and understand the golden era of Indian comics.
My Rating: 9.5/10
