Raj Comics’ ‘Nagayan’ series is not just a story, but a monumental work of the Indian comics world which can truly be called a Magnum Opus. This is the same series which proved that Indian comics are no less than anyone in terms of storytelling. Made from Sanjay Gupta’s imagination and Anupam Sinha’s brilliant writing and powerful artwork, the series takes the great epic of the Ramayana into a fantasy-driven, high-tech, and quite dark world of the year 2025. The first five parts—Selection, Eclipse, Abduction, Refuge, and Combustion—after continuously gripping the readers, now lead to the sixth part, ‘Battle Scandal (Rann Kand)’.
It is clear from the name itself that ‘Rann Kand’ is that phase of war where no tricks or planning work anymore; instead, a terrible face-to-face confrontation begins. This 84-page special issue is not just limited to superhero action, but also presents a deeply emotional story of sacrifice, loyalty in relationships, hidden family truths, and a hero breaking down and standing up again.
Detailed Outline of the Plot
The story of ‘Rann Kand’ continues from where ‘Dahan Kand’ left readers in great suspense. The entire narrative is divided into five main chapters—Ordeal, Role, Ambush, Mummy, and Combustion.
Chapter 1: The Fire Test
The story begins with a terrible war raging on the outskirts of Alandhya. Nagraj has now completely become ‘Black Nagraj’. He has lost his consciousness and is entirely under the control of Krurpasha (Nagpasha). Things reach such an extreme that Nagraj becomes the biggest threat to his own comrades and to all of humanity. On the other hand, Super Commando Dhruv stands at the front with his army. The cover page of the comic itself gives goosebumps, where an arrow (or mace-like weapon) is seen piercing Dhruv’s body while Nagraj is shown wailing in pain. This scene directly reminds one of the moment in the Ramayana when Lakshman loses his strength and Rama breaks down.
Chapter 2: Role
The wonders of science and strategy can be seen clearly in this chapter. Dhruv, displaying his sharp intellect, uses dry ice, i.e., solid carbon dioxide, to bring down the clouds that were working to spread the black powers. This part strongly establishes that even without any superpowers, Dhruv can face the greatest dangers purely on the basis of science and understanding. This is also where Devashish, a robotic warrior created through divine science, enters and adds new layers of adventure to the story.
Chapter 3: Ambush-Retaliation
Grand Master Robo and Natasha create complete terror in the metropolis, i.e., the Underground City. They cut off the air and water supply of the city, putting immense pressure on the common people. Here, one witnesses a tremendous and bloody conflict between the Black Terminators and Robo’s goons. Meanwhile, the emotional tension between Dhruv’s son Rishi and Natasha not only prevents the story from being limited to pure action, but also fills it with strong human emotions.
Chapter 4: Mummy
This chapter delivers the biggest shock of the entire comic. A mysterious mummy, seen wrapped in bandages from head to toe, finally reveals her true identity. During the fight, when her restraints are unlocked and a locket becomes visible, it is revealed that this mummy is none other than Shweta, Dhruv’s sister. This revelation comes as a massive shock for the readers, as Shweta was believed to be dead. It is revealed here that she was not killed in a car accident; instead, Robo abducted her and transformed her into a deadly killing machine in his laboratory.
Chapter 5: Combustion
In the final chapter, the extreme forms of emotion and power are on full display. Bharati, the wife of Nagraj, without caring for her own life, assumes a mystical form known as ‘Sakar-Shakar’ to transport Nagraj to the dimension of Alandhya, where Visarpi is imprisoned. Bharati’s sacrifice stands as one of the saddest and most heart-touching moments of the entire Nagayan series. Finally, consumed by rage and deep sorrow, Nagraj drags Alandhya’s dimension into the physical world, creating a cataclysm-like situation across the entire Earth.
Psychological Analysis of Characters
Nagraj: Between Dignity and Darkness
In ‘Rann Kanda’, Nagraj seems to be going through the most difficult and darkest phase of his life. Under the influence of black powers, he sometimes behaves like a villain, but the king within him is still alive and constantly struggling with his limitations. When he regains consciousness and sees Dhruv in a dying state, his broken cry clearly shows that humanity is not yet over within him. He is a godlike hero who is burdened with his immense powers and suffers the most because of that burden.
Super Commando Dhruv: Unshakable Loyalty
Dhruv emerges as a true hero throughout this series. He has neither supernatural powers like Nagraj nor black magic like Krurpasha, but he possesses the greatest strength—his willpower. Be it the pain of being abandoned by his wife Natasha or discovering his sister Shweta as a mummy, Dhruv holds himself steady at all costs. No matter how difficult the situation becomes, he never forgets the difference between right and wrong. His calm yet sharp strategic mind ultimately shows Nagraj the path out of darkness.
Bharti: The Pinnacle of Love and Sacrifice
Often in comics, the wives of heroes are shown merely as ‘women in distress’, but Bharti’s character completely breaks this stereotype. She comes across as a strong warrior, not just the wife of Nagraj. She knows the truth that Nagraj’s true love is Visarpi, yet she prepares herself for ‘Dahan’ to save her husband’s mission and the world. Bharti’s sacrifice becomes a modern metaphor for sacrifice, courage, and the inner strength of Indian women.
Grand Master Robbo and Natasha: Compulsion and Cruelty
Grand Master Robbo returns to his old, merciless image once again in this issue. For his purpose, he does not hesitate to use even his daughter Natasha and his grandson Rishi as pawns. Natasha’s internal struggle adds further depth to the story. On one side is her father, and on the other side are her husband, son, and her own morality. This duality makes Natasha the most complex and human character of the entire series.
Drawing and Visual Language
It would not be wrong to call Anupam Sinha the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ of Indian comics, as his artistic skills are visible at their peak in ‘Rann Kand’. The battle scenes between the Yetis and the Naga Sena are composed with such detail that every attack and every confrontation can be felt by the reader. The modern page layouts are designed in a way that, at times, the characters seem to move beyond the boundaries of the panels. The fine facial lines and the moisture in the eyes directly touch the heart in emotional scenes such as Nagraj’s lamentation or Dhruv recognizing Shweta. On a technical level, the depiction of the metropolis of 2025, the silt craft, and ‘black energy’ represents a remarkable fusion of science and imagination. Sunil Kumar Pandey’s color combinations further strengthen the mood of the story through the aggressive reds of the battle scenes and the cool, metallic blue aura of futuristic cities.
Mythological and Scientific Confluence
The greatest strength of ‘Nagayan’ lies in its deeply rooted themes, which intelligently introduce the immortal characters and events of the Ramayana into a modern context. Just as in the Ramayana, Lakshman becomes unconscious due to ‘Shakti’, changing the direction of the war, similarly here the ‘black weapons’ of Krurpasha create the same devastating effect. ‘Yetiraj Jingle’ strongly resembles Hanuman ji with his immense power and intelligence and becomes Nagraj’s support in times of crisis. The series is not merely a superhero story, but also highlights the clash between science and nature. Concepts such as advanced scientific developments like Underground Cities, human greed, and the wrath of nature in response make the story more serious and thought-provoking.
Editing and Presentation
Editor Sanjay Gupta has expressed his heartfelt views in the ‘Green Page’ (Green Page No. 279). He openly acknowledges that maintaining continuity in such a vast and complex series, while publishing every issue on time, was not an easy task. Looking at the quality of ‘Rann Kand’, it becomes evident that the entire team of Raj Comics worked tirelessly on this project and invested their complete dedication and effort.
The advertisements at the end of the comic—such as ‘Doga Hi Hi’, ‘Love Deer’ (Coby-Wolf), and ‘Divine’ (Nuclear)—serve as a reminder of the golden era when Raj Comics was at its peak. Meanwhile, the promise of 128 pages for ‘Iti Cond’ further increases the curiosity of readers and makes the wait even more difficult.
Main Points of the Review: Strong and Weak Sides
Strong Sides (Strengths):
Shweta’s shocking revelation in the story and Bharti’s sacrifice create suspense that shakes the reader to the core. The emotional depth of relationships such as father-son, siblings, and husband-wife, set amid battles of machines, science, and magical weapons, gives a new dimension to the narrative. This is the reason why the balance between action and emotion becomes exceptionally strong here. Anupam Sinha’s artistic skills are so powerful that this comic stands at an international level alongside Marvel or DC Comics. Along with this, serious social issues like global warming and terrorism have also been seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story.
Weak Side
‘Rann Kand’ has such a vast scope that if a reader has not read the previous five parts, it may be slightly difficult for them to understand the depth of the characters and their motivations. The story is very expansive, due to which its multiple sub-plots sometimes slow down the pace of the main narrative. For new readers, it can be a bit challenging to connect with the story and stay engaged while absorbing everything at once.
Conclusions and Ratings
‘Nagayan: Rann Kand’ is not just a comic book; it is a grand celebration of courage, sacrifice, and true friendship. It teaches us that no matter how powerful the dark forces may seem, even a small flame of truth and love—like Bharti’s sacrifice and Dhruv’s wisdom—has the power to destroy them.
This issue is the highest-stakes chapter of the entire series. The story halts at a point from where there is no turning back. Bharti has left this world, Shweta has returned but in a completely different form, Nagraj has shattered the boundaries of dimensions, and the final decision is still yet to be made.
Final Rating: 5/5 (Masterpiece)
If you are a fan of Indian comics and have not read ‘Nagayan’ yet, then believe me, you have missed a truly glorious chapter in Indian comics history. Reading ‘Battle Scandal’ is an experience that will linger in your mind for several weeks. Now, all that remains is the wait for ‘Summer Scandal’ and ‘Iti Scandal’, where the final and decisive chapter of this epic saga will be written.
