In the history of Raj Comics, series like ‘Sarvanayak’ and ‘Rajnagar Rakshak’ have taken the level of storytelling to a truly new height. ‘Hibernation’ is a chapter in this series which not only delivers thrills, but also shows readers a scary and restless picture of the future. Shaped by Sanjay Gupta’s vision and Stuti Mishra’s writing, this comic presents a conflict between science, technology, emotions, and morality, where every decision brings major consequences in the future.
Background and Plot of the Story
The story begins with a ‘recap’, where we are made to realize that Rajnagar is no longer the same safe city as before. Once known for peace and order, this city has now come under the shadow of modern weapons, machines, and technological forces. The atmosphere is becoming increasingly unstable, and danger lurks in every corner.
Inspector Steel and the Mechanic’s Conflict:
In the opening pages of the comic, we are shown a momentous event from a few months ago, where Inspector Steel encounters a dangerous villain named ‘Mechanic’. The Mechanic has developed a technology with the help of which he can control machines at his own behest. He fits an ‘accelerator device’ into the body of Steel, causing him to gradually lose control over his own powers. This is where the story of Steel’s system malfunction and its ‘corruption’ begins, the effects of which later take a very frightening form.
Dhruv’s House Attack and Metallica’s Entrance:
In the present day, the story turns towards the house of Super Commando Dhruv. Here, we see some light-hearted and emotional moments between Dhruv, his mother, and Shweta (Chandika), who has been a special identity in Raj Comics stories. But this peace does not last long. Suddenly, a humanoid named ‘Metallica’, made of liquid metal, attacks Dhruv’s house.
It is here that Dhruv’s true strength—that is, his intelligence—comes to the fore. When he realizes that Metallica can change its body’s molecular structure, he uses his brain instead of direct force. He takes the help of boiling desi ghee kept in the kitchen. The unsaturated fats present in the boiling ghee enter Metallica’s molecular structure, due to which its balance gets disturbed and it gradually starts freezing. This scene brilliantly showcases Dhruv’s scientific thinking and quick decision-making ability.
Shweta and Dr. Anis Raza’s Laboratory:
Shweta and Dr. Anis Raza are working on projects like ‘live metal’ and ‘combat drones’. Their aim is to make Rajnagar completely crime-free. However, Dhruv does not fully agree with this approach. He believes that human sensitivity and conscience are extremely important in policing and security arrangements. Shweta, on the other hand, believes that systems can be made more accurate and efficient through technology. From here, the ideological confrontation between the two (Ideological Conflict) emerges, which adds further depth to the story.
Horrifying View of the Future (The Time Skip):
The biggest twist of the story comes when we are shown Rajnagar after a passage of time. This future Rajnagar is completely devastated and is now ruled by a ‘robo army’. This phase is called ‘Hibernation’ and ‘Dead End’. In this same ruined city, Natasha—who is the daughter of Grandmaster Robo and the former girlfriend of Dhruv—enters as a spy or protector. Her motive is linked to the formulas of ‘live metal’ and the discoveries of Dr. Anees, which may be the root cause of this catastrophe.
Changed Form of Steel:
The most shocking and frightening twist of the story emerges when it is revealed that Inspector Steel is no longer a defender fighting criminals. He has now become the server of ‘Hiberzone’, which was once the headquarters of the police. Dr. Anees Raza is being held captive there. The ‘Immortal’ contained within Steel, that is, the human part of him, is either overrun or completely suppressed. He has now started believing that the existence of humans is the problem and that the rule of machines should be established in the world. This line of thinking pushes Rajnagar towards a dark future.
Analysis of Characters
Super Commando Dhruv:
Dhruv is a calm, restrained, and mindful hero, as always. In this story, he is shown as someone who is not afraid of the advancement of technology but is cautious about its misuse. He is not opposed to machines, but is firmly against trusting them blindly. His interactions with his sister Shweta give emotional depth to the story and show that, despite differences in opinion, trust and belonging remain between them.
Inspector Steel (Immortal):
This comic is actually a deep study of the character of Inspector Steel. A robot that contains a human mind and emotions within it is shown very effectively, highlighting the duality going on inside him. When he fights his ex-wife Roma (Octopussy), the scene shakes not just through action, but emotionally as well. Steel’s emotions losing to his machine programming becomes the most painful and memorable part of the story.
Shweta / Chandika:
Shweta’s character emerges here as both a visionary scientist and a warrior. The drones and techniques developed by her definitely cause problems in the future, but her intentions were never wrong. Whatever she does, she does it for the safety of Rajnagar. Her character shows how much devastation even a wrong decision taken with good intentions can bring.
Natasha and Others:
Natasha’s love for Dhruv and her dedication to her responsibilities make her a complex and interesting character. She is not just someone’s girlfriend, but an important character who influences the direction of the story. Meanwhile, characters like Salma Khan and Octopussy add a strong touch of action and thrill, making the narrative more dynamic.
Writing and Dialogue
Stuti Mishra has handled the script in a very balanced manner. The story revolves between different time frames—past, present, and future. Usually, such stories can get bogged down, but every turn here remains clean and understandable. A fine combination of science and philosophy can be seen in the dialogues. Especially during the conversation between Steel and Salma on ‘frustration’ and ‘human sensations’, she makes the reader pause and think.
Art and Portraiture
Sushant Panda’s art direction and Ravi Anand’s portrayal take this comic to a different level. The expressions of the characters are extremely lively—especially the melting and then freezing of Metallica, and the scenes of the ruined future Rajnagar leave a deep impression. Onomatopoeia like ‘jing’, ‘bang’, and ‘kark’ has been used effectively in action scenes, making every blow and impact feel powerful while reading. The selection of colors also changes according to the mood of the story—the home scenes have brightness and warmth, while the grey and somber tones in the devastation and future scenes make the atmosphere heavy.
Ethical and Philosophical Aspects
‘Hibernation’ is not just an action-packed comic, but it also brings out, in depth, the hidden confrontation between technology and morality. The story raises the important question of whether excessive technology can really guarantee safety. Shweta’s ‘live metal’ technique, which was created to become Rajnagar’s shield, ironically becomes the reason for its destruction.
The human versus machine debate is presented in a highly logical but frightening way from Inspector Steel’s perspective. Steel argues that humans cannot deliver fair justice because of their emotions, anger, and bias. This reasoning sounds correct at first, but it gradually turns him into a cold and cruel dictator. The story leaves readers wondering whether justice is possible without human sensibilities.
Climax and the Road to the Future
The comic ends with a big bang and tremendous suspense. Chandika saves herself and Black Cat from the drones with the help of a truck full of explosives, but the questions remain—what will happen to Rajnagar? What is Dhruv’s future? The advertisement of ‘Rajnagar Reboot’ shown on the last page pushes readers’ curiosity to the extreme. It becomes clear that the Rajnagar we knew until now is never going to remain the same.
Conclusion of the Review
‘Hibernation’ is a true must-read comic for fans of Raj Comics. It completely satisfies not only Dhruv and Steel fans, but also readers who enjoy sci-fi.
Pros:
This comic offers a strong and emotional story, where the development of the characters is clearly visible—especially the negative form of Inspector Steel, which gives a new and exciting twist to the narrative. The stunning artwork and powerful action scenes keep the excitement alive throughout the comic. The ideological conflict between Dhruv and Shweta prevents the story from being limited to just physical battles and adds significant intellectual depth.
Deficiencies:
For new readers who start the ‘Sarvanayak’ series without reading the earlier issues, it may be a little difficult to fully understand the story.
In some places, the time cycle (timeline jumping) feels very fast.
Overall, ‘Hibernation’ is a daring and thought-provoking comic. It warns us not to lose our humanity in the blind race for security. This is not just the story of Rajnagar’s destruction, but the beginning of a difficult and uncertain future.
Rating: 4.5/5
