‘Jatayu’ of Manoj Comics was a hero known for his supernatural powers and never-say-die courage. The name of the comic we are reviewing today is ‘Jadugar Huddanga’. This story is not just a simple fantasy, but it shows a brilliant combination of good and evil, the misuse of divine blessings, and true bravery. Author Papinder Juneja and artist A.M.G. have introduced readers to a completely new world of imagination through this creation.
The Beginning of the Story and the Ego of the Boon:
The story begins in a very impressive and traditional manner. The magician Huddanga performs rigorous penance for years so that he can become invincible. Pleased with his penance, Mahadevi appears before him. Huddanga demands such power from her before which every power in the world would prove useless. The Goddess grants him a ‘superpower’, i.e., a magical mace, but also places a strict condition on it. She clearly warns that if this power is used on an innocent or helpless person, then this mace will become useless.
This is where an important turning point in the story emerges. This condition works exactly like ‘Chekhov’s gun’, which leaves the question in the reader’s mind as to when and how the hoodlum will misuse his power. The hoodlum’s mind starts dreaming of ruling the whole world, and this pride becomes the first step toward his downfall.
Ego and Empire Expansion:
The first major demonstration of Huddanga’s power is seen when King Bhanupratap of Shamshergarh tries to assert his authority over a golden palace during a hunting expedition, which actually belongs to Huddanga. Here the author very beautifully shows how power and greed make a person blind. The hoodlum humiliates the king and drives him away. But when the king returns with his entire army, the hoodlum destroys the entire army with a single blow of his ‘superpower’ mace. He not only takes the king captive but also captures his entire kingdom, Shamshergarh. The scene clearly shows the brutality of the hoodlum and his growing vanity.
Entry of Hero ‘Jatayu’:
As the terror of Huddanga increases and he tries to kidnap Princess Pallavi of Hridaygarh, our hero ‘Jatayu’ enters the story. Jatayu is shown as a calm, composed but extremely powerful warrior. He is resting under a tree when he learns about Huddanga’s atrocities from the birds’ conversations. This is where a special power of Jatayu comes into play—he can understand the language of birds. This quality makes him different and special from ordinary heroes.
Mahasangram and Divine Intervention:
The first encounter between Jatayu and Huddanga is very exciting and grand. Jatayu uses his sword with ‘time power’, while Huddanga strikes with his magic mace. Due to the collision of these two superpowers, not only the earth but even the heavens tremble. Even the throne of Lord Indra starts shaking in heaven. This scene further enlarges the scale of the story. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Mahadevi herself intervenes, and Jatayu is called to Devlok. There, Indra Dev tells him that to defeat Huddanga, the ‘Suchang Mani’ will be needed. This is where the story gets a new goal and a new direction, which makes it even more exciting going forward.
The Mistake of the Hoodlum and the Beginning of the Fall:
The biggest and most important turning point of the story comes when Huddanga tries to trap Princess Neha in his scheme. Under the influence of his pride and lust, he attempts to attack Neha. Exactly what Mahadevi had warned about earlier happens. As soon as the hoodlum strikes an innocent woman, his ‘superpower’ is destroyed at that very moment. This reiterates the basic lesson of Indian mythology that the misuse of power ultimately leads to destruction.
Bizarre Demon and the Final War:
After losing the power of his magic mace, Huddanga resorts to tantra-mantra and awakens a terrible eight-handed demon named ‘Bizarre’. This demon strangles the entire army by spreading a web like a spider. The scenes of the final battle are shown very impressively. Jatayu returns and uses his ‘time power’ to cut off the limbs of the Bizarre demon one by one.
Even after this, Huddanga is not ready to accept defeat. He turns ants into giants and birds into monsters with his magical powers. In this situation, Jatayu finds himself in trouble, but then Sage Suchang appears. He gives Jatayu a miraculous orb, with the power of which the magic affecting the ants and birds is neutralized.
Climax and an Unexpected Ending:
Jatayu eventually slays Huddanga with his sword. But this is where the story takes a tremendous turn. Before dying, Huddanga lets his soul enter Jatayu’s body. Now Jatayu, who has come under Huddanga’s control, starts attacking his own comrades. This scene is no less than a shock for the readers. Eventually, Sage Suchang, with the help of a magical rosary, expels Huddanga’s soul from Jatayu’s body. Huddanga’s spirit escapes from there, saying that he will return again. Instead of ending completely, such an ending leaves readers eager for a sequel.
Art and Portraiture
A.M.G.’s drawings are praiseworthy. The choice of colors feels extremely lively, especially when looking back at 90’s comics. The hoodlum’s form—yellow body, pointed ears, and red tilak—makes him a scary and memorable villain. In battle scenes, words like ‘dhadak’, ‘khachak’, and ‘kadak’ bring the action even more alive. The illustrations of giant ants and grotesque demons give flight to children’s imagination.
Dialogue and Screenplay:
Papinder Juneja’s script moves at a fast pace. The story does not slow down anywhere. The dialogues are simple but effective. The difference between the laughter of the hoodlum and the seriousness of Jatayu is clearly felt. The flow of information through birds and the scenes of Devlok make the story a beautiful combination of mythology and fantasy.
Critical Analysis:
‘Jadugar Huddanga’ is not limited to just entertainment, but it also conveys many deep moral messages. The story teaches that power is right only as long as it remains within limits, because pride in a boon later becomes a curse. Jatayu’s victory shows that bravery is achieved not only through the power of the sword, but also through the guidance of sages and making the right decisions at the right time. Also, the end of the story indicates that evil does not end completely but can change form and return, so it is important to always remain alert.
Yes, in some places the story might seem a little predictable, like the hero arriving just in time or the sage suddenly appearing. But in the world of comics, such ‘deus ex machina’ is commonly accepted.
Conclusion:
Overall, ‘Magician Hoodang’ is a great work of Manoj Comics. It offers a memorable and epic conflict between Jatayu’s heroism and Huddanga’s cunning. This 32-page journey takes the reader to a different world. If you want to refresh your old memories or understand the roots of Indian comics, then this comic must be in your collection. It reminds us why children once used to be crazy about these colorful pages.
Rating: 4.5/5
