Radha Comics in the 90s gave many such stories that gave a new flight to the thinking and imagination of children and teenagers. “Yantra Demon Ka Terror” is also an important comic of this series. This story is not just about the birth of a superhero (Origin Story), but it shows how human courage stands against science when it is misused. This 33-page comic, written by Vatsul Kaushik and decorated with stunning illustrations by Drona Features, is still a deep nostalgia for readers.
Brief description of the plot
The story starts in the country’s capital, Delhi, where suddenly there is chaos all around. A huge and extremely powerful robot, called ‘Yantra Demon’, starts wreaking havoc on the city streets. It has modern weapons and kills hundreds of people in a matter of moments. The police and administration appear completely helpless, because ordinary bullets and weapons have no effect on that iron monster.
The brain behind this whole catastrophe is a crazy but extremely clever scientist — Doctor Excel. Excel wants to use his scientific understanding to rule the world. He captures a television station and gives the country’s Prime Minister a 36-hour ultimatum. His condition is clear: either the Prime Minister resigns and hands over the power of the country to him, otherwise he will throw the entire country into destruction.
To deal with this serious situation, the government takes the help of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Padmanabhan. Padmanabhan explains that the only way to defeat the Yantra Demon is to create a warrior who is half human and half machine, i.e., a cyborg. It will have the power of a machine, but the human mind and conscience will remain. Meanwhile, a patriotic officer named Vikram comes forward and agrees to risk his life for his country. Doctor Padmanabhan transforms Vikram into ‘Shakti Putra’.
Things get even more serious in the last part of the story. Even the supercomputers sent by the Indian Army and the United Nations prove useless against the demon. Ultimately, Shakti Putra himself enters the field. A fierce battle takes place between the two, in which Shakti Putra uses not only his strength but also his understanding and strategy and destroys the demon’s control box. But this victory comes at a huge price. Doctor Padmanabhan is killed by Doctor Excel’s goons. The story ends with Doctor Excel escaping and Shakti Putra swearing to his new mission.
Analysis of Characters
Shakti Putra (Vikram):
Shakti Putra is the main hero of this comic. His character is reminiscent of ‘Captain America’ and ‘RoboCop’ in some ways, but seems molded in an Indian context. He is a fearless and honest officer who is willing to give up his identity and even his normal life to protect the country. He has a special shield that protects him from the dangerous attacks of the Yantra Demon. But what makes him different from an ordinary machine is his courage, his conscience, and his human spirit.
Doctor Padmanabhan:
Doctor Padmanabhan is the real guide of this story, i.e., the ‘mentor’. His character clearly shows that when science connects with morality, it becomes a medium of security and not destruction. He symbolizes knowledge, responsibility, and sacrifice. His martyrdom brings emotional depth to the story and inspires Shakti Putra to keep moving forward.
Doctor Excel:
Doctor Excel is a classic ‘mad scientist’ villain. His vanity and passion for technology make him extremely dangerous. He only wants power and does not shy away from taking the lives of innocent people to achieve his goal. His character shows that when intelligence turns into ego, it becomes destructive to society.
Drawing and art
The drawing done by Drona Features can be said to be quite impressive for that time. The design of Yantra Demon is extremely grand and fear-inducing. The weapons on his body, the light emanating from his eyes, and his huge size are clearly visible in the artwork.
The choice of colors is also quite lively. The use of words like ‘ध्यान’, ‘करक’, ‘वहाम’ in battle scenes makes the action more effective. The views of Delhi’s streets, the television center, and the scientific laboratory make the story’s environment serious and believable.
Major topics and messages
This analysis elevates this comic from just an exciting story to a meaningful discourse. Here, the confrontation between two different faces of science is clearly visible—on the one hand is the destructive ego of Doctor Excel, and on the other hand is the creative and protective thinking of Doctor Padmanabhan. It gives a clear message that technology itself is neither good nor bad; its effect depends on the person using it.
Vikram becoming Shakti Putra is not the result of any personal ambition; rather, it is a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice. This is what gives a special dignity to his character. The coming together of India and the United Nations in times of crisis adds a sensible and mature aspect of global cooperation to the story, explaining to readers the importance of international unity.
Critical vision
The story manages to keep readers’ curiosity until the end due to its constant pace and exciting journey. The tricks of Doctor Excel, the preparation of Shakti Putra, as well as the detailed battle scenes of General Ratnakar make it impressive. However, Shakti Putra’s shield seeming inspired by ‘Captain America’ and Doctor Excel’s easy escape raise some questions about the originality and logic of the story. The dialogues are overly dramatic in some places, reminiscent of ’90s films, which might irritate modern readers.
Historical context
These comics, published around 1991, also reflect the changing thinking of India during that period. At that time, computers and robotics were no less than magic for the common people. This story created curiosity about science and technology in the minds of children. Radha Comics gave a new and modern look to the Indian superhero genre through this.
Conclusion
Overall, “Yantra Demon’s Terror” is a classic Indian comic. It is not limited to just action but presents the struggle between good and evil as a modern scientific metaphor. Shakti Putra is born through a tragic event—the death of Doctor Padmanabhan—which makes him a serious and purposeful hero.
If you want to understand the comics culture of the ’90s or read a powerful science-fiction action comic, then you must read this comic. It reminds us that no matter how powerful a machine becomes, ultimately it is the human spirit and understanding that lead to victory.
Rating: 4.5/5
