What is that dreadful truth of ‘woman’s land’? Where men enter—a feast for death!
The story begins with a fantasy that gives goosebumps to anyone. Anupam Sinha has created a civilization in the form of ‘Stree-Bhu’ which has been completely cut off from the outside world for thousands of years. The place is nestled among five active volcanoes, where the ‘vapor wall’ (Wall of Vapors) protects it from the sight of any radar or satellite.
But the biggest feature of this place is not its geography, but its ‘social structure’. Here, power is completely in the hands of women. The author has shown here the most extreme form of a ‘matriarchal society’. Here, men are seen protesting on the streets for their ‘rights’, which is a direct and sharp satire on today’s male-dominated society. The very opening pages of the comics make it clear that this is not an ordinary superhero story.
Super Commando Dhruv’s biggest litmus test: When the hero’s strength became his enemy!
In this story, Super Commando Dhruv, who is always calm and defeats big criminals with his sharp intelligence, faces a challenge whose solution is not even in his ‘mind’.
‘Shaktirupa’—a mysterious divine energy, which is present in the sanctum sanctorum of the monastery. Its law is extremely strict: it absorbs the physical strength of men and gives divine power to women. Dhruv, who has full confidence in his agility and physical ability, feels helpless here. His body starts becoming heavy, and his breathing starts getting labored. Anupam Sinha has shown this human aspect of Dhruv very beautifully—a hero who recognizes his weakness but still does not want to back down.
‘Devina’—The bloody orgy that gave sleepless nights to the police administration in Rajnagar jail!
The most mysterious and powerful character in the story is Devina. As soon as this woman, who has been in a coma for five years, comes in contact with the waves of ‘Shaktirupa’, a terrible energy awakens inside her. Her escape from the Genetic Center and breaking the high walls of the prison like a toy is one of the most powerful action scenes in comics.
Devina is not an ordinary villain. She is a daughter who is yearning to reach her mother ‘Radha’ (a member of Jupiter Circus). Her anger is against the system that separated her from her mother. When she thrashes both criminals and police together inside the prison, both fear and sympathy for her arise simultaneously in the reader’s mind.
The Black Cat’s ‘Destructive Rings’ and that mysterious explosion of the monastery!
Dhruv’s old enemy Black Cat acts like a trigger here. His ambition and expert art of theft are what shake ‘Shaktirupa’ from its place. Black Cat’s ‘Flying Kiss Rings’ and his high-tech gadgets show how brilliantly Raj Comics had introduced technology and smart theft even during that period. The explosion inside the monastery and the smoke rising from it give a new twist to the entire story, connecting the link between ‘Stree-Bhu’ and ‘Rajnagar’.
Anupam Sinha’s magical brush: Live death and destruction peek through every page!
Almost half the credit for the success of this comic goes to its artwork, where Anupam Sinha’s art style has tremendous ‘muscularity’ and fine detailing, which was rarely seen in many comics of that era. When Devina kicks hard or Super Commando Dhruv dives into the air, the movement in the action panels is literally felt.
Apart from this, Sinha has depicted in great detail the ancient temples of Stree-Bhoo in the background, the smoke rising from the volcanoes, and the modern skyline—three completely different worlds of Rajnagar. The large and bold use of words like ‘dhadak’ and ‘dhadam’ at the time of blasts makes the reader feel as if the noise is echoing directly in the ears.
A strong attack on gender discrimination: Is balance of power the only path to peace?
‘Female-land’ raises a deep question—can men and women ever be truly equal? The story shows that if nature had given more physical strength to women, would they have become ‘oppressive’ just like men?
Seeing the condition of men in the feminine kingdom, the reader is forced to think that no matter which gender the dominance belongs to, in the end it only creates injustice. Empress Sayani Devi’s fear that “power imbalance will bring destruction” comes to the fore as the main philosophy of the entire comic. The story gives a clear message that it is equally important to have ‘power’ and ‘authority’ along with ‘restraint’.
The Amazing Confluence of Science and Myth: Mutations or Divine Miracles?
A large part of the comic is based on science. Scientists describe Devina’s DNA as ‘unknown DNA’ and a ‘mutation’ and try to understand it in the lab. On the other hand, the people of the monastery consider it to be the grace of ‘Shaktirup’.
Anupam Sinha has kept these two thoughts together very wisely. It gives a glimpse of today’s modern India—where on one hand we are reaching space and on the other hand we are also connected to our traditions and faith. Showing Shakti Rupa’s energy as ‘radiation’ gives the story a clear flavor of science fiction.
That nostalgic association of Jupiter Circus: a return to the streets of Dhruv’s past!
For older readers, Devina’s association with ‘Jupiter Circus’ creates a strong emotional connection. Dhruv’s childhood was spent in a circus, and when he learns that Devina’s mother Radha was part of the same circus, the fight becomes personal for him. Now Dhruv is not just solving a case—he is also trying to connect the scattered pieces of his past.
Dishti—The greatest power in the universe in the hands of a little girl!
The climax of the comic is no less than a film suspense. Dhruv’s younger sister Dishti, who till now seemed to be a side character, unknowingly encapsulates ‘Shaktirup’ within herself.
Having such dangerous energy inside a small girl can become a big threat to the future. Will Dishti be able to handle this power? Or will she also cause destruction like Devina? The same question draws readers to the next part of this series, ‘Sindhunad’.
Final Verdict: Why ‘Stree-Bhu’ is still the first choice of every comics lover?
‘Stree-Bhoo’ is not just a comic but a complete experience. Through its powerful story, serious topics like gender discrimination and balance of power have been presented in a very interesting manner, which is rarely seen in Indian comics. No character here is completely ‘black’ or ‘white’; everyone has their own reasons and compulsions.
Besides, it is counted among the best artistic works of Anupam Sinha’s career, which, along with giving a strong message of women empowerment, also warns against the misuse of power.
Conclusion:
This first part of Raj Comics’ ‘Shaktirupa series’ lays a strong foundation for the entire saga that follows. If you are a fan of Dhruv, then this is no less than the Geeta for you. And if you are a new reader, this comic will introduce you to the real power of Indian graphic novels.
It’s as if this comic screams—
“When power breaks boundaries, the end of creation is fixed, no matter in whose hand that power is!”
