‘Angara’ has a very special place in the history of Indian comics. While Raj Comics’ Nagraj or Super Commando Dhruv were known for their urban settings, Angara emerged as the ‘Protector of Nature’ and the ‘Messiah of the Animal Kingdom’. Angara is no ordinary human being; his body was created by the great surgeon Dr. Kunal using the best parts of different animals—fox brain, vulture eyes, rhinoceros skin, elephant strength, lion heart, and gorilla body. This review is based on an exciting issue of this unique character, ‘Great Angara’.
Summary of the story: Rumor of death and fire of revenge
The comic begins with very sad and shocking news—animals of Angara Island learn that their god, their protector ‘Angara’, has been killed. The news stirs up the entire island. Angad, the king of monkeys and Angara’s close friend (who is the president of Angara Island here), cannot believe this, but the cunning bird ‘Abu’ (a spy) makes sure everyone believes that Angara has been killed by a dangerous devil named ‘Bulldog’.
Bulldog is a villain whose face is like a boar (or bulldog), and he has imprisoned the princess of Balara country and become its ruler. He is not only a dictator but also a priest of ‘Iblis’ (a satanic god). He is a cannibal and makes animals his slaves by feeding them human flesh.
The story takes a turn when the animals of Angara Island plan to attack Balara country to avenge the death of their master. Meanwhile, Angara begins to appear in Bulldog’s castle as a ‘spirit’ (ghost). He mentally scares Bulldog and makes him realize his strength. Frightened, Bulldog enlists the help of ‘Chali’ (Charlie), a dwarf warrior from another planet, ‘Lura’ (or Sparta). Chali is a cunning and powerful character who comes to Earth to capture Angara.
Ultimately, the truth comes out that Angara was not dead; rather, he was attacking invisibly using his special powers. He, along with his friend bird ‘Jatayu’, destroys Bulldog’s power source—’Satan Dragon’—and frees Princess Balara.
Analysis of characters
Angara: This issue shows Angara’s wisdom and the best use of his art of ‘printing war’ (guerrilla warfare). Instead of attacking directly, he creates fear in the mind of the enemy. His intelligence is also visible when he reveals that he was pretending to be a ‘ghost’ to save the princess so that he could learn the secret of Bulldog’s strength.
Bulldog: He’s a classic villain. His character is such that he evokes hatred—he drinks human blood and worships the devilish dragon. His weakness is his superstition and fear of death.
Charlie: This is the most interesting character in this comic. He is neither a complete hero nor a complete villain. He works to his own advantage. Coming from the planet Lura, he has the technology to fly and accumulate energy. His way of talking is funny and sarcastic.
Pashu Sena (Angad, Abu, Jatayu): These characters show how deep the loyalty of animals is toward Angara. Jatayu’s character is an example of courage, as he is not afraid to even fight a powerful creature like a dragon.
Writing and Screenplay (Parshuram Sharma)
In the writing of Parshuram Sharma, a wonderful combination of fantasy and science (science fiction) can be seen. On one side, Dr. Kunal’s experiments and the talk about another planet (Lura) take the story towards science, while on the other hand, the worship of ‘Iblis’ and the presence of a ‘dragon’ give it a touch of fantasy. The dialogues are short, direct, and effective. The pace of the story remains fast, which keeps the reader engaged continuously. Especially in the ‘ghost’ scenes, a good balance of mystery and thrill has been created.
Painting and Art (Pradeep Santhe)
Pradeep Santhe’s artwork reminds us of the time when hand-made illustrations had a different significance in comics. The body language of animals, especially elephants and lions, looks very strong. The choice of colors in the scenes featuring Bulldog’s Castle and the Devil Dragon’s Cave (dark shades) fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the story. The way Angara’s muscles are shown really gives him a ‘Super Soldier’ look. Yes, the background seems a little blank in some panels, but it keeps the focus on the main characters, so it feels fine.
Critical Comment: Features and Drawbacks
A unique and ‘bio-engineered’ hero like Angara is rarely seen in world comics, which makes it more interesting. The biggest feature of this story is its exciting climax, where the battle with the dragon and the tricks of Chali take it beyond a simple ‘revenge story’. Also, its visual and action scenes are shown very effectively through illustrations. If we talk about shortcomings, the story seems more dramatic in some places, where Bulldog’s behavior appears a little childish, which slightly reduces his fear factor. At the same time, some technical glitches and scientific arguments regarding Chali’s energy and Angara’s powers seem a little weak, which was common in fantasy comics of that time.
Conclusion
‘Great Angara’ is not just entertainment for children, but it also teaches courage, unity, and standing against injustice. Tulsi Comics has given a desi superhero through Angara who is connected to his land and forest.
It is worth keeping in comic collections, as it is reminiscent of the period when the Indian comics industry was at its peak. If you love classic Indian comics and enjoy stories of animal loyalty with thrills, this issue will be a great experience for you. Angara’s roar and his wisdom still seem as powerful as ever.
Rating: 4.5/5
