Master, Katri, Shooter, and Computer—these four brave characters had made the city’s sewer, i.e., gutter, their headquarters and used to take over the security of Rajnagar from there. ‘Calendar’ comics are an invaluable link of this series, which created its own identity among children.
Even though the concept of Fighter Toads was taken from foreign stories, their dialogue, humor, and fighting style were completely embedded in Indian soil. This story reminds us of the times when there were no mobile phones and internet, and these colorful pages used to be our best friends.
Who is this crazy ‘Calendar’?
The greatness of any story is measured not by its hero, but by the cruelty and cunning of the villain. ‘Calendar’ is one of the most bizarre and dangerous villains of Raj Comics.
His appearance may be like a calendar on the go, and his body has dates marked on it, but the real strength lies in his mental abilities. The Calendar has a machine that releases ‘smoke’ rays and the art of hypnosis. He is not an ordinary criminal, but a psychological criminal who directly attacks people’s minds.
His scariest trick was to convince someone with his rays that the Calendar was his ‘father.’ It sounds exciting, but it creates an extremely frightening situation in the story. When responsible people and security personnel consider the criminal as their father and start protecting him, the justice system is badly affected. Taking advantage of this weakness, the Calendar spreads terror throughout Rajnagar.
The game of hypnosis and the 50-penny battle
The funniest and most humorous part of this story is ‘Rasila.’ He is a naive taxi driver who has his own funny identity and catchphrase—”by sucking the bullet.”
Rasila is not just for entertainment but shows the innocence of the common man, who unknowingly gets trapped in the conspiracies of criminals. The story begins when Calendar and his companions hire his taxi. Calendar hypnotizes Rasila with his rays, causing Rasila to consider him as his father.
That’s where the famous 50-paisa controversy begins, which made the comics memorable. Arguments over the meager money for rent and Rasila hypnotizing the criminal create a mix of suspense and comedy in the story. This confusion makes Rasila a suspected criminal in the eyes of the police and gives readers a sense of the lethality of the Calendar’s powers.
Robbery of O-Luto Bank
The most exciting twist of the story comes when Calendar chooses ‘O-Luto Bank’ for his mission. The robbery is not caused by any firing or explosions; rather, it is a complete mental attack.
The Calendar releases his rays at the cashier upon reaching the bank. The cashier happily accepts him as his ‘father’ and gives him all the bank money. The scene is puzzling and presents a major challenge to the Fighter Toads.
When bank employees start supporting the criminal, the law is left with no evidence. This unique robbery boosts Calendar’s confidence, and he begins to think of himself as above the law. This is the turning point where the true mission of Fighter Toads begins—to catch the criminal and save those affected by hypnosis.
Master, Cutri, Shooter, and Computer: The Desi Avatar of Ninja Turtles?
Fighter Toads are often compared to foreign characters, but ‘Calendar’ comics show that these four Toads are completely different and unique.
The Master is the team’s leader and symbol of strength, whose one punch can defeat any criminal. Katri is known for his fencing and agility. The Shooter never misses the target, and the Computer is the team’s brain, analyzing enemy powers and frequencies from backpack screens.
In the story, when the Calendar releases its rays, it does not affect the Toads because their physical structure and mind are different. This scientific argument gives the story a new twist and gives the Toads a chance to break into the Calendar’s stronghold and fight. His unity and dedication make him the true protector of Rajnagar.
Magic artwork of Dilip Choubey
The review is incomplete without talking about the visuals of these comics because the life that famous painter Dilip Choubey has breathed into this story with his brush still seems unmatched in the digital age.
These hand-drawn drawings captivated readers with their vibrancy in 1997, when digital painting and modern software were not so advanced.
The special ‘psychotic smile’ on the Calendar’s face and the devilishness reflected in its eyes were enough to create fear in the reader’s mind.
The dynamics of Fighter Toads’ action scenes and the intricate details of the bank’s interior, from the busy streets of Rajnagar, show how hard and artfully each panel was created.
The deep and effective combination of colors directly affects your brain the same way Calendar rays did. While turning every page, it seems as if you yourself are a part of that adventure, and this is the great art of Dilip Choubey.
Deadly combination of action, comedy, and emotions
Even today, when Hollywood superheroes are ruling OTT and theatres, the popularity of ‘Calendar’ has not diminished.
The biggest reason is ‘nostalgia’ and the simple but effective way of telling stories.
Even today, people search ‘Raj Comics PDF’ or ‘Fighter Toads Reviews’ on the internet. This comic takes us back to innocent childhood memories.
The story is not just about robbery and fighting, but it is a story of misunderstanding, hypnosis, and then the victory of truth.
The succulent-like comic characters and Toads’ dedication to society create a deep emotional connection. The author combined social behavior and human weaknesses with superhero fantasy to make it entertaining even today.
From the world of gutters to jewellery shops
The climax of the story comes as Calendar expands the scope of his heist to ‘gold jewellers.’
Here too, he plans to rob huge amounts of gold with his hypnotic power. The Fighter Toads follow him to his secret base, where they are imprisoned in the deep well.Here the real test of Toads’ wisdom and teamwork is. With their technology and physical ability, they not only get out of the trap, but also destroy the Calendar’s machine with ‘smoke’ rays.
The final battle is so exciting that the reader takes his breath away. The kingdom of Calendar collapses in front of the Master’s punch, Katri’s sword, and the Shooter’s unmistakable arrows.
In the end, Rasila’s hypnosis breaks and innocent people get justice. It teaches that no matter how cunning and modern evil is, it must succumb to courage and truth.
Conclusion: Does ‘Calendar’ shine even in modern superhero films?
‘Calendar’ is not just comics, but a historical document of Indian pop culture. It has—a memorable villain, brave and unique heroes, great dialogue, and heart-touching art. Today, the story seems as fresh and funny as it was in 1997.
If you want to refresh childhood memories or see the power of Indian comics, it is important to read ‘Calendar.’ It reminds us that we too had heroes and stories that could compete with world-class creativity.
‘Calendar’ is the shining star of the golden era of Raj Comics, whose light will never fade.
