The 90s is considered the golden age in the history of Indian comics. At that time, superheroes were less visible on television, but on paper pages, ‘Raj Comics’ had created a world that rivaled Hollywood films. Away from the modern cities of Nagaraj and Doga, there was a mythological and magical city, ‘Vikas Nagar’, and its protector was the sword-wielding warrior ‘Bhokal’.
The comics “Tilismi Olympique” (Tilismi Olampak), written by Sanjay Gupta and emblazoned with spectacular drawings from Kadam Studio, is one of the earliest and most influential stories in the Bhokal series. It’s not just a comic, but a story full of suspense, magic, heroism, and deception that comes to life in this 32-page PDF. Let us understand this great story a little deeper.
The dreadful mystery of the magical Olympics: the game of death and the spectacle of entertainment
The beginning of the story is like a scary dream. Bhokal and his brave companions—Atikkur, Shutan, Turin, and faithful Kapala—have reached a planet where the laws of nature are different. The colorful huge mushrooms growing from the ground here are not just for viewing, but are arenas of the ‘Tilismi Olympics’.
The premise of this game is very unique and brutal. ‘Khunura’, the presiding deity of Mahabali Fuchang, has created this planet as a puzzle which, when solved, gives immense treasure, and if it fails, it leads to death in agony. The most interesting aspect of this story is that different kings of the earth are watching this bloody game live through a divine mirror.
The concept sounds like today’s ‘Hunger Games’ or ‘Reality Shows’, where players risk their lives and the audience applauds. This shows the author’s foresight, as he included the topic of ‘violence in the name of entertainment’ in his story decades ago.
The confluence of art and characters: an unbiased and dense analysis
When talking about the technical and creative side of this comic, many layers appear in it. The chemistry between the team of Bhokal, Atikkur, Turin, and Shutan is the biggest strength of this series; where Bhokal’s leadership, Atikkur’s tremendous physical strength, Turin’s agility, and Shutan’s magical hypnosis combine to create an ‘invincible team’ that appears alive on the pages due to the stunning artwork and vibrant colors of Kadam Studio.
The characters’ expressions in every panel and the colorful mushrooms that dot the background make one feel a magical world, which is undoubtedly the strongest side (Pros) of this comic. Bhokal’s wearing of ‘sacred’ armor and its transformation scene still fills readers with excitement.
If we look at its shortcomings (Cons), however, part of the story is heavily overloaded with dialogue (text-heavy), which sometimes slows down the pace of the action. Furthermore, for new readers, the story’s sudden start in the middle of a series can be a bit confusing, as it ends with suspense that makes the reader dependent on the next issue. Nevertheless, the depth and visual appeal of the characters are so strong that these minor shortcomings can be ignored.
Overall, this comic is a fine piece of art and heroism that was well ahead of its time.
Fuchang’s trick and Princess Shweta’s innocence: When politics changed its form
Mahabali Fuchang’s name is taken with special respect among the villains of Raj Comics, because he is not only powerful but also very clever. The form of Fuchang that is shown in this story makes any reader hate him.
Rajkumari Shweta, the younger daughter of Vikas Mohan, the king of Vikas Nagar, becomes the turning point of the story. She reaches Fuchang’s secret chamber in innocence and curiosity and overhears his conspiracy. See Fuchang’s cruelty—he teleports a little girl to the same deadly ‘Tilismi Olympics’ planet for fear of being caught.
On one side, Bhokal and his team are fighting the big monsters, and on the other side, a little girl stands alone among those creepy creatures. This sub-plot adds an emotional angle to the story and makes the reader’s heart race.
When Bhokal became Mahabali: That dreadful ‘reptile’ and the thrill of the battlefield
The war that is shown in the opening pages of the comics (Page 4–10) with a giant reptile is one of the most memorable action sequences in Raj Comics history. Shutan produces a fake reptile with his hypnosis to confuse the real one, but the strength and agility of the real creature startle everyone.
When Atikkur gets buried under the tail of the creature and Bhokal goes inside its mouth to save him, that moment becomes hair-raising. On page 9, the famous slogan of Bhokal—”Bhokal’hal!”—echoes with full energy. With his divine sword and shield, as Bhokal slips out ripping the demon apart (Page 10), that scene seems like the height of heroism. This scene clearly explains why Bhokal is different from everyone else; he not only wields the sword but also puts his life at stake for his companions.
Sarcasm on society: Kings clapping at the cost of blood
In this review, it is important to mention how the comics writer has shown the blind side of society, where people greedy for power consider the struggle of others as a farce. The way the kings sitting on earth (like Suryasen of Chandragarh or Dabraldev of Chinodgarh) are laughing and betting on Bhokal’s troubles seems like today’s era of ‘social media trolling’ and ‘sensational news’.
They don’t care whether a warrior is risking his life or a child is in danger; they just want entertainment. This part makes readers wonder if we too sometimes start seeing the sorrows of others as just a spectacle.
Princess Shweta and the ‘Multi-armed Monster’: A New Challenge
In the second part of the story, the suspense increases when Shweta encounters the most dangerous creature of that planet, ‘Amlop’ (an octopus-like creature). This creature is not only huge, but its many tentacles can grab anyone and drain their vitality. Shweta’s fear here (Page 15) and Kapala coming to the rescue behind her create a very good contrast.
When Atikkur and Bhokal reach to save Shweta, they come to know that these creatures are not just hunters, but also have their families. This twist in the story becomes very interesting when Bhokal and Atikkur come to know about the babies and eggs of that creature. This part conveys a message of heroism as well as compassion.
Orgy of magical powers: The role of Shutan and Turin
Often in Bhokal stories, all the attention goes to Bhokal, but the role of Shutan and Turin in “Tilismi Olympics” is also very important. Turin’s agility and her rapport with Kapala are fantastic. She does not panic in difficult times but finds a way out through her wisdom.
Whereas Shutan, known for his magical powers, comes across as a strategist in this story. His specialty is to make enemies fight among themselves using magical hypnosis. The coordination of these four puts this comics at the top in the category of ‘Team Adventure’.
Should “Tilismi Olympics” be read even today? (Final Decision)
This 32-page PDF journey takes us to the streets of childhood, where in the afternoon sun we thought of ourselves as superheroes by reading comics. This story of Bhokal still seems as fresh and exciting as it was decades ago. If you are a fan of Raj Comics or want to know Indian superheroes, then definitely go on this magical journey.
