In the history of Indian comics, ‘Pawan Comics’ is a name that not only entertained readers in the 80s and 90s, but also showed a new world of stories blending science, adventure, and Indian spirituality. ‘Suryaputra’ has been the most popular and powerful character of this publication. In the previous section, we had seen how Suryaputra was born and originated (Origin), where the soul of Mahatma Dharmadeva settled in the body of the dead son of Professor Chandrakar. Today we will give a complete review of the second exciting episode of this series, ‘Suryaputra and the Spirit of Pharaoh (Suryaputra Aur Firon Ki Aatma)’.
Death conspiracy started from Suryaputra Bhawan: The dreadful journey from Delhi to the desert
The story starts with ‘Suryaputra Bhawan’ located in Delhi. Winter has come, and due to heavy snowfall in the Himalayan cave, Professor Chandrakar and Suryaputra are living in this special bungalow given by the Government of India. This is where the real beginning of the story occurs when Suryaputra receives a letter from Sultan Saadi of ‘Larnsa Island’. Sultan Saadi, who is an old friend of the professor, is in big trouble.
The Sultan explains that the spirit of his ancestors on his island, whom he calls ‘Firon’, is spreading terror. People do not dare to go near the tomb at night out of fear. Suryaputra accepts this challenge and flies to Larnsa Island in a high-tech helicopter with the Prime Minister’s permission.
Ghostly skeleton or high-tech machine? That shocking truth which shocked the readers!
After reaching the island, the story is filled with mystery and adventure. Suryaputra is captured by the soldiers there, but is soon presented before the Sultan. Here it turns out that the real problem is not just the ‘soul’, but also the treasure worth billions hidden in the tomb. The Sultan’s minister and commander are also involved in this mysterious game.
When Suryaputra examines the tomb in the dark of night, he is attacked by a ‘living skeleton’. The author here gives a tremendous turn—that skeleton is not a ghost, but a ‘skeleton-like robot’. This is where the superhero-villain competition begins. The international criminal ‘Gilbert’ is behind the entire conspiracy, who is spreading the fear of ‘Firon’s soul’ to steal the treasure by building a secret base under the tomb.
‘Seaserman’ with bloody scissors: The scariest and deadliest match in the history of the Son of Surya!
The climax of the story comes when Gilbert sends his most dangerous weapon ‘Seaserman’ (a giant robot with hands sharp as scissors) to eliminate Suryaputra. The war that follows between Suryaputra and Seaserman is shown to be extremely grand according to the comics of that time. In the end, Gilbert also releases his pet dangerous cheetah (Black Tiger) against Suryaputra, but no one can stand in front of Suryaputra’s boundless powers. Seeing the defeat, Gilbert commits suicide by consuming poison, and the island of Larnsa is freed from this terror.
Modern Gods: That unique confluence of yoga power and laser rays
In this issue, the character of Suryaputra comes out even more brightly. He is not only powerful, but also very clever. He immediately understands that the ‘Skeleton’ is not a ghost, but a machine. The display of his yoga powers, such as increasing body size (Size manipulation) and removing lasers from his fingers, makes him look like a ‘modern god’.
Whereas, villain ‘Gilbert’ is a classic ‘evil genius’. He has high-tech technology, can build robots, and watches the entire island through CCTV. He proves to be the perfect rival for Suryaputra, as he tries to trap him in a technical trap rather than through physical strength.
The Magic of Chemio Arts: 30-Year-Old Illustrations That Still Give Goosebumps Today
The magic that the skilled artists of ‘Chemio Arts’ have spread on the pages of these comics gives a new flight to the reader’s imagination. Especially, the picture of Seaserman is so scary that it seems like a frightening dream made of metal and flesh. The action scenes between pages 20 to 23 are so overwhelming that the thrill reaches its peak. It has been shown in a very lively manner how Suryaputra escapes the dangerous blows of Seaserman with agility and melts that steely enemy with his cataclysmic laser rays.
Science vs Superstition: That visionary thinking of Dharam Baria
Dharam Baria’s writing is the life of this comic. The conflict between science and superstition is the strongest aspect of this story. The author showed that what people were afraid of as ‘the spirit of Pharaoh’ was actually a product of technology. It gives the message to readers to adopt scientific thinking. Also, Suryaputra connects his powers with Yoga Vidya and the blessings of Gurudev, which gives him a special ‘Indian identity’ different from Western superheroes.
Does this story of Suryaputra still stand true today? An impartial review
The best thing about this comic is the emergence of the ‘Skeleton Robot’ and the competition with ‘Seaserman’. It’s amazing to see such use of laser guns and robotics in the 80s. However, there are some weak sides. It seems a bit dull for a big villain like Gilbert to die just by consuming poison. Also, the betrayal of the Wazir and the commander could have been given more depth. But overall, it’s a money-worth story.
Conclusion: That ‘cult classic’ from the ’90s that every comic lover should read
‘Suryaputra and Pharaoh’s Soul’ is a ‘must-read’ comic from Pawan Comics. It takes us to a period when imagination knew no bounds. This journey of Suryaputra assures that as long as truth and courage are together, no dark power in the world can defeat humanity. The flight of Suryaputra while chanting ‘Jai Gurudev’ still fills the heart of every comic lover.
(Read also: Super Power Vikrant Comic Review — Best Pawan Comics Indian Superhero Guide)
