90s came a character that completely changed the world of superheroes—he was ‘Anthony’. Anthony was not a common superhero or a living human being, but a ‘living dead man’ who fought against criminals in the dark of night. The comic Do Gaj Zameen (No. 882), released in the year 1998, is such a brilliant comic of the Anthony series, which not only gives thrills but also shows the bitter truth of society, where human greed reaches the graveyard. The story of this comic was prepared under the direction of famous writer Sanjay Gupta, which took the readers to a different world full of fear, mystery, and suspense. In this review, we will look at every aspect of this comic that makes it a ‘must-read’ comic even today.
Scary game of two yards of land and dead parking
The story begins with a very deep thought about what a person needs after death. The reply is—two yards of land. But in this comic, these two yards of land become the biggest problem. The cemeteries of the city have been captured by a strange villain named ‘Bhanja’ and his gang ‘Cobra’. He has started a new and ruthless business, which he calls ‘Murda Parking’. Their rule is clear and scary—if someone has to bury the dead body of a member of his family, he will have to pay a ‘parking fee’ of five thousand rupees.
At the very beginning of the story, it is shown how a poor family is wandering from place to place to bury their dead family member because they do not have money to give to Bhanja. They ask for help from the church priest, but Bhanja’s goons reach there too and fatally attack the priest. This is where Anthony enters, because he cannot tolerate injustice, whether it is above ground or below ground.
Villain Bhanja: Innocent face but scary strength
The most special thing about this comic is its main villain ‘Bhanja’. Usually, the villains in comics are shown as big and scary, but Bhanja’s style is completely different. He wears half pants, puts a baby bib around his neck, and his words sound like those of a stubborn child who remembers his ‘Chanda Mama’ all the time. But behind this innocent face lies a very dangerous and merciless mind.
Bhanja has supernatural powers that get even a powerful hero like Anthony into trouble. There is an ‘invisible wall’ around him, due to which every attack becomes useless. Along with this, he can control gravity, due to which he throws enemies into the air or slams them hard onto the ground. This strange personality of his—looking like a child and acting like a devil—creates a different kind of restlessness in the minds of readers. This is what makes this character so memorable.
Anthony vs Bhanja: When cold fire hits an invisible wall
When Anthony learns that the land of the dead is being traded, he attacks Bhanja and his gang with his ‘cold fire’. Anthony initially encounters Cobra and his goons, where he shows off his magic rope and fearless style. But as soon as he encounters Bhanja directly, the fight changes completely.
Anthony attacks with all his might, but all his blows go in vain because of Bhanja’s invisible wall. Even Anthony’s greatest power, ‘Cold Fire’, can’t do any harm to Bhanja. The way Bhanja harasses and overpowers Anthony while acting childishly during the fight makes those scenes seem quite effective. Anthony quickly realizes that it will not be easy to defeat this mysterious villain.
On the other hand, morning is also approaching, and the first ray of the sun can destroy Anthony’s powers. For this reason, he has to return to his grave. This defeat of Anthony makes the story more exciting and increases the curiosity of the readers for the next development.
Inspector Itihas: That dark face of tragedy and crime
The story not only shows the superhero fight, but also the helplessness and compulsion of the law. Inspector Itihas, a famous character from Raj Comics, tries to interfere in this matter. He reaches the cemetery to bury an abandoned corpse with dignity, but is stopped there by Bhanja’s goons. When Inspector Itihas tries to use the power of the law and his authority, Bhanja himself comes in front of him.
During a fight in the restaurant, Bhanja uses his dangerous powers to badly injure Inspector Itihas. The scene is quite scary and disturbing, where Bhanja pulls the inspector’s eyeballs upward, making him unable to see. This clearly shows that Bhanja is not just an ordinary criminal or robber, but a crazy person who enjoys giving pain to others. This helplessness of the police further increases the fear in the minds of the people of the city.
Painting and Dialogues: Is this 1998 comic still effective today?
Its artists, Neeraj Verma and Vivek Mohan, have made a huge contribution to the success of ‘Do Gaj Zameen’. The way they have shown the atmosphere of the cemetery is truly praiseworthy. The darkness of the night, the shadows of the trees, the stones of the tombs, and Anthony’s black coat waving in the wind together create an atmosphere of tremendous horror and action.
If we talk about dialogues, Sunil Pandey has kept them very powerful and effective. Anthony’s dialogues are serious and talk about justice, while Bhanja’s dialogues seem full of fear and taunts. A term like “Murda Parking” was quite new and different in that era, which stuck directly in the minds of readers. This is why this comic still seems relevant today, because it shows that the mafia wants to capture even those things which are most important for the common man—even the peace that comes after death.
Anthony’s faithful companion Prince and the suspense of the last pages
Anthony is not alone in this fight. His faithful crow ‘Prince’ stands by him all the time. Prince’s role is also very important in this comic, especially in the end when Bhanja tries to reach Anthony’s grave. Prince defends Anthony’s grave by risking his life.
The story ends with a big suspense. Bhanja learns about Anthony’s grave and plans to extort money from his wife Julie. Prince’s painful screams in the last pages and Bhanja’s clever smile force readers to read the next part, ‘Murda Parking’. A good comic is one that ultimately leaves you curious to know the further story, and ‘Do Gaj Zameen’ proves to be completely successful in that.
Conclusion: Why every comic lover should read ‘Do Gaj Zameen’
Overall, ‘Do Gaj Zameen’ is a brilliant comic from the golden era of Raj Comics. This is not just the story of a superhero, but also the story of greed, corruption, and the strong courage that stands against them. Anthony’s character, himself a victim of a traumatic past, weaponizes his own ‘death’ to save others.
A different and dangerous villain like Bhanja does not let this story become boring at any point. If you want to relive the nostalgia of the 90s, or understand the world of Indian comics up close, this comic must be in your collection. This story reminds us that no matter how powerful evil is, and no matter how many invisible walls are hidden behind it, the ‘cold fire’ of justice remains ready to destroy it one day. This fight of Anthony is not complete yet, but its beginning is so strong that you cannot leave it midway.
