Prologue: When Comics Were Our Internet
In today’s era, when everyone has a supercomputer, i.e., a smartphone, it’s difficult to even imagine a time when there were only a few means of entertainment. One of those was the magical world of comics. Publishers like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, and Tulsi Comics gave us countless heroes like Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruva, Chacha Chaudhary, and Jumbo, whose adventures we grew up reading. “Jumbo and Tausi” is a rare gem from that golden era. It’s not just a story, but a grand confluence of two different worlds – on one side, the scientific marvel ‘Jumbo’ and on the other, the master of ancient powers ‘Tausi’.
Story Synopsis: Full Dose of Action, Drama, and Betrayal
The comic’s story begins with our beloved superhero Jumbo, who is essentially a walking, talking supercomputer. Basically, a living avatar of today’s Google Maps and Wikipedia, with the only difference being that he also has six-pack abs. Jumbo is stranded on a deserted island with his friend Bunty. Everything seems fine so far, like a classic survival story. Jumbo calls a helicopter using his computer-like brain and sends Bunty to rest in a cave. At this point, an average reader would think, “Wow, what friendship!” But wait, the twist in the story is yet to come!
In the darkness of the night, Bunty, who is actually an agent of the villain ‘Blue Diamond Gang’, emerges from the cave, signals another helicopter, and disappears, leaving Jumbo alone. This is called ‘friend no longer remains a friend’. When Jumbo doesn’t find Bunty in the morning, he becomes worried. The helicopter he called arrives, and he searches the entire island for Bunty, but Bunty had already gone far away.
Here, another interesting aspect of Jumbo’s powers comes to light. He determines Bunty’s direction from his ‘blood pressure’! Yes, you read that right. It’s a technology that would make even today’s Apple Watch users blush. Jumbo discovers that Bunty is 500 kilometers away. He sets out to chase him, but the Blue Diamond Gang was not one to give up easily. They attack Jumbo’s helicopter with a missile from a ship in the sea. Boom! The helicopter is destroyed!
But our hero is Jumbo after all! He jumps into the water and moves towards the ship like an Olympic swimmer. Now begins the underwater action. The Blue Diamond divers attack him, but Jumbo thrashes them all. He punctures the bottom of the ship, causing it to start sinking. The villains try to escape in a submarine, but Jumbo follows it. Another ‘blast’ occurs, and the submarine is destroyed too! Jumbo thinks he has finished off his enemies, but the real player was sitting somewhere else, setting up a chess board.
And then Tausi makes an entry!
When the story is revolving around Jambu’s action and espionage, a door to a completely different world opens. We reach a mysterious realm where a divine power called ‘Kalachakra’ is calling its disciple ‘Tausi’. Tausi, an ancient warrior wearing a serpent armor, is told that his friend Jambu is in danger in the Prithvilok. Tausi appears on the island where Jambu had caused destruction, without wasting a moment.
And here the story becomes even more interesting. On the same island, Jambu’s another old enemy ‘Angara’ also arrives, who wants to take revenge for the destruction of his island. Now there are three great powers in one place – Jambu (who is not in the scene right now), Tausi (who has come to save Jambu), and Angara (who has come to kill Jambu). But before Tausi and Angara clash, they realize that their real enemy is someone else – the Blue Diamond Gang, who has spread this entire mess. And thus, following the formula of ‘enemy’s enemy is a friend’, Tausi and Angara join hands.
The comic ends with a classic 90s cliffhanger – “Jambu is dead”. It was a tagline that would force us to buy the next issue, even though we knew in our hearts that the hero couldn’t die so easily.
Character Analysis: More than One Exemplary
Jambu: Jambu is the ‘idealistic’ hero of that era. He is powerful, intelligent, but also a bit naive. He immediately trusts Bunty and gets betrayed. He is the superhero version of ‘Sharma ji’s son’ – excellent in every task, but a bit raw in worldly matters. His description of his powers, like “I can determine direction from my blood pressure,” sounds very funny to read today.
Tausi: Tausi brings seriousness and mystery to the story. While Jambu is a symbol of science, Tausi represents spirituality and ancient powers. His serpent armor, conversation with Kalachakra, and his calm nature make him completely different from Jambu. He is like an elder brother who has come to rescue his younger brother from trouble.
Blue Diamond Gang: They are the classic villains of that era. A mysterious boss who always remains in a fedora hat and glasses, countless henchmen wearing identical dresses, and ultra-modern hideouts. Their plans are always very complex, but they collapse like a house of cards in front of the hero. It’s even funny to think about how such a lavish gang would manage its expenses!
Angara: Angara is a ‘one-dimensional’ villain. His only purpose is to take revenge from Jambu. His entire world revolves around this one emotion. He is angry, powerful, and can join hands with anyone to take revenge.
Art and Writing: Power in Simplicity
Comic artist Bharat Makwana and writer Ved Prakash Sharma have beautifully captured the essence of that era on paper.
Art (Illustration): The artwork is very simple yet effective. Straight and clear lines, use of vibrant colors, and dynamic poses to depict action. The characters’ facial expressions are highly dramatic – when angry, eyes turn red and fists are clenched; when surprised, eyes are wide open. The most entertaining are the sound effects – words like ‘Dhadam’, ‘Khachak’, ‘Gadgadag’, ‘Blast’ written in large letters, which made the reader a part of the story.
Writing (Dialogue): The dialogues are direct, simple, and flat. Characters often say exactly what they are doing or about to do. Like, “Now I will destroy this ship!” or “I will not let you live!” There’s no depth or subtext like in today’s stories, but that’s its charm. It’s straightforward entertainment, without any frills.
Humor and Entertainment: What Wasn’t Visible Then, Is Visible Now
Reading this comic from today’s perspective is a uniquely enjoyable experience. It’s full of ‘unintentional humor’.
Unbelievable Technology: Jumbo tracking location through blood pressure or detecting enemy presence through body temperature – all this seems like a comedy scene in today’s time.
Physics Defied: The hero jumping from a helicopter without a parachute and not getting a scratch, fighting underwater for hours, and breaking an iron wall with a single punch – these were the trademarks of action of that era.
Villains’ Stupidity: Blue Diamond Gang builds weapons and bases worth crores to kill Jumbo, but their goons are wiped out in just two-four punches.
Reading all this makes us laugh today, but this laughter is not mockery, but a loving laugh at the simplicity and innocence of that time.
Conclusion: Not Just a Comic, but a Memorable Experience
“Jumbo and Tausi” is not just a comic, but an important document of 90s Indian pop culture. It takes us back to a time when stories were simple, heroes were true, and villains were bad. There’s no complexity like today’s multiverse saga, but it has a treasure of pure and simple entertainment.
This comic is a magnificent story of action, adventure, friendship, betrayal, and the meeting of two completely different world’s heroes. Its art and writing style may seem old today, but its charm remains intact. If you’re a 90s kid, it’s a nostalgia trip. And if you’re a reader of today’s era, it’s a wonderful opportunity to know how Indian superhero roots were funny and unique.
So next time you see an old Tulsi comic, do pick it up and read. Read it, smile, and relive your childhood. Because some stories never get old, they just become classics.
