Manoj Comics stories have always been a fun combination of fantasy, science-fiction, and mythological style. In this connection, ‘Aakrosh and Amber’ (number 935) is a comic that, in its own right, takes readers of its time to a completely different world. This story is not just a superhero comic, but also a deep tale of revenge, misunderstanding, and emotional confrontation.
Summary of the story: The battle of vengeance and misunderstanding
The story begins with a tremendous and scary explosion. A mysterious object arrives and collides with a planet named Leuca (Lyuka), causing an earthquake across the entire planet. When Leuca’s ruling emperor Leucodarma and his general Vyupa arrive on the scene, they find a wounded and half-dead warrior among the rubble.
This warrior is none other than Prince Amber. Amber’s condition is very bad. One of his legs has been amputated, and his entire body is full of deep wounds. Leuca’s doctors save his life, but when Amber regains consciousness and sees his severed leg, he is completely broken from inside. Deep depression and anger surround him. He tries to commit suicide, believing himself guilty, but Emperor Leucodarma stops him in time.
Now only the fire of revenge is burning in Amber’s heart. He feels that the destruction of his planet Plato and his condition are all caused by Infallible, whom he considers his enemy. Emperor Leucodarma provides a special kind of crutch and sophisticated armor to support Amber. This armor is actually a complete combat suit equipped with weapons. Now Amber, who was once handicapped, has become as powerful as a deadly machine.
On the other hand, the real hero of the story, Aakrosh, is wandering in search of his companion Chandni. During this time, he learns the truth from Rishi Jamwal that the real game behind all these destructive incidents is someone else’s. The real mastermind is Kalguru Khataro, who not only destroyed the planet Plato but also filled Amber’s mind with hatred and resentment.
The story reaches its climax when Amber comes to Earth and directly attacks Aakrosh. At that time, Aakrosh is already fighting the terrible monstrous creatures. Aakrosh is also shocked to see Amber’s tremendous strength and technique. There is a fierce and memorable battle between the two, where on one side there is high-tech machinery, and on the other side there is bravery and moral strength. Eventually, Aakrosh succeeds in convincing Amber of the truth—that they have both become victims of Khataro’s plot. The story ends with the hope and determination that now together they will end their real enemy, Khataro.
Character illustration: complexity and depth
The biggest strength of this comic is its characters, which are not limited to just good and bad, but seem full of emotions.
Amber (Ambar): Amber’s character is like a true ‘tragic hero’. A prince’s sudden paralysis and then turning himself into a machine, driven by vengeance, both create sympathy and thrill for him in the minds of readers. His cyborg look appears quite new and impressive for that period.
Aakrosh: Aakrosh is one of the most powerful characters in comics. He is not just a symbol of strength, but also of restraint and justice. In this story, he is shown not only as a warrior, but as a wise man who trusts conversation and truth rather than bloodshed without reason.
Emperor Leucodarma: This character is mysterious. On the outside, he appears to be Amber’s helper, but deep inside he has his own self-interests and future plans hidden. He wants to use Amber as a weapon to eliminate Infallible Aakrosh.
Art and Painting: The Magic of Dilip Kadam
The credit for the brilliant painting of this comic goes to Dilip Kadam and Jaiprakash Jagtap. They have shown the scenes of the planet Leuca, machines, labs, and space in great detail, just like any space-opera movie. The action scenes show tremendous energy, especially when Amber uses lasers and chain-weapons with his crutches. The artists have also depicted emotions like the pain of defeat, physical pain, and the glow of revenge on Amber’s face very effectively.
Writing and Dialogue: Tilak’s Writings
Author Tilak has written the story in a very balanced and composed manner. A good coordination of bravery and emotions is seen in the dialogues. When Amber says,
“Only your name is written on every weapon of death loaded on my handicapped body, Aakrosh!”
This dialogue goes straight to the heart. The pace of the story is fast, and one does not feel bored anywhere while reading.
Technical side and editing
This comic looks quite agile and tight under the editorship of Sawan-Sandeep. The story’s movement from planet to planet and then to Earth is shown in a very smooth way. Also, the advertisements of famous free gifts of that period (like ghost box or water bottle) are reminiscent of the marketing strategies of that time, which encouraged children to buy comics more.
Critical analysis: what went well and where was lacking?
Positive side:
The concept of this comic is quite different and adventurous in itself. Showing a hero who is disabled in one leg but is equipped with modern and dangerous weapons to become a powerful warrior was a great experiment for that period. At the same time, the author has kept the suspense in the story by keeping the real villain, Kalguru Khataro, behind the scenes for most of the time and has also maintained the curiosity of the readers for the next episodes.
The story also sends a deep moral message that misunderstanding and revenge taken without knowing the truth ultimately bring destruction, no matter how right the intention.
Downside:
In some places, the mixed form of science and magic may confuse the reader a bit. The planet Leuca is shown to be a highly advanced technological world, but later Amber’s fighting monsters moves to a full-blown fantasy, which can make the tone seem a bit unbalanced.
Furthermore, Amber assuming the truth so quickly in the climax may seem awkward to some readers, as he is shown throughout the story to be extremely stubborn and engulfed in revenge.
Legacy and importance of comics
‘Aakrosh and Amber’ is not just an entertainment-filled story, but it is proof of Manoj Comics’ creative thinking, where they were not afraid to experiment with their characters and stories. The character of Amber later appears in many more stories, and after this comic, the popularity of Aakrosh increases even more.
These comics make us realize that the Indian comics industry also had the full potential to create a strong and connected universe of its own, like Marvel and DC.
Conclusion: A mandatory collection
If you are a comics lover of the 90s, ‘Aakrosh and Amber’ must be in your collection. This is a story of revenge, sacrifice, and bravery which still looks equally impressive when read today. Its artwork, story twists and turns, and the emotional depth of the characters make it a true cult classic.
Manoj Comics proved through this story that a hero becomes great not just by his physical strength, but by his determination and recognition of right and wrong. This clash of Aakrosh and Amber was actually a war of truth and lies, which ends in friendship and coming together for a bigger purpose.
Rating: 4.5/5
