Amidst the hustle and bustle of Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, and Manoj Comics, King Comics also tried to create a distinct identity for itself. However, many people probably do not know that King Comics was also a part of Raj Comics and an unmatched hero of this series was the all-rounder Curve. Where other superheroes were armed with supernatural powers, science, or magical forces, Curve was born out of society’s filth, passion for sport, and the fire of vengeance burning in the heart.
This issue (number 10) of the all-rounder Curve is not just a comic book, but a dark, gritty, and emotionally jarring Origin Story. It is the story of a period when comics were going beyond children’s entertainment, also commenting on the world of social evils and crime. This review will make a detailed analysis of the plot, characters, art, and deep messages of that comic.
Detailed plot and story analysis
The story begins simultaneously on two tracks – on one side is the struggle of an innocent child and on the other side is the crime spreading in the game world.
Vakku’s dark childhood:
The story begins with the shop of “Dadu Cycle Works” in a slum in Rajnagar. Here we meet an innocent boy ‘Vakku’. Vakku seems silent, adding punctures to the bicycles day and night. But behind his silence lie the great desires of the playground. He is crazy about every game – cricket, football, hockey. He secretly watches the match on the worn-out television in the shop and imagines that one day he too will be on TV.
But his boss ‘Dadu’ is a very cruel and violent man. When he watches TV, he gives a quick slap to Vakku. Vakku endures all this humiliation and drinks his tears. When Dadu falls asleep at night, Vakku’s true form comes to light. He feeds the pictures of players cut and pasted from newspapers from his plate and swears that one day he too will become an “all-rounder”. This dream of his is keeping him alive. Every night he runs away secretly and looks at the ‘Rajnagar Stadium’ from a distance, as if it is his temple.
Volcano of Fire: Burning Ball
The story takes a horrific turn when one morning Dadu accuses Vakku of cutting a dry tree. He finds a wooden bat near Vakku, which was made by Vakku himself. Vakku lies out of fear that this bat belongs to his friend ‘Chhangu’. Dadu’s temper reaches seventh heaven. He sprays oil on the bat and sets it on fire to punish Vakku.
This was the last moment of Vakku’s patience. Seeing his dream and his friend’s trust burning, a volcano of anger buried for years erupts inside Vakku. He picks up the burning bat and hits Dadu on the head with full force.
Birth of a fugitive:
Vakku gets scared after seeing blood flowing from Dadu’s head. There is a noise of “catch-catch” and the entire hut goes after him. Vakku runs away with the burning bat to save it and jumps into the river to escape the crowd. By the time he reaches the shore, the bat has burnt to coal. This scene is heartbreaking.
He meets his friend Chhangu (who collects junk) in his secret base (an old water tanker) and cries bitterly, showing him the burnt bat. This was the end of Vakku’s childhood.
Parallel Story: Honest Umpire
Right now, another story is going on at Rajnagar Stadium. Coach and famous umpire ‘Krishnakant Thakur’ is an honest and firm person of principles. He is offered a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the match-fixing syndicate, so that he withdraws from the upcoming matches. Thakur Saheb sends that offer back after writing “no” due to the stumble of his boot.
Vakra and Krishnakant’s union:
The syndicate goon (Rajan and his accomplice) attacks Vakku, who was passing by, mistaking him for Thakur’s spy. Vakku, who was already angry, gives an unmatched display of his football skills and beats up the goons. The same threatening leaflet comes out from the torn football and Vakku understands that the umpire’s life is in danger.
He reaches Thakur Saheb’s house to save him, where another goon named ‘Ranga’ is threatening him. This time Vakku defeats the goons with his hockey stick, cricket ball, and his agility. Krishnakant Thakur is shocked to see so much skill (the thing about ‘all-rounder’) and the “fire” in a small boy. Vakku tells him his painful story. Thakur Saheb decides that he will give the right direction to this ‘fire’ and he adopts Vakku.
Tragedy and Vengeance:
Thakur Saheb starts training Vakku, but the syndicate’s ‘boss’ does not remain silent. He orders a fatal attack on Thakur Saheb while they are practicing in the stadium. Hooligans are armed with trucks, knives, and weapons. Vakku fights bravely, but Thakur Saheb is seriously injured while saving him.
Birth of ‘Vakra’:
Final match begins. A sellable umpire has been installed in place of Thakur Saheb. The match is openly ‘fixed’. An honest player is given a wrong ‘out’. Vakku’s blood boils while watching all this on TV in the hospital. Krishnakant stops him, saying, “Anger is your worst enemy… Don’t go.”
But Vakku does not stop. “My match has started,” he says. He arrives at the stadium in a new, quirky costume (cricket pad, helmet, and a bat). This was the birth of the ‘all-rounder Curve’. He enters the field and starts beating the selling umpires and goons. He’s cruel, violent, and he doesn’t care about any laws.
At the end of the story, the police come to catch Vakra, but Krishnakant Thakur saves him. But when he sees a bloody hockey stick in Vakku’s hand, he stops him. Vakku replies, “I am neither a revolutionary nor a criminal… I’m an all-rounder… And every match I have from today will be against crime.”
The story ends with Vakra and Krishnakant standing face to face, where the Guru realizes that his disciple has now set out on a different, violent path.
Characterization (Character Analysis)
Vakku/Allrounder Curve: This is one of the most complex and tragic heroes of Indian comics. He is not an idealistic hero. He was born from violence and anger. He has broken the head of his tyrannical master. He takes the law into his hands because he doesn’t trust the system. His weapon is not a fancy gadget, but sporting goods (bat, hockey stick), symbolizing both his passion and his anger. The name ‘Vakra’ itself reflects his crooked, anti-social stand against the justice system.
Krishnakant Thakur: He is the moral pole of the story. He symbolizes the ‘sacred spirit of the game’. He is an ideal guru who recognizes Vakku’s talent and wants to give the right direction to his ‘fire’. But his tragedy (losing his legs) makes him helpless and he cannot stop Vakku from going on the path of darkness. He is a fatherly guide to Vakra.
Dadu and Syndicate Boss: These two villains work on two levels. ‘Dadu’ is a symbol of grassroots, individual oppression. He is the face of the cruelty that broke Vakku. On the other hand, the ‘boss’ is the face of organised crime (Organised Crime), contaminating even something as sacred as sport with its money.
Art (Artwork) and Writing (Writing)
Writing (Tikaram): Tikaram’s writing is the life of this comic. The story is very tight, fast-paced, and full of emotions. The dialogues are sharp and powerful. “Your defeat means… the game of your life is over!” or “Anger is a gorgeous fire… It just needs the right direction” — dialogues like these give depth to the story. Most importantly, this comic was raising a serious issue like ‘corruption in sports’ at a time when this topic was not so popular in the mainstream.
Kala (Dheeraj and Verma): Dheeraj’s pencil and Verma’s finishing are excellent for that era. The art is gritty, which matches the dark tones of the story. The expressions of anger, helplessness, and pain are shown very clearly on Vakku’s face. The action scenes (Vakku fighting with football, or punching goons with hockey sticks) are very dynamic and effective. Curve’s costume may seem a bit strange (fighting while wearing cricket gear), but it perfectly matches his theme and his identity as an “all-rounder”.
Overall analysis and conclusions
“Allrounder Curve” is not a typical superhero comic; it is the story of a ‘vigilante’, close to the dark tone of ‘Batman’ or ‘Daredevil’. This story shows how system failure and personal tragedy make a common human being become a hero (or anti-hero).
The comic uses the game as a metaphor for life. Vakra believes that life is a game and criminals are dishonest players, who need to be thrown out of the field (society).
Final Verdict: “Allrounder Curve” is a hidden gem of Indian comics. It is a courageous, mature, and emotionally empowering story. It is a pity that the character could not achieve as much fame as the heroes of Raj Comics. If you want to read something dark and realistic, different from just laughs or simple ‘good triumphs over evil’ stories, this comic is for you.
It is not just a comic, but a dark saga of anger, passion, and justice written with a burning bat.
