Angara Disappearances(Angara Gayab): When Basil Comics Took Its Wild Superhero to Antarctica

The 90’s was the golden period of the world of Indian comics, and in that period the place of Angara’ of Basil Comics was really special. Angara, called the “protector of all wild animals,” is a superhero created with a gorilla’s body, elephant’s strength, lion’s heart, fox’s intelligence and vulture’s sharp eyesight. Usually, the Ember stories revolve around forests, hunters and terrorists, but “Ember Missing” is a story that goes completely different from the common path.
This comic takes Angara out of his own environment (Angara Islands and forests) to a place where it is almost impossible to live—the South Pole, i.e., Antarctica. The pair of writer Parshuram Sharma and artist Pradeep Sathe have mixed fantasy, suspense and science fiction very well in this story. This story not only tests Angara’s strength but also raises questions about his existence.

Challenge, cunning and a door to another world

The story begins with the Rajya Sabha of Angara Island. Angara is sitting with his ministers, i.e., different animals, and asks with a little proud confidence whether there is any place on this earth where he cannot reach. Then an invisible voice challenges him. This voice tells him that the “South Pole” is a place where the Ember does not move.

This voice is none other than ‘Dwarf Charlie’. Charlie is Angara’s old enemy and has been an accomplice of the wizard Dumba, who was killed by Angara. Charlie is a machine-computer-human who takes energy from the sun. He wants to lure Angara into a dangerous trap to avenge his partner’s death.
Accepting the challenge, Angara calls his giant Garuda friend ‘Jatayu’. Jatayu and his spy bird friend ‘Chonchu’ fly to the snow-covered valleys of the South Pole carrying Angara. Here, Pradeep Sathe has shown the desolation of Antarctica and the white world in a very spectacular manner.
Once there, Angara learns from ‘albatross’ birds that a scary ‘snowman’ (Yeti) lives in that area, who has terrorized everyone. This snowman is neither completely animal nor completely human.
The most exciting part of the story comes when Angara chases the mysterious snowman. The tail of the snowman is very long and very powerful. He holds the Ember tightly in his tail. Here, the readers get a big shock, because even the Ember, who has the power of an elephant, appears helpless in front of this snowman. The snowman moves Angara like a toy and drags him into his cave.
The view inside the cave is completely different from the world outside. High-tech metal walls are present inside. There is a strange chair placed there. As Angara sits on that chair, a bright beam of light falls from above and Angara suddenly disappears. Shortly after this, the hidden Dwarf Charlie comes forward and he also disappears as soon as he sits in the same chair. This scene takes the story out of the world of superheroes and straight into science fiction.

After Angara disappears, the entire burden of the story falls on Jatayu’s shoulders. After learning the whole truth from Chonchu, Jatayu understands that his master has been sent to another world or some other dimension. Jatayu decides that to solve this mystery he must capture the snowman. With all his might, Jatayu picks up the snowman and brings him to the laboratory of Doctor Kunal (the creator of Angara) in India, thousands of miles away.

End and mystery:
At the end of the story, Doctor Kunal makes the snowman unconscious and locks him in a cage. On investigation, it is found that this snowman is not a creature of Earth. His physical appearance is alien. The comic ends on a big cliffhanger—where the hell did Angara go? Is he in space? The answers to these questions are left for the next comic, “Ember in Space”.

Character analysis

Angara:
A different form of Angara can be seen in this comic. In the beginning, he appears a little arrogant and feels that he has dominance over the entire Earth. But as soon as he reaches the South Pole, he begins to realize his limitations. In a fight with the snowman, Angara becomes physically weak, which makes it clear that he is not completely invincible. This is what makes Angara a ‘relatable’ hero, who can not just win, but also lose.

Jatayu:
If there is anyone who is the real hero of this comic, it is Jatayu. The wisdom and strength that Jatayu shows after the disappearance of Angara is truly praiseworthy. Flying a huge snowman from the South Pole to India shows his tremendous power. His loyalty to Angara is the real strength and backbone of the entire Angara series.

Dwarf Charlie:
Charlie is a classic villain—small in size, sharp in mind and an expert in technique. He does not fight Angara hand-to-hand, but instead traps him in his tricks. His character clearly shows that not only physical strength but also mental conspiracy can be equally dangerous.

Snowman (The Yeti):
The artist has given the snowman a very scary and strange look. His single eye (Cyclops-like), white fur and long tail make him even more frightening. He remains mysterious throughout the comic. He neither speaks nor shows any emotion, but works like a machine, which ultimately proves true—that he is a creature from another planet.

Doctor Kunal:
Dr. Kunal’s entry takes place at the end of the story, but his role is very important. He is a symbol of science. Where animals depend on their strength, Dr. Kunal reaches the root of the problem through logic and scientific thinking.

Portrayal and art side (Artwork & Visuals)

Pradeep Sathe ji’s artwork is the real lifeline of this comic. The depiction of the atmosphere is very lively. The snow-capped mountains, deserted plains and icy water views of the South Pole look extremely impressive. The choice of colors—white, blue and light sky tones—maintains a feeling of cold throughout the story. The action scenes are quite dynamic, especially the battle panels of Angara and the snowman, like the scene where the snowman wraps Angara with his tail and spins him in the air.
Sathe ji’s grip is clearly visible in the structure of the characters. Animal facial expressions emerge very well—whether it is Jatayu’s anger, Chonchu’s nervousness or Angara’s shocked face. Apart from this, the technical visuals are also quite effective. The high-tech lab and teleportation chair inside the cave look quite modern and mysterious for that time.

Plot review and analysis (Critical Analysis)

Positive side (Pros):
The author has taken the story forward in a very careful manner. The change in theme gives it freshness, as Angara are taken out of the forests and into the icy South Pole. This brings newness to the story. Suspense persists until the end—“Where did the Ember go?”, “Who is the snowman actually?” and “What’s the secret of that chair?” Questions like these force the reader to keep reading continuously. The story is not limited to just Angara, but is based on teamwork, where Chonchu’s espionage, Jatayu’s strength and Dr. Kunal’s science play equally important roles. This comic starts with fantasy and ends with science fiction, which must have been a very exciting experience for the children of that era.

Downside / Logical Flaws (Cons / Logic Gaps):
Although the comic is quite entertaining, it still shows some logical shortcomings. From a geographical point of view, Jatayu lifting a heavy snowman non-stop while covering a distance of thousands of kilometers from the South Pole (Antarctica) to India (Pune) seems exaggerated and not scientifically possible. Moreover, to carry the story forward, a kind of ‘plot convenience’ has been used, where a wise and alert hero like Angara thoughtlessly sits on an unknown chair placed in an unknown cave, which does not fully match his nature. In the end, even Dwarf Charlie’s plan doesn’t seem entirely clear; if his motive was just to trap Angara, it feels a bit strange for him to disappear himself, although it can also be seen as overconfidence in his alien masters.

Writing Style and Dialogue (Writing Style)
Parshuram Sharma’s writing style is very simple, clean and effective. His dialogues are short, but the message reaches straight to the heart.
Example: “I ask the Rajya Sabha of Angara country, which place on Earth is missing from my sight?” This dialogue clearly shows Angara’s confidence and slight arrogance.
A special kind of villainous cunning and mind-play is visible in Charlie’s dialogues.
The narration is kept very tight, due to which the pace of the story does not slow down anywhere.

Conclusion

“Angara Disappearances(Angara Gayab)” is a very fun and exciting comic. This is no less than a treat for all those readers who have been fans of the Angara series. This comic starts a big story arc, which further takes Angara directly to an ‘alien planet’.
The biggest strength of this comic is that it creates tremendous curiosity in the reader’s mind. As soon as I read the last page, I felt like immediately picking up the next comic, “Angara in Space”. For 90’s kids, it must have been an experience like watching a ‘blockbuster movie’.

Rating:
Story: 4/5
Artwork: 4.5/5
Entertainment: 5/5

If you want to understand the history of Indian comics or refresh your childhood memories, then definitely read “Angara Disappearances(Angara Gayab)”. This comic proves that even without a lot of gadgets or glittering superpowers, a hero created purely from animal powers can become part of a ‘space adventure’. This is a great example of the creative thinking of Tulsi Comics