Along with Diamond Comics, Tulsi Comics has also created many such characters, which gave a new direction to the imagination of children and teenagers. One of these special heroes is ‘Baaz’ (Baaz), which is slightly different from the traditional superheroes as they usually look. The character’s real name is ‘Dev’, and his past has been that of a professional assassin (professional killer). This is what makes the Falcon different from the rest of the heroes and a little mysterious.
The presented comic, “Baz Ka Terror” (Baz Ka Aatank), is a very important issue to understand the powers of the Falcon, its way of thinking, and its view of justice. It is comic number 474 and was priced at Rs 20 during that period. The kind of depth shown in the story and pictures is the reason why this comic is still considered a great ‘collector’s item’.
Detailed Analysis of the Plot
The story begins with a mysterious atmosphere. The main character, Dev, is a professional assassin who is taken to a different world by some unknown and mysterious powers, mistaking him for a ‘Prince’. This place is completely different from the ordinary human world and is called ‘Mysticalok’, where wonderful creatures like ghosts, phantoms, and jinn live. It is here that Dev is given a special kind of training and a unique dress. This same outfit gives him the extraordinary powers of a ‘Falcon’.
In the early pages of the comic, we see the Falcon return to the human world with his new identity and powers. He calls himself the ‘Prince of Ghosts’. His dress has many tremendous qualities, such as being unaffected by bullets, running at lightning speed, and climbing walls. The story gets sharper when Dev, i.e., Baz, has to carry out his actions in the city while hiding his true identity.
In the forest, Dev finds an unclaimed red car, numbered SPS 1094. He takes the car to get to the city but has no idea that there is a corpse hidden in the trunk of that car. As soon as he reaches the police check post, the body is found during the search. This is where an exciting chase-and-rescue game between the Falcon and the police begins. The Hawk uses his powers to break through the police cordon. He climbs high-rise buildings, runs on ropes, and finally dodges the police by jumping into the river.
Baz then arrives at the base of a criminal named ‘Black Khan’. Kale Khan is shocked by Baz’s return. This is where a big revelation comes in the story, when the ‘Eagle International Organization’ is mentioned. Kale Khan tells him that many dangerous organizations of the world have come together and placed a huge betel nut. This betel nut is worth a full $10 million, and its target is a very influential person in India.
Baz sets out on a secret mission to learn the truth behind this plot. He has to meet the leader of an organization named ‘Black Tiger’. For this, he goes to ‘Salam Islet’ (Salaam Island). Here, the Hawk wins the trust of the organization with his cunning and intelligence. He is told that the person who wants to kill him is actually his lookalike (double). This twist creates deep mental and mysterious tension in the story.
The real center of the story is a person named ‘Khan Bahadur’, who was once the Chief Minister of the state. On the outside, he seems to be a respectable person, but the truth is that he is involved in seditious activities and arms smuggling. He supplies them by hiding weapons in boxes of apples and coffins. When the Falcon learns this bitter truth, his motive changes. Now he is no longer just a murderer but becomes a protector who safeguards the country.
In the last part of the story, Baz enters Khan Bahadur’s bungalow. Here, he takes the form of a ‘skeleton’ and instills fear in the hearts of criminals. He uses scientific instruments and his physical strength to reveal the secret of the coffins to everyone. In the end, the Hawk punishes the criminals with strange but funny punishments, like making them dance to pop music, and records all their crimes. In this way, the Hawk proves that he is no less than a terror for the traitors of the country.
Character Illustration
Dev/Baz: He is the main hero of this story. His character is not all black or white, but in a grey shade (grey shade). He is not an idealistic superhero, but a human being who knows and understands the world of crime very closely. His powers make him superhuman, but his true strength is his intelligence, which makes him an extremely dangerous hunter.
Khan Bahadur: He is the classic villain of the story. His character shows the deep nexus between politics and crime. A decent and respectable leader in white clothes on the outside, but from the inside, his exploits are completely black. His white dress is just a mask covering his sins.
Kale Khan: In the story, he plays the role of an informant and middleman. He gives the Hawk information about the conspiracies and criminal activities going on in the outside world and becomes an important link in taking the story forward.
Samra and the other henchmen: These characters are primarily used to show off the strength and action of the Falcon. They are presented in the story almost like ‘punching bags’, making the action scenes more powerful and fun.
Portrayal and Art Side
This comic is illustrated by the duo Vikas–Pankaj. Tulsi Comics has been a hallmark for portraying heroes as very muscular and strong-bodied, and the same thing is clearly visible here too. The way the Falcon is shown on the pages leaping between buildings or dodging police cordons seems quite fast and dynamic. Words like ‘dhoom’, ‘dhamm’, and ‘tadak’ add life to the action scenes.
The use of colors is quite bright according to the technology of the 90s. The Falcon’s blue and gray dress gives him a dark but also a striking look. Emotions like fear, anger, and cleverness are clearly visible on the faces of the characters. Especially the artistry seen on Khan Bahadur’s face has been depicted very well by the artists.
Writing and Dialogue
The script of the story is very fast-paced. There is a kind of ‘filmy’ style in the dialogues, which was very much liked by the readers of that period. For example, the Hawk saying, “I am the Prince of Ghosts,” or his sarcastic dialogues while punishing criminals further increase the entertainment level of the story.
In the story, topics like patriotism and betrayal have been woven very intelligently without making them too heavy. A clear message is given that in the eyes of the law, no human being—no matter how great a leader—can escape after committing a crime.
Critical Comment: Why Read These Comics?
“Hawk Terror” is not just a superhero story, but also a direct and accurate taunt on the corruption and organized crime prevalent in the society of that time.
Features:
The Falcon gets his powers neither from a laboratory nor from an alien, but from the ‘ghosts’ of a fictional mystic world. This is what makes him different from other desi superheroes. Until the end of the story, there is curiosity about whether the Hawk will actually kill or save his lookalike. Almost every other page of the comic is filled with tremendous action, which keeps teenage readers constantly engaged.
Drawbacks:
In some places, the lack of logic is a bit irritating, such as the Hawk suddenly taking the form of a skeleton or the way criminals are caught by playing music. However, in the world of comics, such things can be ignored under the concept of ‘suspension of disbelief’.
The ending of the story seems a little rushed, which makes it feel like the author wanted to quickly intrigue the reader for the next comic, “Falcon and Falcon”.
Conclusion
Overall, “Hawk Terror” is a legacy comic that every comics lover must read at least once. It takes us to a period where fighting evil required not only laws but also a ‘Falcon’ who could protect the light by remaining in the dark.
The follow-up comic, “Baz and Baz” (Baaz Aur Baaz), takes this story to a new level, as hinted at on the last page itself.
Rating: 4.5/5
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