Raj Comics has given many great superheroes to the world of Indian comics, but the character of ‘Bheriya’ stands out because of his depth and internal conflict. The comic ‘Animal(Janwar)’ (1998) is not just an action-adventure story, but also the story of the war that goes on inside a human being, constantly within his mind. This story shows the struggle between love, anger, violence, and regret in a very effective way. Its biggest message is that every human being has two forms – the ‘human,’ which teaches kindness and love, and the ‘animal,’ which leads to anger and destruction.
Plot expansion: The journey from protector to destroyer
The story begins with Bheriya, the protector of the forests of Assam, i.e., Kamrup. He is the guardian of the forest, and with his sharp hearing power, he hears the painful cry of an elephant from a distance. When he reaches there, he sees that some clever hunters are trying to capture the elephant in a noose. Bheriya frees him without any delay. Here, his human form is clearly visible. He saves the life of a voiceless animal, and the elephant thanks him with gratitude.
The true twist of the story comes when Bheriya meets Jane. Jane is the girl Bheriya loves with all his heart. Seeing her, the soft and sensitive person inside Bheriya comes forward. He compliments Jane’s horsemanship, speaks of her beauty, and tries to express his feelings. In this moment, Bheriya does not just appear to be a warrior, but a human being who wants belonging in society. He wants to get out of the fear of being called ‘ugly’ or an ‘executioner’ and have a normal life and true love. He also regrets his past mistakes and wants to correct them.
But perhaps fate had something else in store. The elephant, whom Bheriya had saved some time ago, happily brings him a branch of sweet fruits. At that time, Bheriya is lost in conversation with Jane. Suddenly, the branch falls near him, and he is shocked. For a moment, the ‘animal’ within him wakes up. Without thinking, he attacks the same voiceless elephant and badly injures it. This scene is the most shocking moment of the entire story.
Jane sees it all with her own eyes. This scene is unbearable for her. She pushes Bheriya away, calling him an ‘animal,’ and tells him that she hates him. These words sound like a deep blow to Bheriya’s heart. Here, the reader also understands how a moment’s anger can change someone’s entire identity.
Pursuit of atonement: The mission of the ‘Nayab’ flower
Jane’s hatred shakes Bheriya to the core. He realizes his mistake. His human side awakens again, and he sets out to find a way to cure the elephant. In this search, he reaches Fujo Baba. Fujo Baba tells him that on the night of Sharad Purnima, a rare flower named ‘Nayab’ blooms only once every twelve years. It is believed that if a lover gives this flower to his beloved, his love becomes immortal forever.
Bheriya considers this his last chance. He feels that this flower can win Jane’s heart back and become an atonement for his actions. But he is not the only one who wants this flower. Warriors from several tribes of the forest – Kachipicha, Haja, Kola, and Thambuka – also set out to obtain it. From here, the atmosphere of the story changes completely. The story that had been revolving around emotions until now starts moving toward a bigger conflict.
War and the orgy of violence
The middle part of the story is full of tribal battles and fierce violence. Dheeraj Verma’s art is visible here in its full impact. Warriors from different tribes ride strange and powerful animals such as ostriches, leopards, and rhinos, and attack each other. Fighting scenes with dangerous weapons such as ‘fung,’ ‘khimb,’ and ‘janli’ become very sharp and effective. Body parts are shown being cut in many places, which reflects the outspoken style of the comics of that period.
Bheriya tries to stop this bloodshed. He explains to the warriors that it is wrong to commit so much violence in the pursuit of love. But no one is ready to listen to him. Circumstances become such that he too has to lift his mace. In self-defense and in his compulsion to reach the flower, he himself becomes part of the same violence that he wanted to stop.
This is the biggest irony of the story. The hero who wanted to stop the bloodshed passes through a pile of corpses to reach his goal. Here, the author has conveyed a profound message in a simple yet deep way – if the path is wrong, no matter how sacred the destination is, its result can never be completely good.
‘Animal’ is not just the story of Bheriya, but of every human being who oscillates between his inner anger and love. This comic reminds us that the real fight is not with the outside world, but with the ‘animal’ inside us.
Climax: A sad ending
Bheriya finally acquires the ‘Nayab’ flower, but by then not only his body, but also the flower, is drenched in blood. He is tired and injured, but hope is clearly visible on his face. He thinks everything will be fine now. He approaches Jane with full enthusiasm and gives the flower to her. He has this belief in his mind that whatever he endured, whatever he did, was all to save his love.
But this is where the story takes a heartbreaking turn. Jane refuses to take the flower. There are tears in her eyes, but also anger. She says, “Oh Bheriya! Instead of stopping the bloodshed for just one flower, you increased it.” For Jane, this flower is no longer a mark of love, but of violence. Bheriya, in her eyes, has once again become what she feared – an ‘animal.’
She asks him to leave her. These words strike Bheriya’s heart like a sword. With his own hands, he destroyed the love he had set out to immortalize. This ending makes us think that sometimes we choose the wrong path even with the right objective, and its consequences are very painful.
Art and portraiture
Dheeraj Verma’s artwork has a huge contribution to the success of ‘Animal.’ He has shown Bheriya’s muscular body, the intensity in his eyes, and the pain on his face in great detail. Especially when Bheriya is angry or broken, his facial expressions directly touch the heart.
The battle scenes are extremely lively. It feels as if everything is actually happening inside the panel. The greenery of the forests, the different costumes of the tribes, their weapons, and the designs of the animals – everything is crafted with great effort. That classic style of Raj Comics is completely visible here.
The colors have also been used according to the mood of the story. Where there is peace and emotion, there are light and calm colors. But as the violence begins, the use of red increases, which makes the atmosphere heavier. Sunil Pandey’s color combinations give more depth to the story.
Philosophical and psychological analysis
This comic not only tells a story, but also leaves many deep questions. The biggest question is whether Bheriya will ever be able to completely control the ‘animal’ inside him. The story shows that circumstances sometimes force a person to make decisions that he later regrets.
The second big question is – can love be achieved through violence? The ‘Nayab’ flower was a symbol of love and purity, but when it reached Jane stained with blood, it lost its true importance. This makes it clear that something achieved through the wrong means can never give true happiness.
Bheriya’s entire journey was filled with regret and attempts at redemption. He wanted to correct his mistake, but in that attempt, he made even bigger mistakes. This is the irony of life – many times we set out to improve things, but instead, we complicate them further and become more entangled.
Conclusion: A timeless creation
‘Animal’ is not just a comic made for children. This is a story that makes even adult readers think. Its story is strong, the dialogues are effective, and the emotional depth makes it special. Finally, the appearance of the shadow of Kobi creates tremendous curiosity for the next story, ‘Kobi and Bheriya.’
Summary of the review:
Story: 5/5 (Heart-touching and full of adventure)
Art: 5/5 (Dheeraj Verma’s finest work)
Dialogue: 4.5/5 (Directly touching the heart)
If you are a fan of Raj Comics or want to read a story that not only entertains but also gives a deep lesson, then definitely read ‘Animal.’ It reminds us that the ‘human’ and ‘animal’ within us are always together. The only difference is who we allow to come forward at any given moment. A small mistake can truly change everything.
