The first entry of the Bhokal series in the horror comic is a chilling tale. It begins with the rebellious Mahabali Fuchang of the Osaka planet, who assassinates King Garboch of Osaka and, in alliance with the mysterious spies of Osaka residing on Earth, sacrifices Princess Sophia. He then creates numerous talismans from her blood to gain access to the mystical Olympak. Subsequently, he orchestrates the murder of the spies in a terrifying game.
The game takes place in Vikasnagar, where Bhokal, Turin, Atikrur, and Shootan confront various challenges to reach Tilsim. In the same Tilsim, they reveal the reasons for each other’s presence in Olympak.
Bhokal’s real name was Aalop, a prince in the fairy realm and the son of King Khazanadev. However, once the demon kings Bojh and Bharkam invaded the fairy realm, capturing its fairies, murdering King Khazanadev, and throwing Prince Aalop down from the palace. As a result, his wings were broken, but he survived. He reached the palace of the great guru Bhokal, who was in a wounded state at the time.
Aalop learns from the guru that his mother has been abducted by demons. The great guru Bhokal hands him a sword and imparts a mantra: whenever he utters the word “Bhokal,” the sword and shield will appear before him, transforming him into an invincible swordsman. He is then sent to Earth, where Bhokal enters the lair of the demons, serving and growing with time. Eventually, he becomes a skilled swordsman.
Ten years later, with the help of Turin, Atikrur, and Shootan, Aalop, now known as Bhokal, avenges the demons, especially Bojh. He discovers the secrets of Olympak during this journey. Though he successfully breaks the spell of Tilsim and defeats Fuchang, his mother is killed in the process. Instead of returning to the fairy realm, Bhokal chooses to stay in Vikasnagar.
Bhokal has been married three times, first to Turin, then to Roopsi, and finally with Saloni. However, he truly loves Turin, while Roopsi and Saloni considered him their husband. Due to their insistence and some personal reasons, he couldn’t leave them either, although his affection for the other two was not as deep as it was for Turin. This fact was known to Turin’s mother, Rasia, and Guru Gajabaz as well when they attempted unsuccessfully to separate them.
Bhokal possesses the shield given by Guru Bhokal, which allows him to fly and comes with a sword. With this sword, Bhokal can summon fire anytime, and there is a reason behind it. Initially, this sword did not possess this ability. However, when the demon Dantala tried to acquire the power of the Fire Goddess imprisoned within the sword, Sage Sirkata, with Bhokal’s help, managed to eliminate him. In the process, sacrificing his own life, Sirkata fused Bhokal’s sword with the power of the Fire Goddess, turning it into a formidable weapon.
When Bhokal comics were introduced, readers initially likened it to He-Man, primarily because Bhokal gains his powers similarly to how Shazam does in DC comics, by uttering a specific word. However, Bhokal’s story surpasses He-Man in many aspects. In Bhokal’s narrative, there are elements of magic (Tilsim), enchantment, battles between gods and demons, and combat techniques that make it even more engaging. Beyond that, Bhokal’s stories delve into emotional relationships rarely found in comics.
Due to his sense of duty, Bhokal has had to sacrifice his loved ones several times, and this pain has been intricately woven into the comics in a compelling way. Perhaps, it is this depth that makes Bhokal a favorite among readers, following in the footsteps of Nagaraj, Doga, and Dhruv.
1 Comment
Pingback: Divyastra Raj Comics Review: Bhokal’s Legendary Quest for Divine Weapons