In the golden age of Indian comics, Manoj Comics had created a special place in the hearts of readers on the basis of its stories. While Raj Comics was known for the strength and powers of its superheroes, Manoj Comics’ identity was its stories full of fantasy, emotions, and adventurous journeys. ‘Aakrosh’ is a hero of this same publication who is not just physically strong, but also extremely strong morally. In its previous episode, ‘Aakrosh and Amber’, we saw how two warriors, who were once bitter enemies of each other, became friends after the truth was revealed. ‘Blazed Aakrosh’ is the further story of the same friendship, where a new adventure and an even bigger test await them.
Plot expansion: from thirst to war
The story begins on a strange and deserted planet, where Aakrosh and his new friend Amber are seen wandering with their horses ‘Electric’. Here writer Tilak has kept the hero absolutely connected to the ground; despite being mighty, he feels angry and thirsty for Amber. The search for water leads them to an extremely beautiful reservoir, but this beauty is often a sign of some great danger in fantasy stories.
As Amber descends into the reservoir to drink water, a huge and fearsome water-maid monster attacks her. Amber’s helplessness and the bravery of Aakrosh are clearly visible in this scene. Aakrosh puts an end to that monster with his swiftness and deadly sword blows. This initial confrontation itself connects the reader to the pace of the story and prepares them for further adventures.
The story then moves towards its true purpose—Amber’s ‘power scripture’ discovery. Amber tells that at the time of the destruction of the planet Plato, her magical weapon was lost somewhere, and it is very important to find that weapon to defeat Kalguru Khataro. In this same quest, they continue their journey and chase the ‘Rainbow Circle’ to reach the ‘Owl Planet’.
The scourge of the Owl Planet and the web of conspiracy
As soon as the story steps onto the Owl Planet, it takes a different turn, and here it transforms into a murder mystery and political thriller. Ratok, the planet’s emperor, is devastated by the murder of his son, Prince Nishoch. Senapati Khajura, who is an important villain in this story, takes advantage of this opportunity. He cleverly puts all the blame on Aakrosh and declares him the prince’s murderer.
The most emotional and tense part of the story comes when Aakrosh, who has always been a symbol of justice, is himself buried under a false stigma. For attempting to assassinate the emperor—which was actually a big hoax—he is arrested. Here the authors beautifully show the restraint and patience of Aakrosh. If Aakrosh had wanted, he could have destroyed the entire army in a moment, but he does not attack innocent civilians and soldiers. He awaits justice, whether he is cast into a dungeon or the crowd throws stones at him.
The bravery of Amber and the mystery of Emperor Ratok
When Aakrosh gets into trouble, Amber stands as a shield for him like a true friend. She single-handedly confronts Khajura’s army and a mob bent on killing Aakrosh. Amber’s cyborg-like appearance and the weapons that come out of her advanced crutches make these battle scenes even more exciting.
Meanwhile, the story takes a big turn when a mysterious masked old man helps Aakrosh and Amber. It soon turns out that it is none other than the real Emperor Ratok. This is where all the layers of the story are revealed. Commander Khajura had conspired with Emperor Poonchal, the cruel dictator of the neighboring planet, to grab power. They murdered the prince and imprisoned Emperor Ratok. Poonchal’s evil army was ready to make the citizens of the Owl Planet their food.
Climax: The victory of justice
The story ends with a terrible great war. On one side is the fearsome demonic army of Poonchal, and on the other side stand Aakrosh and Amber with Ratok, the emperor fighting for his subjects. During this same war, Amber finally finds her lost ‘Shakti Shastr’ — a very powerful mace — with which she kills Commander Khajura and punishes him for his deeds. At the same time, Aakrosh defeats the arrogant Emperor Poonchal with his magical powers and brilliant sword fighting.
After the battle, Emperor Ratok regains his throne and angrily asks for forgiveness for his actions. With this, the story ends with the exciting note that now Aakrosh and Amber will step towards their real and biggest enemy, Kalguru Khatar—.
In-depth analysis of the characters
Aakrosh:
A new and deeper form of Aakrosh emerges in this comic. He is not just a warrior, but also a true ‘solitaire’. When the crowd stones him, his dialogues (Page 16) clearly show the greatness of his character—“God! I am not afraid of death, but will I die with the stigma of a murderer?” This dialogue shows that Aakrosh is more concerned about his honor and truth than his life. His patience and restraint make him completely different from other superheroes.
Amber:
Amber proves to be the biggest discovery in this series. Despite being a handicapped warrior, it is very inspiring for her to be so powerful and courageous. Her loyalty to Aakrosh is the real life of this story. She dares to confront the entire planet for the honor of her friend, and this is what makes her a memorable character.
Commander Khajura:
Khajura is a classic kind of villain—greedy, deceitful, and power-hungry. He doesn’t hesitate to stab others in the back. His cunning and intrigues create the tension needed in the story and keep the reader constantly alert.
Emperor Poonchal:
The characterization of Emperor Poonchal is very scary. He is a symbol of cruelty and dictatorship. His demonic army simultaneously instills both adventure and fear in the minds of children, which is considered the hallmark of fantasy comics.
Painting and Art: Dilip Kadam’s Masterclass
The pairing of Dilip Kadam and Jaiprakash Jagtap has really done wonders in the visuals of this comic. Amber’s entry on horseback, ripping through the crowd, gives a tremendous sense of movement in the action sequence. The sound effects of swords colliding make the story more lively. The imaginative design of the aquatic monsters and Emperor Poonchal’s army, their fearsome eyes and terrifying figures, offers a brilliant example of the art of that period. Emperor Ratok’s crying scene wrapped around his son’s skeleton—especially the use of a yellow and black background—brings sorrow and suffering directly to the reader’s heart.
Writing and editing
Author Tilak has crafted this story in a very sensitive and balanced manner. Pure Hindi has been used in the dialogues, which used to be a special identity of the comics of that time. The editing (Sawan-Sandeep) is so tight that the story does not loosen anywhere. Some new twist or suspense on every page pulls the reader towards the next page.
‘Blazed Aakrosh’’s key messages
This comic is not limited to just entertainment; many deep messages are hidden within it. Amber’s support of Aakrosh in adverse circumstances shows what true friendship means. At the same time, the character of Aakrosh teaches us that sometimes we have to endure insults and hardships to prove the truth, but in the end, truth always wins. The fall of Emperors Poonchal and Khajura reiterates that the end of dictatorship is certain and that power gained through deceit never remains permanent.
Technical side: marketing of that period
It is important to mention the advertisement given in the comic and the ‘free gift’ (water bottle). For the children of that time, these things were no less than a big attraction. Creating curiosity for a sequel by naming ‘Kalguru Khatar’ at the end of the comic was an extremely smart marketing strategy of that period.
Where the previous link, ‘Aakrosh and Amber’, focused on the introduction of these two heroes and the removal of misunderstandings between them, ‘Blazed Aakrosh’ shows their teamwork strongly. The action level in this comic is quite high, and the finding of the ‘power scripture’ adds a new power-up to the story.
Although the story is very strong, it may seem a bit filmy to some readers. It feels slightly unbelievable that someone could get out of prison so easily by wearing the mask of Emperor Ratok and putting someone else in place of Aakrosh. Nevertheless, such plot twists are commonplace in the world of comics and are what further enhance the adventure.
Conclusion: An indispensable masterpiece
‘Blazing Aakrosh’ is one of those few stories from Manoj Comics that readers of all ages can love. This story takes us to a world where we have to struggle for justice and even risk our lives for friendship.
If you are fond of old-fashioned comics and a fan of Aakrosh, then this comic is like a precious gem in your collection. Its superb artwork, depth of emotion, and powerful action sequences make it fully worthy of a 9.5 out of 10 rating.
The rage of Aakrosh is not just a symbol of destruction, but a sacred fire burning evil. ‘Blazed Aakrosh’ sounds completely meaningful, because in the end, the just anger of Aakrosh consumes all evil.
