Among many heroes like Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruv, and Bhediya, there was also a hero who lived in darkness, whose way of justice was beyond the laws of the world – that was Doga. This self-proclaimed protector from Mumbai, who talked to dogs and was an embodiment of terror for criminals, had soon created a distinct and very strong identity for himself among the fans. Doga’s stories always reflected the brutal and realistic world of crime. But “Mard Aur Murda” is a special issue that goes one step beyond the traditional stories of Doga and presents a cocktail of crime, action, horror, and supernatural powers, which is still fresh in the minds of readers. Featuring the story of Sanjay Gupta and Vivek Mohan, the writing of Tarun Kumar Wahi, and the brilliant portrayal by Dheeraj Verma, this comic is not just a hero-and-villain fight, but a deep and emotional story of identity, sacrifice, love, and superstition.
Plot: An extraordinary beginning
The story begins with an extremely dramatic and tense scene. A dreaded criminal sentenced to death, the Widow Killer (killer of widows), manages to escape from prison. His goal is clear – to be free from the grip of the law forever. For this, he needs a new face. He tries to blackmail the city’s most famous plastic surgeon, Doctor Mehra, by falsely threatening to kidnap his son so that he performs plastic surgery on him. This is where Doga’s explosive entry takes place. Doga almost catches the criminal, but the Widow Killer is extremely vicious and manages to escape by jumping onto a speeding train.
Escaping Doga, the Widow Killer takes refuge in Rupnagar Cemetery. Here, he realizes that the path to plastic surgery is now closed. It is from here that the story emerges from the world of science and logic and descends into the dark quagmire of tantra-mantra and superstition. The Widow Killer, who also knows tantric powers, chooses a new and more terrifying path – changing his face using the body of a freshly buried corpse.
Parallel to this, another story is going on – that of Anthony’s family. Anthony was a good and family man, who has recently died. Today is his daughter Maria’s birthday. The guests have arrived, the cake is on the table, but Maria refuses to cut the cake. She has only one insistence: that she will cut the cake only when her father, Anthony, arrives. This innocent stubbornness of a girl and her unwavering love for her father unknowingly lay the foundation for a horrific incident that no one had even imagined.
In the cemetery, the Widow Killer searches for a fresh dead body for his tantric action, and fate brings him to Anthony’s grave. He performs a terrible tantric ritual and transfers his soul to Anthony’s dead body. Now the Widow Killer comes alive in Anthony’s face and body, while Anthony’s soul comes alive imprisoned in the Widow Killer’s criminal body. The real struggle of the story starts from here.
Characterization: The dichotomy of emotions
The greatest strength of “Mard Aur Murda” is its strong characterization.
Doga: Doga is not just an action hero in this story. He becomes entangled in a mystery that is beyond his understanding and logic. When Anthony (in the body of the Widow Killer) asks him for help and reveals himself to be innocent, Doga’s scale of justice is shaken. For the first time, he has to challenge his habit of believing only in what he sees. This story adds a rare emotional depth to Doga’s character, where he has to make a difficult choice between empathy and sanity.
Anthony: The “man” of the title is actually Anthony. He is the emotional center of the story. A loving husband and father who, even after death, returns to his daughter’s call, but in the body of a murderer. His helplessness, his yearning to prove his identity, and his struggle to save his family from evil touch the heart. Readers feel his pain and start praying for his success.
Widow Killer: This is not just an ordinary criminal, but a symbol of cruelty, selfishness, and satanic cunning. He is “dead,” because he uses a dead body and his soul is also dead. His character shows the extent to which a human being can fall to save his life. The savage sparkle and cruelty in Anthony’s eyes, even after he impersonates him, make his character even more terrifying.
Julie and Maria: Both of these characters raise the emotional stakes in the story. Julie’s duel between the grief of her husband’s death and then the horror of finding him back as a criminal is poignant. At the same time, Maria’s innocence and her faith in her father provide a strong emotional basis for the story.
Art and Painting: The Magic of Dheeraj Verma
Dheeraj Verma’s portrayal is the soul of this comic. Without his art, this story might not have become so influential. Some special features of his work are: the fight scenes are full of energy and speed, bringing the force of Doga’s punches and the agility of the Widow Killer to life on the pages. He is adept at carving emotions into the characters’ faces, such as the helplessness in Anthony’s eyes, the cruelty of the Widow Killer, Julie’s fear, and Doga’s resolve, which is clearly visible even without any dialogue.
The atmosphere of the story is quite serious and dark, especially in the cemetery scenes and tantric rituals. Dheeraj Verma’s shading and lines perfectly capture this atmosphere. The resurrection of corpses in the cemetery and Doga’s fight with them is an excellent example of visual artwork. The layout of the panels helps to control the pace of the story. Close-up shots increase tension, while wide panels show the scale of the action.
T.R. Azad’s color combinations and the inking of Rajendra Dhoni and Vinod Kumar further enhance Dheeraj Verma’s art, making every page a visual treat.
Writing and Dialogue: The Pinnacle of Storytelling
Tarun Kumar Wahi’s writing is very tight and impressive. The pace of the story does not slow down anywhere. A great balance has been created between action, emotion, and horror. The dialogues are sharp, memorable, and character-driven. Dialogues like “I don’t take revenge, I deliver justice” coming out of Doga’s mouth establish his character, while Anthony’s dialogue with his wife “Julie, I’m your Anthony” reflects his helplessness. The way the story starts as a crime thriller and turns into supernatural horror shows the ability of the writers.
Theme and Analysis: The Crisis of Identity
It’s not just Anthony’s story, but also Doga’s. Doga, himself an ordinary man, adopts a violent and fearsome identity to fight criminals. This story teaches him that what matters is not the face of the real hero, but his motive and his soul. This theme is also seen in the stories of many heroes of Raj Comics, where heroes work by hiding their true identity.
The multi-layeredness of the title “Mard Aur Murda” is really amazing. This is not just a title, but the essence of the story. “Mard” shows Anthony’s unwavering will, who even fights death for his family. At the same time, “Murda” shows the dead humanity of the Widow Killer, who used both the lives and corpses of others for his demonic ambitions.
The power of love is an important foundation in the story. Maria’s unwavering love for her father is the emotional center of the story. This is the thread that pulls Anthony back and finally inspires Doga to fight on the right track. This shows that even in the most serious and scary stories, the feeling of love is the greatest power.
The clash of science versus superstition was an interesting aspect of comics of that period. The combination of plastic surgery and tantra-mantra creates a unique plot that was very much liked by the readers of that time. It shows that Indian comics were trying to build a bridge between modernity and their cultural roots.
This story is memorable not only for Doga’s action scenes but also for these deep themes. Do you think there is any other theme hidden in this story?
Conclusion
“Mard Aur Murda” is a milestone in the history of Raj Comics. It is not just a Doga comic, but a complete and self-contained story with a wonderful blend of action, drama, horror, and emotion. It is a story that keeps you engaged till the end and makes you think even after it is over. Dheeraj Verma’s brilliant art and Tarun Kumar Wahi’s powerful writing make it a timeless creation. This comic is proof that Indian comics also had the ability to tell deep and complex stories. If you are a fan of Indian comics or want to read a great story, “Mard Aur Murda” is essential reading for you. It is as relevant and entertaining today as it was at the time of its publication.
