The history of Indian comics has been extremely rich and colorful. The 80s and 90s were a period when the greatest means of entertainment for children and young people used to be ‘pocket books’ and comics. During this period, ‘Radha Comics’ had made a special place in the hearts of the readers. Radha Comics was known for its diverse characters, and one of these unique characters was – the ‘Dwarf Spy’.
The comics we have before us today for review is titled – ‘Lord of the Earth’. This story is the sequel of ‘Dwarf Detective and Cremation Pandit’. This comics is not only a detective adventure, but it also shows a wonderful blend of horror (Horror), fantasy (Fantasy) and Indian mythology (Mythology). In this review of 1200 words, we will analyze in depth every aspect of this comics.
Analysis of the plot
The story of this comics starts from where the previous part ended. The main villain of the story is the ‘Cremation Pandit’, who has acquired such black knowledge that he can bring dead bodies back to life by putting other souls in them and make them his slaves. His dream is to rule the entire world and he considers himself the “Lord of the Earth”.
The story begins in a very dramatic manner. The dwarf spy and his companion Sridhar are in the forests of Belapuri, where they are attacked by two ‘murdas’ (zombies) sent by the cremation pandit. Here the author has very cleverly made the readers realize that conventional weapons are useless in the face of these supernatural powers. When the dwarf spy opens fire on them, they are not affected. This scene increases suspense. The dwarf spy, displaying his intelligence, stabs them in the eyes and blinds them. The scene shows the dwarf detective’s quick thinking (presence of mind).
The second and most interesting twist of the story comes when the scene reaches ‘Yamlok’ directly from the earth. This was a special genre of Indian comics where even detective stories were interfered with by gods and goddesses. Chitragupta tells Yamraj that Yamlok’s economy has deteriorated as the souls are being imprisoned on earth by the ‘Cremation Pandit’ instead of coming to Yamlok. This plot point is very ridiculous and unique. Yamraj’s anger and decision to come to earth himself gives a new dimension to the story.
Yamraj and Chitragupta come to earth in the form of ‘Guru Ghantal and disciple Kangal’. Here the element of ‘Divine Intervention’ is added to the story. They meet Sridhar and tell him that his guru (dwarf spy) is still alive.
On the other hand, the cremation pandit is displaying his powers and scaring the villagers and asking them for the dead bodies of their relatives so that he can increase his army. Thakur Vikram Pratap, who owns the princely state, confronts these dead with his army, but their swords and guns prove ineffective. This part builds ‘action’ and ‘desperation’ (despair) into the story.
Finally, it is Yamraj who tells the dwarf detective the secret of the Pandit’s power – “His power is in his string of bones.” The dwarf spy then creates a great plan (Masterplan). He disguises himself and, pretending to take a dead body, enters the Pandit’s fort and steals his garland. As soon as the garland leaves his hand, the Pandit loses all his powers and becomes an ordinary person.
Character analysis
Dwarf Detective:
The hero of this comics is far from the image of a traditional ‘hero’. He is short in stature, not very strong physically, but his mind is his greatest strength. When he sees that the bullets are not working, he finds the enemy’s weakness (eyes) instead of running away. He is fearless. He remains comfortable even in front of a god like Yamraj. His biggest quality is his ‘confidence’. He is a great mix of espionage and trickery.
The Pundit (villain) of the Crematorium:
This villain represents the classic villain of the 90s. He has a clear motive – “to rule the world”. He has a ‘God Complex’, which is clear from the title ‘Lord of the Earth’. He is cruel and takes advantage of people’s feelings (the desire to see their dead kin alive). His characterization is absolutely scary – a garland of bones around his neck, a tilak on his forehead, and a dreaded laugh.
Yamraj and Chitragupta:
Yamraj and Chitragupta are used in this comics as ‘Comic Relief’ (humor) and ‘Deus Ex Machina’ (divine aid in difficult times). It is very interesting for Yamraj to speak the modern language and for Chitragupta to explain to him about the “economy” (Economy). Their disguise as ‘Guru Ghantal and Chele Kangal’ brings lightness to the story, which could otherwise have been a serious and scary story.
Sridhar:
Sridhar is the loyal companion of the dwarf spy. He is a bit timid and emotional too. When he feels that his master is dead, he cries bitterly. His character serves to connect the reader emotionally to the story. He plays the role of ‘Watson’ who embodies the greatness of ‘Sherlock’ (dwarf spy).
Main themes and elements (Themes and Elements)
Science vs Superstition (Science vs Superstition):
As such it is a spy comics, but it is completely missing science. Here witchcraft, rebirth, and the appearance of gods are the truth. This was the demand of a time when readers preferred ‘miracles’ more than rationality.
Truth wins:
In the end, no matter how powerful the villain is (even if he has conquered death), his defeat is certain. This is the basic mantra of Indian stories.
Humor and satire:
Writer Tika Ram has made good use of humor in dialogues. When Yamraj says – “If this situation continues then pigeons will gossip instead of souls in Yamalok,” then this dialogue is both a satire on the system and also makes one laugh.
Emotional blackmail:
The villain’s asking for people’s corpses and promising that he will bring them to life shows how blind a human being can be in his infatuation with his loved ones. This is a deeply psychological aspect that has been touched upon in the comics.
Portraiture and art side (Artwork and Visuals)
The drawing by ‘Cameo Arts’ is the life of this comics. Despite the limitations of 90s printing techniques, the artist has captured the mood of the story perfectly.
Color combination (Color Palette):
Bright colors (Primary Colors) have been used in comics. Dark blue and black colors predominate in cremation scenes, while yellow and green colors predominate in day scenes. There’s plenty of red for blood that makes it a little ‘Gore’ (gruesome), which was so thrilling to kids back then.
Action Scene:
When the dwarf spy fires a gun or when there is a war between Thakur’s army and the dead, the motion (Motion) is shown very well in those panels. ‘Dhanay! Dhay!’, ‘Khachak!’, ‘Tann!’ sound effects (Sound Effects) are written in Hindi which doubles the fun of reading.
Facial expressions:
The expressions of cruelty on the face of the cremation pandit and the tenacity on the face of the dwarf spy are very clear. Yamraj’s large mustache and crown give him a traditional and impressive appearance.
Dialogue and writing style
The writing style of plot writer Tika Ram is straightforward and effective. The dialogues are short and cheeky. Some memorable dialogues:
“I am God!… God of this earth, but offerings are to please God.” – This dialogue perfectly speaks to the villain’s arrogance.
“Foolish spy, don’t you know that bullets have no effect on the dead?”
“Maharaj, you are Guru Ghantal and I am your disciple Kangal.” – This rhyme (Rhyming) readers remember.
The language is simple Hindi, in which popular Urdu words (like Riyasat, Jism, Qayamat) have also been used beautifully, which was very easy for North Indian readers.
Critical approach
As a reviewer, if we look at today’s times, there are some ‘loopholes’ in the story:
Yamraj’s intervention:
The coming to earth of the god of death himself to stop a small Tantrik seems a bit hyperbolic (Overkill). With his powers, he could incinerate him from Yamlok itself. But to take the story forward, the author sent him to help the ‘spy’ and not to kill the villain directly. It was an interesting decision.
Security lapse:
How can a cremation pandit who is so powerful be so careless about his source of power (garland) that anyone comes in disguise and steals it? The climax was dealt with a little quickly and easily.
Role of the Dwarf Detective:
In the middle part of the story, the Dwarf Detective becomes a little passive and the focus goes on the battle of Yamraj and Thakur. However, in the end, victory comes from his wisdom.
Despite these shortcomings, we have to remember that these comics were written for children and teenagers, where ‘magic’ and ‘action’ mattered more than logic. In that respect, it is completely successful in its objective.
Influence and nostalgia on the society of the time (Nostalgia)
This comics is not just pages of paper, but a whole world. When there was no internet and mobile, children used to enter the world of fantasy only through these comics. Characters like ‘Dwarf Detective’ used to teach us that it doesn’t take ‘six-pack abs’ or a 6-foot height to be a hero. Mind and courage are the real weapons.
Another specialty of Radha Comics was their advertisements. Even at the end of this comics, advertisements for other novels like ‘Shakti Putra’ and ‘Nagpal’ have been given, which tempted readers to buy the next book.
Conclusion
Overall, “Dwarf Detective and Lord of the Earth” is a great entertaining piece. It is a cocktail of horror, comedy, action and mythology that is hardly found in the stories of today’s times.
Positive aspects: fast-paced story, colorful and attractive pictures, unique role of Yamraj and Chitragupta, and intelligence of dwarf spy.
Downside: slightly weak climax and lack of rationality.
If you’re a 90s kid, this comics will take you on a golden journey of nostalgia (Nostalgia). And if you are a new reader, it will introduce you to the rich heritage of Indian comics where imagination knew no bounds. This comics is proof that a good story doesn’t require a huge budget or VFX, just a strong plot and interesting characters are enough.
Rating: 2/5 Stars (For Old Memories and Entertainment).
It is a comics collectible and represents the genre of Hindi literature that made an entire generation get used to reading (Reading habit). ‘Lord of the Earth’ proves that the real God is not a Tantrik, but a writer and artist who create a new world with their pen and brush.
