The cover page of “Flashback” itself tells the seriousness of this story. On the cover, Dhruva is shown tied with ropes and behind, a very big magical face (Gili-Gili) and the rest of the villains are visible. The story begins where the previous comic ‘Hunters’ ended. Dhruv is trapped in an emotional storm — his sister Shweta (Chandika) is in a coma, his father (Commissioner) is angry with him, and the world-famous criminal gang ‘Hunters’ is after him. Anupam Sinha not only gave tremendous action in this comic, but also touched the ongoing struggle in Dhruv’s mind and those childhood memories which have made him today’s ‘Super Commando’.
Detailed plot
The story runs at two different times — present and past.
The struggle of the present:
The story begins in the dockyard, where Dhruv is confronting the magician ‘Gilly-Gilly’, an elder member of the Hunters gang. Gili-Gili is a master of hypnosis (Hypnotism). He tries to get Dhruv on his bus so he can extract information on the “container” the Hunters are looking for. Here readers get to see a spectacular psychological war playing with the mind. Gili-Gili penetrates Dhruv’s mind and traps him in hallucinations — sometimes a river of fire, sometimes a very large spider web.
This is where the comic’s name “Flashback” shows the true meaning. Dhruv goes into his childhood memories (flashback) to get out of hypnosis. He recalls that Jupiter Circus magician ‘Pasha’ taught him in his childhood to create a safe place in his mind where no mental attack can affect him. With the help of this memory, Dhruv calms his mind like ice and Gili-Gili’s attack becomes ineffective.
Richa (Black Cat) entry:
Natasha’s (Black Cat) sudden entry during the fight makes the story more exciting. Natasha and Dhruv’s relationship has always been a little sweet and a little sour. She comes to help Dhruv, but in her style. She fights off the Hunters’ robotic woman and gorilla. It is later revealed that the gorilla is not an ordinary animal, but their old companion ‘King’ from Jupiter Circus, who is now taken over by the Hunters. Seeing his own old friend like an enemy, Dhruv breaks even more from inside.
Legal tricks and secrets:
Amidst the action, the story suddenly takes a new turn. A lawyer and a man (who reveals himself to be Jacob Uncle’s son) suddenly appear before the police and Dhruv. They claim that they have real rights over the wreckage of Jupiter Circus and that container. The DNA report also matches in its support. This is a big shock for Dhruv because Dhruv had always believed that he was the only real heir of Jupiter Circus.
Climax and ‘No Man’s Land’:
The story ends with the arrival of a big mystery and new dangerous villain ‘Vakra’. Dhruv realizes that he is completely trapped in a trap, and the story is taking him to a place where stepping is like calling death — called ‘No Man’s Land’.
Character analysis
Super Commando Dhruv:
In this comic, Dhruv looks physically tired, but it is impossible to break him down mentally. Anupam Sinha has made his biggest strength — his willpower — the hero of the story itself. No matter how much Gili-Gili attacks the mind, Dhruv fights it boldly. This proves that even though he has no superpower, his mind is no less than a superpower. The concern of his family (Shweta and the Commissioner) makes him even more human and emotional.
Gili-Gili (main villain):
Gili-Gili is really different and memorable in the crowd of villains of Raj Comics. He doesn’t just fight, he plays with the human mind and fear. His look, his style of speaking and his confidence make him both scary and interesting. But in the end his overconfidence becomes the reason for his defeat — he underestimates Dhruv’s mental strength.
Natasha:
Natasha is the real “scene-stealing” character of this comic. Her action, her dialogues and her attitude are very fast and powerful. She also helps Dhruv, and shows him the mirror of truth when needed. The tuning and intelligible chemistry of both of them has been shown to be very mature and brilliant.
Commissioner Rajan Mehra:
The role of Commissioner is that of a father who has angrily turned away from his son, but inside he is regretting his decision. In ‘Hunters’ he expressed his displeasure at Dhruv, but by the end of this comic he realizes his mistake. The distance between father and son and the efforts to fill it have been shown very beautifully.
Art and portraiture
Anupam Sinha’s artwork is amazing as always. There are many scenes in this comic which need to be mentioned because they have further increased the impact of the story.
Scenes of hypnosis (Page 18–22): When Gili-Gili hypnotizes Dhruv, the layout of those pages and the colors used are wonderful. Close-up of Dhruv’s eye, the fear, confusion and mental storm going on inside him — everything is so finely made that the reader himself feels trapped in that trap.
Flashback Scenes: When the story goes back to the past i.e. Jupiter Circus time, the borders of the panels and the tone of the colors change slightly so that the reader can immediately understand that the story has reached the childhood world. The scenes of Chhote Dhruv and Pasha Uncle are very emotional and heart touching.
Action Choreography: The fighting part of the dockyard feels straight cinematic. Dhruv leaping over containers, fighting in the air with the help of ropes — all frames are extremely dynamic. The use of speed lines is very effective in sensing the speed of fighting.
King (gorilla): Gorilla’s facial expressions attract special attention — whether it is roaring angrily or seems a little confused remembering his past days, the artist’s grip and experience are clearly visible.
Narrative and Dialogue
The biggest quality of Anupam Sinha’s writing is his research and presenting things with logic. Even though it’s a superhero comic, everything in the story is thoughtfully laid out.
For example, Dhruv’s escape from hypnosis was not shown as a miracle, but the result of childhood training is explained. This small thing makes the story more real and stronger.
Dialogues are also very powerful. Gili-Gili’s speech has a theatrical drama — like he wants to make the other person fall mentally by scaring them. Dhruv’s dialogues seem balanced, serious and firm in their decisions.
Depth of emotion is also brilliantly introduced in the story — especially on page 57–60, when the lawyer challenges Dhruv regarding Jupiter Circus and his due on the property. This part shows how helpless even a superhero can sometimes feel in front of the law and the rules of society.
Thematic analysis
The importance of the past (Power of the Past):
The deepest message of “Flashback” is that our past makes us. What Dhruv is today is because of his experience, his relationships and the lessons he learned in his childhood. Past sometimes hurts — like Hunters attack — but the same past also gives him security and the ability to stand strong — like Pasha Uncle’s lesson.
Meaning of family:
The comic raises a big question — what is family? Is blood relation alone everything (as the Commissioner said angrily) or are real families people who stand by you in difficult times, even if the relationship is not blood — like the people of Jupiter Circus and now Natasha. Dhruv’s entire struggle is like finding the answer to this question.
Technique vs. Human Brain:
Hunters have a sea of technology — robots, drones, memory-scan machines, cyber fighters — but Dhruv has the human mind and the infinite will within him. The big message of the comic is that at the right time, mind and passion sometimes prove to be more powerful than any machine.
Critical approach
Positive side (Pros):
Pacing: Despite being a 90+-page comic, the story doesn’t slacken for a second. There is something new on every page and the reader is constantly immersed in the story.
Suspense: The author keeps the secrets of the container and the Hunters’ true motive hidden till the end, making the story more exciting.
Character Development: Not only Dhruv, but the characters of Black Cat and Hunters have also been given a chance to understand and grow.
Downside (Cons):
Complexity of the story: For new readers, especially those who have not read ‘Hunters’ or who are not familiar with Dhruv’s childhood story (Balcharita), they may initially find it a little difficult to understand everything. Many incidents and many characters go on simultaneously in the story.
Villain’s crowd:
Hunters gang has a lot of villains — Gili-Gili, Ulook, Robo-Girl and many others. Sometimes it feels like no one has had a chance to shine all the way because of so many villains. Although Gili-Gili filled this gap to a great extent with his presence and powerful style, still the question of who is the main villain remains a little in the reader’s mind.
Cliffhanger:
Because it is part of a long series, the story remains incomplete at the end and leads directly to the next part — “No Man’s Land”. For readers who like to read the entire story at once, it can be a bit frustrating. But on the other hand, this incompleteness is so interesting that the next section also increases the restlessness of reading.
Conclusion
“Flashback” is another brilliant gem in the list of Raj Comics and Anupam Sinha’s achievements. This comic should be read not just for the action, but for the deep and layered story that unfolds both a superhero’s mind and heart.
This comic reminds one of one thing very beautifully — Dhruv has neither the power of Superman, nor the wealth of Batman. But what he has is the real superpower — never-say-die spirit and an extremely sharp, disciplined mind.
Anupam Sinha has mixed action and emotion so well here that a perfect balance is created between the two. The way memories of the past return as solutions to the problems of the present, shows both the maturity and experience of writing.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5 stars)
Who should read?
This is an absolutely essential comic for the staunch fans of Super Commando Dhruv.
Readers who like excellent artwork with powerful stories.
Those who enjoy watching superhero stories not just fight, but confrontations at a psychological depth and emotional level.
Last word:
“Flashback” is a comic that lifts you from the innocent world of Dhruv’s childhood and directly into the dangerous world of high-tech crime — and that too without loosening the grip of the story. As soon as the last page ends, only one voice comes to the heart —
“Now need ‘No Man’s Land’ quickly!”
And that’s the true identity of a brilliant, successful comic.
