Manoj Comics has had its own unique and special place in the golden era of Indian comics. When Raj Comics and Diamond Comics were in power, Manoj Comics made a special place in the hearts of children and youth through its different stories, exciting detective stories, and horror-supernatural stories. Today we are going to review in detail a very popular and memorable work by Manoj Comics, “Ichchadhari Naagin and Shaitan Mongl.” The comic is not just a supernatural revenge story, but also presents an interesting juxtaposition of science fiction (Sci-Fi) and spy thriller (Spy Thriller). In this story, Manoj Comics’ famous detective Ram-Rahim (Double Secret Agent 001/2) is seen in the lead role.
Background and beginning of the story
The story begins with a fictional planet, ‘Cobra Band,’ nestled in space far away from Earth. This concept can be considered quite modern from the point of view of the comics of that time, because here the story of the serpent and mongoose has not been limited to mere folklore but has been taken to an entire cosmic level (Cosmic Level). From this planet, a very dangerous criminal, ‘Mongoose,’ escapes to Earth, stealing a magical gem named ‘God’s Eye,’ which is sacred and powerful.
The King of the Cobra Band, extremely angry at this theft, orders his most intelligent, cunning, and powerful wishful serpent (Vishakanya) to go to Earth, end the mongoose, and bring the gem back at any cost. This is where the main confrontation and conflict of the story begins.
Plot expansion
In the opening pages of the story, it is shown that the gem falls into the hands of a common thief on Earth. The police chase the thief, and fearing being caught, he hides the gem in a tree hollow (wig). Meanwhile, the thief gets injured due to police firing, and from here the story takes a new turn.
On the other hand, Ram and Rahim, who are brave and smart agents of the ‘Child Secret Service,’ are looking for a new case. They reach Rajpura police station, where they find that a thief has mysteriously disappeared. The mystery in the story deepens when it is revealed that the mongoose can take over the mind of any human being like a parasite, and it makes the body of the famous scientist Professor Kamath its base.
Now this evil mongoose, present in Professor Kamath’s body, starts misusing his scientific power. He devises a plan to create an artificial brain for a man named ‘Martin’ and perform an extremely dangerous surgery. Meanwhile, the wishful serpent also reaches Earth and recognizes the mongoose disguised as a professor.
The story is completely filled with adventure in the middle part of the comic. The wishful serpent sometimes takes the form of a beautiful woman and sometimes becomes a giant cobra. She attacks the mongoose’s companions, especially Shakal and other henchmen. Shakal’s death and then the Naagin’s impersonation and entry into the professor’s house give the story a classic spy thriller feel.
Role of Ram-Rahim:
The pairing of Ram and Rahim has always been the lifeblood of Manoj Comics. In this story too, they do not remain mere spectators, but connect every link with their wisdom and logic. When they get information about the suspicious actions of the severed-headed man (Manmohan) and Professor Kamath, they further intensify their investigation. Ram-Rahim’s spying, their tactics, and the mutual dialogue between page numbers 18 to 23 of the comic are quite funny and exciting, especially when they are in ambush, searching for the Mani in the jungle.
Characterization
Wishful serpent (Vishkanya): She is shown as a responsible and conscientious warrior. She is not just a revenge-seeking serpent, but is fighting to save her entire planet and its existence. Courage, wisdom, and determination are clearly visible in her character.
Mongoose (Professor Kamath): This villain looks even scarier because he is not directly visible and can enter anyone’s mind. His cunning, deceit, and insane scientific thinking as Professor Kamath make him a memorable villain.
Ram-Rahim: Ram is calm and serious by nature, while Rahim is a bit funny but extremely agile and clever. The chemistry and mutual coordination between the two give a fast pace to the story.
Art and portraiture
The artwork of this comic by Dilip Kadam and Vijay Kadam brings that classic comic style of the 80s and 90s back to life, which still seems equally impressive today. The wishful serpent’s yellow-red robes, the fine designs of the cobra on her body, and their color combination are extremely attractive. In the action and fight scenes, the use of words like “dhay,” “kadak,” and “fiss,” along with the expressions of the characters, reminds us of the comics of that period. Especially the serpent’s appearance in her true form and the mysterious framing behind the professor, showing the mongoose’s shadow, are completely successful in creating both fear and curiosity in the minds of the readers.
Climax and ending
The ending of the story is exactly like a Bollywood blockbuster film. In a deserted forest area, Ram, Rahim, the wishful serpent, and the evil professor (with the mongoose hidden inside) come face to face. As soon as Ram-Rahim understand the whole truth, they decide to support the serpent without any delay.
This is where a tremendous trick is played with the ‘gem.’ The professor feels that he has finally found the same magical gem that will make him immortal. But in reality, it is not a gem, but an elusive stone given by the serpent, which is actually a dangerous explosive trap (Explosive Trip). As the weasel tries to swallow the stone, a loud bang occurs, and it meets its end.
The last page shows a beautiful combination of both emotions and duty. The mongoose is eliminated forever, and the wishful serpent (Vishakanya) regains her lost gem. She wholeheartedly thanks Ram-Rahim and then turns into a light body and returns to her planet, ‘Cobra Band.’ Ram and Rahim once again prove that they are always ready to protect humanity.
Critical Analysis
Positive side:
The story of this comic is really very unique and different. Linking the traditional enmity of serpents and mongooses with the angle of space and aliens was a very creative and courageous experiment for its time. Within only 32–33 pages, the pacing of the story is kept so precise that it never feels cumbersome or slow. Every page reveals some new mystery, which keeps the reader connected to the story. The dialogues may be short, but their impact is deep. On one hand, the seriousness of the wishful serpent is clearly visible, while on the other hand, the ridiculous threats of the mongoose create fear and tension in the story.
Weak side:
Although the story is fast enough, some readers may find its ending a bit abrupt. The destruction of a powerful and dangerous entity like the mongoose is shown only through a small explosion, whereas the scene could have been made more impressive by expanding it a little more. Apart from this, there is also a slight decrease in the use of co-characters. Inspector Khan and other police personnel are given good importance at the beginning of the story, but as the story progresses toward the climax, they almost disappear.
Social and cultural context:
Such stories from Manoj Comics have always strengthened the belief in the minds of children and teenagers that good wins over evil. Besides this, a calm and positive message of communal harmony is also conveyed through characters like Ram-Rahim, which is equally relevant and important in today’s times.
Conclusion
Overall, “Ichchadhari Naagin and Shaitan Mongl” is a memorable and powerful work from Manoj Comics. It takes us to a time when imagination had no limits. This comic not only entertains but also reminds us that with courage, wisdom, and the right decisions, even the biggest ‘devil’ can be defeated.
If you are fond of old comics and love the thrill of supernatural powers combined with Indian detective stories, then this comic must be in your collection.
Rating: 4.5/5
A comment about the author:
The writer of this comic, Ajit Chatterjee, has made even a simple-looking story extraordinary with his writing. It is the result of his imaginative thinking that he created a unique planet like ‘Cobra Band,’ which still creates curiosity and excitement in the minds of readers.
