Indra’s wrath (No. 877), published by Manoj Comics, is a great example of a period in Indian comics history when science fiction, thriller, and social drama were shown together in a tremendous mix of the three. The story, written by Nazra Khan, and Chavan’s brilliant portrayal have made it an emotional story filled with feelings of friendship, patriotism, and deep betrayal. The same things make it a heart-touching story, not just an ‘action comic’.
This comic proves its name to be completely correct — ‘Jaljal’, i.e., ground-shaking earthquake or storm. In the story, a similar storm occurs in the life of scientist Indra. And then, when the same Indra comes back as ‘Robocop’, his flurry of vengeance keeps the readers engaged till the end.
In this review, we will talk about the depth of the story, the emotions of the characters, the beauty of the artwork, and the social atmosphere of that time, which made this comic so special and memorable.
Friendship, science, and betrayal
The story begins in a highly secret meeting room of Rajnagar’s Home Ministry. Three senior officials of the country are present here — Home Minister Vinay Prabhakar, C.B.I. Director Krishna Sundaram, and Police Commissioner Alok Sinha. Two young and promising scientists are also present with them — Indra Sahni and Vishal Kumar Saxena.
The Robocop Project
Indra and Vishal have together created a state-of-the-art robot — ‘Robocop’. This machine can fly, can even walk on the ground, and most importantly, it has an artificial brain that gives it the ability to think and understand like humans. The project was to be dedicated to the security of the country and was scheduled for a grand unveiling the following day. The story reaches a huge stake from here because it is not just an invention but a symbol of the strength and honor of the country.
Accident and arrival of the villain:
At night, while the artificial brain plate is being fitted to the robot, a short circuit occurs. At the same time, Indra gets a call from an unknown villain (called just ‘Don’). The surprising thing is that he has complete information about this secret project. He threatens that he wants to buy Robocop at any cost, and if refused, will get both Indra and Vishal killed.
Indra’s answer is full of anger and patriotism. He clearly says that there is no question of selling the security of the country. Vishal suspects that one of the five secret members of this project is a traitor who has leaked all the information outside. This moment increases the suspense and tension in the story.
Emotional turn — Indra’s sacrifice and Vishal’s courage:
The villain’s goons then attack the lab. This part is the most emotional and memorable moment of the story. Indra gets badly injured in the fight. While dying, he makes his friend Vishal promise that no matter what happens, he will definitely fulfill the ‘Robocop’ project. The scene shocks readers and brings the story to a new emotional turn.
Here, the character of Vishal Kumar Saxena touches an unforgettable height. Vishal, devastated by the death of his best friend, takes a step that crosses the boundaries of both science and humanity. To fulfill Indra’s unfulfilled dream, he transplants his mind and eyes into Robocop’s machine body. For Vishal, this is not just a scientific experiment but the biggest proof of friendship and the last expression of love. He believes that a mind like Indra’s should not go to waste. This turn gives emotional depth to the story — because now ‘Robocop’ has become not just a machine, but a living human being with Indra’s soul, memories, and emotions. His blue eyes open, and Indra’s consciousness awakens in him. This moment becomes the most emotional and memorable scene of the comic.
Government response and the rise of Robocop:
Soon, Police Commissioner Alok Sinha (who was under suspicion from the beginning) reaches the spot. The government feels that Vishal is responsible for Indra’s murder. But Vishal presents ‘Robocop’ to everyone to prove the truth. And then what happens puzzles everyone — Robocop catches bullets, flies in the sky, and chases criminals on the streets. Now he is not just a machine, but ‘Indra’s fire,’ a living storm burning in the fire of justice and revenge.
Layers of Personality
Indra Sahni/Robocop: Indra is an idealistic scientist and a true patriot. His life is full of sadness — his girlfriend Shalini forgets him on his birthday, which makes him sad, and after a while, he is murdered. Both these incidents make his life a deep tragedy. But when he returns as ‘Robocop’, he brings together both his human emotions and scientific thinking. This is what makes him a unique and more human hero — a machine, yet human at heart.
Vishal Kumar Saxena: Vishal is the real hero of this comic. He is not just a friend, but a person who is ready to fulfill his friend’s dream under any circumstances. While his decision to mechanize Indra’s mind shows scientific audacity (courage), it is also proof of his true friendship and selfless love. Vishal’s loyalty is what kept Indra’s dream alive and gave him birth again as ‘Robocop’.
Home Minister Vinay Prabhakar (Villain): The biggest twist of the story comes when the real villain is exposed — and it turns out to be the Home Minister of the country himself, i.e., Vinay Prabhakar! This revelation shocks the readers. The Home Minister’s exit as ‘Don’ or ‘Boss’ exposes the corruption and abuse of power of that era. Like many comics of that time, it is shown here that the enemies of the country are often people in high positions. The Home Minister flying in a red robe and confronting Robocop symbolizes his ‘double life’ — leader by day, king of crime by night.
Art Style and Portraiture: The biggest strength of this comic is Chavan ji’s brilliant portraiture. It gives a real glimpse of Manoj Comics from the 90s. Every frame has amazing energy (dynamism) — especially when Robocop flies, fights, or picks up a jeep. In those scenes, sound effects like ‘dhadam’, ‘tadak’, and ‘aah’ bring the action even more alive. The emotions of the characters are very clearly visible — the disappointment on Indra’s face, Vishal’s fear, and the cunningness on the Home Minister’s face — everything is made very impressively.
The use of colors (Color Game) is also amazing — dark, bold, and contrasting colors bring the story to life. Robocop’s bright blue suit and the villain’s red robe catch the eye instantly, while background scenes like the Home Ministry, labs, or city streets are so detailed that the atmosphere of the story feels absolutely real.
Critical Evaluation and Impact
Indra’s wrath proves to be an example for Indian science fiction comics. Its biggest attraction is its emotional heart. It is not just the story of a robotic hero, but the story of a friend who crosses all limits to keep his promise. Like Hollywood’s ‘Robocop’ film, it also shows the combination of machine and human, but here it is not just about justice or action — it is also about friendship and humanity.
Power (Strengths):
Speed and Adventure (Pacing and Thrill): The pace is so fast from the beginning of the story that the reader does not lose sight of the comic even for a moment. Indra’s murder, his becoming Robocop, and finally, the real face of the Home Minister coming out — each turn brings a new shock and thrill to the story.
Question of Humanity: When Indra’s mind is applied to Robocop’s body, the story raises a big question — if the machine has human consciousness and emotions, will it be called a machine or a human being? This idea takes it from a simple action thriller to a thought-provoking story.
Social Comment: The real villain of the story, the Home Minister’s revelation, makes a sharp comment on the politics of that period. It shows how those in power sometimes become the biggest threat to the country. Breaking public trust was common in the society of that time, and this comic boldly puts forward that same truth.
Shortcomings (Weaknesses):
Love Story Aspect (The Girlfriend Spot): Indra’s girlfriend Shalini leaving him on his birthday seems to be a bit of an old way of storytelling (trope), which we have seen many times in films too. But one good side of this is that this incident further strengthens Indra’s feeling of patriotism and dedication.
Over-theatricality: Some scenes seem a little too dramatic — like Indra being attacked by goons or Robocop picking up a jeep. But it also has to be admitted that this was the specialty of 90s Manoj Comics — overdramatic but funny action! The readers of that time used to praise these things.
Conclusion:
Indra’s wrath is one of the best works of Manoj Comics, which is still remembered for its action, emotion, and thrill. This story teaches us that the strength of friendship and patriotism is greater than science and sometimes even surpasses death.
Indra may have died in his human body, but the loyalty of his friend Vishal and Indra’s consciousness brought him back to life as ‘Robocop’. Now his aim was not just to catch criminals, but to avenge the betrayal of his country and fulfill his promise — by creating an advanced technology that protects the nation.
This comic gave the readers of that time a hero who was completely full of Indian values, even if his body was inspired by foreign science fiction. That’s why this comic proved to be a big step in the Indian superhero genre — a milestone that even today old comic lovers remember with great fondness.
Indra’s wrath reminds us that when the feelings of friendship, duty, and patriotism come together, no storm — whether of humans or machines — can stop it.
This comic not only entertains but also leaves a big question — when the security of the country is at stake, can a scientist be ready to sacrifice his dreams and his life? And that same question, that same ‘Jaljal’, is as relevant today as it was at that time.
