That period was something else! The eighties and nineties are called the golden age of Indian comics. At that time, from small towns to big metros, children used to spend their summer holidays and pocket money lost in the worlds of Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, Tulsi Comics, and Manoj Comics.
One of these famous publications was Manoj Comics, which gave us many funny and memorable characters. One of these is Mahabali Shera. Today we will talk about a classic comic of the same period – “Mahabali Shera and the Treasure of the Dead.”
This comic has been written by Bimal Chatterjee, and Surendra Suman has brought it back to life with his brilliant illustrations. It’s not just a comic, but like a time machine – that takes us back to those lovely memories of our childhood, where good always outweighed evil, and a hero could go to any extent to save the world.
Plot: A story full of courage, magic, and mystery
The story begins in the dense forests of gold, where the king of the jungle, Mahabali Shera, is resting. His beloved friend and companion Chimpy – who is a half-man – wakes him up and makes him feel something is wrong. This is where the journey full of adventure and mystery begins, which keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.
Shera finds an abandoned horse in the forest. That horse takes him to a place where a man – hunter Ajit – has been crucified. The dying Ajit utters a name – Golconda. This name brings new fear and mystery into the story because this evil magician is the real villain of the tale.
The next twist in the story comes when Shera hears the scream of a beautiful young woman. He sees the horses of a chariot running uncontrollably toward a ditch. Showing his extraordinary strength, Shera uproots an entire tree, blocks the path of the chariot, and saves the girl’s life. That young woman turns out to be Princess Shivali.
But this is where the story takes a turn! The princess’s soldiers think Shera is the kidnapper, and they capture him and take him prisoner.
After this, the story becomes even more interesting. Shera has to fight a giant and dreaded bear to prove his innocence. This scene shows both the strength and courage of Mahabali Shera. He not only defeats the bear but also wins the hearts of both the princess and her commander with his bravery.
After the truth comes out, Princess Shivali reveals that the evil magician Golconda wants to kidnap her so that he can acquire the Dead Treasure. It is said that there are limitless powers hidden in this treasure which can make anyone invincible.
The story reaches its climax when Golconda kidnaps the princess with his magical powers. Now Shera has only one objective – to save the princess and end the terror of Golconda.
Characterization
Mahabali Shera: Shera’s character bears a slight resemblance to heroes such as Tarzan and Conan the Barbarian. He is the king of the jungle — whose power has no limit. It is common for him to uproot trees, fight big animals, and understand the language of animals.
But strength is not his only identity. Shera is kind, just, and always ready to help the weak. He stays away from the crowd of civilization, but whenever humanity is in danger, he stands tall like a true protector.
His character is a symbol of courage, humanity, and selflessness — a hero who fights without any selfishness.
Wizard Golconda: Golconda is a classic villain — cruel, cunning, and hungry for power. All he needs is power, no matter what he has to do for it. He uses black magic, kills innocents, and can stoop to any extent for his cause.
His magical powers make him a dangerous enemy, but his arrogance and evil thinking are what lead to his destruction.
He stands before good as a symbol of evil — and that makes him a memorable villain.
Princess Shivali: Princess Shivali is not just a “princess in trouble” (damsel in distress). She is brave and knows very well how to differentiate between right and wrong.
She recognizes Shera’s strength and his truth and trusts him. Because of that, the story gains emotional depth — which makes it not just an action story but also a story of humanity and trust.
Art and Painting
The life of this comic is the excellent art of its artist, Surendra Suman. His drawings have the energy that brings the story alive.
Shera’s strong body, the tension of his muscles, and his passion in every action scene — everything looks so vivid that every panel feels like a blast of action.
Especially the scene with the bear fight is spectacular — every frame has a feeling of strength and war.
The use of colors is as bright and full of enthusiasm as the comics of that era. Golconda’s fortress, its magical creatures, and the scary atmosphere — all combine to create a mysterious world.
The expressions on the characters’ faces are also unmatched — whether it’s Shera’s anger, the princess’s fear, or Golconda’s evil smile — every emotion moves the story forward without too many words.
The layout of the comic panels is also simple and clean, making everything seem very smooth while reading the story.
Writing and Dialogue
Author Bimal Chatterjee’s writing is simple, easy, and effective. The pace of the story is fast — something new happens on every page, leaving no room for boredom.
The dialogues are short but powerful — they not only take the story forward but also show the personality of the characters.
There is definitely a little “dramatic glimpse” of that period in the language, which reminds today’s readers of the past, such as —
“Oh God! Who could be that unfortunate?”
Such dialogues fill the story with a mythological and epic feel.
The basic theme of the story may be good versus evil, but the thrilling and exciting manner in which it is shown makes it memorable.
