The way heroes like Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruv, and Doga ruled the hearts of children and youth in the 80’s and 90’s is still considered an example. But as times changed and the golden age of comics slowed down a bit, readers started feeling the need for a big and powerful ‘Mahagatha’ (Saga) that would refresh nostalgia and also modern storytelling, while staying connected with style.
“Snake Session(Sarpsatra)”, presented by Manoj Gupta and written by Anupam Sinha, is the result of this thinking. This comic is not just a story, but a tremendous clash of two different universes (Nagraj Universe and Tausi Universe). The word ‘Snake Session’ means—sacrifice of snakes or a ritual of destruction. Its very title clearly indicates that something very big, dangerous, and scary is going to happen in this comic.
Extending the Plot (Plot Analysis)
The comic begins with a mysterious and mythical atmosphere, where a yacht from ancient times and a terrifying cataclysmic scene are shown. This part tells readers in advance that whatever is happening at present has its roots dating back to a very old time.
After this comes the story in the present, where there is a strange peace at the metro station of ‘Mahanagar’ (city of Nagraj). It is here that we meet a woman—advocate Tirumala, who is fighting a legal battle against snakes in the metropolis. Then suddenly, a scary and strange wishy-washy snake named ‘Serpent’ attacks her. Nagraj enters on this occasion. But this Nagraj is not what we usually see. Here, he looks somewhat weak and is suffering from some unknown infection.
The fight goes on, and during this time, strong warriors like ‘Girl’ and ‘Trimund’ are introduced. They are not ordinary villains; rather, they have divine weapons and special snake powers. When Nagraj collides with them, he realizes that his astral serpent and his powers are not working as before. The story takes a big turn right here, when ‘Tausi’ enters. Tausi himself is an extremely powerful serpent-man, willing to wreak havoc on Earth in search of his lost better half ‘Sri’. He is quite sure that the Earthlings have kidnapped his Mrs.
There is suspense throughout the comic about where these new snake warriors have come from, how the conflict between Tausi and Nagraj is pushing the entire metropolis towards destruction, and who is that mysterious woman whom Nagraj is trying to save at any cost.
Character Illustration
Nagraj (The World Protector):
Nagraj is shown in a completely different and emotional form in this comic. He is not in his full strength. He has been infected due to the poison of ‘Girl’, due to which the microscopic snakes present inside his body are slowly dying. Anupam Sinha has shown very well the ongoing struggle within Nagraj—on one hand, the responsibility of protecting the metropolis, and on the other hand, his deteriorating health and his deep love for Visarpi.
Tausi (The Mighty Emperor):
Tausi’s character is the biggest strength of this entire comic. He is a kind of ‘anti-hero’. His anger, his immense power, and his madness for his girlfriend make him an extremely dangerous warrior. When he attacks the ‘nerve column’ (Earth’s Nervous System) of the Earth, readers can feel his strength and devastation clearly.
Visarpi and Bharati:
The presence of these two female characters adds emotional depth to the story. While Bharati handles the security of the metropolis and the media front, Visarpi remains the power and biggest inspiration of Nagraj. Visarpi’s mysterious attitude and her concern for Nagraj add a different emotional stream to the story.
Villains (Garla, Trimund, and Nagmani):
Villains like Garla and Trimund are shown to be extremely scary and powerful. They do not depend only on physical force, but also use dangerous forces like the ‘snake-system’. Whereas the presence of ‘Nagmani’ in the background keeps reminding readers of old enmity and past struggles in the story.
Art and Illustration
Anupam Sinha, who is called the ‘king’ of Indian comics, has once again proved his worth with his modern and powerful artwork in “Snake Session”. The action sequences of this comic—be it the fierce clash between Nagraj and Trimund in the pumping station or the fight between Sheetnag Kumar and Saudangi inside the lake—are everywhere full of details. Especially in the underwater scenes, the use of colors and ‘bubbles’ is so spectacular that the scenes settle in the eyes.
Talking about character design, the divine weapons of Tausi, the fine and elaborate costumes of Nagraj, and the scary hands like melting metal of ‘Girl’ have been carved very closely. Also, the coloring of this comic varies with the mood of the story. While the night of the metropolis creates depth and mystery in blue and black shades, Tausi’s anger feels burning on the panels through red and gold colors.
Dialogue and Screenplay
The dialogues written by Nitish Sharma and the script by Anupam Sinha are very fast-paced and effective. The choice of words in the comic has been very thoughtful. Words like ‘snake-sign’, ‘magic mesh’, and ‘nerve center’ make the story a great blend of science and mythological fantasy (Sci-Fi/Fantasy). A different dignity is seen in the dialogues between Tausi and Nagraj, even when they face each other as enemies.
Theme and Deep Meaning
“Serpent Session” is not just a story of snake infighting, but it also touches on many serious and deep topics. The conspiracy to destroy the Earth’s base pillar actually comes as a strong symbol of man’s continuous tampering with nature and its dangerous consequences. This story also shows how destructive misunderstandings can be, as clearly visible in Tausi’s anger—where a step taken without knowing the truth can cause death for many innocent people. In the end, Nagraj himself standing firm to save the metropolis even after coming very close to death puts forward true ‘heroism’ and the spirit of self-sacrifice with full force.
Important Part of the Review: Shortcomings and Merits
Features:
“Serpent Session” maintains the continuity of the story while very intelligently linking references to old stories of Nagraj, such as Nagina and Vishakha. Its pacing is so accurate that the story does not slow down anywhere, and on almost every page either a new mystery comes to light or tremendous action is seen. Additionally, the special attention that Raj Comics has paid to its printing and paper quality makes it great to see and keep, and gives it the status of a great ‘collector’s item’.
Drawbacks:
For readers who are not familiar with the old history of Nagraj or Tausi, this story may seem a bit complicated. The main story between so many characters—Sheetnag Kumar, Saudangi, Visarpi, Bharati, Tausi, and Girl—sometimes feels a little lost.
Also, the story ends on a large ‘cliffhanger’, which may cause disappointment to some readers, as now they will have to wait a long time for the next part, ‘Sarpdwand’.
Conclusion (Final Verdict)
“Serpent Session” is one of the most ambitious projects in the history of Raj Comics. This is a great confluence of Manoj Gupta’s visionary thinking and Anupam Sinha’s brilliant art. This comic once again reminds us that Indian superhero stories have full potential to stand on par with Hollywood’s Marvel or DC Universe.
If you are a fan of Nagraj, this is the perfect ‘must read’ for you. And if you like Tausi, this new and powerful incarnation of her will thrill you completely. This comic not only entertains, but also gives a feeling of new birth to Indian comics culture.
Rating: 4.5/5
