‘Totan and Goddess of Storm’ is a link in this series that does not just limit itself to adventure, but takes readers on a tremendous journey to faraway, distant space and unknown planets beyond Earth. Mahendra Jain’s influential writing and A.M.G.’s spectacular illustrations have combined to make this comic a visual treat and a memorable experience.
Plot expansion
The story begins on the ‘Onada planet’ (Planet Onada), nestled in space millions of miles from Earth. Onada is far ahead of Earth in terms of science and technology, but the empress who rules this planet, ‘Chandik’ (Chandika), is an extremely ambitious, arrogant, and cruel ruler. She is called the ‘Storm Goddess’ because she has amazing scientific and magical powers that control weather and storms.
Chandika’s dream is to rule the entire universe. To fulfill this dream, she first attacks the ‘Chroma planet’ (Planet Kroma). But here her hopes suffer a setback, because the army of the Emperor of Chroma, ‘Chrom’ (Krom), overshadows Onada’s army, and Chandika has to face defeat. This defeat and insult badly hurt Chandika’s ego. Burning with anger and revenge, Chandika hatches a dangerous plan.
With the help of her ‘search machine’, she finds the three most powerful warriors in the entire universe so that they can lead her army and make her invincible.
These are the three warriors:
Gorill , who is the most powerful creature on the planet Shajal and can even move mountains with his tremendous strength.
Rosta , who is a terrifying warrior from the planet News and has the ability to draw blood like a magnet from his enemy’s body.
And Totan, the protector of the Earth, who possesses the unique confluence of scientific and divine powers.
Chandika, through trickery and deception, overpowers first Gorill and then Rosta. After this, she notices Totan, the great protector of the Earth. Meanwhile, Professor Ramakant and Totan see Chandika’s huge spacecraft in space. Sensing the danger, Totan immediately flies into space to stop it.
In space, a tremendous and terrible war breaks out between Totan and Chandika. Chandika uses her ‘stormy net’ and dangerous weapons like flames. With her trickery and cunning, she also traps Totan.
Chandika then fits a ‘brain controller chip’ into the brains of Gorill, Rosta, and Totan, making them her slaves. Now, with these three superpowered warriors, she again attacks the planet Chroma. This time, the war becomes more frightening than ever. Totan, Gorill, and Rosta combine to cut through Kroma’s army like carrot and radish. Emperor Krom begins to feel completely helpless.
During combat, Totan encounters fire-breathing dangerous creatures such as ‘Agnimukh’ (Agnimmukh) and giant elephant-lion hybrid creatures such as ‘Gajsingh’ (Gajasimha). Totan defeats them one by one with the help of his intelligence, strength, and laser rays. Chandika becomes convinced that her victory is now certain and that Emperor Krom is about to kneel before her.
But the real twist in the story comes when Totan suddenly attacks Chandika. It is here that it is revealed that Totan had never become Chandika’s slave. With his divine powers and the blessings of Baba Mahantnath, he had already deactivated Chandika’s ‘brain controller’. He was putting on this act just to learn the enemy’s complete plan.
Eventually, Totan also sets both Gorill and Rosta free. Seeing her defeat approaching, Chandika plays her last bet and creates a dangerous ‘stormy maze’ (Wall of Swords), which seems impossible to escape. Meanwhile, the voice of Yogi ‘Baba Mahantnath’, who is doing penance in the Himalayas, is heard by Totan, advising him to use the ‘Agnichakr’. With the power of the Agni Chakra, Totan breaks Chandika’s magic and ends the ongoing atrocities on the planet Onada. Chandika is punished for her deeds, and peace is once again established throughout the universe.
Characterization and analysis
Totan (Mukund):
Totan’s greatest strength in this comic comes out as his intelligence. He is not just a muscle-trusting hero, but also a great strategist who understands situations and makes the right move at the right time. Defeating a clever and vicious villain like Chandika by trapping her proves that Totan’s character is a brilliant combination of mind and strength.
Chandika (Goddess of Storm):
Chandika is a very impressive and memorable villain. Her look—green hair, a cross mark on the forehead, and a garland of bones around her neck—makes her mysterious and scary. She is one of the few villains who possesses the power of both science and magic. But her immense ambition and pride ultimately become her biggest weaknesses.
Goril and Rosta:
These two characters add different kinds of thrills to the story. Goril’s uncontrollable animal-like strength and Rosta’s ‘blood-sucking’ scary power make the battle scenes creepier and more exciting. Even though they turn out to be Chandika’s pawns, their designs and concepts are quite creative and impressive.
Emperor Chrome:
Chrome is shown as a just and courageous ruler who is willing to fight to the last to protect his subjects.
Art and portraiture
The artwork of ‘Totan and Goddess of Storm’ is by A.M.G., who was counted among the most brilliant artists of that period. The architecture of the planets Onada and Croma, and the design of the machines and technology there, appear very advanced and imaginative. Along with this, bright colors like red, blue, and yellow bring alive the battles and magical rays of space. The division of panels and the flow of action during combat are quite accurate, where sound effects such as ‘bhadam’, ‘khachak’, and ‘asss’ multiply the thrill while reading.
Review and critical approach:
This comic reminds one of the golden era of Manoj Comics, when stories were not limited to the Earth only. This ‘Space Opera’ style story was a completely new and fresh experience at that time for Indian readers.
Positive side:
The fast pace of the story does not let it become boring anywhere, and something new keeps happening on every page, due to which the reader remains hooked till the end. Totan’s deliberate pretense of being a ‘slave’ proves to be a great twist, which makes the climax even more enjoyable. Moreover, this comic is not limited to just the victory of good over evil, but also effectively presents modern concepts like ‘brain control’ and ‘technical combat’.
Weak side:
The underutilization of Goril and Rosta creates a slight gap in the story. Chandika had to work hard to control them, but in the end, their roles remain slightly less significant than expected.
The combination of mythological and scientific elements may seem strange to some readers, especially Baba Mahantnath’s interference in space warfare. However, this was also the identity of Manoj Comics during that period, where science was often linked with religion and spirituality.
Cultural impact:
The character Totan became an inspiration for children who were interested in both science and superheroes. Manoj Comics gave the message that Indian superheroes have the ability to protect the entire universe, not just Delhi or Mumbai. At that time, the comic cost just Rs 4.00 (Rs 7.00 in some versions), making it accessible to almost every child.
Conclusion:
‘Totan and Storm Goddess’ is a legacy of Manoj Comics that every comic lover must read at least once. This story takes us to a world where imagination knows no limits. Totan’s courage, Chandika’s arrogance, and the fierce battles in space make it a memorable experience. Even today, this comic continues to hold its special place in the category of vintage comics.
The advertisement of ‘Five Killers’ (Outrage Series) on the last page further increases the curiosity of readers, which was part of Manoj Comics’ brilliant marketing strategy. If you want to relive that magical childhood of the 90s, this space trip with Totan is for you.
