Finally after my fifth revisit through all the pages of Rakshak I think I am in a position to critique this awesome piece of comic book writing by Shamik Dasgupta. It took me some time as I didn't want to be hasty with my words or thoughts. At the outset I would like to say this is one of his best works and which on first glance, may seem an average fast read is actually a social commentary of our times, along with some clever genre-busting shots on one of the most endearing takes of a superhero type, which is a "human mortal" with no special superpowers, who takes on himself to right wrongs and fight against injustice. In my book, if I had to pick the best of these heroes I would go for Batman, Daredevil and Punisher. Bruce Wayne - the boy who lived with his guilt and blame; Matt Murdoch- the boy who made his blindness his strength and Frank Castle - the army man who believes in taking a bad guy out forever.Now, suppose you combine the best traits of each of these characters and build a hero- you get Captain Aditya Shergill. The way his character has been fleshed out layer by layer through some unique set pieces, sometimes amidst the din of a terrorist firefight in Kashmir or a flirtatious liaison with a pretty stranger on train or verbal tete-e-tete with his sibling or bonding with his niece or a fierce street fight with hoodlums is simply superb.
The story begins with an attack on a Lashkar hideout by MARCOS to eliminate a terrorist mastermind. A set-piece - which seemingly everyone would view as a run of the mill introduction for our hero turns out to be an eye - opening exercise for the discernible reader, when he realizes that the Indian Army is as dirty and cruel as the terrorists, whom they kill. There are some gut-wrenching tough moments, where you hold your breath and you turn a page and are horrified to see that our heroes can stoop to any levels to fulfil a military objective. It punches you hard as there is this complex interplay of myriad motives amongst these army men, a couple of whom believe ends justify means while some cling on to their shred of sanity of nobility that good is good and evil is evil. What is more striking is that by the end of the violent prelude you don't get to take a step forward with Captain Shergill. He is a cardboard cut-out hero still... but the genius of the first few pages is the sweeping oscillating emotions of a boy belonging to the terrorist camp who watches his family being massacred yet somehow tries to cling on to his innocence till the end. That's the revelation!! And once you get to grasp these character study you become aware that you are reading something infinitely special.
The story begins with an attack on a Lashkar hideout by MARCOS to eliminate a terrorist mastermind. A set-piece - which seemingly everyone would view as a run of the mill introduction for our hero turns out to be an eye - opening exercise for the discernible reader, when he realizes that the Indian Army is as dirty and cruel as the terrorists, whom they kill. There are some gut-wrenching tough moments, where you hold your breath and you turn a page and are horrified to see that our heroes can stoop to any levels to fulfil a military objective. It punches you hard as there is this complex interplay of myriad motives amongst these army men, a couple of whom believe ends justify means while some cling on to their shred of sanity of nobility that good is good and evil is evil. What is more striking is that by the end of the violent prelude you don't get to take a step forward with Captain Shergill. He is a cardboard cut-out hero still... but the genius of the first few pages is the sweeping oscillating emotions of a boy belonging to the terrorist camp who watches his family being massacred yet somehow tries to cling on to his innocence till the end. That's the revelation!! And once you get to grasp these character study you become aware that you are reading something infinitely special.
The story does not sag a bit from then. There is a slow build-up to the trigger points, which evoke the hero out of Captain Shergill. Its like a volcano. It shimmers, it hibernates, it growls and then it erupts. Perfectly balanced sequentially and then the pay-load is delivered "kickass" to signal the dawn of RAKSHAK. We have all seen this before but what is the clincher which makes this character special? In my view it's the subtle elaboration of his guilt contributing to the tragedy which befalls him, that pushes this story down to a quagmire of awesomeness. I feel Peter Parker's Uncle Ben trigger point is probably one of the best catalysts of a superhero saga. In "Rakshak" the trigger point is exactly framed that way. It's veiled, cloaked and like a red herring but you can smell it creeping up and that's what makes it more poignant. In fact it hits you harder because any middle-class family can identify with the scenes which lead up to the tragedy and also the act of Captain Shergill which is nothing, but just chatting on a social media website. But that's the ingenuity with which Shamik Dasgupta sculpts his story that you feel bad and rotten and know for certain that India has just become so terribly unsafe - these things could happen to you or me and its just not fiction or a movie. You need to be alert always or else life is the worst bitch in India!!!
There is a wonderful vignette between Shergil and an elderly lady in front of India Gate during a candle-light vigil in front of India Gate. It gives me the chill as she recounts her story. It's very common place but it hurts. It just spells out the disintegration of the illusion of democracy that is India. And Shergill's realization that a candle with some flames or Gandhigiri won't solve the problems of or nation. It's electrifying storytelling at its best kinda reminiscent of the Green Lantern - Green Arrow one shot where Oliver Queen rebukes Hal Jordan of the evils of society and tells him that all his superpowers in his finest green cannot make a boy forget his snuff of coke.
There are many more moments littered in this fabulous story which you will discover with numerous re-reads and that's what "RAKSHAK" is all about. It's an amazing pilot which begins with flamboyance, settles down, trudges a little, sprints through some heart-breaking episodes and then hurtles towards a thundering climax only to be cut short.....that's where my only complaint is....wish it was 12 pages more. Because it just whets your appetite and leaves you hungry for more of Captain Shergill.
The tell-tale ideas or subplots point to some interesting developments. We will definitely see Captain Shergill's niece evolve into an "Oracle" like role and he would be probably reprising a metal fist in the next episodes. Would love to have our every own Winter Soldier "RAKSHAK" take out the baddies. But these are just speculations. We can't guess for sure what runs through Shamik's brain ready to shock and surprise us with the simple turn of a page in the next issues.
Prasad Patniak is exemplary with the colours and letterings. The colours are vibrant and energetic infusing life into every pore and corner of the comic. Letterings is crisp and robust.
Pramit is pretty good with pencils. Probably he may give some thought about some of the facial features of all characters e.g. I thought Ruhi Sailo ( Shergill's railway passenger) and his sister's facial features seemed quite similar barring the hair colour. There needs to be a little diversity in the looks of each character. Probably that is one area of improvement. Secondly I also felt the word " Chinky" or "chinks" could be done away with as it has three references in the comic, which could inadvertently irk an odd reader. Just a thought!! I do understand it was written probably to inject realism and army camaraderie into proceedings but we should all be careful as we want " RAKSHAK" to grow into a global phenomenon and not get upset by any unnecessary controversy.
What else!! Nothing more to say but its a crime to not have purchased your copy of "RAKSHAK" till now. Order immediately and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Many years ago I went to watch a movie with my grandmother and its name was "PRAHAR" One of the greatest army movies ever made with a telling commentary of our times with one of the first attempts on vigilantism displayed brilliantly in very uncharacteristic Nana Patekar way minus flaring nostrils and "Ek macchar" ravings and rantings. A very cool methodical studious approach towards acting and bringing home an Indian major completely disillusioned with the Indian system all gone awry. "RAKSHAK" at some level brought back those lingering memories in me. Hope the next few issues build the momentum to a thundering climax.
All the best Yali Dreams for the forthcoming issues. RAKSHAK 1 is definitely a "hero among us - readers!!! " Keep up the good work and keep on entertaining us!!
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