Tag Archives: tarun kumar sahu

Review: Zombie Rising Volume 2

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The appeal of Walking Dead cannot be understated, as it engrossed the public’s attention right away. This was not the first time a zombie dystopia has had been given such a grim narrative, but this one felt so relatable.  The comic book felt like a typical zombie tale at first, but evolved into a disturbing and suspenseful tale of human nature. This tale, had more to do with the humans than it did with the zombies.

The zombies in Robert Kirkman’s epic, were more of a hazard, than a terror. The real evil were the humans, and just how desperate or evil one can become. It showed that being kind to one another doesn’t necessarily get you what you want. People’s intentions are explored in this volume of Zombie Rising as Manav and Navin start kicking up dust as their investigations ramp up.

In the opening pages, we catch up with Manav and Navin, as they dig into Neolife’s activities, and just how duplicitous they are. . Soon we find out, Neolife Industries are still using their serum on human test subjects, and know about Manav and Navin’s investigation. As Singh try to wrangle the zombies, he loses control and before long everyone on his crew including himself are infected. By book’s end, everyone is in peril and everyone and every animal is infected, soon to reach the rest of India.

Overall, a not so happy conclusion, one which truly questions human nature. The story by Devaki Singh is true to the genre. The art by Tarun Kumar Sahu is heartbreaking. Altogether, this reader was hoping for a happy ending, but like most things in our they don’t end necessarily happy, and it is seeming fitting in this world of zombies.

Story: Devaki Singh Art: Tarun Kumar Sahu
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Zombie Rising Volume 1

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The recent passing of George Romero, has left huge hole in the movie industry. The invention of the “zombie”, reaches as far back as French occupied Haiti, but Romero, is the one person who made the Zombie famous. In the Night of The Living Dead, his classic movie, he made zombies scary. He would go no to make more than few movies about zombies, and every one of them added to the canon.

His filmography would not only make him a legend but would also create sub-genre all its own. His movies were the inspiration for Shaun Of The Dead. He not only inspired creators here in the western world, but worldwide, as can be seen in movies like Juan Of the Dead. So, when I heard Chariot Comics did a novelization of India’s first movie about zombies, Rise of The Zombie, I was interested.

In the opening pages, a family enjoys a quiet evening at night, until the rumblings of a bear is heard outside, where the husband goes to investigate, only to find a zombie outbreak has occurred. Fast forward, the reader soon finds out that a corporation, Neolife Industries is at the center of the outbreak, as the experimentation on humans have led to the outbreak. As we also meet some wanderers looking for answers, they search for Bahadur, the man who lost his family to the bear and a zombie. By book’s end, a caretaker gets killed and a hero emerges.

Overall, a different take on the genre, that is both interesting and intriguing. The story by Devaki Singh is appealing. The art by Tarun Kumar Sahu is intense. Altogether, a very different story, in a familiar genre, that will make you wonder how the rest of the world views zombies.

Story: Devaki Singh Art: Tarun Kumar Sahu
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Damned: Vampire Monks of Piyang #1

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When it comes to superpowered individuals, or as comics, call the, “meta-humans,” they are portrayed just a degree from each other, depending on what publishing house you are talking about. In the DC Universe, an extinction level event, gave some of their heroes their powers. In the Marvel Universe, it was little more sinister, more out of mutation and experimentation. In the Dakota Universe, the heroes of Milestone Comics, came to their powers through a combination those varying circumstances.

This concept has been further explored in two different shows from the big 2, incidentally. In the Flash TV show, Barry Allen, and his rogue gallery has gotten their powers from an ELE in Central City. In Agents of SHIELD, human experimentation has created the multitude of meta humans the agency has had to fight since its inception. In the ever-expanding world of Chariot Comics, form India, they are doing their own take on meta humans, first in the series, VRICA. Now, they are doing it in their version, of what seems like Valiant’s Archer and Armstrong, in the comic, aptly named, Damned.

In this debut issue, the reader is introduced to Anga and Morphuz, an odd couple, who seems to hate each other as much as they need each other. They are on their way to Piyang China, to bring back, Karki, another meta human/old god, who has power over time. Along the way, the titular creatures guard her, to which Anga and Morphuz, show their true powers by issue’s end, our protagonists accomplished their mission, but not before they run into some very familiar characters from another part of this universe.

Overall, a fun issue that reminds me of the crazier supernatural Kung Fu movies that the Shaw Brothers did in the latter part of 1970s while also evoking scenes from Justin Cronin books. The story by Aniruddho Chakraborty is funny, derisive, action packed and will leave you enamored with these characters. The art by Tarun Kumar Sahu andTadam Gayadu is impressive and striking. Altogether, a fun introduction to a set of characters, will go down in the pantheon of irreverent duos.

Story: Aniruddho Chakraborty Art: Tarun Kumar Sahu and Tadam Gayadu
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Vrica: Ascension Protocol

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One of the greatest plot devices used in stories are secrets. Secrets usually comprise parts of a larger mystery, riving protagonists towards the truth. What really makes heroes usually in these journeys are the choices they make and the consequences which follow once they find out the truth. The self-righteous ideological heroes always want to expose the truth.

The pragmatist heroes usually dispose of all evil doers right there and then, much like Moon Knight and the Punisher. The problem with both types of heroes always come back to the consequences, as those in power usually wants to keep everything status quo. The reality is truth and morality rarely play in the same arena and even rarer, do either ever get realized. This is what plays out in the second volume of VRICA: Ascension Protocol, as we catch up with the team 5 years later.

In the second volume, the team’s intentions are questioned and even vilified in front of national television as Dark Wolf’s past sins weigh heavy on him. We are introduced to a WWII threat, known as Kraegeries, which consumed 10000 Jewish prisoners’ souls to power these gundam type robots, a gift from Hitler to then prime minister of India. An old girlfriend form Dark Wolf’s pops back into his life just when he must endure a fire fight with Sabnacks, the earliest meta human units, which were deployed to attack VRICA, uncovering a plan that one of Pakistan’s generals were planning a nuclear attack on India. By the end of this volume, the back and forth between present and past, converge, to explain the future evil that lies, the next super soldier.

Overall, a great installment, as this just ups the stakes for all the characters involved and gives the reader a great backstory but even more dire consequences within a historical and geopolitical context. The story by Aniruddho Chakraborty is both heart pounding and intellectually stimulating. The art by Tamal Saha and Tarun Kumar Sahu is simple yet derivative. Altogether, this ride just got faster, with more twists than advertised.

Story: Aniruddho Chakraborty Art: Tamal Saha and Tarun Kumar Sahu
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Vrica: Dawn of the Wolf OGN

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Agents of SHIELD is one of those TV shows that either you love or you hate. The intrigue that was shown in Captain America: Winter Soldier, provided the fertile ground for the series to be a serious spy thriller. Instead, it is a show with more downs than ups, and seriously hampered its potential. It is currently going through a major storyline, dealing with timelines and alternate universes.

The comics have had a few storylines dealing with SHIELD, where it appears it could be a major player in the Marvel Universe. There have been some great ones, like the current Nick Fury solo series, which has all the whiz bangs of the bygone era of James Bond. I always felt that the organization as a character was seriously underserved, and acted more as window dressing than an organization making the world a better place, taking on missions of great importance. So, when I heard about VRICA, from Indian upstart, Chariot Comics, I was intrigued, as though I got my wish fulfillment for SHIELD by reading this book.

In the debut volume, we are introduced to a team that I would describe as the “team from Mission Impossible” but with superpowers. We are introduced to Dark Wolf (the Indian Winter Soldier) Longbeard (an Indian Hawkeye) Binary, Falcon, and White Fang (a male Indian Black Widow), a super team who has just saved New Delhi from a massive terrorist threat. As an old villain from Dark Wolf’s past comes back into the light, known as the Reaper the team springs into action before he can unleash havoc on the country. Before the end of the volume, a battle royale between Dark Wolf and The Reaper ensues, leaving no doubt who is the victor, and as a bonus the reader gets a to know each of the other members of the team as they go on their own solo missions.

Overall, a great introduction to a team of heroes, some super, some not, but together, can take on any adversary. The story by Aniruddho Chakraborty, is suspenseful and provides loads of intrigue that can satisfy the biggest spy fiction fan. The art by Tamal Saha and Tarun Kumar Sahu, is simply gorgeous. Altogether, a full tilt boogie hat this reviewer will be taking again soon.

Story: Aniruddho Chakraborty Art: Tamal Saha and Tarun Kumar Sahu
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy