Original Indian Comics Superheroes: Beyond DC and Marvel

India's comic book industry is rich with characters and storylines that are entirely original, offering a diverse and vibrant alternative to the widely recognized heroes from DC and Marvel. While some comics are heavily inspired by foreign models, there are a handful of superheroes that stand out as unique and wholly indigenous to the Indian comic book universe.

Unique Superhero Universes in Indian Comics

The world of Indian superheroes extends far beyond the foreign inspirations that have permeated the global comics industry. Indian comic publishers such as Raj Comics are heavily influenced by DC and Marvel, but the realm of fiction comics in India is expanding with its own unique, original superheroes. Let's explore some of these original Indian comics superheroes and the publishers behind them.

Red Streak Comics

Red Streak Comics, with a total of 25 issues priced at Rs. 2,501,60, presents a captivating and original superhero universe. One of the standout characters in this series is Aghori, a villain/anti-hero. Aghori starts as a solo character, but as the series progresses, he becomes a part of a complex web of interconnected superheroes. This series, which is available only in Hindi, is a must-read for comic book enthusiasts seeking an original Indian superhero experience. Prices for single issues range between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 3,000.

Other notable characters in the Red Streak Comics universe include Saitan, Caster, Operation Decay, and Last Asuran. While these series are available in English, they are sold on a per-issue basis since the deluxe versions are not yet released.

Fiction Comics Superhero Universe

The Fiction Comics superhero universe is another significant addition to the burgeoning world of Indian comics. The universe begins with the character Aghori, who is a complex villain/anti-hero. Additionally, the universe includes other heroes like Saitan, Caster, Operation Decay, and Last Asuran. All of these series are available in English, with single issues being the standard option until the deluxe editions are made available.

Other Original Indian Superheroes

Beyond the specific superheroes mentioned above, there are a plethora of original Indian comic book characters that stand out. These include:

Nagraj Super Commando Dhruva Shaktiman Bhediya Shakti Gamrajp Bankelal Gojo Bhokal Adig Shukral Ashwaraj Doga Wonderman Parmanu Superindian Yoddha Tilismdev Chacha Choudhary Abhay Agniputra Karma Fauaad

These characters and many others are published by a variety of comic book publishing houses, including Raj Comics, Manoj Comics, Tulsi Comics, Diamond Comics, and Fenil Comics. These houses offer a wealth of original Indian superheroes that cater to diverse audiences and preferences.

Historical Context and Notable Characters

Even before the rise of modern superhero comics, there were notable original Indian comic book characters. In the 1980s, Bahadur was a character from the now-defunct Indrajal comics, who was not a direct rip-off of foreign comics. Another example is Chacha Choudhary, a character from Tinkle, one of India's most popular comic strips. While not superheroes in the traditional sense, they paved the way for a new generation of original characters.

Significant superheroes from the comics universe include:

DC’s Savitar: A god known for his speed, Savitar is based on an Indian deity and was a standout character in the Flash TV series. Marvel’s Omega Sentinel: This character is an X-Men sentinel, based on the real-life Indian police officer Karima Shapander. She is converted into a cyboresque figure that can act like both human and machine. Kamala Khan: While Kamala Khan is commonly recognized as Pakistani, there are claims that some versions of her have Indian origins.

Despite these unique characters, many more original Indian superheroes and their storylines continue to be explored, challenging the dominance of foreign comics and offering a rich tapestry of Indian cultural heritage in the world of comic books.