Friday 29 July 2016

Blast From The Past: Aadamkhor Hatyara Comic Review





24th April2002
10.30 P.M.

I picked up a random comic from the stack I had purchased from a roadside vendor in the afternoon. Turned out to be a THS (Thrill Horror Suspense) comic, named “Aadamkhor Hatyara”. A perfect comic to read at this hour, I thought.
The cover boasted an ugly looking psycho killer about to kill a girl, with an axe stuck on his head, blood dripping profusely- the horror fanatic in me got a fangasm at that very sight! I finished it in 20 minutes.

I couldn’t sleep that night.

Aadamkhor Hatyara is one of the greatest horror comics produced in the history of Indian comics, in my opinion! And that’s coming from someone who has embraced this genre with open arms since his childhood, devouring all the horror movies, comics and games he could get his hands on!

The story is set in an old house, far away from the city’s hullabaloo, just beside a super creepy looking lake in a dark forest. The daughter of a renowned scientist decides to spend her vacation in that house with her friends, years after her scientist dad was mysteriously murdered in that very house. Little do they know that they are not the only people there. A raving mad cannibal is lurking around, aiming to quench his thirst for blood at the expense of the innocent gang of teens.

The story never loses it’s pace and every single panel on every page amounts to something. The beautifully  gruesome artwork perfectly compliments the brilliantly written story which is capable of inducing goosebumps to even the most fearless comic fan. The biggest USP of the comic is the twist at the end, which leaves the reader with a jolt of several emotions at once, and leaves them with a sense of sadness, even though the story has the most logical and satisfying end one could think of. The story doesn’t come to its fitting end before giving us the ever crucial life lesson- Don’t be quick to judge someone. Maybe there’s an ugly past behind them that has made them what they are.

I had bought this gem for Rs. 5, and it warrants several times more thrill, horror and suspense than today’s poorly written comic books and cringe inducing horror TV serials.
Aadamkhor Hatyara was published by Raj comics in the 90’s, a time period still considered by many as the Golden Era of Indian comics.

Looking at this comic book, it’s hard to argue with that statement.