When Doga Was Our Deadpool, I Was Bijli

Doga was our Deadpool. Super Commando Dhruv? Captain America, may be. 
We had our own superhero universe — long before we knew what a cinematic universe even meant.

The Day I Met Doga

I first saw Doga at my best friend’s house. That comic book instantly clicked with me. A foul-mouthed, rogue superhero with a muscular physique, a dog-like mask (which I honestly thought was his real face at first), and a full-blown gun arsenal — it was the first of its kind I had ever seen.

He could talk to dogs. He didn’t take orders from anyone. And he always fought back. That wild, raw spirit appealed to my emotions deeply.

When I got my own copy of Doga, there was no limit to my excitement. As soon as I got home, I devoured it — every panel, every letter, every drop of ink. It may have been the first book I ever completed reading — cover to cover.

Enter: The Raj Comics Universe

On the back cover, and even inside, I saw teasers — a whole universe of superheroes! Raj Comics had its own legends: Parmanu, Anthony, Nagraj, Kobi and Bhediya, Shakti, Tiranga, and of course, Super Commando Dhruv.

Some were allies, some lone wolves. Some would never hesitate to bring the others down. And then there was Inspector Steel — seven feet of metal, who could even shrink for stealth missions.

I discovered Bhokal at my uncle’s library and added him to my growing stack — alongside Doga, Nagraj, Kobi, Bhediya, and Inspector Steel.

Doga remained my eternal favorite. Nagraj’s journey pulled me in as I grew older — he suffered first, then rose in epic retaliation. Dhruv, somehow, felt too good. A little too perfect to be thrilling. Kobi and Bhediya were wild and wise, a balance in the jungles of Assam. My brother idolized the badmaash Kobi. I rooted for the samajhdar Bhediya.

My Own Superhero Era

I used to sketch superheroes in my drawing books… and sometimes on the margins of my notebooks too. I tried creating my own superhero. In fact, my brother and I created our own avatars. He was Toofan. I was Bijli — the bringer of lightning.

We drew our masks and capes, made them out of plastic and cloth. We worked out, believing we’d one day unlock supernatural strength. We even dreamt of secret sources of power that might “choose us.” We knew that with great power came great responsibility — and honestly, I was ready for it.

I designed my own superhero symbol: a lightning bolt. It stood for truth, speed, and striking down evil. Some of those masks may have decayed. But I think I still have those sketches in old notebooks somewhere.

The Universe Before the Multiverse

Of course, I also knew of Spiderman, Batman, and Superman — sometimes through columns on newspapers or magazines.

But before Jadoo ever landed in Koi Mil Gaya, we had Sabu — the loyal alien bodyguard of Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain was famously faster than a computer. Chacha was lazy, clever, and unbothered — a true Indian genius.

And then came Tinkle Digest. I found it first at a cousin’s home, then grabbed my own copy at the school book fair — along with Black Beauty, Robin Hood, and a few others.

In Tinkle, Suppandi was a star. Shikari Shambu made me laugh. And Nasreddin Hodja left me in awe with his wit and wisdom.

Back to My Comic Book Shelf

Now that I can afford any comic I want, I feel this strange, beautiful urge… Not to buy new ones — but to find those old ones. To relive those childhood pages — to meet Doga again, to sketch Bijli once more, and to remind myself of the fearless, wide-eyed boy who believed he could become lightning.

What about you?
Were you a fan of Raj Comics? Did you imagine living as a superhero — cape, code name, mask and all?

Come on, you can tell me. Your childhood secrets are safe in the Nostalgic Tales vault.