Writer: Saurav Mohapatra
Artists: Edison George, Siddharth Kotian, Saumin Patel
Publisher: Virgin Comics
I picked up Devi #11 because I was told that it was the beginning of a new story arc and a good place to jump in. However, if you are new to this series, and perhaps about as dim as I am, you may still find yourself scratching your head. If you're patient until the end, though, the story falls into place nicely.
Devi, the Sanskrit word for goddess, refers to female deities, particularly of Hinduism. The titular character is a super-hero via mythology, something akin to Thor of the Marvel Universe but with a Hindi twist. Tara is a woman working in the Sitapur region of India who, through means not explained here, has become both the mortal vessel for the goddess and the goddess herself. While being in touch with the divine, she still has to wrestle with her more mundane urges. Which, given that she has access to tremendous powers, could make for some very interesting internal conflicts.
Apart from Tara, this issue brings into play at least three other players who will have prominent roles in the up-coming arc. In this issue, the best of these is the introduction of the Kratha, an apsara (a kind of divine warrior) who has fallen from her post through actions she has taken against her patron deity. Given how strongly hierarchical the Hindu religion can be, the rebellion is an interesting twist. However, the story may throw readers for a loop as the consequences of this are introduced before the fall. The transition is a bit rough, but works once you turn the page.
The least interesting is the introduction of Inspector Singh, rebel cop and seeming cliché. Singh has a partner who barely trusts him, a boss who hates him and a tendency to do things his own way. The art in this section certainly does not help the writing as Singh’s hair style makes him look like he’s from the decade where all those rebel cop stereotypes were born.
The last of the book is used for the introduction of another mythical being who has come from beyond the space and time to (what else?) save the world. While very little is given in the way of explanation here, the fact that the character looks more Greek than Hindi can make for some interesting suppositions.
If you enjoy your super-hero tales with a mythical spin, Devi #11 is a good place to jump in on the series. But only if you pay attention and have the patience to read through to the end.
If you liked this review, be sure to check out more of the author’s work at http://madbastard.hypersites.com
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