Rajat's Reviews: Daksh Issue #01 (late but not lost)

When I opened Level 10's Jump #11, the one title I was eagerly looking forward was the new chapter of Daksh.

 Issue 0 had piqued my curiosity and anticipation and there were expectations aplenty for Shamik’s new venture!

The first page looked familiar. So did the second. And then  I realized that it was the same issue which was printed the last time!! “What on earth…” was my first reaction and I was on the verge of shooting a sweet little mail to Shamik and Suhas when I suddenly noticed the word "Uncensored" at the top of the first page. I discarded the mail, picked up the book and started reading again.

This "new" issue is indeed a repeat, but it has some extra content, additional raunchy scenes and a few choice swear words too. Now don’t get me wrong here, I love swearing and skin-show as much as the next guy but, as a reviewer and critic, I don’t exactly approve of it.

And what’s more, there wasn’t really any need for it either. The story is good, the premise is very interesting, the script is gripping, the artwork by Biboswan Bose is definitely worth its dime and all in all the previous issue was already a good deal - the whole uncensored thing could easily have been skipped or provided as seperate bonus material.

Run Forrest! RUUUUUN!!!

Since the price of the volume remains the same I don’t mind if the story is repeated because, to be honest, I would have picked up the previous one to read the first part again, before starting this one. In any case, it certainly saves the hassle of looking for and reading from another book.

Someone who hasn’t read the first version from the Independents issue, can probably start directly with this one and proceed to the current issue. But in my not-so-humble opinion, Level 10 could have easily avoided the whole 'adult-oriented' thing.

For your general awareness: the population of Comic Readers in India is nothing to write home about. Most people who are reading comic books these days are the same ones who were reading them 10 years ago! There has been very little growth in the reader pool here. The main reason behind this is an increase in the cheap availability of TV, movies and video-games. If we wish to attract the younger generation, we should keep the material kid-friendly, for they are the ones who’ll be buying the books 10 years from now. Let’s not give the parents another excuse to not buy comics!
As it is people have this pre-conceived notion about "comics" being only for kids or for adults who refuse to grow up, but for this mindset to change we will have to make a little extra effort and sadly, this isn’t the effort I am talking about.

Alright, enough bashing, lets come down to the real deal!

(click to enlarge!)

This new issue has been drawn by a young and talented artist, Devmalya Parmanik - who incidentally is also the pen behind our Comic Addicts Mascot, the young M with a comic, right here on top of the page!

Isn't he just aces? The art work is striking, with bold strokes and excellent viewing angles. The color/effects leave a little to be desired, but overall the artwork on the whole is easily right there at the top with even the most experienced Indian Artists. And I don’t think I’m being too presumptuous if I declare that this young chap will go places very few Indian artists have gone!

Mark my words here, and remember that you heard it first here on Comic Addicts!

Interestingly,  I don’t think Daksh #1 is anywhere close to Dev’s best work! This was done a long time back when he was even younger and still developing as an artist! You should see the work he has been doing in the last few months!

Shamik Dasgupta

I was fortunate enough to view some penciled pages from the upcoming issues of Daksh and I am not exaggerating – it completely blew my mind.

We have some really talented artists in our Indian industry today, but I seriously doubt you, dear readers, would have ever seen anything close to it! If the penciled sketches are anything to go by, that issue will set a new benchmark!

Shamik has, as always, done a fantastic job with the story and the script. The story continues from where the issue 0 left, with Daksh and Junglee B on the lookout for the escaped evil souls.

They handle an interesting personality from our modern Indian history, and after Daksh dispatches him right back to where he belongs, they leave for Japan to capture some other powerful evil lords!

The artwork during the Japan section is a little better than the other parts, giving it a little modern manga touch, without changing the overall feel of the story.

Finally after a few funny and some kickass action scenes later, Daksh manages to do what he came to Japan for, and although the last frame has a pretty little “The End” stamped on it, I don’t think it’s anywhere close to the end!

The best part is yet to come! I am not kidding, and for the fear of repeating myself, keep an eye open for the next issue of Daksh because it IS going to blow your minds! Ok maybe not literally, so don’t run for that helmet!

Keep watching this space for more on Daksh, the team at Comic Addicts will bring you everything from art to teasers and everything else as we find it - and of course more reviews as soon as the next issue is released and I manage to get my hands on it!

The stuff dreams are made of!... bad ones that is...

Before I forget, for the collectors, this issue also contains some totally awesome Pin-ups of Daksh by various Indian artists, like Vivek Goel, Abshishek Malsuni, Yogesh Pugaonkar, Harsho, Jazyl and some new and budding talent, who have shown great potential!

Don't miss this one, if you don't already have it!