New Kid on the Block

Living’ in Mumbai, Chakra is the first Indian superhero created by the legendary Stan Lee. The unimaginative may look at him as a bird or a plane, but this do-gooder is much more than that

Mumbai, the city of dreams. One giant jigsaw of sights, sounds and stories, each falling in place and unfurling riots of colours, emotions and dreams. Ambling through the eclectic chaos, we stumble upon the newest wonder boy in the league of the extraordinary… fighting crime and saving the city! Created by the Godfather of Superheroes, Stan Lee, along with Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Chopra, prodigy Raju Rai, as the story goes, is “a hero who, from rich man to poor man, from skyscraper to slum, has vowed to protect the city and its courageous people… from crime; from bullies; from danger!” The boy with the kind eyes and infectious smile, Raju, when called for help, transforms into Mumbai’s very own do-gooder, Chakra- The Invincible.

A technological genius, Raju’s superpowers do not lie in superhuman abilities that most superheroes boast of. Armed with the determination to unveil the true potential of human abilities, Raju, along with his scientist mentor, designs a special suit that helps him activate the Yogic Chakras of the human body and transform into the city’s newest friendly neighbourhood superhero!

Keeping up with an age-old promise of creating an Indian superhero, Stan Lee, in 2013, gifted all the comic geeks of India a young man who is so reminiscent of his old creations, yet, so unique, that you can’t but help feel curious about his journey as the guardian of justice. In fact, the first look makes one notice traits that have been such an integral part of Lee’s most famous creation, Spider-Man. But the marvel of a man, Lee has an explanation to offer about the same. “I would never try to imitate Peter Parker,” says the man who introduced to the world the likes of Hulk, Iron Man, Nick Fury, X-Men and many, many more. “But I wanted to get a natural background and attitude for our young hero and it just seems like the logical way to do it.” He is not wrong. How else would people in a city like Mumbai find it in them to depend on Raju for safety? After all, he is one young man you’d love to trust.

The world of superheroes has evolved greatly over the years. From decades of spandex-sporting young men rescuing kittens from trees, to the decades showing us the more human side of these vigilantes; fighting crime is no longer as simple as it was. It is no longer about defending the good and locking away the evil —it is about choices and, of course, growing up. According to Sharad Devarajan, co-founder and CEO, Graphic India, “Great superheroes, characters and stories have for generations been reflective of larger societal narratives, and even when told through the lens of fantasy and adventure, they deal complex and serious story lines and issues through characters that are flawed, and go through a story of transformation and growth.” Similarly, with Chakra focusing on India and the issues that plague her, this perhaps is a theme that resonates with people around the world by being the perfect amalgamation of today’s fast paced world and ancient wisdom that is intrinsic to every culture. “India has the potential to become one of the biggest creative exporters in the years ahead and bring a new creative voice to the global stage. After all it wasn’t just Japanese kids who made Pokemon a success, it was every kid,” Devarajan believes.

But with so many heroes to fall in love with, will Lee’s new creation stand the test of time or die a death that only superheroes are known to die, forgotten on a dusty shelf? With the creators’ promise of introducing more villains and adventures in forthcoming episodes, we can only hold on to the words and hope that Raju does not get lost in a sea characterised by masks, capes and the superhuman abilities that help save the day.