Have you ever wondered what would happen if the soul of a police inspector’s ‘great-grandfather’ returned to his house? Would he receive blessings? Not at all! In this story from Manoj Comics, Dadaji’s soul sets out on a mission to make Dhamaka Singh ‘wild’ and Crookbond a millionaire. If you want to remember that period in the ’90s when ‘Dhobi Pachad’ and ‘hiya-hiya’ karate moves appeared amid detective adventures, then “Crookbond and Pretdada” is a full dose of comedy for you.
April Fool or Dhamaka Singh’s mistake? When Bapu started dancing after hearing the news of ‘death’!
The story begins with a small joke, which later turns into a big uproar. Crookbond (Krookbond) and his chubby companion Motu plan to make Inspector Dhamaka Singh an ‘April Fool’. Motu tearfully goes to Dhamaka Singh and says, “Crookbond has gone to heaven!”
Now, Dhamaka Singh’s reaction here is worth seeing. Instead of being sad, he jumps with joy because Crookbond’s mischief had taken its toll on him. He takes his police baton and arrives to beat Crookbond’s ‘body’. This is where the reader understands that this comic is going to be completely filled with ‘slapstick comedy’ (Slapstick Comedy). Dhamaka Singh’s pride in considering himself ‘great’ and Crookbond’s cunningness lay the foundation of the story.
Great-grandfather’s ‘magical’ picture: When the photo hanging on the wall changed Dhamaka Singh’s appearance!
Dhamaka Singh finds a chest while digging in his lawn, from which a picture of his great-grandfather emerges. His great-grandfather was the captain of a ship during the British era. Dhamaka Singh fondly puts that picture in his bedroom, but little does he know that his ‘haunted great-grandfather’ is still alive in that picture.
In the silence of the night, Great-grandfather’s soul comes out and makes him look like a wild ‘Tambua’ by applying makeup to the sleeping Dhamaka Singh. When Dhamaka Singh looks at himself in the mirror in the morning, you will not be able to stop laughing after reading about the screams that come out of him. This ‘ghostly’ love of Great-grandfather and Dhamaka Singh’s helplessness are the funniest parts of this comic. Great-grandfather wants his descendants to reach the ‘hidden treasure’ he left behind, but for an ‘owl’s offspring’ like Dhamaka Singh, as Great-grandfather calls him, the task is not easy.
Entry of ‘Doctor Sua Singh’: Have you ever received an ‘abuse-inducing’ injection?
The villains of this comic are no less than comedians. There is a villain named Dr. Sua Singh, whose job is to give people a sua, i.e., an injection. His boss is Dangar Dalla, who is relentlessly pursuing the treasure.
In one scene, Sua Singh accidentally gives an ‘abuse-inducing injection’ to his own companion, Scarecrow. After this, Scarecrow abuses his own boss in such a way that Dangar Dalla’s anger reaches the seventh heaven. Crookbond also gets an injection, due to which he suddenly becomes a wrestler like ‘The Great Khali’ and single-handedly thrashes the entire gang. Such comedy twists related to treatments were a signature style of Manoj Comics.
The Secret of ‘Sea Crow’ (Sea Crow): An Old Poem and a Treasure Worth Millions!
The real fun of the detective adventure begins when Crookbond gets a clue about the treasure. Great-grandfather had written a poem: “Ponga Ji’s temple with twelve skylights… Fourth food, count the death, reveal all the secrets.”
Crookbond uses his detective mind to find out that this treasure is in the temple of the Ponga deity on ‘Tambua Island’. However, his mind is often caught between Motu’s food and Dhamaka Singh’s baton. The treasure has three parts and requires three different models. Crookbond’s sharp mind and the entry of eccentric characters like Professor Tuktuk Thackeray make the story exciting.
‘Ponga Temple’ of Tambua Island: Where the messengers of death shower punches and cannonballs!
For the final and most exciting part of the story, the entire team—Crookbond, Motu, Dhamaka Singh, and the gang of villains—reaches Tambua Island by private plane. The ‘traps’ installed inside the temple are both hair-raising and amusing.
• Giant punch: A very large fist comes out of a wall when someone puts their hand into a skylight, and it can crack human bones.
• Cannon attack: A cannonball emerges from the second skylight.
• Polar mathematics: Crookbond uses science and information about the stars here. He understands that to get the treasure, the skylights have to be chosen according to the position of the Pole Star.
The villain’s gang falls victim to these traps one by one, and Dhamaka Singh gets ‘Tuntuna’ as usual.
Kadam Studio and Ansar Akhtar’s magic: Real ‘desi’ comedy comes alive on the pages
Talking about the illustrations, Kadam Studio has beautifully created Dhamaka Singh’s expressions and Great-grandfather’s ‘royal ghost’ look. Crookbond’s yellow jacket and Motu’s red shirt are still iconic among comic lovers.
The ‘desipan’ that writer Ansar Akhtar has put into the dialogues is amazing. “Oye Lallu’s nappies”, “I.S.S.S… Chandal”, and “Dhamaka Singh is great”—it feels as if we are watching a TV show from the ’90s while reading the dialogues.
Past and Future of the Crookbond Series: What to Read Next?
If you are a fan of Crookbond, then you should know that this series is quite extensive.
• Next blast: The successful ending of this comic was followed by several more special issues of Crookbond, such as “Crookbond and the Magical Parrot” or “The Emperor of Crookbond and the Pavement”.
Manoj Comics has always presented Crookbond as a detective who is very ‘stylish’, but with whom something ‘weird’ always happens.
Conclusion (The Verdict): Is “Crookbond and Pretdada” still worth the money today?
Yes, 100%! This comic is not only for children but also for adults who want to laugh openly for a few moments in their stressful lives.
The greatest strengths of this comic:
1. Constant Comedy: Dhamaka Singh makes you laugh with every move.
2. Pretdada’s character: A ghost who is fun to see and not frightening.
3. Mystery: It is interesting to solve the puzzle hidden in the poem about the treasure.
4. Nostalgia: This 96-page ‘super special issue’ will take you back to a time when happiness was available for just 25 bucks.
