Did you know that it took not a powerful demon, but an ‘invisible’ shadow to get Mahabali Vega into trouble? King Comics’ ‘Coma’ is just such a hair-raising story… It created such suspense in the minds of every child in the 90s that even today, remembering it makes the soul tremble. The warrior, who changed the direction of the wind with his ‘Vega Power,’ was standing helplessly in front of a villain through whose body chairs and bullets would pass. Was Vega fighting a ghost or some creepy game of science?
Let’s go back to that golden era of King Comics today and get to know every single layer of this most talked-about comic in the Vega series, ‘Coma’ (No. 33), up close.
The Shadow of ‘Invisible’ Death Looms Over King City
The story begins in King City, a shining and modern city of India. Everything was going normally, but suddenly a strange fear spread through the posh areas of the city. The city’s top doctors were shocked, as the richest and most influential people in King City suddenly started going into a ‘coma’ (deep unconsciousness) without any external injury or illness.
Then comes the entry of the villain of this story, a creepy masked figure who calls himself ‘Coma.’ He was not only responsible for these incidents, but was also openly challenging the police and administration. His demand was quite clear: “If you want to bring your loved ones out of a coma, you have to pay a ransom of millions.”
The people of the city were trembling with fear because this villain was not ordinary. He would suddenly appear anywhere and disappear like smoke in no time.
Vega: A ‘Boy-Next-Door’ Superhero
While, on one hand, the city was gripped by fear, on the other hand, our hero Vega Kumar was busy with his college life. Vega Kumar was not a common man. He was a B.Sc. honors student and understood the depths of science very well.
There’s a pretty spectacular scene in the comics when Vega goes to a bookstore to get his science guide. Then he is shown stopping a horrific Red Line bus accident on the road. Vega immediately goes to the secret room in his bathroom and comes out wearing a blue costume—Mahabali Vega!
This human side of Vega makes him different from other superheroes. He tries to strike a balance between his studies and his responsibilities, which connects readers to him even more deeply.
When Mahabali Vega Collided with a ‘Ghost’
The real adventure in the story begins when Vega confronts a villain named ‘Coma’ in the hospital. Vega throws a heavy wooden chair at him to catch him. But what happened next blew the minds of both Vega and the readers.
The chair passed right through Coma’s body!
Coma started laughing loudly—“Vega! You can’t catch me because I’m not a human being. I’m a shadow.” Vega opened fire, but the bullets also passed through Coma’s body and sank into the back wall. For the first time, Vega realizes that he is not up against a flesh-and-blood criminal, but an ‘invisible’ force. Was King City possessed by a ghost?
That Path of Suspense, Cyanide, and Gutters
Vega had understood that there was a huge racket working behind the ‘Coma’ incidents. He starts his investigation and pursues dangerous goons like ‘Mogga’ and ‘Lide.’ Here’s a very dark scene shown in the comics. When Vega catches the criminal Mogga and tries to make him reveal the truth, Mogga commits suicide by chewing a potassium cyanide button hidden in the collar of his jacket.
He says while dying, “One of India’s population has decreased… Ha ha ha!” This scene shows how cruel the villain was and to what extent he had brainwashed his goons. The criminals used gutter pipes and tunnels to trick Vega, causing him to repeatedly fall into their traps.
Science vs. ‘Magic’: Dr. Bhosle’s Horrifying Truth
Vega does not break down after his defeat, but instead uses his scientific understanding (scientific brain). He notices that each coma victim was given a special ‘medicine’ before becoming unconscious. His suspicion falls on Dr. Bhosle, a famous neurologist at King Hospital.
The biggest blast of the climax occurs when Vega raids Dr. Bhosle’s cabin and uncovers a secret that shook the minds of 90s kids. Vega explains that the ‘Coma’ people were mistaking for a ghost was actually a hologram image created by a three-dimensional projector (3D Projector)!
Dr. Bhosle controlled that image so that people would become scared, whereas in reality, he secretly administered a drug that put his patients into a coma. Such a use of science was very unique and advanced in the comics of that period.
Ultimately, When the Villain Himself Became a Victim of His Own ‘Coma’
When Dr. Bhosle was caught, he made his last move. He tried to give Vega the same ‘coma’ medicine. But Vega used his ‘Vega Power.’ He moved his palms so fast that a cyclone of wind formed, which reversed the direction of the medicine.
The medicine went into Dr. Bhosle’s throat, and he went into his own ‘infinite sleep,’ i.e., a coma. This is what is called “poetic justice” (as you sow, so shall you reap).
Why Read ‘Coma’? Features of This Comic:
1. Technology and Suspense: Such a combination of 3D projection and medical science was seen in very few comics at that time.
2. Realistic Illustration: The crowd, traffic, and street artwork of King City (Drona Features) is very spectacular and vibrant.
3. Vega’s ‘Vega Power’: Vega’s fighting style is very different. He doesn’t just fight with punches, but also uses air pressure (Air Pressure).
4. Strong Villain: An educated villain like Dr. Bhosle, who pretends to serve society, seems equally relevant even today.
Do You Remember? (Nostalgia Section)
• Price of the Comic: Around 1990, this comic was available for just ₹7. Today, collectors are ready to pay hundreds of rupees for it.
• Secret Room: Do you remember that secret door in Vega’s bathroom, from where he would come out wearing his suit?
• King Comics’ Legacy: King Comics gave us memorable series like ‘Dushman Ji’ and ‘Khiladi’ in addition to Vega, which fans still keep looking for today.
Conclusion: A Timeless Story
‘Coma’ is not just a superhero’s victory story, but also a story of science’s victory over superstition. Vega taught us that when trouble is invisible, we must rely more on our intelligence than on our eyes. This masterpiece of King Comics is a shining star in the history of Indian comics.
Let us know in the comments:
• Do you consider Vega more powerful than Nagraj or Doga?
• What is Vega’s power that you like the most?
• Do you still have an old issue of King Comics preserved?
If you liked this review, then do share it with your comics gang!
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