Have you ever wondered: if the lives of 60 innocent people were to depend on a reprieve of just 24 hours, could a single human being make an entire terrorist organization kneel? On one side, there are dangerous terrorists in the tallest building in the city, and on the other side, there is a hero whose face is that of ‘Inspector Sawan’ to the world, but to criminals, he is ‘Death’ itself, i.e., ‘Sikandar’. This classic offering from Manoj Comics is reminiscent of a period in the ’90s when action meant ‘courage that never gives up’, not just bullets.
Can a leap defeat death? Inspector Sawan’s dangerous ‘suicide mission’ to catch ‘Jabbar Butt’!
The beginning of the story is like the opening scene of a big Bollywood film. Police sirens are echoing through the streets of Rajnagar, and the target is ‘Jabbar Butt’—a terrorist who can even shoot his girlfriend to save his own life. Here, we see a side of Inspector Sawan who knows how to ‘act’ by going beyond the law books. His jump, made by running across a line of drums between two buildings, still gives comics lovers goosebumps. This was not just an arrest, but the first big step towards Sawan becoming ‘Sikandar’.
60 hostages, 24 hours and the tallest building in the city: ‘High Tower Restaurant’ becomes a real hell!
To avenge Jabbar Butt’s arrest, his organization, ‘High Command’, makes the entire city its shield. By occupying the most spectacular, 200-metre-high ‘High Tower Restaurant’ in the city, they give the government a final warning—“Release Jabbar or count 60 dead bodies.” Coincidentally, Sawan is present there with his friend Mona. Without weapons and with no help, Sawan is trapped in a ‘death trap’, where every passing minute brings the sound of another death.
Knockout punch! Will Sikandar be able to take on the terrorists with the help of technology stolen from the ‘Museum’?
When modern commandos and police forces fail to break through the tower’s defences and give up, Sikandar enters. Sawan cleverly gets out and acquires a ‘flying machine’ (jetpack) from an ‘aviation museum’. This scene is the most spectacular ‘cinematic peak’ of this comic. A masked messiah descends onto the restaurant’s gallery, piercing the dark night sky. It was this combination of technology and courage that made Sikandar the coolest superhero of that era.
The creeping shadow of death in the restaurant! When Sikandar served a ‘bloody dinner’ to the terrorists
The battle inside the tower is nothing less than a Hollywood thriller. Writer Arjun Pandit has woven such a web of suspense here that the reader holds their breath. One by one, Sikandar destroys the terrorists like a silent killer. He is connected to the police via wireless communication, but he is all alone inside the tower. Amidst the sound of bullets and glass flying through the air, Sikandar’s ‘one-man show’ proves why he is called the ‘doom of criminals’.
Loyalty on one side, duty on the other: Why does Mona’s obsession create jealousy in Sawan’s heart?
The most interesting and emotional part of the comic is the ‘love triangle’ involving Sawan, Mona and Sikandar. Mona is so crazy about Sikandar that she sleeps with his photo under her pillow. Sawan sees all this and becomes jealous of his own alter ego, i.e., Sikandar. He wishes that Mona loved the human being who stands before her, not the masked man whom the law considers a criminal. This confusion of the heart gives a human depth to the story.
The magic of Hussain Zaidi’s pen: the echo of bullets heard on the pages and ‘cinematic’ artwork!
Talking about the illustrations, Hussain Zaidi has breathed life into the pages. The stampede inside the restaurant, the swag of Sikandar’s red jacket and the fear of death visible on the terrorists’ faces—every panel looks like a film frame. In particular, the nuances shown in the jetpack flying scenes seem unmatched even in today’s digital era.
Suspense alert! Who is ‘Kali Maut’? The most dangerous hunter is coming from America to eliminate Sikandar
At the end of the story, there is a revelation that will leave you restless for the next comic. Jabbar Butt’s organization cannot bear the defeat inflicted by Sikandar, and they give a contract to America’s most dangerous killer, ‘Kali Maut’, to kill him. The frightening mask of ‘Kali Maut’ in the advertisement and the coldness in his eyes make it clear that Sikandar’s next encounter is going to be the toughest test of his life.
Should ‘Twenty-Four Hours’ be read even today?
‘Twenty-Four Hours’ is not just an old comic, but it is like the ‘Die Hard’ movie of that period. If you are bored with today’s slow and overly complicated plots, then this story of Sikandar will remind you what the real thrill of pure ‘masala action’ is.
This comic not only refreshes your childhood memories but also takes you to the ultimate limit of that adventure, where every second is precious. Sikandar’s ‘badass’ style, Sawan’s helplessness and the unique combination of high-tech gadgets make it a must-have for any collection. If you haven’t read this story of Sikandar, then understand that you have missed the finest 24 hours of the most ‘dashing’ hero in Indian comics history.
