Comic review: Umru Ayar, the rebirth of a hero

A pox on all djinns, the comic-strip team Kachee Goliyan has breathed new life into the legendary Umru Ayar.

Published by the popular online comic-strip team ‘Kachee Goliyan’, Umru Ayar: The Awakening is the promising first installment in an excitingly new Pakistani comic book franchise. Artist Ramish Safa reimagines the iconic Umru Ayar for a new generation, who will see the roguish hero battle powerful djinns. It is to team KG’s credit that The Awakening does not cheapen the original character for the sake of cheap thrills.

It would have been easy, after all, for artist Saad Hassam to draw Umru with a chiseled body and a handsomely square jaw in an attempt to appeal to the masses. But instead, he gives the character a more reasonable physique and shrewd eyes that instantly lend the hero an original and authentic look.

The artwork in the comic book is gorgeous, with some influence clearly drawn from stylised illustrations seen in Pakistani drawings from earlier generations. The colouring by Lucid Concept is phenomenal, featuring succulent shades of red in the book’s desert landscapes. There are some minor consistency issues however, in the drawing of Umru’s face, where it doesn’t always look the same. In fact, on one panel of The Awakening, Umru resembles the djinn he is conversing with, which did seem confusing.

The story opens with the djinns, who are Umru’s sworn enemies. They seek him out to earn his services, much to his curiosity. Here lies Umru Ayar’s greatest strength, in realising that his primary weapon in battling powerful mystical adversaries is his intellect, rather than his brawn.

Unfortunately, the dialogue in The Awakening is the comic book’s weakest suit, with even some grammar gaffes. Umru also occasionally uses modern diction which feels out of place with the book’s historic setting. Meanwhile, the Urdu version of The Awakening suffers from composition problems — it flows oddly from left to right like an English book.

These minor grievances aside, this comic book is an engaging piece of art that is definitely worth a place in your collection, especially if you take a moment to consider its dirt cheap price of Rs300 (Order via Facebook). But there is one more reason to get a copy: to encourage the young artists to keep ’em coming.

Our top 3 comic book heroes

1. Commander Safeguard



This animated Pakistani superhero has a clean reputation and helps kids fight germs. But here is some dirt on him: Did you know that he has been fighting germs overseas as well? In 2005, he was adopted in the Philippines as Captain Safeguard. In 2007, in Mexico he became Capitan Escudo. You can even find him in Kenya.

2. Dr Faiza Hussain



She goes by the superhero name of Excalibur and she is a British doctor of Pakistani origins. This Marvel character has the ability to heal patients on the subatomic level. Like all super beings she has a weakness, however, and can’t use her powers on magical beings. We can’t all be perfect.

3. Simon Baz


OK so he isn’t Pakistani, but he is an American Lebanese hero and we are partial to that combination. Baz is the latest Green Lantern in the comics published by DC Comics, and this is a man who really knows how to wield the magic ring. He has been known to have picked a fight or two with Batman. We love you Baz, but don’t overestimate yourself. It’s Batman after all.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, April 28^th, 2013.

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