Raj Comics
Raj Comics is an Indian comic book publisher based in New Delhi, India. It had published a line of Indian comic books through Raja Pocket Books since its foundation in 1984 by Rajkumar Gupta, Manoj Gupta, and Sanjay Gupta. Some of its most well known characters include Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruva, Bhokal, Doga, Parmanu, Tiranga, Bankelal, Shakti, Inspector Steel, Ashwaraj, Bheriya and Anthony. Raja Pocket Books is a leading comic book distributor in India.
Raja Pocket Books is a partnership firm based in Burari, Delhi. It is the holding company for the intellectual property rights of multiple eminent Indian Brands such as Raj Comics, King Comics, Tausi Comics, etc. Raja Pocket Books was established in the 1980s. It is a family owned enterprise. There are various litigations ongoing in respect to the assets of this company between the owners of the firm, due to which business operations of the same have been disrupted.
Raja Pocket Books initially published pulp-fiction books. They had a highly-successful run and published critically acclaimed authors like Surender Mohan Pathak, Ved Prakash Sharma, Anil Mohan and Raja. At their peak, the books sold up to 1 million copies each. While Rajkumar Gupta always had a passion for crime-thrillers, his sons Sanjay Gupta, and Manoj Gupta were always thrilled with the idea of creating original Indian Superheroes. One evening, while discussing the same, Rajkumar Gupta walked in on the conversation of the three brothers and thus, Raj Comics was born.
The company mainly publishes four types of comics; medieval fantasy, horror, mystery, and superhero comics, with a predominant focus on superhero content. Their comics are usually published in Hindi, with only a few titles and special editions in English. It has produced close to 35,000 comics to date and has been read by people in India and abroad. The company also publishes an online exclusive web series named Raj Rojana, with a new page uploaded every day.
Raj Comics publishes in multiple formats, which include e-book, print, and motion comics. The company also sells hardcovers of their old and new comics, as well as bundled collections of their characters.
In 2008, Raj Comics was the focus of a research project conducted through The Sarai Programme at CSDS's Sarai Media Lab. The resulting research was published as a free PDF on the Sarai website.
Team
- Raj Gupta
- Manoj Gupta
- Sanjay Gupta
- Vivek Mohan
- Anupam Sinha
- Tarun Kumar Wahi
- Jolly Sinha
- Ajit Singh
- Parul Gupta
- Meenu Gupta
- Prem Lata Gupta
Characters
Members of team Brahmand Rakshak (Protectors of the Universe)
- Bheriya
- Nagraj
- Super Commando Dhruva
- Doga
- Parmanu
- Shakti
- Inspector Steel
- Tiranga
- Super Indian
- Pret Uncle
- Ashwaraj
- Bhokal
- Anthony
Members of team Research and Investigation Paranormalism RIP
- Gagan
- Vinashdoot
- Monty
- Tahira
Characters based in ancient times
- Bhokal
- Gojo - the host for 7 mystical beings with various powers.
- Ashwaraj
- Yoddha
- Tilismadev
- Prachanda
- Shukral
- Adig
Comedy characters
- Bankelal
- Gamraj
- Fighter Toads
Chhota Nagraj and Amazing Friends of Nagraj
- Vishaank/Chhota Nagraj
- Sillu/Cybro
- Shama/Flemina
- Durdamya Sena Panchnaag- Naagdev, Sarpraj, Naagpreti, Sinhanaag and Naagarjun
- Shooldharini Saudangi
- Amar Yoddha Kaaldoot
- Nag Veerangana Visarpi
Kids Series characters (Defunct)
- Bobby
- Tuffy
- Cherry
- Damru
- Anadi
Member of Vistrit Rakshak (Extended Protectors of the Universe)
- Ninjadev Kirigi
- Nakshatra
- Samri
- Dhananjay
- Chandika
- Jingaalu
- Faceless
- Visarpi
- Kaaldoot
- Blackcat
- Pralayanka
- Cancer
Members of W.A.R (World Allied Rescuers)
- Badman
- Nakshatra
- Kali Vidhwa
- Inspector Cheetah
- Sheena
- Black Cat
- Lomri
- Madam X
- Kirtiman
- Adrishya Hatyara
- Vanputra
- Doctor Vargis
Member of P.V.N (Paralaukik Vigyan Nayakgan)
- Vedacharya
- Facelace
- Kapalkundli
- Nostradamus
- Lori
- Kishore
- Saza
- Red Letter
- Baby
- Iri
Superheroes from Different World
- Narak Nashak Nagraj
- Krodh Ketu Kobi
- Danadan Doga
- Doga Reborn
- Swatantrata Senani Dhruva
- Show Stopper Dhruva
- Ant henn Anthony
Newest characters
- Sanju
- Yugam
- Adig
- Paryaava
- Aghori
- Narakputra raksh
Inactive characters
- Hunter Sharks
- Khayali Ram
- Raja
- Johar
- Barrister Vishwanath
- Aglu Pichlu
- Khaleel Khan
- Anadi
Inactive characters who came after a long time
- Bobby
- Tuffy
- Cherry
- Damru
- Abhedya
- Blind Death
- Liza
- Vega
- Jasoos Topichand
- Piddi Pahalwan
- Sanju
- Fighter Toads
- Pret Uncle
- Tausi
- Bhootnaath
- Raka
- Goldheart
- Jaadugar
- Vakra
- Meghdoot
TV show-based characters
- Shaktimaan
- Viraat
History
Origins
In 1985, Manoj Gupta came up with the idea of creating a superhero centered around snakes as snakes hold a religious and mythological significance in India. Later, the team started working on the concept and finally created Nagraj.The Golden Age
In 1997, an advertisement for Nagraj featuring Sonu Sood aired on TV. During this era, Raj Comics reportedly sold over a million copies a year, making it one of the most widespread publications of that time period. It has sold more than 100 million copies since then.Modern Age
Raj Comics has now expanded to multiple different publication streams, with TriColor and other various business entities taking steps in penetrating the Indian book market. Discussions with studio heads have been disclosed to the public about the possibility of live feature films based on comic universe. However, nothing has come to fruition.In 2015, Raj Comics released an Android app for the general public. It has since garnered a massive following and has an average rating of 4.5+ stars.
In 2017, Raj Comics released a concept trailer for Nagraj on its official YouTube channel. It has since garnered over 1.5 million views.
In 2018, Raj Comics released a short feature film named Aadamkhor, partially self-produced and crowdfunded on YouTube.
In or around 2019, Raj Comics released a short feature film named 'Doga - Mumbai Ka Rakhwala', self-produced on Youtube.
Series
King Comics
King Comics was a monthly line of comics published through Raja Pocket Books. While the division was initially successful, its popularity declined and the line went defunct after only about 2–5 years of activity. It was intended that many of King Comic's characters would be merged into Raj Comics, but only Gamraj was successfully merged. During its run, the division published six monthly comics.Past and current series
- Kaliyug
- Tune Mara doga ko
- Thrill-Horror-Suspense Series
- Huoooo-Series
- X-Series
- Friendy Series
- Goldheart Series
- Kaal Series
- Nagayan Series
- AmarPrem Series
- Japan Series
- City Without A Hero
- Khazana series
- Trifana Series
- Maharavan Series
- Dracula Series
- Narak Nashak Nagraj origin Series
- Crow Series
- Born In Blood Series
- Express Way Series
- Aatankawadi nagraj series
- Chamatakari bhokal series
- Mard aur murda series
- Mahanagayan series
- Parmatma series
- Raktadaan series
- Jalyash series
- Tilismi olympic series
- Raj 20
- Nagraj ke badd series
- Swarna nagri
- Belmunda ka khajana series
- Genius series
- Aadamkhoro ka swaraga series
- Axe series
- Aakhri dhurva series
- Pagal nagraj series
- Made in India series
- Wafa series
- Doga diries series
- Doga collection series
- Mritiyjivi series
- Makbara series
- Kar Bura ho Bhala series
- Aag series
- Tandoor series
- Bankelal lok se lok series
- Bankelal nagar se nagar series
- Nagina series
- Nahi bachega nagraj series
- Rajnagar rakshak series
- Curfew series
- Aarambha series
- Hedron series
- Champion killer series
- Guru bhokal series
- Game over series
- Andhi maut series
- Aagraj series
- Doga Hindu Hai Series
- Khoon series
- Palra series
- Mai hu bheriya series
- Ins.chetta series
- Nikal pada doga series
- Nagraj hai na series
- Lavva series
- Hatyara kaun series
- Candakaal series
- Khoni khandan series
- Aab marega parmanu series
- Lakshya purusha series
- Ek katora au Do Ktora Khoon series
- Chamatakari bhokal series
- Jalyash series
- Germany series
- Italy series
- Raktabeej series
- Doga unmulan series
- Rajnagar Rakshak
- Akhiri-Last Survivors
- Balcharit
- Shaktiroopa
Ongoing series
- Sarvanayak
- Sarvanayak Vistar
- Kshatipoorti
- Sarpsatra
- Naag Granth
- पुनरूत्थान
- महा-नागायण
- ''Shuddhikaran''
Upcoming series
- Prem Granth
- Sins of the father
- Adharmeshwar
- अगड़म-बगड़म
- फाइटर फोर्स
- ''डेड गॉड्स''
Social Comics
- Nagraj Strikes: The Attack of the Coronaman
- Super Commando Dhruva: The Struggle with Depression
Jubilee and Kalpana-lok awards
Raj Comics films
In 2014, Anurag Kashyap had spoken about making a film on Doga—a vigilante killing machine in the style of Marvel Comics’ The Punisher—but the project was shelved after his Bombay Velvet flopped. In 2016, Raj Comics co-founder and studio head Sanjay Gupta said "Bollywood is yet to warm up to the idea of licensing comic book characters that come with detailed universes and visuals ready for the screen. We want to start with animated Web series first. We are expecting to make our first live-action film the year after.” In December 2017, Raj Comics organized special screening of their horror film Aadamkhor at Nagraj Janmotsav event, Delhi. Aadamkhor is based on comic of the same name published by Raj Comics in 1992.Raj comics released Aadamkhor on YouTube on 24 May 2018.
In December 2019, Manoj Gupta said that he was in negotiations with Ranveer Singh to play Nagraj in a film produced by Karan Johar.
Digital distribution
Raj Comics are available in digital form through their android app.The Raj Comics official android app has reached over 100k+ downloads at the time of this article.
Free Services: In 2017, Raj Comics started free comics from their android app.
Paid Services: Google Play in 2017. RC Android app crossed 100,000 downloads within 6 months of its launch.