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ravenousbibliophile's review
5.0
*The following review is for the complete 8 issues of Ravanayan*
Blurb: It's not just the hero who's chosen by fate.
John Campbell wrote in 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces':
"The Hero of yesterday becomes the Tyrant of tomorrow, unless he crucifies himself today."
In Ravanayan, we see the ascension of Dashanan from being a Hero to his race, to becoming a Tyrant in the eyes of the Gods and finally his crucifixion at the hands of God's incarnation. However, rather than being a story about the greatness of Ram, this is a story about the tragedy of Ravan.
I must admit that my enthusiasm for this story comes from a place of bias, since I have always been drawn to the character of Ravan more than that of Ram, but I find much truth and wisdom in the thought that the greatness of a Hero is more or less defined by the Villain she/he defeats, and in this story we see just how great a thorn in the side of the Gods Ravan became to compel Vishnu to appear in human form.
What I loved about this story is that special attention has been given to the smallest but pivotal incidents, and this isn't merely a rehash of every story that we as children of India have grown up listening, watching and chanting. The art-style also is superb and it was quite simply a revelation for one such as I who never ventured into the realm of Indian Graphic-Artists.
In a time when people enjoy listening to stories from different perspectives, Ravanayan gives us a glimpse of our oldest tale of morality from the eyes of the one person whom we are supposed to consider immoral. And in the end you will ask yourself one of two questions: Was Ravan merely an educated Rakshas? Or Was Ravan simply Ram without the benefit of divine destiny?
Blurb: It's not just the hero who's chosen by fate.
John Campbell wrote in 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces':
"The Hero of yesterday becomes the Tyrant of tomorrow, unless he crucifies himself today."
In Ravanayan, we see the ascension of Dashanan from being a Hero to his race, to becoming a Tyrant in the eyes of the Gods and finally his crucifixion at the hands of God's incarnation. However, rather than being a story about the greatness of Ram, this is a story about the tragedy of Ravan.
I must admit that my enthusiasm for this story comes from a place of bias, since I have always been drawn to the character of Ravan more than that of Ram, but I find much truth and wisdom in the thought that the greatness of a Hero is more or less defined by the Villain she/he defeats, and in this story we see just how great a thorn in the side of the Gods Ravan became to compel Vishnu to appear in human form.
What I loved about this story is that special attention has been given to the smallest but pivotal incidents, and this isn't merely a rehash of every story that we as children of India have grown up listening, watching and chanting. The art-style also is superb and it was quite simply a revelation for one such as I who never ventured into the realm of Indian Graphic-Artists.
In a time when people enjoy listening to stories from different perspectives, Ravanayan gives us a glimpse of our oldest tale of morality from the eyes of the one person whom we are supposed to consider immoral. And in the end you will ask yourself one of two questions: Was Ravan merely an educated Rakshas? Or Was Ravan simply Ram without the benefit of divine destiny?