Devi Volume 1: Namaha [Paperback]

This is one of the most original comic ideas in years. I get these issues monthly and they are fantastic. The mix of Indian lore with contemporary time makes Devi awesome. The way way the character is drawn in the first pages make her very hot. Plus Lord Bala is real horrific in his true manifestation. This is a good buy.

A friend of mine not too long ago just happened to mention to me that there was a recent story on NPR about Indian comic books available in the US. As a big comic book enthusiast, I had to check them out, and Devi was the very first one I read. I have to say that Virgin Comics is doing a wonderful service by bringing these great comics to the US. Devi is a superb comic that has it all - great art, great writing, and a good story.

The story follows Tara, a beautiful young woman and girlfriend of a powerful Indian gangster, who is also destined to be the Devi, a mortal goddess incarnate who is to save humanity from the power of the dark demon god Lord Bala (think Lord of the Rings' Sauron combined with a bat and you have him). As Tara is captured by a mysterious, ancient cult in order to bring about her incarnation as Devi, she runs afoul of Kratha, a renegade mystical assassin who had quit the forces of heaven and is working for herself, and one of Lord Bala's generals, who has been undercover as Tara's boyfriend. Another interested party is the rakish, alcoholic but virtuous detective Singh, who has noticed a lot of strange mystical happenings going on lately.

You might think of this as a new interpretation of the Image Witchblade comic - indeed, they share similar concepts: a beautiful young woman with a mythic destiny, imbued with occult power, fights demonic powers in a dark, crumbling urban landscape. However, this comic goes out of its way to make things seem fresh and new. Everything here seems novel and well-thought-out, and has a distinctly different cultural flavor to it, which is something I think American comics need. The art is spectacular - highly detailed, but still in a grand comic book style. The dialogue is also great - the characters are fairly conversational in their speech, and even the kinds of exposition and exchanges that are so often awkward in most American comics work. There are also some really well done, novel turns of phrase here that are sure to please. I highly recommend this comic to anyone interested in a good comic book read. Enjoy!

Indian comic books. Not a familiar concept, but as Shekhar Kapur's Devi has proven, it can be an amazing breath of fresh air. When I picked up this book, my main fear was that its use of Hindu legends & mythology would go over my head. After all, I'm neither Hindu nor Indian.

That fear was put to rest. Devi is an amazing comic about gods, demons, belief, and the worth of one's humanity. The action is good, the characters are believable, and the artwork is simply stunning. Tara's transformation into the Devi is inspired.

The only thing that keeps this review from receiving a full 5 stars is that I felt we didn't get to know Tara too well. There were perhaps four pages in the entire story that showed us Tara before her transformation began. Sure, this is remedied in the second volume, but I felt a little cheated for an origin story.

Still, Devi is an awesome comic. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good story with good art.