Comic review: Grant Morrison’s 18 Days #3- It’s an Omen

Writers: Sharad Devarajan & Gotham Chopra
Art: Francesco Biagini
Publisher: Graphic India
Released: 9th September 2015


18 Days #2 was a set-up issue, a book that set the stage for the battle that is to come. Issue #3 further delays the battle, but it is in no way a disappointing book.

The battle can wait, and I’m happy with that, as that battle will mean so much more when we understand who is fighting, why they are fighting, and what the stakes are. Issue #3 goes back in time, to the birth of the main villain, a man named Duryodhana.

This Duryodhana is the leader of the group that intends to end the golden age on Earth, and to plunge it into a terrible time of unholy darkness. 18 Days #3 shows his strange birth, the omens that came with it, and his father, a blind King who ignores all of the evidence that is around him.

This blind King is a very human character. He’s blind, but he’s not an idiot. He’s a father who refuses to believe that his son is destined for great evil. I can understand that. Could you convince a proud new dad that his tiny, helpless, new-born baby boy is destined for great evil? I couldn't, and perhaps no one could.

18 Days is about destiny, heroes, villains, warriors, super-powers and the battle between light and darkness, so it has a traditional, western comic book feel to it, even though it’s based on an ancient Indian text.

The key to it’s success is that writers Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Chopra have managed to create the perfect amalgamation between ancient Indian mythology and the modern comic book superhero narrative. It’s quite an achievement, and I’m enjoying every single panel of it.

The art, by Francesco Biagini, is big, bright, clear, colourful and uncluttered. There is nothing confusing about it, nothing overly flashy, and it’s perfect for the book in that it allows the story to be easily understood without needlessly confusing matters.

The book concludes with the following promise:

Next Issue: Blood On the Battlefield! 

That sounds extremely appetising to me, and I can’t wait for it to start kicking off in issue #4. I’m getting a huge kick out of this look into Indian mythology/history. It’s fascinating stuff, and a lot more interesting than your average US superhero book. I’m fully immersed within the story and very much looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen next. 18 Days is a top quality comic book. Give it a chance, you won’t regret it.


Rating: 8/10 (The perfect amalgamation between ancient Indian mythology and contemporary comic book narratives)