Devi (Virgin Comics)
Devi is the fictional character created by Shekhar Kapur and Virgin Comics, as part of their debut Shakti line, which focuses on Indian settings. The character is loosely based upon the mythological figure Durga. Plot summary. Devi was a celestial warrior goddess created by the gods to fight the renegade god Bala in the 2nd century of man. When Bala rose again to threaten the universe, Devi was reborn within the body of a young woman named Tara Mehta. The Devi entity had emerged within a warrior-woman of the Durapasya (human warriors of light) clan. She  had led the armies of the gods and men on an all-out assault on Bala’s Fortress. After defeating Bala through hand-to-hand combat, which led to the fallen god being blinded, captured, and imprisoned by Bodha, the supreme Lord of creation inside Jwala, the fortress of fire and stone (hidden deep within the earth) she had created a source to hold the prayers of humanity and channel them to Aakashik, the story's representation of heaven, thus replenishing the powers of the other pure gods. The key to Bala's sarcophagus prison was entrusted to a creature  of fire and stone called the Gatekeeper. In the present, a woman by the name of Tara Mehta, who is the unawakened Devi incarnate, lives a posh lifestyle alongside her boyfriend Iyam (who was the former favorite general of Bala during the ancient battle, and currently Sitapur’s most notorious ganglord). He also owns “the Abyss” night club. An investigation by Inspector Rahul Singh, a functioning alcoholic of the Sitapur police who drinks alcohol in order to self-medicate an overactive supernatural ability, leads to pinpointing Iyam as a culprit. Meanwhile, Kratha, an Apsara - an assassin of heaven hired by  Lord Bala using a woman named Amara Gaelle - goes to try to eliminate Tara Mehta before she becomes Devi. However, she is unsuccessful as the Durapasya kidnap and drug her before she can kill her target. Tara comes into contact with the first Devi who attempts to lead Tara on the road to rebirth as the Devi. Inspector Rahul Singh follows Iyam to a private meeting with Amara where he learns of the supposed assassination attempt. Iyam and Kratha come to a truce ending with Iyam paying Kratha double the amount of what she was paid by her previous master . Amara, Lord Bala's contact, kills 2 of Iyam’s bodyguards who had captured Inspector Rahul thus freeing him and seemingly following her own agenda. Issues. Issue #1 - BHAIRAVI writer : Siddharth Kotian artist : Mukesh Singh The story of the original Devi and her battle against Bala and his hordes in the 2nd century of man. Issue #2 - DWIJA writer : Siddharth Kotian artist : Mukesh Singh Return of Bala in modern times and introduction of Tara Mehta, the devi incarnate in the city of Sitapur Issue #3 - NAMAHA writer : Samit Basu artist : Mukesh Singh Tara is kidnapped by the Durapasya, a cult  of devi worshippers who initiate her transformation. The Apsara assassin Kratha arrives in Sitapur to kill Tara Mehta Issue #4 - PRARAMBH writer : Samit Basu artist : Mukesh Singh Tara is attacked by Kratha while still in trance and the priest Agantuk whisks her away in the nick of time to Durapasya headquarters. Issue #5 - AAGAMAN writer : Samit Basu artist : Mukesh Singh Tara's transformation into devi is complete, but as Kratha and Iyam storm the Durapasya temple, the human and the divine coexist in Tara. Issue #6 - SAMSARA writer : Samit Basu artist : Aditya Chari Issue #7 - SANDEHA writer : Samit Basu artist  : Aditya Chari Issue #8 - AKS writer : Samit Basu artist : Saumin Patel Issue #9 - YUDH writer : Samit Basu artist : Saumin Patel Battle royale between the forces of Durapasya and Bala's hordes begin. Issue #10 - SAMVARA writer : Samit Basu artist : Saumin Patel The battle between Tara and Bala. Issue #11 - ATEETA writer : Saurav Mohapatra artist(s) : Saumin Patel Siddharth Kotian Edison George An enigmatic supernatural being is drawn towards the new DEVI and we get glimpses of Tara, Rahul and Kratha's past through his eyes. Issue #12 - AHWAAN writer : Saurav Mohapatra artist(s) : Saumin Patel Tara learns to control her DEVI powers  to some degree and fights a dreaded mob boss who is trying to gain control of the Sitapur underworld. Issue #13 writer : Saurav Mohapatra artist(s) : Saumin Patel Tara and Kratha clash as the White Horseman manifests in Rahul's body declaring his intention to kill the DEVI, who he considers an abomination. Issue #14,15 & 16 These have been released. Please update the review of the same. Reception. Critical response to Devi has generally been positive, especially towards the artwork, which has drawn almost unanimous praise. The first two issues drew some criticism for lack of world development and cliché dialogue , but reviewers found these issues were resolved in Devi #3. In terms of sales, Devi is the most popular comic of the Shakti line. Credits. Issues #1-#2 written by Siddharth Kotain, art and cover by Mukesh Singh, and colours by J Nanjan. Issues #3-#10 were written by Samit Basu. Issue #11 onwards are written by Saurav Mohapatra. Acclaimed creator Ron Marz has signed on as story consultant and editor for the series. Collections. The series is being collected as trade paperbacks: