Black Siddha
Encyclopedia
Black Siddha is a comic series created by Pat Mills
and published in Judge Dredd Megazine
.
The story revolves around a super-powered Deva
knight, Mardaka (lit. who crushes; who makes suffer) "known and feared as the Black Siddha" (Megazine
202).
British Asian
, who is revealed to be a reincarnation of the titular character, a brutal warrior who enjoyed killing but nevertheless held to a chivalric code. Mardaka's superpowers are known as siddha
s, and amongst others he has the siddhi of sky-striding
and armoured skin. He fights using an Urimi, a double-edged flexible sword, although his has magical qualities.
The basic narrative structure of Black Siddha is similar to two earlier works by prolific comics author Pat Mills, Sláine
and Finn
, in that it utilises elements of an existing mythological framework (and in the case of the urimi, a real-life weapon) to both provide background and drive the story. In regard of its contemporary setting, at least, Black Siddha is more similar to Finn.
Pat Mills
Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
and published in Judge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
.
The story revolves around a super-powered Deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
knight, Mardaka (lit. who crushes; who makes suffer) "known and feared as the Black Siddha" (Megazine
Judge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
202).
Synopsis
Black Siddha centers on Rohan, a young HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
British Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
, who is revealed to be a reincarnation of the titular character, a brutal warrior who enjoyed killing but nevertheless held to a chivalric code. Mardaka's superpowers are known as siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
s, and amongst others he has the siddhi of sky-striding
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
and armoured skin. He fights using an Urimi, a double-edged flexible sword, although his has magical qualities.
The basic narrative structure of Black Siddha is similar to two earlier works by prolific comics author Pat Mills, Sláine
Sláine (comics)
Sláine is a comic hero from the pages of 2000 AD - one of Britain's most popular comic books.Sláine is a barbarian fantasy adventure series based on Celtic myths and stories which first appeared in 1983, written by Pat Mills and initially drawn by his then wife, Angela Kincaid. Most of the early...
and Finn
Finn (comics)
Finn was the hero of a comic strip written by Pat Mills. He first appeared in British fortnightly anthology comic Crisis in 1989, and later moved to 2000 AD when Crisis was cancelled in 1991. In Crisis he started as a supporting character called Paul in the strip Third World War, before becoming...
, in that it utilises elements of an existing mythological framework (and in the case of the urimi, a real-life weapon) to both provide background and drive the story. In regard of its contemporary setting, at least, Black Siddha is more similar to Finn.