Big B's Journey to Becoming a Comic Book Hero
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In the 1980s, Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary Bollywood actor, became the crime-fighting superhero Supremo in a series of comic books published by India Book House. This unique venture left a lasting mark on popular culture, combining Bachchan's charisma with the allure of a masked avenger.
The idea for Supremo arose when Pammi Bakshi, the publisher of India Book House, noticed children in her neighbourhood pretending to be superheroes, with one boy choosing Amitabh Bachchan as his superhero persona. Inspired by this, Bakshi approached Bachchan during the filming of "Pukar" in Goa, convincing him to lend his name to the comics, thus giving birth to Supremo
Bakshi assembled a talented team to bring Supremo to life, including poet and director Gulzar as a script consultant. Initially disinterested in popular cinema, Illustrator Pratap Mullick was persuaded to watch Bachchan's movies and designed Supremo's distinctive pink costume. Supremo lacked overt superpowers, relying on intelligence and strength.
The Adventures of Amitabh Bachchan, available in both English and Hindi, featured Supremo facing various challenges. Each issue began with a note from Bachchan, urging young readers to keep his superhero identity secret. Supremo, donning his pink outfit and sunglasses, would then tackle crises, with his private island serving as his superhero lair. The series even incorporated references to Bachchan's iconic screen characters.
Supremo's adventures drew from Bachchan's films, blending his larger-than-life image with comic book storytelling. The series ran for two years and inspired similar ventures in southern India, featuring Rajinikanth in Tamil Nadu and Mammootty in Kerala as superheroes. Even cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar briefly joined in as Sunny the Supersleuth.
Though the Adventures of Amitabh Bachchan comics have faded, they remain collectibles, with vintage issues commanding high prices. They symbolize a unique era in Indian pop culture when Bollywood's biggest star became a comic book superhero.
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