From gracing the silver screen as a superstar to appearing in a comic book as a superhero, Big B has done it all. Here’s a tribute to the Angry Young Man on his 83rd birthday, with the story of how he became a movie-like messiah in the world of comics as well
Genesis of Supremo: Born from a Crisis
Amitabh Bachchan’s almost-fatal incident in 1982 at the shooting of Coolie (1983) electrified the country. With fans already perceiving him as a god-like figure, the humorous universe chose to make that admiration manifest: Supremo, a superhero modelled after the Batman and Superman characters, was the idea. The incident that led Pammi Bakshi, the chief of Movie magazine, to have the idea that in this country, Batman and Superman are the second and third choices for children as superheroes, with Bachchan as their first choice, when asked about becoming a superhero. That was the inception of it. She suggested a comic series where Amitabh’s iconic film character also becomes a superhero, and he consented but insisted that the portrayal of his comic character would not be of a travesty but of a saviour.
Maestro Gulzar was involved in the script, and the renowned comic artist Pratap Mullick was selected to be the designer of the look. After several drafts, Amitabh approved a costume: a red skintight suit, a dhoti-like skirt, a mask, boots, gloves, a chakra locket, and a Walkman that played his favourite songs.
Supremo did not have any special abilities; he was the personification of courage, and his sidekicks, Vijay and Anthony, a dolphin named Sonali, and a watchful hawk, Shaheen, supported him in his fights with evil and in situations of crises.
Supremo in the Spotlight: Comics, Myth & Legacy
The comic book series lasted for approximately two years and covered nearly 24 monthly issues, and readers were even encouraged to submit ideas and fan fiction.
Each story opened with the highlight: Amitabh, the star, and every time there was a problem coming, Shaheen would be the one to give the hint about his metamorphosis into Supremo. The narratives showed him saving planes from being hijacked, arresting thieves stealing art, and dealing with anti-social elements.
Unusually enough, the issues carried messages from Bachchan—post-Coolie, he would be in direct contact with his readers, thanking them and giving them information about his recovery. The comic’s impact is still felt today: Supremo is still an icon of the merging of Indian stardom and mythmaking. Available in both Hindi and English, these editions of the comic are one of the watershed specimens in the history of India’s effort to create a homegrown and rooted superhero.
A Birthday Salute to the Maverick Big B
Amitabh Bachchan today is not just a film legend—he is an idol whose mythical aura crimsoned in comics also, where he turned into Supremo for one whole generation. His birthday gives a reason to look back at this episode, which, in turn, tells us that the saga of his story has always been beyond the screen and script. In the halls of film, fans, and imagination, Big B is and will always be both man and myth—the only legend who never required any powers to be a hero because he was born to be one.
