SANKARSAN: Return of the Super Jedi

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, comics cost 1 peso and 50 centavos.

When last we left Sankarsan the Super Jedi, his mother Rukmini was abducted by the galactic emperor Hiranyaksa, who had declared Order 66 on all Jedi in the galaxy.  In episode 2: The Encounter! (Speed Komiks #56, August 30, 1986), Sankarsan heads to the imperial planet of Patalaloka to rescue his mother, but finds that the emperor is a lot more powerful than he expected.

But before Hiranyaksa could finish off our hero, Rukmini steps forward with a startling revelation: "Hiranyaksa, YOU are the father!"

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

In spite of this, Sankarsan resolves to defeat his father for the sake of the universe.  In preparation, he trains to further develop his Jedi powers, losing an eye in the process.  Father and son have their Final Encounter in Speed Komiks #59 (September 20, 1986), engaging in a climactic cosmic duel that seems more Dr. Strange than Star Wars, though perhaps a bit more gruesome and apocalyptic than either.

SANKARSAN (The Super Jedi): Episode 1

Created by writer-illustrator Vicatan, Sankarsan (The Super Jedi) first appeared in Speed Komiks #55 (August 23, 1986), published by Graphic Arts Service, Inc.

Of course it's plain to see where the strip drew its inspiration from.  I would describe it as a beautifully-drawn, exotic, gritty and rather violent take on Star Wars, with a dash of Hindu references thrown in.

In the first episode, The Chosen, a spaceship crash lands on Earth in the year 2535.  Its dying passenger, a Jedi named Nakula, bequeaths his droid X-PO-C to the earthling Sankarsan.  The droid tutors Sankarsan in the ways of the Jedi, but no sooner does he master them when he finds his town and his mother in grave peril.