Nagraj is one of the most popular characters in Indian Comics series published and distributed by Raj Comics. The character was created by Sanjay Gupta in the late 1980s and was initially written by Parashuram Sharma and illustrated by Pratap Mulick. From the year 1995 onwards, the artwork of the series is done by writer and artist Anupam Sinha. Nagraj, an Indian superhero, has evolved in terms of concept and artwork through the past 25 years in print. The name Nagraj is derived from the Hindi words Naga and Raja, which literally means Snake-King. The concept of the character is adapted from the ancient Indian mythology of shape shifting snakes known as Ichchhadhari Nag or Vishmanushya. The plots of Nagraj are a combination of mythology, magic, action, science fiction and fantasy. Nagraj was conceptualized as a rival of international terrorism, but he was introduced as a deadly terror weapon by Professor Nagmani, an evil scientist. But a 300 year old Sadhu, Baba Gorakhnath, saved Nagraj from Nagmani`s control.

Since then Nagraj has encountered and defeated numerous terrorists and criminals. Raj, the alter-ego of Nagraj, resides in Mahanagar City and works as an employee of a television Channel which is secretly owned by himself.

Concept of Nagraj
During the ancient times, the kingdom of Takshaknagar was ruled by King Takshakraj and his Queen Lalita. The royal couple had no children, thus Nagpasha, the younger identical brother of the King, became only potential heir to the throne. Still the King and Queen prayed to the deity Deva Kaljayi in hope for having a child. Eventually, with the deity`s blessing the queen became pregnant. But Nagpasha planned to mutilate kill the child before he was born. Later when Queen Lalita was praying to Deva Kaljayi, Nagpasha replaced her scared offering with a dead mongoose, which enraged the deity and he made her unconscious with his venomous breath. King Takshakraj begged the deity for forgiveness but Deva Kaljayi refused. In an act of desperation, the king tried to commit suicide, but the deity stopped him and agreed to his request. He gave the king a crystal which will divert all the poison from Lalita and the child`s body. But due to harmful properties of the venom, the queen would lose her fertility.

Although the King and entire kingdom grieved, Nagpasha rejoiced as he again became the sole heir to the royal throne. The queen gave birth to a dead child, who showed no signs of life and the entire body had turned blue. The newborn baby was floated into the river, according to Hindu rituals. Nagpasha went to the grand royal treasury which was guarded by Deva Kaljayi in the form of a giant two-headed snake. Nagpasha demanded the royal treasure but was refused by the deity as the real successor of the throne was still alive. When Nagpasha tried to attack the deity with his sword, the giant snake threw him away with the flick of its tail and Nagpasha fell upon 2 bowls, one containing toxic venom and the other containing Amrita. The venom burned his face and mixed with his blood stream, while the Amrit made him immortal. Thus he became an immortal and venomous man.

After Deva Kaljayi informed the King about the recent occurrences, King Takshakraj, along with his astrologer Vedacharya and the deity, enclosed the grand royal treasure with mystical powers which could only be broken by his son. Nagpasha became furious and murdered the king and the queen in a fit of rage.

Deva Kaljayi, the snake deity, informed the rulers of Ichchhadhaari Nags, King Maniraj and his Queen Manika who resides in an invisible island named Nagdweep, to rescue and cure the baby. The couple discovered the baby and realized he had divine venom of the god. After several years of treatment, the child started to get cured but still remained in suspended animation and his body had turned green. The King and Queen adopted the baby as they had no children of their own. An evil Tantrik named Vishandhar kidnapped the child from the protected area where he was kept, as he wanted to rule the island. Being afraid of the wrath of the god, Vishandhar decided not to kill the baby but left him on the river side where he was found. The baby regained his senses and his body turned normal colour and started crying.

A priest located him and gave the child to Professor Nagmani, who was a researching on snakes. Medical tests of the child revealed that it contained minute, microscopic snakes in his blood, instead of white blood cells. The child possessed astonishing healing powers and was tremendously venomous. Nagmani raised the baby, who eventually becomes Nagraj. Professor Nagmani conducted various experiments on Nagraj and designed him as the ultimate killing machine. He planned to lease Nagraj to the highest bidder amongst different terrorist groups and crime lords.

In his first mission, Nagraj was sent to recover an ancient golden statue of a Goddess from a temple which was guarded by snakes, tribal devotees, and Baba Gorakhnath, a 300 year old Sadhu. Nagraj succeeded in his task, but was defeated by Gorakhnath and his mystic Black Mongoose Hikangi. Baba Gorakhnath freed Nagraj from the mind control of Professor Nagamani. He became a disciple of Baba Goraknath vowed to eliminate crime and terror from the world.

Powers of Nagraj
During the initial issues, Nagraj had limited powers but gradually became more powerful and was depicted as an ultimate super human being. He could pick up falling cars single-handedly and also throw things into outer space effortlessly. Nagraj has many powers like poisonous breath and bite, superhuman strength, instant healing abilities, and snakes that come out of his wrists. The snakes appear individually and can take the form of any material that he desires like ropes, parachutes etc. Nagraj is more venomous than any species of snakes because his venom was celestial. In the Raj Comics universe, Nagraj is the most powerful superhero. Nagraj can also stick to surfaces and climb walls and is an expert of hypnotism. He also possesses some psychic powers.

Friends and Enemies of Nagraj
Nagraj has and extended family and has made several friends during his many adventures like King Takshakraj, Queen Lalita, Baba Gorakhnath, Mahatma Kaaldoot, Dada Vedacharya, Deva Kaaljayi, Bharti, Visarpi, Nagrani, Super Commando Dhruva, Saudangi, Sheetnag kumar, Naagu, Vishaank, Mahavyaal, Nageesh, Sillu, A Iyer and Professor Srikant.

Nagraj also has numerous enemies like Professor Nagmani,Thodanga, Nagdant, Tutan Khamen, Miss Killer, Nagina, Vishandhar, Jaadugar Shakura, Nagpasha, Gurudev, Kentuki, Polka, Zulu, Sapera, Karanvashi, Vish-Amrit, Khalnayak Nagraj and Tantra.

Nagraj in Other Media
The character of Nagraj was adapted into a live-action television series but the show was never released due to meager quality of the special effects. Raj Comics and Motion Picture Corporation are in plans of producing an animated movie of Nagraj.