Pandemic Blasters

At the start of the pandemic when the numbers started to soar every day, most of us were terrified. When would this madness end? The silent killer was capable of killing hundreds and thousands of people, without firing one bullet. It seemed that the end of humanity was drawing to an end. It felt like it was a World War, with an invisible enemy. Every evening the numbers were announced of the deaths and the hospital cases were rising as fast. The medical profession was trying their best to save people. Hospitals were filling up, and there were shortages of beds and oxygen.

In developed countries the situation was grim. In developing countries, the situation was grave. There were corpses washing up on shores in India, where the poorer sections of society could not bury their dead and had to resort to burying them in shallow graves. There was an acute shortage of oxygen in hospitals. There were families where loved ones died in their arms, while waiting to be admitted into hospitals for medical care.

Scientists in all countries were doing experiments to create vaccines that would work for human beings. There were trials and tests going on at a feverish pace. Leaders in government were asking the people to be patient, as a vaccine was still being developed.

Families were facing the tense situation of being trapped at home, due to the lockdowns. The mental health of children and adults were being affected by the isolation. The lockdowns were necessary and could not be avoided. It was the best way to control the virus, that was spreading like wildfire.

Preventive measures to control the virus were in place all across the globe. The death rate in several countries were just rising. The glimmer of hope came when the vaccines were developed. The first vaccinators all across the world were being hailed as heroes. The Scientists were victorious in creating a vaccine that worked. Human lives were now being saved, every day.

The number of deaths started to fall. More people were now recovering from the virus infection. There was hope. It seemed to everyone that humanity had finally defeated the virus.

The lockdowns were gradually being lifted. A sense of normalcy was now coming about. People were now being allowed to mingle, from two to more households. Children could go to school, to study and play once again. Family members could finally go and meet their aged relatives, who were in isolation, as they were part of the vulnerable category in society.

It was during the period of the lockdown, that I decided to try my hand at illustrating a graphic novel, based on the pandemic. It is a work of fiction, that I had created. It was my way of handling the experience of living through a pandemic. We all had different experiences during the pandemic, however the lockdowns and the isolation were the common factors for everyone.

The pandemic brought society to a grinding halt. It seemed to me that the world stopped turning on its axis, as time stood still. I remember the photographs and videos of empty roads, empty cities all over the world. These were powerful images and scenes, that can never be forgetten. The lovely images of nature, in the form of birds and animals, venturing out into public spaces was a pleasant sight.

The pandemic was a chance for man, woman, child to stop, think and realize his, her and their privileged position in the world. Man and Woman are the stewards of nature and the world and it is up to us to protect the world we love.

Pandemic Blasters- the Story

The world has been overcome by a virus which is sweeping across countries and wiping out populations. This virus, which has reached the proportion of a pandemic is of unknown origins and is obliterating human civilization. This unseen enemy has crippled world economies and brought the world to its knees. There is no cure in sight.

A group of individuals called the “Pandemic Blasters” appointed by the International Federation of the World are the only hope for the human population. People are now used to being in lockdowns, wearing face-masks and washing hands with disinfectant hand-washes constantly, in order to protect them from an unbeatable virus.

Lives have been lost all across the planet and it seems that scientists have not yet created a vaccine to destroy this ravenous monster, which feeds on human lives. The Pandemic Blasters discover an ancient manuscript, which may hold the clue as to how the virus can be destroyed. But, will the team of Pandemic Blasters be in time to save humanity?