tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181478272024-02-20T08:18:59.102+05:30ComicologyThe 9th Art ExponentRafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.comBlogger84110tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-31495305290799413232012-09-08T11:22:00.001+05:302023-05-08T13:23:31.859+05:30Year full of Comics… And WE’RE BACK !<p>
It’s a kind of eerie feeling of <em>déjà vu</em>, to see us back in the
blogging ways after more than a year. And like the last
<a
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><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvaYtFEFnxYp5B7__A_vqfJa89zaerEGO33Y_xMLO7ZNf7GbE5fJIYIK9lN1uD8E9M7gcPVFei_dXXTpprUCM_h_qPRLVP4tZW2gFZ0g2CN7rkb5gKbB2xPlpqvPs-jXeI0KwnmGpNIGu-2_L6shil9IS5XWawgNlupNb66cmC-ie9ql8Rsk/s1600/Screenshot%202023-05-08%20132211.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvaYtFEFnxYp5B7__A_vqfJa89zaerEGO33Y_xMLO7ZNf7GbE5fJIYIK9lN1uD8E9M7gcPVFei_dXXTpprUCM_h_qPRLVP4tZW2gFZ0g2CN7rkb5gKbB2xPlpqvPs-jXeI0KwnmGpNIGu-2_L6shil9IS5XWawgNlupNb66cmC-ie9ql8Rsk/s1600/Screenshot%202023-05-08%20132211.png"/></a></div></a
>time we blogged, it’s the start of another day where a comic event is taking
place, this time in the garden city of Bengaluru. Times have indeed changed,
on both personal and professional front – which has kept us occupied for a
prolonged period on new priorities of life. But, believe us we were only
waiting for a reason to be back.
<font size="1"
>You would do well to take note of the recent changes in our blogs layout,
with featured posts and color combinations. Including the use of jQuery and
DisQus commenting, tools we long wanted to implement for the smooth
transition effect noticed on the blogs.</font
>
</p>
<p>
It might have been a lull period for Comicology, as far as Blogging Blogging
is
<a
href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XRFwLv4hczQ/UErYkuyreDI/AAAAAAAAHY0/xtS61WvJnRs/s1600-h/Vimanika%252520-%252520Shiva%25255B3%25255D.png"
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><img
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>concerned, but the atmosphere around Indian Comics have never been better
anytime before. The old-timers, Raj, Diamond and Amar Chitra Katha are still
lurking around. But, what makes it special is that a host of new players have
joined the bandwagon, namely Pop Culture Publishing, Rovolt, Holy Cow
Entertainment.
</p>
<p>
The success of each of these players in varying degrees have underscored the
fact that the Indian Comics Industry, do have
<a
href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i_d53jL8y78/UErYpahGZeI/AAAAAAAAHZE/22XHseM6Xw0/s1600-h/issue-cover%25255B2%25255D.jpg"
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><img
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>enough room to accommodate different genres and multiple storytellers.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Vimanika Comics</strong>, have launched a series of different titles,
and have mostly stayed loyal to their vision of Mythology, with titles like
Kalki, Siva, Dashavatar to go with their original Sixth and Moksha series.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Level 10 Comics</strong>, have now to stopped their print run, but
have been more active on
<a
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><img
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title="Pop Chairman"
border="0"
alt="Pop Chairman"
align="right"
src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OQmlSr5GbX8/UErY02D4G8I/AAAAAAAAHZc/b6T5vkVYk4k/Pop%252520Chairman_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"
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>Digital Comics front, having also launched two Graphic Novels of their famous
Odayan, and Daksh series.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Pop Culture Publishing</strong>, part of the same company which runs
the Comic Con India events, have been trying their hands on a variety of
publishing including Dark Noir, to Slapstick Humour.
</p>
<p>
<strong
><a
href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yMnFimk3xbk/UErZL0isQ6I/AAAAAAAAHZk/XvPlTKHNWl4/s1600-h/539993_423094234375279_509073905_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"
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><img
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title="539993_423094234375279_509073905_n"
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alt="539993_423094234375279_509073905_n"
align="left"
src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-43hIn_TXhok/UErZPYiEf8I/AAAAAAAAHZs/_VcKdmZTegM/539993_423094234375279_509073905_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800"
width="161"
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>Holy Cow Entertainment</strong
>, which started as a launch pad of their Ravanayan indie series, have now
branched out to announce a series of newer titles, with a host of creators and
writers.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Rovolt</strong>, a new player in the business has already made a
larger impact, with their unique and lavishing illustrated,
<a
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><img
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>Legends of Aveon9 series. They are indeed a company to watch out for.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Westland</strong>, has moved away from the tag of copyrighted license
publisher, by launching a Movie tied comics, with Agent Vinod, graphic novel.
But they have more to do on that front.
</p>
<p>
But, the biggest praise and appreciation should be given for
<strong>Campfire</strong>, who have continuously churned out Graphic Novels at
breathtaking pace and regularity. With their titles ranging from Mythology,
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><img
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width="156"
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>Classic Novels, to Biographies. They are the ones to look forward to for
years to come, and one which needs more attention from the comic brethren.
</p>
<p>
All of these publishers are scheduled to have
<strong
>new book
<a
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><img
style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px"
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>launches for the Bengaluru event</strong
>, which makes it all the more attracting.
</p>
<p>
These Comic Con events have been so popular, that even our regional comics
publisher of Lion and Muthu Comics, would be taking part in the event for the
first time. They too have a new comic to launch for the occasion.
</p>
<p>
Our <strong>Facebook page</strong>, has served as a medium to maintain pace
with this constantly growing industry, and to keep in touch with fellow
comikers. The advent of Social Networking, might have made the Micro-posts and
photo shares a favorite form of content sharing (and one which we love too).
</p>
<p>
But, the satisfaction of sharing one’s mind-out over a page full of
experiences can only be fulfilled with a blog. And we are more than happy to
have re-ignited that flair.
</p>
<p>
So as it turns out, we had to mark our calendar to make it to the
<strong>Comic Con Express</strong>, especially for the fact that it happens so
close to our city, in Bengaluru. Thus following the franchise events path from
Delhi, Mumbai, to southern garden city.
</p>
<p>
<a
href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fyu7-LIjKi8/UErc66LDQuI/AAAAAAAAHas/PK6eUky58VY/s1600-h/Comic-Con-Express-Bengaluru5.png"
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><img
style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px"
title="Comic Con Express Bengaluru"
border="0"
alt="Comic Con Express Bengaluru"
src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sxT7rZZpUIg/UErc_0t67CI/AAAAAAAAHa0/ktrn9siROcs/Comic-Con-Express-Bengaluru_thumb3.png?imgmax=800"
width="722"
height="142" /></a
>Despite having a lot of reservations over Comic Con India
<font size="1"
>(one of the reasons for us to stop blogging ever since attending the first
Comic Con in Delhi last year)</font
>, a fact has to be accepted that – these events have given a chance for
lovers of a medium, which is so niche, to interact with fellow like minded
people, and to also project themselves truly as Comic fans, with no frills
attached.
</p>
<p>
We are hoping to take part in the celebrations and interacts and befriend more
of these wonderful folks. Hopefully, we should be back sooner to share the
experience to one and all. <strong>Adios, until then !</strong>
</p>
Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-51418687538967125662011-02-19T08:10:00.005+05:302011-09-22T16:06:12.843+05:30Comic Con India – New Delhi - 2011<p align="justify">
<b>In another few hours</b>, India will have its first-ever Comic Con, a kind <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnTVPw9aiX_Rh1X1akgpr6Giu3I3bRKgn1Lm8IUn7pjr57-O4FFocRpWVF_ZliUZof92YjfWxcnLG3ZOFUYyYRhrvNUM12WKG9GHcKy_CWE8KTn5KgOxaG5HUuDargv7wCHEtTg/s1600/comic-con-dilli-haat.jpg" rel="lightbox" title="Comic Con India Logo"><img align="right" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnTVPw9aiX_Rh1X1akgpr6Giu3I3bRKgn1Lm8IUn7pjr57-O4FFocRpWVF_ZliUZof92YjfWxcnLG3ZOFUYyYRhrvNUM12WKG9GHcKy_CWE8KTn5KgOxaG5HUuDargv7wCHEtTg/s400/comic-con-dilli-haat.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="240" /></a>of which have been in existence in Americas, Europas, and Japan, for near 4 decades, but only has been in talk in India up recently. It’s truly a chance for India, to stake its claim in the international arena, with its range of offerings, which aren’t dictated by the Westerners or the Easterners. </p>
<p align="justify">
We here at <b>Comicology</b>, give you a heads-up on with few <i>know-hows</i>, and about what you could expect from the 2-day event extravaganza, set to showdown at the capital city of New Delhi. </p>
<p align="justify">
<b><i>Convention for Comics, what about Book Fairs then?</i></b></p>
<p align="justify">
Books and its related Conventions have happened over the years, since the time it has come into existence. While a general Book Convention brings readers of all genre’s, it doesn’t focus on one particular way of story telling, or that matter an original take. Comics are the one’s which takes the story telling, and keeps it close to the ways in which it was originally been in use from Stone Age, the Graphical way.</p>
<p align="justify">
Comic Cons <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(aka Conventions)</span>, are the result of that love towards Comics or Graphic Novels. You get to focus on one, you cherish reading the most, and meet fellow like minded people, whom you always wanted to gang up with.</p>
<p align="justify">
<b><i>How many Comic Cons are happening around the World?</i></b></p>
<p align="justify">
Well, it seems almost every major city in the West, and the Japan, Korean hemispheres hosting an Comic Con event of its own. But the most famous ones, and the one which every Comic fan cherishes to attend in our life time, can be brought down to </p>
<ul>
<li> <p align="justify">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Comic-Con_International" target="_blank">San Diego Comic-Con International</a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small;">It’s the 4th largest Comic Con in the world, but the one which usually pulls all the media and happening crowd among its strength, especially considering that it’s from the American heartland.</span></p>
</li>
<li> <p align="justify">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comiket" target="_blank">Japan’s Comikets</a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small;">It’s the largest Comic Con in the world, and the only one which is exclusively organized for the Self Publishing creators working on Manga genre.</span></p>
</li>
<li> <p align="justify">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoul%C3%AAme_International_Comics_Festival" target="_blank">Angoulême International Comics Festival</a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small;">It’s the 2nd largest Comic Con in the world, which heralds the world of Comics, away from the impact of American or Manga, promoting the Franco-Belgian goldies.</span></p>
</li>
<li> <p align="justify">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca_Comics_and_Games" target="_blank">Lucca Comics and Games</a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Even though considered the oldest (started in 1966), and the second largest, it has never been able to break out of its traditional and geographical mould. But it has its own takers.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="justify">
<i><b><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YVbZIpsI/AAAAAAAAG1s/foqi5pev9gg/s1600-h/New%20Comic%20Con%20Header%5B9%5D.png" title="New Comic Con Header" rel="lightbox"><img alt="New Comic Con Header" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YeTggdKI/AAAAAAAAG1w/SNj4vCiQJTk/New%20Comic%20Con%20Header_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px;" width="719" height="124"/></a> </b></i></p>
<span id="fullpost">
<p align="justify">
<i><b>Is India ready to host it’s own Comic Con Yet?</b></i></p>
<p align="justify">
I would say it’s long due, even though I must also admit that we haven’t grown to a stage where we have number of players in the business, to have a Comic Con of our own. But, the last couple of years, we have seen a lot of enthusiasm among Comics fans, and it’s ably supported by a new wave of creators working on Comics, who have all geared to make them count in the international arena. </p>
<p align="justify">
Indian Comic Con, is certainly a one which is much needed to nurture and channel this talent, and make it be heard in a common forum, published internationally.</p>
<p align="justify">
<b><i>Who are the Organizers, and how it evolved?</i></b></p>
<p align="justify">
One of the first talks about Comic Con in India, I heard was from a Comic fan based out in Mumbai, who <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YjAgHY4I/AAAAAAAAG10/vGyiPxcpmv8/s1600-h/Jatin%20Verma%20-%20Twenty%20Onwards%20Media%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Jatin Verma - Twenty Onwards Media" border="0" height="169" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9Ylp-EdCI/AAAAAAAAG14/D0lUERtspE4/Jatin%20Verma%20-%20Twenty%20Onwards%20Media_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" title="Jatin Verma - Twenty Onwards Media" width="122" /></a>wanted to have it set for the same 2011, in his city. But an idea, like that needs not only the <i>passion</i>, but also the able to put their hard earned money in the picture, and more importantly support of a business house which thrives on the media, which matters most for such events and bring the involved companies all under one roof. </p>
<p align="justify">
That was made possible by <a href="http://www.twentyonwardsmedia.com/" target="_blank">Twenty Onwards Media</a>, based out in New Delhi, and it was it’s chief, <b>Jatin Varma</b>, who can now proudly be called as the Founder of the initiative. Much kudos should go to him and his team, to bring this event into fruition.</p>
<p align="justify">
<b><i>Why is it in Delhi, and not any other City?</i></b></p>
<p align="justify">
It’s an obvious choice, since the organizers, are based out in the City. Being the national capital, one can’t question its choice of selection either. </p>
<p align="justify">
But, what would I like to see is the Comic Con India, being hosted across each metro cities of India, every year. That will help it reach much wider audience. It’s the first one, so let it happen, before we ponder over city loyalty and affections :)</p>
<p align="justify">
<b>Who all are participating?</b></p>
<p align="justify">
You normally expect only Comic Companies or Graphic Novel affiliates, to find in a Comic Con. But, Comics or GNs have become more an enabler for a number of other businesses, like Merchandising through Toys, Movie Features, and more. And considering, that India doesn’t have a number of players in the field yet, to fill an event with only those companies, the organisers have ensured to rope-in companies who can be linked up to Comics in some ways, like Toys and Merchandising shops, Print Media, etc.</p>
<p align="justify">
<a href="http://www.campfire.co.in/" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Campfire" border="0" height="154" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YosWaLrI/AAAAAAAAG18/qWIVA4kSkW8/Campfire%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Campfire" width="143" /></a><a href="http://www.vimanika.com/" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Vimanika Logo" border="0" height="154" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YqiUx3iI/AAAAAAAAG2A/ndAHJjWbmoA/Vimanika%20Logo%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Vimanika Logo" width="171" /></a><a href="http://www.level10comics.com/" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Level 10" border="0" height="154" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YrqaldNI/AAAAAAAAG2E/M2Eu2gEwcPk/Level%2010%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Level 10" width="147" /></a>That said, there are still a handful of Comic Companies, who are going to make their presence, and these are three, whom I am looking forward to. </p>
<p align="justify">
Some of them are going to have their new launch up of titles, while the others would bring their collections, to be bought and signed over from the creators themselves.</p>
<p align="justify">
Apart from them, the long awaited independent projects like <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YuBMF8iI/AAAAAAAAG2I/UEHrFTl_Qyk/s1600-h/Chitrakatha%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Chitrakatha" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9Yvf5ak8I/AAAAAAAAG2M/3DIVZSg7Cls/Chitrakatha_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Chitrakatha" width="226" /></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ravanayan" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Ravanayan" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9YwW8uSlI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/a3XhjTb3fP4/Ravanayan%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" title="Ravanayan" width="226" /></a>Chitrakatha, and Ravanayan, would also be present The chance to sync up with the folks, also offers a chance to barge them with questions on their target date, one you can’t let go, for sure.</p>
<p align="justify">
<b>What could I expect in the Event?</b></p>
<p align="justify">
Everything, what you could normally expect on a Comic fans and creators, get-together. But, most importantly, it’s going to be a chance to interact with niche people, who share your passion towards Comics.</p>
<p align="justify">
Let’s ask this to ourselves. How many times we wanted to explore and share our readings or new finds on Comics, with anyone other than your usual circle? Why is it so, because we expect to hear and share another person’s perspective, over the ones you loved reading, and discover new items for our reading in the process. And What’s more interesting then syncing up with the people, who have worked on them.</p>
<p align="justify">
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9ZXMqYZgI/AAAAAAAAG2U/I0PO2QsQSN8/s1600-h/Comic%20Con%20Gathering%5B11%5D.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Comic Con Gathering" border="0" height="179" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9Zkud-SBI/AAAAAAAAG2c/0VyRXDXbc6Y/Comic%20Con%20Gathering_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="Comic Con Gathering" width="713" /></a> </p>
<p align="justify">
The introduction of World of Internet in mid 90’s, could have paved the way for more such interactions happening over the net, and the ages of Web forums, have now only been pushed to a back alley, by the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9ZvBH6LKI/AAAAAAAAG2g/K-f_NBkTL58/s1600-h/Costume%20Contest%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Costume Contest" border="0" height="232" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9ZxMIttjI/AAAAAAAAG2k/fuDdc6CIhK0/Costume%20Contest_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Costume Contest" width="237" /></a>more faster Websites promoting Social Networking <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(like Facebook, Orkut)</span>, where the like minded can interact with a bunch of people, and share and cherish their reads and finds, all the while not having to know personally. </p>
<p align="justify">
But, still there is nothing better than the olden ways, of face to face interaction, and here is a chance to do so.</p>
<p align="justify">
Apart from that, there is a chance to bring the Superhero <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(or may I dare to say, <i>the Kid</i>)</span> in you, as a series of prizes have been announced by the organizers. So don’t be surprised, if you see Supermans and Batmans, and even some of our homegrown superheroes, eavesdropping on you at the event.</p>
<p align="justify">
<b>Is there an Agenda to the Event?</b></p>
<p align="justify">
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9aCmBdcsI/AAAAAAAAG2o/mrPQtawSpU8/s1600-h/Comic%20Con%20India%2019%20Feb%2010%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Comic Con India 19 Feb 10" border="0" height="354" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9aFkmnUxI/AAAAAAAAG2s/BokCv9TIZgg/Comic%20Con%20India%2019%20Feb%2010_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Comic Con India 19 Feb 10" width="254" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9aNcgtZzI/AAAAAAAAG2w/u8kFgUhnkiw/s1600-h/Comic%20Con%20India%2020%20Feb%2010%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Comic Con India 20 Feb 10" border="0" height="354" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TV9aQCNim_I/AAAAAAAAG20/95Ie3RKzTJQ/Comic%20Con%20India%2020%20Feb%2010_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="Comic Con India 20 Feb 10" width="254" /></a>There is a set plan spread over two days, which gives you an option to plan your visits and be engaged with the happenings over time. Here is a Two Pager, sourced from the Organizing team. </p>
<p align="justify">
There is almost a workshop happening, every half an hour, so the hard choice of picking and choosing the ones you like the most, is upon you. </p>
<p align="justify">
I guess it’s, going to be tricky :)</p>
<p align="justify">
<b>So, here we are, to celebrate</b> the most unique passion, among all readers of arts. Let’s be Comical and let our heart out on the event, and get attached to the one we dear the most, Comics. </p>
<p align="justify">
Comicology wishes the Indian Comic Con, all the best, and hope we can have some good moments to take out from the event.</p>
For further readings, here are our fellow Bloggers who have blogged their heart-out about the event, which all deserves a look and a read.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://bkpc.blogspot.com/2011/02/first-annual-comic-con-india-2011.html" title="http://bkpc.blogspot.com/2011/02/first-annual-comic-con-india-2011.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://bkpc.blogspot.com/2011/02/first-annual-comic-con-india-2011.html</span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://justcomix.com/2011/02/following-conventions/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://justcomix.com/2011/02/following-conventions/</span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://adventuration.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-comic-con-how-it-measures-up.html" title="http://adventuration.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-comic-con-how-it-measures-up.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://adventuration.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-comic-con-how-it-measures-up.html</span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.gothamcomics.co.nr/" title="http://www.gothamcomics.co.nr/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.gothamcomics.co.nr/</span></a> </li>
</ul>
</span>Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-13931579051700499242011-02-15T23:59:00.000+05:302012-02-14T19:35:21.675+05:30Chennai Book Fair – 2011 : Part 2 of 2<p align="justify"><b><font size="1"><font color="#0000ff">We continue our coverage of Chennai Book Fair 2011 (CBF 2011). The first part of the same can be found <font size="1"></font></font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2011/02/chennai-book-fair-2011-comics.html"><u><font color="#ff0000" size="1">here</font></u></a><font color="#0000ff"><font color="#ff0000">,</font> detailing ACK’s Tamil launch.</font></font></b></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#000080" size="3"><u><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYDOjHr_I/AAAAAAAAGx0/i4jNQT6f7S4/s1600-h/Vandumama4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Vandumama" border="0" alt="Vandumama" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYDyMJACI/AAAAAAAAGx4/ft9HiedSEt4/Vandumama_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="115" height="128" /></a> Vandumama and Vanathi</u></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong>If NHM was the talk of the Book fair</strong>, among Tamil Comic fans, then <strong>Vanathi Publishers </strong><font size="1">(aka <em><strong>Vanathi Pathipagam</strong></em>, as its called in the native language)</font> had its own share among the Nostalgic crowd, which grew reading the inspired writings by acclaimed children writer, Mr. V.Krishna Murthy, more famously known among the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2x-b8quDY70roIsnln66bOy8gaIXF1ZG15LFGu-Hkoo5ZW7XtjS6CYDJkIXVfG6Gl7QZJLToPIpudoa5oSZZZ_OPOU6SdNrwKUdlzgxkqisPf7YgZgMc7uumGiqxNBemmk12ug/s1600-h/VanathiPathipagam%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Vanathi Pathipagam" border="0" alt="Vanathi Pathipagam" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYF96v0xI/AAAAAAAAG3s/Gz4V1IiHBks/VanathiPathipagam_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="117" /></a>masses under his nickname, <strong>Vandumama</strong>.</p> <p align="justify">Being not so regular reader of Literary world, I am not much akin to the various publishing houses which ships out their range of titles every year. That includes Vanathi Publishers, whom I thought that had a tryst with Comics for sometime in the past, but never knew that they still are actively involved in promoting the old classics of Tamil Comics.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Right after the Chennai Book Fair 2010</strong>, a fellow Comiker alerted that Vanathi Publishers had released a <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYHTVjbWI/AAAAAAAAGyE/ywGW6Vydh-o/s1600-h/Bale%20Balu%20Collection%20by%20Vandumama.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bale Balu Collection by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Bale Balu Collection by Vandumama" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYIRlVB9I/AAAAAAAAGyI/_Uq54YiABJI/Bale%20Balu%20Collection%20by%20Vandumama_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" height="317" /></a> collected edition of <strong>Bale Balu</strong>, which was a popular comic strip cum short story feature, published regularly, in the erstwhile Poonthalir magazine during its golden run, when Vandumama worked as its Editor all-in-all.  </p> <p align="justify">As I didn’t recollect seeing this edition in the fair, I couldn’t believe that news, up until I saw the book in for real. It was a complete nostalgia reminder to see the comic series, back in quality paper, bound perfectly in good packaging, priced at INR 200.</p> <p align="justify">So, after hearing about further facts that Vanathi and Vandumama, go a long way back in history, with their continuous publishing of his collections all through the years, it was only a formality that Vanathi’s stall made it to a must-to-visit list, for this year’s fair.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>But, what I found at </strong>the publishers stall were not just Comics collection of Vandumama, but a host of a series which <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYJsLmnPI/AAAAAAAAGyM/cQkMtKvstI0/s1600-h/VarioustitlesbyVandumama3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Various titles by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Various titles by Vandumama" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYKYS0JvI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/zLs7B-ml9fg/VarioustitlesbyVandumama_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="107" /></a>he had written over a handful of magazines, in his illustrious career. </p> <p align="justify">Here is a glimpse of them, which have all been published by Vanathi, under their different brand names of Thiruvarasu Puthaga Nilayam <font size="1">(திருவரசு புத்தக நிலையம்)</font>, and Gangai Puthaga Nilayam <font size="1">(கங்கை புத்தக நிலையம்)</font>, <font size="1">(where Puthaga Nilayam, means Book House).</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYLt39--I/AAAAAAAAGyU/UOcWFKraEM0/s1600-h/IyanthirangalIyanguvathuEppadibyVand%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iyanthirangal Iyanguvathu Eppadi by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Iyanthirangal Iyanguvathu Eppadi by Vandumama" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYMjU27oI/AAAAAAAAGyY/iGk7Qoz-SjQ/IyanthirangalIyanguvathuEppadibyVand%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYO4Nmm2I/AAAAAAAAGyc/SjOmBFAnaYw/s1600-h/VedikkaiVilayatuVignyanambyVandumama%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Vedikkai Vilayatu Vignyanam by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Vedikkai Vilayatu Vignyanam by Vandumama" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYPsxOARI/AAAAAAAAGyk/KiG6y80iJOo/VedikkaiVilayatuVignyanambyVandumama%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="158" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYRNpE1gI/AAAAAAAAGyo/GrCm14B2hbk/s1600-h/ThethiyumSethiyumbyVandumama5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Thethiyum Sethiyum by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Thethiyum Sethiyum by Vandumama" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYR8BmiGI/AAAAAAAAGys/RXxkEN0iT28/ThethiyumSethiyumbyVandumama_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="158" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYTkHfGrI/AAAAAAAAGyw/yYPQ9S6ezmk/s1600-h/NeengalumManthiravathiyagalambyVandu.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Neengalum Manthiravathiyagalam by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Neengalum Manthiravathiyagalam by Vandumama" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYU31frYI/AAAAAAAAGy0/UYDirEvDCjY/NeengalumManthiravathiyagalambyVandu%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="254" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYWq4EVDI/AAAAAAAAGy4/UKZwVW6H9AI/s1600-h/NilakuthiraibyVandumama13.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Nilakuthirai by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Nilakuthirai by Vandumama" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYXSUS44I/AAAAAAAAGy8/8t-AS64R6kc/NilakuthiraibyVandumama_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYY4oFPGI/AAAAAAAAGzA/yRFPa_PyzW8/s1600-h/UlagaAdisayangalNoorubyVandumama12.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ulaga Adisayangal Nooru by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Ulaga Adisayangal Nooru by Vandumama" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYZlmx6EI/AAAAAAAAGzE/1NdmQAt9xwo/UlagaAdisayangalNoorubyVandumama_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="254" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYbqXrN0I/AAAAAAAAGzI/xuZxU3le9vs/s1600-h/NeengaleSeyyalambyVandumama11.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Neengale Seyyalam by Vandumama" border="0" alt="Neengale Seyyalam by Vandumama" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYcn8Ad4I/AAAAAAAAGzM/5CoyFm34Uak/NeengaleSeyyalambyVandumama_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="254" /></a> </p> <p align="justify"><strong>What I came to know</strong> through the people who were managing the stall, was that it was only one part of the Vandumama titles which have come out of their publishing house, and much more can be collected, with a visit to their publishing house, in T Nagar, Chennai.</p> <p align="justify">I did visit them and was amazed to see the lineup of titles, which I all grabbed in pronto. To restrict the length of this post, and to keep it only to the findings of Chennai Book Fair, we could see those titles in a different post, later.</p> <p align="justify">But, what I must say is that if you have spent your childhood reading Vandumama’s stories, then you might not think twice before owning these collections, much of which are very low priced, considering the year in which it’s released.</p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><strong>One of the other advantages</strong> of visiting these Book Stalls, are a chance you get to explore some unknown titles from much unsought publishers, time and again. This time around there were two publishing houses, which I had never read or heard about from any Comikers <font size="1">(like <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/01/comics-chennai-book-fair-2010.html" target="_blank">Persepolis in Tamil</a> venture discovered during last Book Fair)</font>, during my past altercations. </p> <p align="justify">Should we blame the awareness among Comic readers? or should we blame the publicity or marketing done by these publishing houses? is a Egg and Chicken question. So, let’s put that aside and have a brief look at both of them.</p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3"><u><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYewM9ZqI/AAAAAAAAGzQ/5DGQ8hKYL30/s1600-h/AshokafromMacaw5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ashoka from Macaw" border="0" alt="Ashoka from Macaw" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYgFlicvI/AAAAAAAAGzU/W604Q1aM9Xk/AshokafromMacaw_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="360" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRymEIC3ZWxxGQsF3z65ccAIVMqtb3KiIFFE3FY5IhXWPXM-HiWsjNAJfyFplvoj6m_Y8RPDnMP6PoU347EGZSPBp7JaqSa6hOy3At9i6tPx0aq7wIKmvmJHVtOoDwjBk428j5xw/s1600-h/Other%20Macaw%20Books.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Other Macaw Books" border="0" alt="Other Macaw Books" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYiS_uz8I/AAAAAAAAG34/oyiuH9Zbzqw/Other%20Macaw%20Books_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="202" /></a>Ashoka</strong></u> <font size="1"><strong>(Macaw Books)</strong></font></font></p> <p align="justify">First-up, is from a series of Children comics titles released, by a company called <strong>Macaw Books</strong>, in 2009. As I could gather from the back cover, this issue is part of their <strong>Great Heroes of India</strong> series, which seems to have 10 titles in the fold, priced INR 50 each. </p> <p align="justify"><strong>This very book starts</strong> of with an illustration page straight-up, and doesn’t give credit to either the artist or <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYjtuSYYI/AAAAAAAAGzg/XmCSQf_rEhA/s1600-h/AshokafromMacawInnerArt3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ashoka from Macaw (Inner Art)" border="0" alt="Ashoka from Macaw (Inner Art)" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYksD6F7I/AAAAAAAAGzk/HzdrBa50JBg/AshokafromMacawInnerArt_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="353" /></a>the series writer for the book, in a typical bygone Publishing industry’s mentality.</p> <p align="justify">The artwork reflects that it was purely meant for Children’s literacy, even though it does pose some talented strokes, by whomsoever who worked on them. Maybe he stuck to what was being asked from him, by the publishing house.</p> <p align="justify">I couldn’t source any more details about the publishing house, as their official website, is now no more in operation, as it seems to have given way to Malware and Spybots. The only little information I could source, were from their Profile page on <a href="http://www.indiamart.com/macaw-books/" target="_blank">Indiamart</a>.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Seems the publishers </strong>never took their business seriously enough, and have folded over the time among competition, to bring more quality titles, to the market. Befits them, if that’s true. </p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3"><u><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrdXlOYy2I/AAAAAAAAG4c/Mas3Fhjk-fM/s1600-h/RamayanafromSeasons3.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CC48BCrWQpSuvk0oTfEiPMspHhA5nLOb29g2UwVAXUCFedxxXEH9nb-iiJdOFvMXsypGR_3LE3FTl0FyuvoAj214oKUIVgPLpoEK0O39LwQ2fO7lV2Q4XTryhtsD-gdp0tPXYw/s1600-h/Ramayana%20from%20Seasons.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ramayana from Seasons" border="0" alt="Ramayana from Seasons" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYoktXXfI/AAAAAAAAG4Q/c1a0QI0UhJY/Ramayana%20from%20Seasons_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="350" /></a></a></a><strong> Ramayan</strong></u> <font size="1">(Seasons Publishing)</font></font></p> <p align="justify">Now to the second one from the Book Fair, which I consider as one of the priced collection to have been picked up from the event.</p> <p align="justify">It’s from <a href="http://www.seasonspublishing.com/" target="_blank">Seasons Publishing</a>, based out from Mylapore, Chennai, and known more for their number of Children Activities and Illustrations books.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYqNNo5WI/AAAAAAAAGz0/9fOm7c1SSZg/s1600-h/RamayanafromSeasonsInnerArt4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ramayana from Seasons Inner Art" border="0" alt="Ramayana from Seasons Inner Art" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYrd62o9I/AAAAAAAAGz4/h63C-yY-Rbs/RamayanafromSeasonsInnerArt_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="337" /></a>They seem to have come up with a wonderfully illustrated and colored title, about the Indian mythology, Ramayan, as way back in 2005, priced at INR 135.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Have a look at one </strong>of the richly drawn inner pages, which is as good as an animated feature.  The illustrator of this series, is the wonderfully talented, <strong>Gaman</strong>.</p> <p align="justify">Even thought the artwork and the book quality might deserve the price tag, back in 2005, that could have sounded big bucks, and partly could have resulted in the unsold venture.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYsXfEnVI/AAAAAAAAG0A/AOgul1vfBEU/s1600-h/GamanPalem4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Gaman Palem" border="0" alt="Gaman Palem" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYteVY1gI/AAAAAAAAG0E/gKPBaAq3cCo/GamanPalem_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="250" /></a> Here is the artist <a href="http://in.linkedin.com/in/gaman" target="_blank"><strong>Gaman Palem</strong></a>, in flesh and blood, along with his most famous works. You can read his <a href="http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/10/02/stories/2010100250411100.htm" target="_blank">latest interview</a>, where he talks about his work and Graphic Novels penetration in India. Also check out him in action, in this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZe-Z00a4lc" target="_blank">NDTV feature</a>. </p> <p align="justify"><strong>Surely, this artist deserves </strong>a rich bit of accolade, and I only wish he gets more prominent recognition from the growing Indian Comic scene.</p> <p align="justify">As far as Seasons Publishing, this comics initiative seems to have been their only attempt to explore the medium. Obviously, the results of being darkened by the non-publicity, could have  given them wrong signals from proceeding further. </p> <p align="justify">Hope talented artists like Gaman, and newbies like Seasons Publishing in the Comics medium scene, work out of more titles in this wonderful niche medium, as the Indian comic scene, is far better than what it used to be in 2005, when they first tried their trade.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYuVyK0CI/AAAAAAAAG0I/Iw7g8ex2B1Q/s1600-h/ComicConLogo5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Comic Con Logo" border="0" alt="Comic Con Logo" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj6cqxiJ5aKf3LK1VLCL_kzDHu5me_XYa_ezqkVIg-tWAY962acXder4iyKp0FRiLq9M9a9V9rga-FZgQWUWUkCEFmcNrpfbvUZeR1xof1wrLU3V3zUJ9FEG6jFeTCWdWWwtPdQ/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="274" /></a>There is more awareness, and much wider audiences who are ready embrace this art form, and the traditional way of story telling, which dates as much as the Stone age of humankind. </p> <p align="justify">The amount of interest this Comics medium, enjoys at present can much easily by showcased, by the upcoming first ever <a href="http://www.comicconindia.com/" target="_blank"><strong><font size="3">Indian Comic Con</font></strong></a> event organized by New Delhi based Twenty Onwards Media <font size="1">(much famously known as the publishing house beyond </font><a href="http://www.randommagazine.in/" target="_blank"><font size="1">Random Humour magazine</font></a><font size="1">)</font>, in their city.  </p> <p align="justify">The efforts they have taken to bring this mega concept into reality, which not only involved putting a bigger budget into the mix, but also in the countless hours spent towards bringing a host of publishers, artists and writers, under a single roof.  The participants for the event, now is a rare mix of legends, who have established the industry as it exists in India today, as well as the newbie, who are going to shape the Indian Comic scene, for the foreseeable future.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Indian Comic Con, is a much bigger concept</strong> which deserves an exclusive post of its own, so we will keep it for the coming days. Now to return back to our CBF 2011 event.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>That’s as much as the collection</strong>, I managed to gather on Comics in the Chennai Book Fair. There were larger number of publishers who had showcased their new range of titles, but much of them are the Illustrated editions, aimed for kids and young readers. I only wish a handful of them, do get into the Graphical way of storytelling, either in form of Comics or Graphic Novels. They would make up for quite a good showdown, considering the amount of artist talent which is in house in India, and right here in Chennai too.</p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><strong>And now to reserve a place</strong> for now customary let-out corner of the blog post, and to detail the events which I had mentioned at the start of the post. Leading up to the Chennai Book Fair, some of the regular trouble makers, masquerading in the guise of Tamil Comic fans, had done enough damage to the those who took pains to bring Lion and Muthu Comics, to be made available, in the fair for the last couple of years. A result of which, they had lost the interest and avoided any efforts to bring up a lost cause again, which didn’t stop the rumor mongers going great guns, to conceal and reinterpret facts. </p> <p align="justify">It was a personal disappointment, as I had been hoping to see the just released <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/10/lion-comics-208-xiii-collector-special.html" target="_blank">Lion Jumbo Special</a>, reaching a much bigger audience through this fair. As it turned, it had to be pushed back to ardent readers, helping each other out to get their copy of the edition. Then again, only if Lion or Muthu publishers decide to make their presence felt officially, in a forum, probably along with a partnership, this is a going to be a recurring scene in Chennai Book Fair. Hope the better light, is just around the corner.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>And if that wasn’t enough</strong>, I couldn’t help then making a reference to the <strong>poor infrastructure setup</strong>, which <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYwNZNtgI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/Z6XsQWYDQvY/s1600-h/FindParkingCartoon%5B3%5D.gif" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="FindParkingCartoon" border="0" alt="FindParkingCartoon" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYwknWPwI/AAAAAAAAG0U/9nWHQIApcd8/FindParkingCartoon_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="154" height="118" /></a>the visitors, are being subjected in Chennai Book Fair, every year. The problems <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYxcTMosI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/SUkhAbKsXCQ/s1600-h/toilet%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="toilet" border="0" alt="toilet" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYyMaReTI/AAAAAAAAG0c/y8qDNHa6nU8/toilet_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="118" /></a>which range from Irregular Parking, Improper Ventilation, Unorganized Stall setup, Inconvenience for Debit/Credit Card customers, to a poor arrangement for much important nature calls, points to the fact, with a slap in a face, that you aren’t expected to be here longer, or that matter be here itself.</p> <p align="justify">All those publishers who claim poor sales, should first push through the right sources, to setup basic amenities for the visiting book-fetish. As everyone knows, a Happy Body reacts with a Happy Mind, which is good for the book sales.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Year on Year, visits to Book Fair </strong>are being made with the expectation of seeing some improvements, but the resolve to keep visiting only takes a beating, every time you take the effort. No wonder, more than the book stalls, you find the crowd gathered around the temporary food stalls setup on the ground.  They seem to be the only people, happy with the mess. Hope the upcoming Comic Con India, would be better organized, away from the mess happening every year, at Chennai.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjyr6j6Zud7fQBUQxkCFIi47TfoP4YcZKjQfeyr0CIuTc1oquUg6Vcl78Xiu_N5aTySduuN4GYAGep2JrFEkr0vxrYYLeQ2cAtmEeI6qXm4R_omS9SzboYMqhTFBDQf3NDXJinw/s1600-h/Che%20Graphic%20Novel%20by%20Payani%20Books%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Che Graphic Novel by Payani Books" border="0" alt="Che Graphic Novel by Payani Books" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrY0S865ZI/AAAAAAAAG0k/TQaf99pcLS8/Che%20Graphic%20Novel%20by%20Payani%20Books_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="296" /></strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrY1vPpXaI/AAAAAAAAG0o/k4xdNHfZgYk/s1600-h/A%20Peoples%20History%20of%20America%20-%20Graphic%20Novel%20by%20Payani%20Books%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 4px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="A Peoples History of America - Graphic Novel by Payani Books" border="0" alt="A Peoples History of America - Graphic Novel by Payani Books" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrY2fFYCBI/AAAAAAAAG0s/bzGAfiMcRkA/A%20Peoples%20History%20of%20America%20-%20Graphic%20Novel%20by%20Payani%20Books_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="296" /></strong></a><strong> Before I close, two important titles</strong> I missed from mentioning, and with a purpose, are the newly launched two full fledged Graphic Novels in Tamil, by a newcomer called <strong>Payani Books</strong>. </p> <p align="justify">As I got to know of them only after the Chennai Book Fair, through another Comiker, and for the sheer amount of quality and work, which has gone down in getting these two titles in such good quality, in a little time - means they need a special post for their efforts. So, that’s reserved for another day.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>As this is the first set of post for the year 2011</strong>, wish you all a Happy New Year and hope you had enjoyed your <strong>Feb 14</strong>, with your loved and dear ones. It’s a fresh new year, and fresh start in the blogging effort for Comicology. Let’s hope we have more chance to interact, and cherish our niche reading pleasure for months to come.  <strong><em>Adios Amigos !!</em></strong></p> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-63479591012214086012011-02-14T23:00:00.000+05:302012-02-14T19:28:26.832+05:30Chennai Book Fair – 2011 : Part 1 of 2<p align="justify"><strong>Season’s rainfall might</strong> have played hide and seek, in this Southern city of India, for the New Year, but one common thing which has gelled with the book-fetish of Chennai, for the past 34 years, was starting <img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWOta8DV1siwqNriRVZw7reCWhOYXpx54pWRDCedSagb6borgSbqX7eHWkr2Escz_v1WBAFEBKB8PsOmkEo6qP-QKqA1BnzAFqR99KkMO8vHoGsr-5y9kbgkmjqxsjkDVyIgLhw/s1600/34thbookfair.png" width="200" height="287" />the year with a place to cherish their reading passion, which is slowly taking a beating in this Instant world of World Wide Web, and Social Networking.</p> <p align="justify">January 2011, saw <a href="http://www.bapasi.com/">BAPASI</a> hosting its <strong>34th Chennai Book Fair</strong>, to kick off the new year, and we hoped to cover the event just like <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/01/comics-chennai-book-fair-2010.html">33rd Chennai Book Fair</a>, where we covered the news and events as it happened from the ground.</p> <p align="justify">But the reality and the disappointment surrounding the organizing of Book Fair, sunk in our resolve, and let the efforts of covering the event go down in vain. But, as I met and interacted with the fellow comikers, I realized that they were keen for our blog to continue reporting on our finds from the event, keeping aside the personal likes and dislikes <font size="1">(which I will reserve for the end of the post).</font> </p> <p align="justify">As they say often, no matter what, The Show Must Go On !!! So better late than never, here is our long pending Chennai Book Fair coverage. </p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#000080" size="3"><u><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TWASgN3ghHI/AAAAAAAAG24/2yRGkBaK1iI/s1600-h/ACK4%5B1%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK" border="0" alt="ACK" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXTDvlHtI/AAAAAAAAG28/L9OJsR7wurI/ACK4_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="96" height="94" /></a>Amar Chitra Katha</u> <font size="2">(in Tamil)</font></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Tamil Comics fans</strong> who were disappointed to find their favorite Tamil Comics missing from the Book fair this time, were surprised to see what was in store at the usually crowded, <strong>New Horizon Media (NHM)</strong>. </p> <p align="justify"><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXTqQi_sI/AAAAAAAAGuc/P8zx3rd-yYA/s1600-h/NHM11.gif"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="NHM" border="0" alt="NHM" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXUIpXTdI/AAAAAAAAGug/ufvTfcgK_qY/NHM_thumb4.gif?imgmax=800" width="58" height="59" /></a>NHM has been a revelation </strong>ever since they entered Tamil Publishing industry in 2004, changing the face of the industry completely. They have tried their trade among the old timers, and were able to encroach much of their forte, at the same time surprising with newer launches every now and then. Like any success story, there are debates over the criticality of their vision, and publishing schedule or choices, but no comics fans would hesitate to see them try out the niche field of Tamil Comics, which long is starving off from a professional approach to the publishing.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXVa7HrcI/AAAAAAAAG3E/fRtSCvuxyEE/s1600-h/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28Tamil%29%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Prodigy Comix Kalam (Tamil)[4]" border="0" alt="Prodigy Comix Kalam (Tamil)[4]" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXV7TY23I/AAAAAAAAG3I/0TcQ3lAtkOo/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28Tamil%29%5B4%5D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="112" height="147" /></a> After trying with a Short graphical bio of Abdul Kalam, under their Prodigy brand <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/01/comics-chennai-book-fair-2010.html">last year</a>, they have now ventured onto a comic brand, which has a traditional foothold dating back to 1967, in the Indian Comics industry, the classic <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Amar%20Chitra%20Katha" target="_blank">Amar Chitra Katha</a><strong></strong> (ACK).</p> <p align="justify">ACK and its tryst with Tamil audience is not new, as there were a couple of publishers, who had tried their hands on them in the past. Most notably Paico Publishers, who had rebranded the Tamil versions as<strong> Poonthalir Amar Chitra Kathai</strong> (PACK), and later <strong>Dina Malar</strong>, a Tamil daily <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXXHGcaPI/AAAAAAAAG3U/nGSR_9xBVB8/s1600-h/ACKTenaliRaman%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tenali Raman" border="0" alt="ACK Tenali Raman" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQv_vDaZ2pClZ85iWYsLiuK2Quc6N1IKI8EAp60XZcnGz-mZC4EUqtXzMMexiQTBa2-Zc_JlUDnzjShMgvbeSqXPIvXEKFEJhSvEpIY5b6oc_qTPudn8JI-uFQXBDY1To-hUc0A/?imgmax=800" width="235" height="313" /></a>newspaper, which continuously serialized these classics through their weekly supplement, <strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Siruvar%20Malar" target="_blank">Siruvar Malar</a></strong>.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>But, the translations</strong> of those times were of old school, going with the trend of those yesteryears.  While  this time around they have been exclusively translated again by NHM, and are also distributed through primarily through their channels, all through India. </p> <p align="justify">I had bought a couple of titles, from the set of 24 titles, which they have published all through last year, and was impressed with the translation effort which has gone through them, rekindling the rare quality seen in the older times.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>The selection of 24 titles</strong>, range from Mythology, to Historical Legends, and to Folktales, and they promise a whole bunch of reading experience. There may be few apprehensions over whether ACK can bring back the readership, which has now moved over to much bigger graphic story telling format, but for those who would like their kids to get started through Indian Mythology or History, through the wonderful medium of Comics, this could be a great head start.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXY4D6CII/AAAAAAAAGu0/jUgI6ynuEfE/s1600-h/ACKTamilKrishnan8184823363.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Krishnan [81-8482-336-3]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Krishnan [81-8482-336-3]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9AsTfMqlqaQW2g1kkyIO7xQKjtRcLK4A8SfvBOD9NWyem4TQba9Jf75scadBAsMPnr8NKinNYbSgm53kASbkczNpEoySKXg1Q2bYKNMpzYN4GawtWeZ_x5win_SvpXweK5VS7g/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXaTlnHtI/AAAAAAAAGu8/MRRW9fu6i80/s1600-h/ACKTamilGanesan9788184823721.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Ganesan [978-81-8482-372-1]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Ganesan [978-81-8482-372-1]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXbVY1InI/AAAAAAAAGvA/JZYiQUikh34/ACKTamilGanesan9788184823721_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXcNiMDcI/AAAAAAAAGvE/d-HDq0TMEwY/s1600-h/ACKTamilRaman8184823355.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Raman [81-8482-335-5]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Raman [81-8482-335-5]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXc4vl6kI/AAAAAAAAGvI/mwgoJqsW0xM/ACKTamilRaman8184823355_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXd65obKI/AAAAAAAAGvM/W8jbtkPJJYw/s1600-h/ACKTamilHanuman818482338X.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 4px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Hanuman [81-8482-338-X]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Hanuman [81-8482-338-X]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXeQYB8LI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/xeL2I-sATiA/ACKTamilHanuman818482338X_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXfZ_VcUI/AAAAAAAAGvU/VsCEdvp5o0E/s1600-h/ACKTamilGaruda9788184825169%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Garuda [978-81-8482-516-9]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Garuda [978-81-8482-516-9]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXfzvAj5I/AAAAAAAAGvY/5Ht4qBJU_MU/ACKTamilGaruda9788184825169_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXgoisvcI/AAAAAAAAGvc/hgY7RMxmQHU/s1600-h/ACKTamilBeemanandHanuman978818482416.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Beeman and Hanuman [978-81-8482-416-2]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Beeman and Hanuman [978-81-8482-416-2]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXhF60JRI/AAAAAAAAGvg/9GE-PknaQ7c/ACKTamilBeemanandHanuman978818482416%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXiHgADNI/AAAAAAAAGvk/s0fMqvqToFg/s1600-h/ACKTamilAbimanyu9788184823714.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Abimanyu [978-81-8482-371-4]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Abimanyu [978-81-8482-371-4]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXjKoG1dI/AAAAAAAAGvo/3MgJZRV_61w/ACKTamilAbimanyu9788184823714_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXkdvNYWI/AAAAAAAAGvs/QqCZDnn9ywQ/s1600-h/ACKTamilKarnan97881848241791.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 4px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Karnan [978-81-8482-417-9]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Karnan [978-81-8482-417-9]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXlZGR1yI/AAAAAAAAGvw/XusuR-hAS_g/ACKTamilKarnan9788184824179_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXl1q_a-I/AAAAAAAAGv0/zLdNiWumcsY/s1600-h/ACKTamilKrishanaandNaragasuran818482%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Krishana and Naragasuran [81-8482-139-5]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Krishana and Naragasuran [81-8482-139-5]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXmp09CfI/AAAAAAAAGv4/TqGCZjm9Ld8/ACKTamilKrishanaandNaragasuran818482.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXnhPYOzI/AAAAAAAAGv8/u4vvjZuKwRY/s1600-h/ACKTamilKrishnanandJarasandan9788184%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Krishnan and Jarasandan [978-81-8482-514-5]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Krishnan and Jarasandan [978-81-8482-514-5]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXotaRryI/AAAAAAAAGwA/XRe_L19kO6s/ACKTamilKrishnanandJarasandan9788184.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXpGH0hqI/AAAAAAAAGwE/YVIWBCDwcsI/s1600-h/ACKTamilKumbakarna9788184823738%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Kumbakarna [978-81-8482-373-8]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Kumbakarna [978-81-8482-373-8]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXpyQg1uI/AAAAAAAAGwI/VRxOTljkTxo/ACKTamilKumbakarna9788184823738_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXq0RBlZI/AAAAAAAAGwM/3QiyhMtt1DU/s1600-h/ACKTamilParkadal9788184825442.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Parkadal [978-81-8482-544-2]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Parkadal [978-81-8482-544-2]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXr9mfYjI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/XOAItbn-0Go/ACKTamilParkadal9788184825442_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong><a href="http://bseshadri.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Badri</a> from NHM</strong>, confirms that they will continue to publish more titles of ACK in Tamil, in the new year 2011, and I for one, only wish that they make them available at a more affordable price range.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>One among the possible slow moving factors</strong>, as I heard from fellow friends and Comikers, were the price tag of around INR 35, to buy a single comic. I doubt, what leeway NHM could have had in pricing their titles, as ACK’s original English versions get sold for the same asking rate. But considering that NHM can sell through their <a href="https://www.nhm.in/shop/ACK.html" target="_blank">official site</a>, a handsome discount will not only help it reach maximum fans, but also would push them to collect the entire series.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kHvp3EugM2zIEuHI7WhsYCGyZ6sBUxwx1glIfRkOS7h4iaZrrjDJnsokwuWjCQ8XRIktb_yCKXL3fNj_yvYUQ04_jWq-ei-acfMqA8MVjyLrK48-kGG8bxgCylaW1uEvdcc-YQ/s1600-h/ACKTamilStoriesofArjuna9788184825152%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Stories of Arjuna [978-81-8482-515-2]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Stories of Arjuna [978-81-8482-515-2]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXuLPTvzI/AAAAAAAAGwY/GOgsY-6OVfc/ACKTamilStoriesofArjuna9788184825152%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXugSB5qI/AAAAAAAAGwc/x9xy0o_8Jxs/s1600-h/ACKTamilStoriesofVishnu9788184823912%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Stories of Vishnu [978-81-8482-391-2]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Stories of Vishnu [978-81-8482-391-2]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXvVLcT7I/AAAAAAAAGwg/S54khGJrTBM/ACKTamilStoriesofVishnu9788184823912%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXw7gh8sI/AAAAAAAAGwk/1awqT3prCrE/s1600-h/ACKTamilHarshar9788184825176%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Harshar [978-81-8482-517-6]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Harshar [978-81-8482-517-6]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXx8a7ZeI/AAAAAAAAGwo/WxTIIBmE4Fo/ACKTamilHarshar9788184825176_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXyrwFeMI/AAAAAAAAGws/tm9WE35vtGI/s1600-h/ACKTamilAsokar9788184824186.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Asokar [978-81-8482-418-6]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Asokar [978-81-8482-418-6]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrXzpdgj1I/AAAAAAAAGww/GrTcUswy2_4/ACKTamilAsokar9788184824186_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX0zKDtYI/AAAAAAAAGw0/q8XCmFgoILM/s1600-h/ACKTamilChandraguptaMauryar978818482%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Chandragupta Mauryar [978-81-8482-540-4]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Chandragupta Mauryar [978-81-8482-540-4]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX1YzZg5I/AAAAAAAAGw4/EqojCAQ-ngI/ACKTamilChandraguptaMauryar978818482%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX2A9yOfI/AAAAAAAAGw8/KSXbY-PepEM/s1600-h/ACKTamilSivaji9788184823981.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Sivaji [978-81-8482-398-1]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Sivaji [978-81-8482-398-1]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX25ly6SI/AAAAAAAAGxA/pfjaWAWNU_4/ACKTamilSivaji9788184823981_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX4F5Q2JI/AAAAAAAAGxE/YWR-bMF9NyU/s1600-h/ACKTamilPurushotamanandAlexander9788%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Purushotaman and Alexander [978-81-8482-542-8]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Purushotaman and Alexander [978-81-8482-542-8]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX4rn34PI/AAAAAAAAGxI/EN3_jtzFqyk/ACKTamilPurushotamanandAlexander9788%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX5jhPyLI/AAAAAAAAGxM/6vBONBfWEuw/s1600-h/ACKTamilAkbar97881848241931.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Akbar [978-81-8482-419-3]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Akbar [978-81-8482-419-3]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX6WyKVuI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/wqWJ2ZeumoY/ACKTamilAkbar9788184824193_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX7qnUm3I/AAAAAAAAGxU/MkmsZy8bXSg/s1600-h/ACKTamilKrishnaDevarayar978818482541.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Krishna Devarayar [978-81-8482-541-1]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Krishna Devarayar [978-81-8482-541-1]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX8WiHv_I/AAAAAAAAGxY/j0ji9gCFeY4/ACKTamilKrishnaDevarayar978818482541%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX8ywNDrI/AAAAAAAAGxc/zTBegibNsLA/s1600-h/ACKTamilTenaliRaman97881848237451.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Tenali Raman [978-81-8482-374-5]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Tenali Raman [978-81-8482-374-5]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX9k8mPLI/AAAAAAAAGxg/REIjskxnkKM/ACKTamilTenaliRaman9788184823745_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX_PfvJwI/AAAAAAAAGxk/mMqcvq82hKU/s1600-h/ACKTamilDearFriends9788184823905%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Dear Friends [978-81-8482-390-5]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Dear Friends [978-81-8482-390-5]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrX_64AiEI/AAAAAAAAGxo/vG7gYUcAz8s/ACKTamilDearFriends9788184823905_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYA74sCkI/AAAAAAAAGxs/fWtvtfg6vDg/s1600-h/ACKTamilKullanari9788184823929.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="ACK Tamil - Kullanari [978-81-8482-392-9]" border="0" alt="ACK Tamil - Kullanari [978-81-8482-392-9]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TVrYBiuX7wI/AAAAAAAAGxw/lbjnfAoLQPI/ACKTamilKullanari9788184823929_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="210" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Some of the titles</strong>, in the lineup have been published as far back as March 2010, which makes us question the publishing schedule. There is no official confirmation, on why these titles were held back from distribution for so long, as only after the Chennai Book Fair, we start to see them more regularly on the book stores. </p> <p align="justify">But, now that it has happened, I can see that they are stacked prominently, to catch the shoppers eyesight.  Hope more readers would benefit to read their favorite ACK titles, again in a new avatar. After the Book Fair, I managed to get the complete ACK Tamil lot published so far by NHM, about which I would reserve a post in the coming days.</p> <p align="right"><strong><font color="#0000ff" size="1">Continue reading our </font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2011/02/chennai-book-fair-2011-part-2-of-2.html"><u><font color="#ff0000" size="1">concluding Part</font></u></a><font color="#0000ff" size="1"> of CBF 2011 coverage, where we Discover Vandumama and More…</font></strong></p> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-65724129857260018132010-12-24T16:15:00.000+05:302011-01-08T16:04:07.375+05:30Cinebook – Backlist Titles | 2010 | Part I<p align="justify"><strong>We are almost at the end of the year</strong> 2010, and still there are a lot to catch up at <em>Comicology</em>. I am trying to shake those cobwebs, as the new year dawns, and expect to go at them one by one through the eve. First up on the list is our old favourite, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/CineBook" target="_blank"><strong>Cinebook</strong></a><strong> – The 9th Art Publishers</strong> - the publishing house from the other side of the sea, but the one which still does business in India, as if it belongs here.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR3wtY-pDI/AAAAAAAAGhs/-4IdU8PX-FA/s1600-h/Cinebook%27s%20Offer%20at%20Comic%20Cons%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Cinebook's Offer at Comic Cons" border="0" alt="Cinebook's Offer at Comic Cons" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR3xQNYW5I/AAAAAAAAGhw/DR14ry-qtlI/Cinebook%27s%20Offer%20at%20Comic%20Cons_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="169" height="238" /></a></a></a>We had covered Cinebook’s last two Indian batch releases in <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/06/cinebook-2008.html" target="_blank"><strong>2008</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank"><strong>2009</strong></a>. But this time around, we are going to look at it in a different way, talking briefly about each of the series making the line-up. This would also help to better introduce new and old titles, as an exclusive review on them is going to take some time coming <font size="1">(considering the pace at which our blog moves these days :)).</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong>The biggest change in this set</strong> from the earlier ones is that, starting from 2010, there are no more double-issues, or 2-in-1 editions, in Cinebook’s line-up. Meaning, they are published as single albums, as they were originally released in <em>Bande-Dessine</em>. Cinebook cites the reason to them, as the way to bring down the higher price attached to double volumes, which generally reflects on the sales, as they are generally, slow to move off-the-shelf.</p> <p align="justify">From my side, even though they were value for money editions, I still missed <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQd-xVPRNqsD2AQeXJWgDMIKJAejisSEHqGfeRDv3BaP8gyeRF0O3P-og0MyILk6jyOJ56WGqtXnS-K8mFivR9C3ik_Q8eHNvgooU6CMenCs1gUz08RdxpVoJevoTiHpcHACLLQ/s800/Olivier%20Cadic.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 10px; display: inline" title="Cinebook's Olivier Cadic with his Offerings" border="0" alt="Cinebook's Olivier Cadic with his Offerings" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQd-xVPRNqsD2AQeXJWgDMIKJAejisSEHqGfeRDv3BaP8gyeRF0O3P-og0MyILk6jyOJ56WGqtXnS-K8mFivR9C3ik_Q8eHNvgooU6CMenCs1gUz08RdxpVoJevoTiHpcHACLLQ/s400/Olivier+Cadic.JPG" width="185" height="218" /></a>the individual covers in their  laminated glory. Moreover, double volumes are more prone to damages at the crimp, due to how they weigh. So overall, I am much satisfied to see them in single volume editions.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>There are a total 32 albums</strong> which have made their way into India, as part of the batch, and they were available from the mid of this year. We will look at them as per the alphabetical order, as it’s difficult to classify the priorities to the list. The reason, I hardly find them inferior to each other, as they always stand good on their own ways. A credit to the wealth available at <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Franco-Belgian%20Genre" target="_blank">Franco-Belgian Genre</a>, which Cinebook is gung-ho to introduce to the English speaking nations.</p> <p align="justify">Due to the size of this batch release, we will preview them over two posts, with the 1st part here, and the follow-up sooner at Comicology.</p> <span id="fullpost"> <hr /> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TSg9b6kXBoI/AAAAAAAAGr0/_6ZGw1o5zZA/s1600-h/Betelguese2TheCaves4.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TSg9b6kXBoI/AAAAAAAAGr4/-n1Sjpjya-A/s1600-h/Betelguese2TheCaves5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Betelguese 2 - The Caves" border="0" alt="Betelguese 2 - The Caves" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR315U4pPI/AAAAAAAAGh8/fe3VpJ8fQWA/Betelguese2TheCaves_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="204" /></a></a></a><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Betelguese <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Science-Fiction</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">01.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: The Caves</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">45 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">B5 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="1">02.</font></td> <td><font size="1">#<strong>3: The Other</strong></font></td> <td><font size="1">45 pp</font></td> <td><font size="1">B5 size</font></td> <td><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />A journey which started in the distant planet Aldebran, <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR33WC3X8I/AAAAAAAAGsA/BXP0gbZQU4M/s1600-h/Betelguese3TheOther4.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PpXwVcIr_eW-Gc1_luUEM8b7C9tBlTz0jDKjH8vBpFWj5qU4vl2iNFZrT41tA9Aqu-hskE1Y60JfSlUIiUfwaeNNK05uvZFF2cTWIUJiCSjvXPOIj3IIUKu5VTUqzjFBSbGb9Q/s1600-h/Betelguese3TheOther5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Betelguese 3 - The Other" border="0" alt="Betelguese 3 - The Other" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR35XTE2cI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/P04ZGPVM6oM/Betelguese3TheOther_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="204" /></a></a></a>nears a conclusion in another remote planet <strong>Betelguese</strong>, as the 10 part saga comes to a close. Aldebran/Betelguese is a masterpiece of Artist/Write Leo, who showcases the wonderfully imagined life on an outer world, and showcases the disaster of how a menacing human kind can bring, much like the one befallen in our homeland. If you had liked <strong><em>Avatar</em></strong>, the recent movie block buster, you would love this venture for sure.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">To go with the 2010 model, these two titles are released as single albums, breaking up from its earliest releases, which were 2-in-1 volumes, and covered 8 previous albums into 4 issues. Refer <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank">Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles</a>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bellybuttons 2" border="0" alt="Bellybuttons 2" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR36WqZE0I/AAAAAAAAGiU/pIZZWyXX0bs/Bellybuttons25.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Bellybutton <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Humour</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">03.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: It's Ugly Out There</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />As the name suggests, Bellybuttons retells the up and happening story of 3 college cuties, Jenny, Vicky, and Karine, while the last one certainly doesn’t fit the description. Karine is indeed a simple, <em>not-so-good</em> looking types, you find in every group, which brings her all the trouble from the dominating peers in the quartet. It’s a humour laced tale, drawn and told in a cartoonish style, sticking to its genre.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Issue 1 of this series was released in India, in 2009, which is now followed up by the second title. Refer <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank">Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles</a>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR39UW1zkI/AAAAAAAAGiY/pmSEeSn1k1g/s1600-h/BlakeandMortimer7TheAffairoftheNeckl%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Blake and Mortimer 7 - The Affair of the Necklace" border="0" alt="Blake and Mortimer 7 - The Affair of the Necklace" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR3-xCOjtI/AAAAAAAAGic/s-etsjXfRlw/BlakeandMortimer7TheAffairoftheNeckl.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Blake & Mortimer <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Detective/Thriller/Classic</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">04.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>7: The Affair of the Necklace</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">72 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 250</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />Cinebook’s treasure hunt into <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Edgar%20Jacobs" target="_blank">Edgar P. Jacobs</a>’ <strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Blake%20and%20Mortimer" target="_blank">Blake and Mortimer</a></strong> classics, brings us another tale of their adventures, as the seek to find the mystery surrounding a Necklace, which trace its origin to the last French Queen. To make matters worse, they come face to face with the old arch enemy, Olrik. How they bring his current misdeeds to closure, is told in classic pages filled with Jacob’s own style of storytelling, which has its parallel to the much famous Tintin series.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">A total of 6 volumes, have been released in India, in the last couple of years. To read more about the Blake & Mortimer series, refer to our preview post on <strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/11/cinebook-blake-mortimer-2008.html" target="_blank">Blake & Mortimer #1 to 3</a></strong></font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4BEh_eDI/AAAAAAAAGig/wBogit8_eew/s1600-h/Bluecoats3TheSkyriders5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bluecoats 3 - The Skyriders" border="0" alt="Bluecoats 3 - The Skyriders" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4CMLug8I/AAAAAAAAGio/nSJWcGHZLYU/Bluecoats3TheSkyriders_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="154" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Bluecoats <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Humour/Action</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">05.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>3: The Skyriders</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />The adventures and misadventures of Sergeant Chesterfield and Blutch, continues in the latest volume, Skyriders, where they become the pilots of the new addition to the US cavalry, an “Observation Balloon”. </p> <p align="justify">We would have read countless stories about American Civil War, but creators Lambil and Cauvin, introduce humorous touch to those blood ridden history, yet staying true to much of the incidents which shaped the war, that was. The dynamic duo of Chesterfield and Blutch, reminds us of the Dog Bull and Kid Ordinn duo from the classic <strong>Chick Bill</strong> series.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">The two earlier issues of the series were both released in India, in 2009, which is now followed up by the third title. Refer  <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank">Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles</a>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4Dn0LGpI/AAAAAAAAGis/wDWbrKXxYOk/s1600-h/BuckDanny2SecretsofBlackSea4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Buck Danny 2 - Secrets of Black Sea" border="0" alt="Buck Danny 2 - Secrets of Black Sea" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4ER5r22I/AAAAAAAAGiw/nVYTr6pobqU/BuckDanny2SecretsofBlackSea_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Buck Danny <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Action/War</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">06.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: The Secrets of Black Sea</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />Buck Danny, the celebrated aviation hero, this time enters the mission to unravel the secrets over the Black Sea. Set at the end of the Cold war, this tells the story of how remains of fallen empire, would never cease to tread the righteous path. Francis Bergese’s artistic talent, and his intrinsic detail laced sketch of airliners, add value to the storyline, a department handled by De Douhet for this album.</p> <p align="justify">Cinebook has ably filled up the void left by the cancellation of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Biggles" target="_blank"><strong>Biggles</strong></a> titles, by introducing another fictional war hero in the form of Buck Danny. The series is wonderfully enriched by the art of Bergese, whom readers would remember from the same Biggles venture, launched by <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Euro%20Books" target="_blank">Euro Books</a> in India, followed by Cinebook’s own short run with the series.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Buck Danny was introduced to India in 2009, with the release of Issue #1, which is now followed up by another classic. To read more about Francis Bergese’s earlier releases in India, refer to our posts on <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2007/08/euro-books-biggles-2007_20.html" target="_blank"><strong>Euro Books Biggles Series</strong></a> & <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/02/cinebook-biggles-recounts-rugger-boys.html" target="_blank"><strong>Cinebooks Biggles Recounts Series</strong></a></font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4GFURgvI/AAAAAAAAGi0/jOXN2rVG5FY/s1600-h/ChimpanzeeComplex2SonsofAres4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Chimpanzee Complex 2 - Sons of Ares" border="0" alt="Chimpanzee Complex 2 - Sons of Ares" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4H5SoOSI/AAAAAAAAGi4/r38Rg63vNkw/ChimpanzeeComplex2SonsofAres_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a></strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Chimpanzee Complex <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Science-Fiction</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">07.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: The Sons of Ares</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">56 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 250</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />Chimpanzee Complex is a 3 issue mini series which received critical and commercial reception when it was released in French heartland. It traverses in two different realms, told from an adventurous space women, and her estranged daughter. Caught between her unblemished love towards her daughter and the ambitions to live up to her career aspirations, Helen Friedman’s adventures to discover the true origin of space flights, are wonderfully told in this intriguing tale.</p> <p align="justify">The dark themed artwork of Jean-Michel Ponzio’s makes a perfect foil, to the adventurous script of Richard Marazano, which makes up for an interesting wait to the concluding issue, expected in the new year.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Chimpanzee Complex Issue 1 was released in India on 2009, which is now followed up by Issue #2. Refer <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank">Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles</a>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4KmiNv1I/AAAAAAAAGi8/9IeIefg8ACk/s1600-h/Ducoboo4ClassStruggle4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ducoboo 4 - Class Struggle" border="0" alt="Ducoboo 4 - Class Struggle" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4L40Zk2I/AAAAAAAAGjA/oWPagpWldY4/Ducoboo4ClassStruggle_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Ducoboo <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Humour</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">08.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>4: The Class Struggle</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />You can never have a dearth of fun and laughter, as long as the world’s biggest dunce, Ducoboo is around. Issue #4 carries over from the previous releases, which are laced with one page slapstick comedy featuring the King of Dunces himself, and his most loved friend and enemy, Leonie, sharing the spoils.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Ducoboo’s Issue #1 and #2 were released in India in 2008, while the Issue #3, founds it way with 2010 batch. To read our review on Ducoboo, refer to the post <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/09/cinebook-childrens-category-2008.html" target="_blank"><strong>Cinebook’s Children's Category</strong></a></font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4OD_k9BI/AAAAAAAAGjE/Jf0HEWNpXv8/s1600-h/Insiders2MissilesforIslamabad4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Insiders 2 - Missiles for Islamabad" border="0" alt="Insiders 2 - Missiles for Islamabad" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4Ow1d5XI/AAAAAAAAGjI/XRLMCURI7Wk/Insiders2MissilesforIslamabad_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Insiders <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Action/Adventure</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">09.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: Missiles for Islamabad</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">B5 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />The newest and most deadliest female agent, Najah Cruz, continues her mission of infiltrating the international crime ring, famously known as High Circle. She is a high-profile insider, who directly reports to the US White House, thus her adventures become all the more risky, entangle in a political time-wrap, mixed with conspiracy and betrayal. Her latest adventure brings her close to India, to probe a French missile sales to Pakistan.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Insiders was launched in India with Issue #1 in 2009. It was long touted to be featured, re-titled as <em>Code Name Minnal</em>, in Southern India, by Tamil Comics publishers, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Lion%20Comics" target="_blank">Lion Comics</a>. It was also touted be part of the future releases by, now defunct, Sri Lankan Tamil Comics company, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Iceberg%20Comics" target="_blank">Iceberg Comics</a>.  But both projects never saw the daylight, marking the Cinebook’s English versions as Insider’s official entry, for Indian comic fans. Refer <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/cinebook-backlist-titles-2009.html" target="_blank">Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles</a>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4RMRwpZI/AAAAAAAAGjM/zIhR0Ct_uEw/s1600-h/IR3SiliciaInc4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IR$ 3 - Silicia Inc" border="0" alt="IR$ 3 - Silicia Inc" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4SG660SI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/qy5Vm-M_s7E/IR3SiliciaInc_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">IR$ <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Action/Adventure</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">10.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>4: Silicia, Inc</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">B5 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">11.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>5: The Corrupter</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">B5 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />At the end of the year, and what do you normally hear more about? the Taxman. Cinebook’s line-up has a Taxman of its own, but he isn’t your regular law-enforcer, he is the one who has License to Kill and Thrill, just like 007.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4TQKWcRI/AAAAAAAAGjU/XVIf2-RJATg/s1600-h/IR4TheCorrupter4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IR$ 4 - The Corrupter" border="0" alt="IR$ 4 - The Corrupter" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4U6H_Q1I/AAAAAAAAGjY/GiwdUqlGZLc/IR4TheCorrupter_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="204" /></a></font>We are talking about the Incredible Larry Max, from the United State’s Secret Service <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/IR%24" target="_blank"><strong>IR$</strong></a>. We had briefed about IR$, in our debut review about the <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/12/cinebook-largo-winch-ir-2008.html" target="_blank">series at Comicology</a>. And I for one had opined that the stories were little off-color, in their rendition, and probably the colouring of the artwork, itself. </p> <p align="justify">But, it needs to be admitted that it has an unique attraction over its fans, credits to its plot-work which decodes the illegal accounts of crime and political syndicates, which has no dearth in the world we live. No wonder Cinebook continues to keep the mercurial agent on their line-up.</p> <p align="justify">In the latest adventure, Larry find his match, in the beautiful and dangerous Silicia. Does the usual Larry’s womanly attractions, make him fall over the huntress, or does he stay true to his national call? The answers are action packed in this two issue release, both of which have been released together <font size="1">(thanks to the batch releases, at least in this count)</font>, saving us from pondering over the conclusion.</p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">IR$ was launched originally as part of 2008 batch, with the 2nd issue following along with 2009 batch. Both the issues were double/2-in-1 issues, thus covering 4 of the original albums. As per 2010 Cinebook policy, they have now been released, just like the originals, in single straight volumes. Read more about IR$ in our Review post <strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/12/cinebook-largo-winch-ir-2008.html" target="_blank">Cinebook - IR$ #1</a></strong>.</font></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4WoTx3LI/AAAAAAAAGjc/qn4PKRiy3xM/s1600-h/Iznogoud1WickedWilesofIznogoud4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iznogoud 1 - Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud" border="0" alt="Iznogoud 1 - Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4Yd6If7I/AAAAAAAAGjg/0u3mEMjrRu4/Iznogoud1WickedWilesofIznogoud_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> </strong><strong><font color="#000080" size="3">Iznogoud <br /></font></strong><font size="1">Genre: Humour</font></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="2" width="455"><tbody> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">12.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>1: Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">13.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#<strong>2: Caliph's Vacation</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">14.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#</font><strong><font size="1">3: Day of Misrule</font></strong></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">15.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#</font><font size="1"><strong>4: Magic Computer</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%"><font size="1">16.</font></td> <td width="50%"><font size="1">#</font><font size="1"><strong>5: A Carrot for Iznogoud</strong></font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">48 pp</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">A4 size</font></td> <td width="15%"><font size="1">INR 195</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"> <br />And now to the biggest surprise of the lot, the <strong>Incorrigible <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Iznogoud" target="_blank">Iznogoud</a></strong>, makes it Cinebook debut in India too, finally. It was long anticipated ever since Cinebook added the most famous <em>Grand Vizier of Comic books</em> in their line-up back in 2008.</p> <p align="justify">But, the rights which were held by Euro Books in India, over the brand, by their launch of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/09/euro-books-iznogoud-12-albums-2009.html" target="_blank">Iznogoud Titles in 2009</a>, made Cinebook’s entry all the more difficult. I had been pressing over the point with the Cinebook management about the no-compete clauses, as the selection of Cinebook <font size="1">(which depends on Original classics)</font>, never compete with Euro Books <font size="1">(who deal with most recent and latest ones from a series). </font><font size="2">Finally, the decision makers at Westland <font size="1">(Cinebook’s Indian distributors)</font>, concluded the right way, and have ordered all the 5 editions of Iznogoud released so far<font size="1"> (Iznogoud #6, was released after this consignment)</font>.</font></p> <p align="justify">Now we have the long awaited classics from the pens of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Ren%C3%A9%20Goscinny" target="_blank">René Goscinny</a> and <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Jean%20Tabary" target="_blank">Jean Tabary</a>, in all its glory. If you would have skipped Iznogoud with Euro Books last attempt <font size="1">(which we did recommend, during our last review post)</font>, then this lot is the perfect one for you to make a head-start into the legendary series. Don’t miss them, folks.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4aDusG0I/AAAAAAAAGjk/v8bqCxHSQvg/s1600-h/Iznogoud2TheCaliphVacation6.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iznogoud 2 - The Caliph Vacation" border="0" alt="Iznogoud 2 - The Caliph Vacation" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4a2TDi6I/AAAAAAAAGjo/SJ8AX8Qj710/Iznogoud2TheCaliphVacation_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4dFkNZLI/AAAAAAAAGjs/2JA_UcK08hs/s1600-h/Iznogoud3IznogoudandtheDayofMisrule3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iznogoud 3 - Iznogoud and the Day of Misrule" border="0" alt="Iznogoud 3 - Iznogoud and the Day of Misrule" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4eruXV4I/AAAAAAAAGjw/23v90Yfarj8/Iznogoud3IznogoudandtheDayofMisrule_.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4gNPt2SI/AAAAAAAAGj0/auO3myoSn1U/s1600-h/Iznogoud4IznogoudandtheMagicComputer.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iznogoud 4 - Iznogoud and the Magic Computer" border="0" alt="Iznogoud 4 - Iznogoud and the Magic Computer" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4g4sBXVI/AAAAAAAAGj4/75sUynb9B70/Iznogoud4IznogoudandtheMagicComputer%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4i-Dq9lI/AAAAAAAAGj8/aBQqIiWGTFg/s1600-h/Iznogoud5ACarrotforIznogoud3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Iznogoud 5 - A Carrot for Iznogoud" border="0" alt="Iznogoud 5 - A Carrot for Iznogoud" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4j6RCVFI/AAAAAAAAGkA/P2Y-VxLKFFo/Iznogoud5ACarrotforIznogoud_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="204" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Iznogoud was originally launched in India, in Hindi Language by Gowarsons, and was later introduced in Tamil language by <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Lion%20Comics" target="_blank">Lion Comics</a>. Read more about them and the series as a whole, in our Iznogoud’s debut post on Comicology - <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/05/lion-comics-160-iznogoud-apr-00.html" target="_blank"><strong>Lion Comics #160 – Iznogoud</strong></a>.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="1">Euro Books then launched a total of 12 Albums in India, in 2009. Read about them over at <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/09/euro-books-iznogoud-12-albums-2009.html" target="_blank"><strong>Euro Books and Iznogoud</strong></a>.  The series is now been followed up by the 5 classics from Cinebook.</font> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <hr /> <p></p> <p align="justify">Thus ends our preview post on Cinebook’s latest offerings, and we will be back shortly with our second and concluding part of it soon at Comicology.  And just for info, these titles are all available in never before offers at Online sites like <a href="http://www.indiaplaza.in/books/" target="_blank">Indiaplaza</a>, where discounts ranges up to 30% and beyond. Now is a chance to grab them if you haven’t done so, already.</p> <p align="justify">By the way, before we close, here is wishing <strong>Merry Xmas </strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4ldxlTZI/AAAAAAAAGsM/wPQDdgpjqXE/s1600-h/tumblr_kv5ux6n73Q1qz6z2wo1_5006.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a></a></a><strong>and Happy Holidays</strong> for all the <em>Comikers</em>. May <strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4ldxlTZI/AAAAAAAAGsU/NvG1O_NWPoc/s1600-h/tumblr_kv5ux6n73Q1qz6z2wo1_5007.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Santa gets a Visitor" border="0" alt="Santa gets a Visitor" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4pLxoYWI/AAAAAAAAGkQ/z1m5-IJHQOg/tumblr_kv5ux6n73Q1qz6z2wo1_500_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="317" /></a></strong>this festive season bring out the best of the world to your households. Here is a different take by an artist on a new visitor to Santa. Groovy isn’t it??</p> <p><font size="1">For a random list of Santa and Xmas themed Comics Cover’s refer to these wonderful posts on </font><a href="http://onceuponageek.com/" target="_blank"><font size="1">Once Upon a Geek.</font></a></p> <p><a href="http://onceuponageek.com/2008/12/24/christmas-with-the-super-heroes-part-1-santa-claus-is-coming-to-town/" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="xmas1_action" border="0" alt="xmas1_action" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4p8lU4mI/AAAAAAAAGkU/jL-4OqcYFz4/xmas1_action%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="131" height="184" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://onceuponageek.com/2008/12/25/christmas-with-the-super-heroes-part-2-presents-galore/" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="xmas_marvel94" border="0" alt="xmas_marvel94" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4q1Wg5qI/AAAAAAAAGkY/2RWsUGwKcS0/xmas_marvel94%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="122" height="184" /></a><a href="http://onceuponageek.com/2009/12/24/christmas-with-the-super-heroes-2009/" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="super_friends22" border="0" alt="super_friends22" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TRR4rm8mxpI/AAAAAAAAGkc/7ALlE1upoPw/super_friends22%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="184" /></a></p> </span> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-52267998095965992012010-10-30T09:56:00.002+05:302012-02-15T01:41:18.801+05:30Lion Comics #208 – XIII Collector’s Special | Oct ‘10<p align="justify"><b>Aren’t you surprised</b>, to see a post at our blog, finally? Then you aren’t alone, as I for one is surprised on my own account. I was just finding a reason to be back, hoping to pit the blame on the usual suspect factors of day-job, and new found family commitments. But that option was used and re-used often, that they didn’t hold any credit, anymore. So, while having an inclination to be back, I was also trying to find an occasion for the same. And the occasions, there were plenty <span style="font-size: xx-small">(more about it on a later posts),</span> but the effort was equally demanding.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI4AenoBGPa4mN9odHpMwuW3B651Mf5vJUUNdLNTFnYFCoekgRRQiPmcu3cq_40LzoRBcPlJH7QwWVyJqILEgpO9_hTiwpgbXnhQxX7lSXnPOiPb15CtAcOcz7kSpNrRxOKfZPg/s1600/xiii.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI4AenoBGPa4mN9odHpMwuW3B651Mf5vJUUNdLNTFnYFCoekgRRQiPmcu3cq_40LzoRBcPlJH7QwWVyJqILEgpO9_hTiwpgbXnhQxX7lSXnPOiPb15CtAcOcz7kSpNrRxOKfZPg/s200/xiii.jpg" width="182" height="149" /></a>So, what brought me out of my cocoon to post only the 5th post ever at <b>Comicology</b> for this year <span style="font-size: xx-small">(you read it right, and believe me, it’s the last thing I would like to boast about)</span>?? Well, you can say from the title, as it is the Return of the Tamil Comics master themselves, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Lion%20Comics" target="_blank"><b>Lion Comics</b></a>, with the long awaited <b>XIII Collector’s Special</b>, finally reaching its subscribers, in the process making their first appearance for the year, 2010. </p> <p align="justify">Do you remember that the last Lion Comics edition was released way back in Nov 2009, almost a whole year in between. So now you be your own judge, and tell me aren’t you surprised? </p> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Lion Comics #208 – XIII <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuiO-PkxfI/AAAAAAAAGgI/AgKxGMZWdyA/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p001%20Cover1%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p001 Cover1" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p001 Cover1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMucs4OpyTI/AAAAAAAAGgM/Xsbhk90-A3Q/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p001%20Cover1_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="379" /></a> <br />Complete Collection | 18 Albums-in-One <br />860 Pgs | INR 200 | A4  | </span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">B/W | Laminated/Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="justify">Jokes apart, <b>this Collector’s edition was no doubt</b>, one of the most anticipated edition ever in the history of Tamil Comics, the Southern Indian dialect, ever since it was announced a couple of years back<span style="font-size: xx-small"> (or was it in 2006?).</span></p> <p align="justify">Questions were raised, on how this project could be feasible, as Lion Comics, had only tread a path of 3 mega specials, which were duly priced for INR 100, in the recent past. Even though the sales were said to be encouraging, the fact remained that many of the editions were unsold, until the last <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/01/comics-chennai-book-fair-2010.html" target="_blank">Chennai Book Fair</a>.</p> <p align="justify"><b>And here, Editor was talking</b> about bringing an edition, which was to be priced at INR 200, collecting the every possible albums released in a series, which spanned over 23 years for the finale <span style="font-size: xx-small">(in its Original French run).</span> </p> <p align="justify">Everyone, right from the occasional readers, to the serious collectors, knew that it was a herculean task, a kind of which has never been achieved in any comics series, in any languages, world over <font size="1">(for a single connected series).</font> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"><strong>But they were hopeful</strong>, pitting their trust against the indomitable spirit of the Editor, whom the readers knew of through his past adventurous initiatives. With time passing year by year, that confidence was shaken to its deepest bottom, and to compound the issues, Lion Comics, which only recently had started to have some regular issues, suddenly went out of circulation.</p> <p align="justify">There was no news whatsoever, either about the fate of the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMucufXx8YI/AAAAAAAAGgU/8Dkvign_0QM/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p003%20Hotline.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p003 Hotline" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p003 Hotline" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMucvTgMOxI/AAAAAAAAGgY/rJRVZeqAi50/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p003%20Hotline_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="332" /></a>XIII Collector’s Edition, let alone the fate of  the entire comics business of <b><i>Prakash Publishers</i></b>. Gossip-mongers, Critics, Opportunists, had their field day, and the niche crowd of Tamil Comics fandom, started to retreat, and was in danger of moving over to other hobbies <span style="font-size: xx-small">(I see that some of them have already).</span></p> <p align="justify">But, after much deliberation, delayed announcements, and multi-revised targets, <strong>XIII Collector’s Special</strong> – aptly titled <b>“The Complete Collection”</b> is here on our hands, at last.</p> <p align="justify"><b>It features two stunning covers</b> at the front and the back, the originals of which were definitely an inspiration. But these versions looks to have built over on it, and has achieved a quite a reasonable perfection. Let your eyes be the jury. </p> <p align="justify">No doubt, this would be the fattest comic series to have ever been released in India, collecting a single series. And no wonder, Editor, an often subdued proclaimer, making that clear on the cover itself, as <b>India’s First</b>. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMucxNa7SeI/AAAAAAAAGgk/UDSVf4vELkI/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p004%20Hotline.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p004 Hotline" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p004 Hotline" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuiWnECTCI/AAAAAAAAGgs/T9iwNfxQB6s/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p004%20Hotline_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="332" /></a>As usual, the <b>Editor’s and reader’s favorite Hotline</b>, opens up the edition, and as expected it runs down to two full pages, detailing the adventures of publishing and editorial teams, to bring up this title into fruition. </p> <p align="justify">Despite all differences over opinions pertaining to his step motherly treatment to the least earning comic business in his portfolio, I need to admit that, Mr.Vijayan has an uncanny knack of getting under the skin of an regular reader, on both counts. </p> <p align="justify">He gets the pulse of the readers, their thought work, and their expectations <font size="1">(even though he often fails to fulfil them)</font>, andhe still manages to make a reader hook onto him, when he starts talking. </p> <p align="justify"><b>The humour laced words</b> and writings in his editorial, gives us a warm feeling, and makes us feel proud of being a comic fan, for what he still has to offer. Even though, there would always be a man in us questioning his lack of interest, or his repeated failures to catch on a readership straits and patterns, you could still not help trace the amount of work which has gone through in bringing these mega-issue to us. </p> <p align="justify">As a matter of fact, he explains how his Editorial piece, was the one which wasn’t completed in time, ultimately pushing <b><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuczxRbcZI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/ZhO3XemsASA/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p860%20Cover2%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p860 Cover2" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p860 Cover2" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc1SuqHiI/AAAAAAAAGZU/JHEU8UvAYRI/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p860%20Cover2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="286" height="374" /></a></b>the release dates further behind. As I gather from sources, not only that, even the Binding, which was previously not expected to be a huge task, seems to have a taken a toll resulting on further delay. As this heaviest book needed manual stitching and glue, something which wasn’t planned ahead. </p> <p align="justify"><b>Coupled with the financial restriction</b>, of having to stick to the originally announced price of INR 200, even though it was made a handful of years earlier; and the inability to garner the expected amount of advance bookings, didn’t help to boost their sagging morals. But, they had themselves to blame for the non-interest of readers, as they failed to capitalise when the readership awareness was beaming and open-ended. </p> <p align="justify">Despite all these shortcomings, much needs to be said that he considers himself as a comic fan, more than an editor, when he chooses a particular series for publishing. That’s exactly the one which keeps his niche readers still on his side, no matter what the shortcomings on the delivery. </p> <p align="justify"><b>I had made the booking for this collection</b>, back when it was first announced. But, some accounting problems, led to my name being missed out from the original list. Hence, I wasn’t among the ones, who received the book first-up. After hearing that my good old friend, <b>RT Murugan</b>, had received his package, I ran helter-shelter to reach him and get one of his ordered copies for myself. The enthusiasm, I realized in doing so, which I long thought has seized as far as Tamil Comics was concerned, was the same as the one I had during it’s glorious run in the past. </p> <table style="margin-top: 2px; width: 310px" class="pullquote" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right"><tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td> <td width="95"> </td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px" width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="pullquotetext" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" align="center"><span style="color: grey; font-size: xx-small"><b>"The enthusiasm I realized, which I long thought was done for as much as Tamil Comics are concerned, was at the same level of good old days. <br /> <br />Not <em>Ego-Maniacs</em>, Nor the <em>Self-Proclaimed Star of Readers</em>, can help achieve that. It needs Visionaries, and we are at good company in that count.<span style="font-size: xx-small">”</span></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="10" colspan="3"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify">I realized that the <em>good-old-me</em>, is still waiting somewhere in there, hoping to see a <i>Tamil Comics Market</i>, one in which he grew up and cherished, to attain somewhat a similar level, once again for good. Not <i>Ego-maniacs</i>, Nor the <i>Self-proclaimed Star of readers</i>, can help achieve that. It needs visionaries and those with the intent to remain in the market, and survive. Lion/Muthu Comics Editor is certainly, the one to count on that front. </p> <p align="justify">Enough with my blabbering. Now that we are in the moment of rejoice, let’s look into our <i>Man-of-the-hour</i>, the <strong>XIII Special</strong>, more in detail. </p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><b><u><span style="color: navy">Creator’s Corner</span></u></b>: <b>Usually, it’s our style at Comicology,</b> to write about the Creators of the series or comics in review, <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc2xXXrBI/AAAAAAAAGZY/sTYtdQizr5k/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p002%20Creators%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><b><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p002 Creators" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p002 Creators" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc3qeYOpI/AAAAAAAAGZc/EMv_4hGuCMM/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p002%20Creators_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="374" /></b></a>as a token of credit for their contribution to the comic series we celebrate. </p> <p align="justify">But, this time I am excused from doing the honours, as Editor, has decided to dedicate a page, to show these behind the scenes personas, the creators of the series, who had captivated readers worldwide with their unblemished talents - <b><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Jean%20Van%20Hamme" target="_blank">Jean Van Hamme</a></b>, the gifted writer, and <b><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/William%20Vance" target="_blank">William Vance</a></b>, the talented artist of this legendary series. </p> <p align="justify">Not one or two pages, can do justice to the works of these two gentleman in this series, so we would reserve it for a later blog post at our site. </p> <p align="justify"><b>But, along the way writing</b> about the creator, Editor S.Vijayan, in his typical style, has thrown up another tantrum, by indicating that Van Hamme’s another <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc4tRtU5I/AAAAAAAAGgw/M8JvzP68XQQ/s1600-h/Vance%2C%20Hamme%2C%20and%20Giraud%20with%20XIII%20final%20albums.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Vance, Hamme, and Giraud with XIII final albums" border="0" alt="Vance, Hamme, and Giraud with XIII final albums" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc5cxZyKI/AAAAAAAAGg0/xgEYRi2jI2Q/Vance%2C%20Hamme%2C%20and%20Giraud%20with%20XIII%20final%20albums_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="206" /></a>famous comic series, detailing the adventures of fictional billionaire, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Largo%20Winch" target="_blank"><strong>Largo Winch</strong></a>, would soon be making its debut on Lion Comics. </p> <p align="justify">He has just completed a series spanning 19 albums, and here he is referring to another legendary series, which has 17+ albums in its own account, and still counting? </p> <p align="justify">Only time would tell, whether it was a comic fan in Vijayan, who spoke those words, or was he determined to pull it off, the same way like he did in the case of XIII <span style="font-size: xx-small">(even though after two decades)</span>. </p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><u><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/SnsKJ3guh-I/AAAAAAAAEbw/_SMc96AfxbA/s1600-h/Muthu312s113.jpg" target="_blank"><b></b></a><b><span style="color: navy; font-size: small">XIII – Search for a Man’s Self</span></b></u><span style="font-size: small">:<b> </b></span><b>Now for the showdown</b>, we all had been waiting for, of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/XIII" target="_blank">XIII</a>, and his quest to trace his origin. Like you, I am more than interested, to know the final outcome. Even though the original French run was completed way back in 2007, I had never read the conclusion to this series. French always remain <em>Green and Latin</em> to me, and the only promising English editions, were only running until the 6th album, by various US based publishers. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc602fhrI/AAAAAAAAGZo/Jt3cUw5Wu8M/s1600-h/Thigil%20Comics%20-%20Rathapadalam%20-%20Album%201%20%281986%29%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Thigil Comics - Rathapadalam - (1986) - The One Which Started it All " border="0" alt="Thigil Comics - Rathapadalam - (1986) - The One Which Started it All " align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc79zLnDI/AAAAAAAAGZs/FUOfXvy4-14/Thigil%20Comics%20-%20Rathapadalam%20-%20Album%201%20%281986%29_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" height="278" /></a>With the wait of the Tamil translated ones looking superstitious, I had to rely on the unofficial <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanlation" target="_blank">Scanlations</a> of XIII volumes, in order to quench the thirst. But, the fate had it saying there too, as after Volume 17, the scanlation project on the series were also left hanging, with 2 volumes yet to come out of the domesticated workshop. </p> <p align="justify"><b>Then came the announcement that <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/CineBook" target="_blank">Cinebook</a></b>, were to launch the series under their line-up. I was confident that we have finally arrived at a publisher, who were intent to see the series to its completion, in English language. </p> <p align="justify">But, the issues were scheduled to be released at a rate of on album, every two months. At a rate, by which we would have to wait for another 2 years, for the final two volumes to see the daylight. We would see about the Cinebook edition of XIII, later in another blog post, as it deserves a special mention. </p> <p align="justify"><b>But, here now we have all the 18 volumes </b><span style="font-size: xx-small">(one volume has been given a miss on the Original 19, about which you can read at the <a href="#19vs18">end of the post</a>),</span> which speaks long and deal about the XIII’s saga, in our beloved Tamil language, finally in one go. Not only that Editor Vijayan has launched a re-compilation of the 11 volumes original published under various brands, owned by them in the past, this time around he has also gone extra mile to name each volume, with an aptly suited Tamil version of its original title.</p> <p align="justify">Seeing the wonderfully drawn covers in black and white, doesn’t really do justice to the works spent on it, but that has been the case of Tamil Comics, ever since, reminding us on the concept of <i>Opportunity Cost</i> - <em>Often giving up the quality, to make it affordable to one and all</em>. Now, it’s a topic out on debate, for sure. But, let’s push that aside, sit back and enjoy the series waiting to be unravelled before our eyes, which played hide and seeks for two decades of our life <span style="font-size: xx-small">(unless you turned Franco, or you have got an acquaintance, in there).</span> We are at the winning side, any case.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Here are the sweetly titled album covers</strong>, in Tamil, which finds its place in the inner pages of this mega collection. On my part, I have added the English editions, wherever available, for you to work out the best from both worlds. To start with editor has missed printing the first cover, which I guess was by mistake, more than the intent. So, I have made it up with the second hotlines, stamp image, to get the run. </p> <hr /> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc8_Vh-eI/AAAAAAAAGZw/1Wt1iL0pVDc/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20%20Album%201%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS Album 1" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS Album 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc9W2pCpI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/Xw1oXCI-2cM/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20%20Album%201_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc-w8o0II/AAAAAAAAGZ4/ktEtNTO1ZL4/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2001%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 01" border="0" alt="XIII Album 01" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuc_gjAPFI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/pxS_ksJaxBE/XIII%20Album%2001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudBLxuHGI/AAAAAAAAGaA/n1y3c5_okyU/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p051%20-%20Album%202%5B10%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p051 - Album 2" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p051 - Album 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudB-0tfkI/AAAAAAAAGaE/qlLI81kiL4Q/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p051%20-%20Album%202_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudDeYThOI/AAAAAAAAGaI/ocYA2j0tM0Q/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2002%5B9%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 02" border="0" alt="XIII Album 02" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudEPn9KaI/AAAAAAAAGaM/YD0cCDTrMXA/XIII%20Album%2002_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudF9kHFMI/AAAAAAAAGaQ/ADFY2Ulc_sw/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p097%20-%20Album%203%5B10%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p097 - Album 3" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p097 - Album 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudII_RWzI/AAAAAAAAGaU/xzW0Rb04UaQ/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p097%20-%20Album%203_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudJanTr1I/AAAAAAAAGaY/xAUYki5rQBk/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2003%5B9%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 03" border="0" alt="XIII Album 03" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudJ9q0CyI/AAAAAAAAGac/Nx2jrIKX2_0/XIII%20Album%2003_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudLSx_LuI/AAAAAAAAGag/QI_RwC52E4M/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p144%20-%20Album%204%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p144 - Album 4" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p144 - Album 4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudMZHLdII/AAAAAAAAGak/r5A844EyuvA/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p144%20-%20Album%204_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudOMHR7OI/AAAAAAAAGas/Ffu7ZKJxqno/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2004%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 04" border="0" alt="XIII Album 04" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudO4zh_cI/AAAAAAAAGaw/N9HRSW2YhCk/XIII%20Album%2004_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudQGutfMI/AAAAAAAAGa0/gTHepnh6nqY/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p189%20-%20Album%205%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p189 - Album 5" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p189 - Album 5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudQzB42FI/AAAAAAAAGa4/g62gvcULwVE/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p189%20-%20Album%205_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudSaL36YI/AAAAAAAAGa8/YxC7n-0PY8I/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2005%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 05" border="0" alt="XIII Album 05" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudTCEFVQI/AAAAAAAAGbA/Sk4qK3Md1v0/XIII%20Album%2005_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudUsh5eoI/AAAAAAAAGbE/if7s3V3HEBU/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p236%20-%20Album%206%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p236 - Album 6" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p236 - Album 6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudVbBn1uI/AAAAAAAAGbI/HxYfvpbJJEg/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p236%20-%20Album%206_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudWWDYTDI/AAAAAAAAGbM/-KPoiYluEBc/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2006%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 06" border="0" alt="XIII Album 06" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudXs0FOeI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/ID2EsKYMD8I/XIII%20Album%2006_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudZAghmhI/AAAAAAAAGbU/N0xcQgTvQjM/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p285%20-%20Album%207%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p285 - Album 7" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p285 - Album 7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudZ7eBVeI/AAAAAAAAGbY/56FIn_yxVEY/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p285%20-%20Album%207_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudbKNEYjI/AAAAAAAAGbc/RxVx0rduUro/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2007%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 07" border="0" alt="XIII Album 07" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudcee65EI/AAAAAAAAGbg/jolIQk8R_Pc/XIII%20Album%2007_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudduN0PtI/AAAAAAAAGbk/DA_LhR3gEB8/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p331%20-%20Album%208%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p331 - Album 8" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p331 - Album 8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudeQPAsvI/AAAAAAAAGbo/rc0JAd5ohCA/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p331%20-%20Album%208_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudfinVWsI/AAAAAAAAGbw/e1rebAuy6_Y/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2008%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 08" border="0" alt="XIII Album 08" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudgC5JYlI/AAAAAAAAGb0/Ta1r8ucI9RM/XIII%20Album%2008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudhWraZvI/AAAAAAAAGb4/1hb-NxuQYeY/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p377%20-%20Album%209%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p377 - Album 9" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p377 - Album 9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVpJ9EwrM8LAcJQYtvh_mje8sU0hcFV8ro5f63tY55VVvGpCQBG_ln1Oaw6DXI5O288EVEAj5NoZBiD4cFDGH8Rg48HNOdA-4cBH9HwpM-oRrRX18Hz06PSni_kJZUmpCsS47Dg/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudjfpe5bI/AAAAAAAAGcA/BHBDolVQY2Q/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2009%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 09" border="0" alt="XIII Album 09" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_tNuPbowu-F93sU3gSOZ8pWk-cZsxGdpWfe1wZt7dwqEq2r7BEBZVlak4zUK3XGmk70HKYN0CPTUJ0ICB0k9vtd5JTNxkFlTL5AgxfuxS-YB7HBVH7Irk8L6OkIB_hmtiW4QLg/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudlu79yXI/AAAAAAAAGcI/170zVeuO4pw/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p424%20-%20Album%2010%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p424 - Album 10" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p424 - Album 10" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pTfy3lQMEkARX-aeqJtTS5U5Wyx-PWprX2SsrTtOLGtfxQoctSM4NDNSntZOgQhKhHkjUy_WmLjeLpBYwcv2tAgtFksWFSBkGJ51cbSlLEOAD4J6bCh9foOWeibXg-I6PzY7vA/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudng_NobI/AAAAAAAAGcQ/ghHDLin9rQY/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2010%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 10" border="0" alt="XIII Album 10" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudoasapcI/AAAAAAAAGcU/NJYeCgaXto8/XIII%20Album%2010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a> </p> <p align="justify"><b>Note that some of the covers</b> have been used in reverse (negative side), which doesn’t make much difference, though it’s quite evident on <strong>XIII Red Alert</strong>, with the US President’s seal smiling at us, with an mirror-image. I guess this again, was a result of hurrying to see the edition on print, as pointed out by Editor himself. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudpsUzaYI/AAAAAAAAGcY/zptOzbR1KMI/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p472%20-%20Album%2011%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p472 - Album 11" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p472 - Album 11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudqdxRFJI/AAAAAAAAGcc/qLqky8heFuA/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p472%20-%20Album%2011_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudsEjhBZI/AAAAAAAAGcg/TkcL3CHfZNI/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2011%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 11" border="0" alt="XIII Album 11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuds2ZkuBI/AAAAAAAAGck/GJIT3KxPht8/XIII%20Album%2011_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuduevHv4I/AAAAAAAAGco/AP6SWJOtfx4/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p525%20-%20Album%2012%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p525 - Album 12" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p525 - Album 12" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuduz6H21I/AAAAAAAAGcs/HuhrhDMW4dw/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p525%20-%20Album%2012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudwNRWDhI/AAAAAAAAGcw/lNMgmFE1gMA/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2012%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 12" border="0" alt="XIII Album 12" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudwvJGmaI/AAAAAAAAGc0/HcGqAMF3YfA/XIII%20Album%2012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudyQ9OrHI/AAAAAAAAGc4/zF1g69bbkX8/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p573%20-%20Album%2013%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p573 - Album 13" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p573 - Album 13" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMudzDXRqmI/AAAAAAAAGc8/_5j9zHOigfc/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p573%20-%20Album%2013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud09XylbI/AAAAAAAAGdA/DP-ZFJzpFYQ/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2013%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 14" border="0" alt="XIII Album 14" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud1xeoLII/AAAAAAAAGdE/09A5Ou-EjYA/XIII%20Album%2013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud3eE6BiI/AAAAAAAAGdI/2QqsNoo_iu4/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p618%20-%20Album%2014%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p618 - Album 14" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p618 - Album 14" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud4O-KINI/AAAAAAAAGdM/mn952bMzJK8/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p618%20-%20Album%2014_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud5PKe2QI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/mfB4H3dXisc/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2015%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 15" border="0" alt="XIII Album 15" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud5hOmkLI/AAAAAAAAGdU/UGDbsNZBtJo/XIII%20Album%2015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud64qHLaI/AAAAAAAAGdY/8K3-9ANvsvQ/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p664%20-%20Album%2015%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p664 - Album 15" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p664 - Album 15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW9E9sBBYn8SnWa6GP0fdueGUj1w_8y6PP7-h_PrGDRqkWC5i90MDr0UxuI5QKTQlx_Z-DcZUEqsugIjo5n8vDBz-rD7PPpI1LakD-KWBL5Q2zE4wi9MeXin6phPr8Z5t9Dxlcw/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud8tN6eoI/AAAAAAAAGdg/ttNyJR3YW-E/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2016%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 16" border="0" alt="XIII Album 16" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud9BpYxfI/AAAAAAAAGdk/RCZosMPlJYA/XIII%20Album%2016_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud-WwizeI/AAAAAAAAGdo/skpb49T6hrE/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p710%20-%20Album%2016%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p710 - Album 16" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p710 - Album 16" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMud-8u7deI/AAAAAAAAGds/wO4wY4PqQxk/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p710%20-%20Album%2016_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueAOfmYKI/AAAAAAAAGdw/85OAciteV5Y/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2017%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 17" border="0" alt="XIII Album 17" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueAnKw_7I/AAAAAAAAGd0/P069mRB5aJ4/XIII%20Album%2017_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueBmSE-vI/AAAAAAAAGd4/rbAlhqntsIw/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p757%20-%20Album%2017%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p757 - Album 17" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p757 - Album 17" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueCJ6LpMI/AAAAAAAAGd8/-9Y4dLnTi3A/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p757%20-%20Album%2017_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueDBpUcgI/AAAAAAAAGeA/Gvhte8hzEak/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2018%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 18" border="0" alt="XIII Album 18" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueDtdeIVI/AAAAAAAAGeE/BtHq_LdYheA/XIII%20Album%2018_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueEwrjZgI/AAAAAAAAGeI/ClM48HahBUY/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p802%20-%20Album%2018%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p802 - Album 18" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p802 - Album 18" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueFhencgI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/RJTgMTrz7fs/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p802%20-%20Album%2018_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueGsNzszI/AAAAAAAAGeU/cMn7hB0mbvk/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2019%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 19" border="0" alt="XIII Album 19" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueHril6VI/AAAAAAAAGeY/XplACEJ89hA/XIII%20Album%2019_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <hr /> <p align="justify">Also, not all the 18 volumes published in this collection, belongs to the duo of Van Hamme and William Vance. As Volume 17 <font size="1">(Volume 18 in the Original),</font> alone was drawn by <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Jean%20Giraud" target="_blank">Jean Giraud</a>, the man famous for <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Blueberry" target="_blank">Blueberry</a>, aka Captain Tiger <font size="1">(as he is christened in Tamil).</font> His style is visible enough, but I have my own reservations as whether it fits the overall bill of the XIII series. </p> <p align="justify">I would leave that to be decided by the readers themselves. <font size="1">For the Tamil Comics fans, here is a write-up on this particular album, by the most talented blogger, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/15015344554547976571" target="_blank">Kanavukalin Kathalan</a> (a nickname in Tamil, meaning <em>Lover of Dreams</em>), </font><a href="http://kanuvukalinkathalan.blogspot.com/2008/12/xiii.html" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>over at his blog</strong></font></a><font size="1">. That post incidentally, was his first in a long journey of blog posts.</font></p> <p align="justify"><b><b><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueJIA6g2I/AAAAAAAAGec/wI4MVbV_auI/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p849%20-%2024%20Years%20of%20XIII%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p849 - 24 Years of XIII" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p849 - 24 Years of XIII" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueKKmWcqI/AAAAAAAAGeg/GYl3sfuN8DY/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p849%20-%2024%20Years%20of%20XIII_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="374" /></a></b>So, an series which was</b> started way back in 1986, in Tamil Comics world has finally come to an end in the year 2010. <br /><strong><u>A span of 24 long years</u>. </strong></p> <p align="justify">Almost mirroring it’s Original French editions run, which dates back to 1984<span style="font-size: xx-small"> (as a serialized form, in the then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirou_%28magazine%29" target="_blank">Spirou magazine</a>)</span> to the recent past 2007 <span style="font-size: xx-small">(with the release of the last albums, 18 and 19). </span>The Only difference - while the original was continuously released on a periodic basis, it’s lesser known counterpart, in Tamil language, had its proven start and stop show, all these years. Often becoming the envy of its ardent followers. </p> <p align="justify">Editor S.Vijayan, a man who never misses to refer comics moment such as this, decided to write another <b><i>One-Page Hot-liner</i></b>, highlighting the fact, and the struggle behind all those releases, culminating to the dreamt <b><i>Collector’s edition</i></b>, which decorates our hands at the moment. </p> <p align="justify"><b>At the end of the day</b>, despite all the achievements and accolades, XIII the series, has received over the years around the globe, a true fan will admit that it was way past his selling date, by half way through the series. It was unnecessarily stretched, despite coming to a logical conclusion, pretty early, as much as for me to date it to the 12th Album, itself. </p> <p align="justify">The remaining albums, which tried to confuse and divert the readers to newer mysteries, never quite leave the impact, the former ones were able to generate at the heart of the readers. The series often meagre into a man on the run, much like the typical Hollywood action movies. The personal touch of the XIII, with the readers, had long lost its charm. </p> <table style="margin-top: 2px; width: 310px" class="pullquote" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right"><tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td> <td width="95"> </td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px" width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="pullquotetext" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" align="center"><span style="color: grey; font-size: xx-small"><b>"At the end of the day, despite all the achievements, XIII has received all over the globe, a true fan will admit that it was selling way past its due date. <br /> <br />By the time the series wrapped up with Vol.19, XIII, had lost its charm among the readers.<span style="font-size: xx-small">”</span></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="10" colspan="3"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="justify"><b>A point even noted by</b> Jean Van Hamme himself, in one of his interviews, where he cited that the reason he made a close to the series, was that it was getting monotonous, and they clearly had no direction to take the character further. More on the interview can be <a href="http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2007/xiii-to-end-who-will-tell/" target="_blank">read here</a>. </p> <p align="justify">This observation is also shared by the Editor S.Vijayan, on his editorial writing as mentioned in the Second <em>Hot-line</em>.  As he rightly pointed out, when the cash-cow is milked by the owners, what would a meagre caretaker do on that account. </p> <p align="justify"><strong>At the end of his Hot-line</strong>, Editor revisits the plan for the forthcoming issues, and his grand plan to make the <strong><em>3 books subscription pattern</em></strong>, which he first made public, in the last Lion Comics issue #208. How would that turn-out, makes for an interesting wait.  Editor also mentions that the <strong>Lioncomics.com</strong> would be re-launched. It’s pending for at least 3 years now, and would help to make our comics reach more masses, acting as an official mascot in the internet world.</p> <p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"></p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><b><u><span style="color: navy">Editor’s Flash-Back</span></u></b>: Editor S.Vijayan, continues his recounting of the yester years of Lion and through its publication, in his Flash Back Series titled, Singathin Siruvayadhil <span style="font-size: xx-small">(சிங்கத்தின் சிறுவயதில்!), <i>loosely translated to</i> <b>Younger Ages: when a Lion was a Cub</b></span>. You don’t need an intro for this series, which has become almost a second feature for our readers to turn-in-to, after the ever popular <strong>Hotline</strong>. It was missing out from the previous issues, but here it’s back again, in an issue which matters the most to the legacy of Lion Comics, spanning 25+ years. </p> <p align="justify">On these episode, Vijayan, takes us through his first encounter with the stylist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Brazil" target="_blank">Bruno Brazil</a>, and the evergreen <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Lucky%20Luke" target="_blank">Lucky Luke</a>. But, as if as a co-incidence, or was purposefully drafted by the Editor himself, this episode of the Flash Back, also introduces his first encounter with the character, which is the one holding the hot-spot, in this out-of-world compilation. Yes, it indeed was <strong>XIII</strong>. </p> <p align="justify">Enough, me talking about it, as you can find out those escapades, straight from the pen of Editor himself. <span style="font-size: xx-small">(I hope he doesn’t mind me releasing the entire episode in one shot, as I couldn’t hold it off from the readers, who might not get this edition earlier, than others.)</span></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small"></span> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueL9KAOwI/AAAAAAAAGek/p5oHVsVuD_Q/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p850%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil%5B12%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p850 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p850 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueMnl2EFI/AAAAAAAAGeo/eldryhGx9UM/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p850%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="304" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueOKjVA-I/AAAAAAAAGes/N1KPtQL9Xy0/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p851%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil%5B10%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p851 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p851 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueOrJDs_I/AAAAAAAAGew/YeY84Ef2uCU/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p851%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="304" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjlIbNQUn_C-BZx69q8xqcCZPWpufolQc2mUjuBkK0zBNj3iQ426aUNjUEgnHX5iID6ZSO0iaxbd47bAGGb_wkouSE9HUxhwLUxbdixRVbJ5JiRp2FI_Tck0WdBzm3HmLH4xKRg/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p852%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil%5B9%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p852 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p852 - Singathin Siruvayadhil" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueRNvk55I/AAAAAAAAGe4/rWbN85nuqKM/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p852%20-%20Singathin%20Siruvayadhil_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="304" /></a></p> <p align="justify"></p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><b><u><span style="color: navy">Forthcoming Attractions</span></u></b>: And as discussed in the Hotline at the start of the book, the concluding papers of this Collector’s Edition, lists out the forthcoming titles in the line-up. </p> <p align="center"><a class="group4" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p855 - Next Editions" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueSswI9ZI/AAAAAAAAGe8/EgA7LlpiqtI/s1600/Lion+208+-+XIII+CS+p855+-+Next+Editions%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p855 - Next Editions" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p855 - Next Editions" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmss7ePgVhPtAs_CJjqos3n82wgbw2zlNnQdw65VOSlgvltvt2N-E1Lr-zIXvL8lxLU3fLfrb0lTZYzJuiwPqXuVy7rYvCKLuJFWITMYIS7iXiPqEdFsL-875iqhDB8V72NQtyXQ/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a class="group4" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p856 - Next Editions" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueUhpjEoI/AAAAAAAAGfE/hmsQB2fgTVY/s1600/Lion+208+-+XIII+CS+p856+-+Next+Editions%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p856 - Next Editions" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p856 - Next Editions" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueVS2g2dI/AAAAAAAAGfI/yrpCX4LhLb8/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p856%20-%20Next%20Editions_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a class="group4" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p857 - Next Editions" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueWpRGdQI/AAAAAAAAGfM/UEKsM1A_5tc/s1600/Lion+208+-+XIII+CS+p857+-+Next+Editions%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p857 - Next Editions" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p857 - Next Editions" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueXHcxFOI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/LvCH8sp5pgc/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p857%20-%20Next%20Editions_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a><a class="group4" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueYX97lzI/AAAAAAAAGfU/emoGLlcYDmY/s1600/Lion+208+-+XIII+CS+p858+-+Next+Editions%5B4%5D.jpg" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p858 - Next Editions"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p858 - Next Editions" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p858 - Next Editions" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueZNdYsjI/AAAAAAAAGfY/VieJzXFmCx0/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p858%20-%20Next%20Editions_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a> </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMueaUSl7qI/AAAAAAAAGfc/D4sKhB8a3SI/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p853%20-%20Booking%20Coupon%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p853 - Booking Coupon" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p853 - Booking Coupon" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuebCj9-BI/AAAAAAAAGfg/rXD-dIO0F9s/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p853%20-%20Booking%20Coupon_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>It has a wide variety of choices to make, with characters as vast as </p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Hazard" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Johnny Hazard</strong></font></a><font size="1"> and </font><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Agent_X-9" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Phil Corrigan</strong></font></a><font size="1"> (</font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/American%20Genre" target="_blank"><font size="1">American Genre</font></a><font size="1">), </font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_Hochet" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Ric Hochet</strong></font></a><font size="1">, </font><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Bill" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Chick Bill</strong></font></a><font size="1"> and </font><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Luke" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Lucky Luke</strong></font></a><font size="1"> (</font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Franco-Belgian%20Genre" target="_blank"><font size="1">Franco-Belgian Genre</font></a><font size="1">), </font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Claw" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Steel Claw</strong></font></a><font size="1"> and <strong>Johny Nero</strong> (</font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/British%20Genre" target="_blank"><font size="1">British Genre</font></a><font size="1">), </font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Willer" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Tex Willer</strong></font></a><font size="1"> (</font><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Italian%20Genre" target="_blank"><font size="1">Italian Genre</font></a><font size="1">)</font></div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify">Now you decide, isn’t that an <em>Around-the-World</em> coverage by a single publication?</p> <p align="justify">Seven of them are the the INR 10 editions, all of which, could be obtained by paying a lump-sum amount, by using the coupon here. But, only if you aren’t a subscriber. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuedGqNDBI/AAAAAAAAGhA/-_6yWtqlkJs/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p854%20-%20Backlist.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p854 - Backlist" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p854 - Backlist" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMued3Bt8_I/AAAAAAAAGhE/tx1r2UfZxwk/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p854%20-%20Backlist_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="216" /></a>Also, note that the 8th feature of Lucky Luke is advertised as INR 25 special, meaning that it will mark the start of the <strong>3-books-subscription</strong> pattern, if all goes according to plans.</p> <p align="justify">What would happen to the subscribers <span style="font-size: xx-small">(including myself),</span> who might still have some money reserves left, after the advertised Seven Rs.10 issues, is yet to be seen. I only hope that they would be accommodated in the next batch releases, as appropriate. </p> <p align="justify">Apart from the forthcoming attractions, the usual <b>backorder list</b> finds its place again in this issue. I guess there are no major changes in it, as from the last one. But, for those who would like to keep it handy, for any backorders, here it is.</p> <hr /> <p align="justify"><b><u><span style="color: navy"><a name="19vs18">19 vs. 18 ??: XIII Mystery</a></span></u></b>: And finally, to point out about the one volume missing out from the 19 set <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuee4pod1I/AAAAAAAAGfs/uEJfuD4Q2BM/s1600-h/XIII%20Album%2013%5B11%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="XIII Album 13" border="0" alt="XIII Album 13" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuefZA45hI/AAAAAAAAGfw/Pu-GqJcdB7k/XIII%20Album%2013_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="217" /></a>original editions, in this Tamil Collection. <b>It was XIII - Album 13</b>, which doesn’t actually fit into the  overall storyline, <em>at least to a greater extent</em>. The XIII Mystery, as it was titled, was a getaway from the Traditional comic style, with illustration based story-telling, of two reporters who go around digging the dirt on the Mysterious XIII, and the people behind the conspiracy. </p> <p align="justify">As expected, Editor has given a miss on this title, which makes the 14 to 19 on the original albums, being numbered as 13 to 18, to complete our collection. While, the Collector’s Special talk was being flown around the comic enthusiasts, many of them often debated, as what would be the album which will miss out from the Tamil collection. </p> <p align="justify"><b><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuegc4v0jI/AAAAAAAAGf0/Z34pmSWxnEc/s1600-h/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p859%20-%20Next%20Editions%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion 208 - XIII CS p859 - Next Editions" border="0" alt="Lion 208 - XIII CS p859 - Next Editions" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMuehHeCgiI/AAAAAAAAGf4/fmUHL-49Ji0/Lion%20208%20-%20XIII%20CS%20p859%20-%20Next%20Editions_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="253" /></a>Editor had long made it clear</b>, through various advertisements, and hints on his editorials, that the collection would comprise only of 18 volumes. Many who have read the series, at least in various forms, guessed that Volume 13, would be the one missing out on the cut. And they were all right. </p> <p align="justify">But, talk about our Editor not missing out from utilising the fame of XIII, even he has finally come good on promise to complete the series, he now projects the missed out <strong>XIII: Mystery volume as a possible INR 25</strong> issue feature, in the forthcoming releases. </p> <p align="justify">If carried out, it will be another first of its kind, in Tamil Comics, featuring illustrated art pages, and comics in between to talk about a serious plot, throughout an album. Let’s see how many takers are there for the concept. </p> <p align="justify">So that concludes, our preview and you could say review, of the long awaited XIII: The Complete Collection. It’s a new beginning for Lion Comics, and one hopes that the promises to keep the flag afloat, is kept to its entirety at least, in this leg of our rebirth. </p> <p align="justify"><strong>And just to sum up,</strong> the whole <strong>collector’s issue</strong>, here is a full blown cover which encompasses this fattest comic album series in India. If you haven’t thought about buying it so far, then this would no doubt make you to do so.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8Y64yFNUe8ep1MjxRLAXRc-owcnfMv9Q9j8A9mV_974gOfS1hOr3E_G6P1SCzuDv2cZpFoOqiXujfF7QXxShj-LmuY8-j2tqe8FSpBYIXx8dKIIpPeFi0-fYLVggnaZx4J_3EQ/s1600-h/XIII%20Collector%20Special%20Full%20Cover%5B11%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="XIII Collector Special Full Cover" border="0" alt="XIII Collector Special Full Cover" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TMukd3uQJOI/AAAAAAAAGhU/kmqvCq7JUPs/XIII%20Collector%20Special%20Full%20Cover_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="695" height="418" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font color="#ff0000"><strong><font size="1"><font color="#000000">For sales and further queries, Contact:</font> </font></strong><font color="#000080"><font size="1"><strong>Prakash Publications @ 04562-272 649 / 04562-320 993 <br /></strong><font color="#000000">(or) send a Cheque (Payable at Par)/DD/Money-Order for <strong>INR 230</strong> (Only for India), with a return address to</font> <br /><strong>Prakash Publications, 89 Chairman PKS AAR Road, Ammankovil Patti Lane, Sivakasi 626 189</strong></font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Enjoy your Read, Amigos. I am going to do that, myself.</strong> See you all, in the next post.</p> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com92tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-48160988122695635322010-06-03T03:49:00.000+05:302010-06-03T16:08:33.244+05:30Graphix – Bone #5-9 | Smith & Hamaker | 2010<p align="left">“<b>When it rains, it pours</b>” says an often used English idiom. While that isn’t the literal case with the season we are being subjected to in the Indian cities, it’s aptly applies to Jeff Smith’s Bone series publications in India.</p> <p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiS96dyFMH_tVTeKoSyiAV5QItqYjYN44x8AUONOZd1KmPWfogGdOa7e23q_K3bsXgZuSfTZvWVK4w8H_eF1tuH-dRHQEbZbooiTLKq17o0CXMwdbqUYjOAhf8gV0HD5HZEx3jg/s1600/Bone.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiS96dyFMH_tVTeKoSyiAV5QItqYjYN44x8AUONOZd1KmPWfogGdOa7e23q_K3bsXgZuSfTZvWVK4w8H_eF1tuH-dRHQEbZbooiTLKq17o0CXMwdbqUYjOAhf8gV0HD5HZEx3jg/s320/Bone.png" width="155" height="170" /></a>Yes, the long awaited <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Bone" target="_blank"><strong>Bone</strong></a>’s final set have come to the Indian stores, and I for one is happy as ever to read the conclusion to these anthropomorphic Bone cousins’ saga, in full blown colour.</p> <p><strong>The first set</strong>, consisting of <b><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/10/graphix-bone-pack-1-2008.html" target="_blank">Bone #1 to #4</a></b>, was released by Scholastic’s Indian arm, under their imprint <strong><em>Graphix</em></strong>, back in 2008. At the time of their Indian release, Bone #9, the last collection of this Scholastic series, was undergoing their new colouring effort, and we were wondering here at Comicology, that the remaining titles would be released along with the #9, once that is made available to the US stores. </p> <p><strong>Colored Bone #9</strong>, eventually hit the stores in US on <a href="http://www.boneville.com/2009/01/21/crown-of-horns-the-final-color-volume-in-the-bone-saga-hits-stores/" target="_blank">Jan 2009</a>, and my hope of seeing the sets in India soon, were doubled. But, as it turned out it took more than a year for Scholastic to bring their last instalment of Bone sets to India.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK-_at0AfI/AAAAAAAAGLU/v4i2xOhIMG4/s1600-h/Bone%20Saga%27s%20Main%20Characters%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone Saga's Main Characters" border="0" alt="Bone Saga's Main Characters" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_AKy4yqI/AAAAAAAAGLY/D4JY-GAVt1g/Bone%20Saga%27s%20Main%20Characters_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="702" height="195" /></a></p> <p><strong>Reasons are unknown of the delay</strong>, which could be debated from the slow sales of these items off the store racks, or the relative popularity these Bone Cousins enjoy among Indian comic fans. But, it was sure that some concerns were related to the Indian prints, which has made Scholastic to adopt a safer <strong><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_FbMcQ5I/AAAAAAAAGLk/VBTWP-_SPMQ/s1600-h/Hooded%20One%20and%20Kingdok%20and%20his%20disciples%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Hooded One, Kingdok and Rat Creatures" border="0" alt="Hooded One, Kingdok and Rat Creatures" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_F6541CI/AAAAAAAAGLo/jUu0dbhIYCw/Hooded%20One%20and%20Kingdok%20and%20his%20disciples_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="134" height="196" /></a></strong></strong>method this time around, by procuring the second set directly from their Singapore editions.</p> <p align="left"><strong>The package, size and format</strong> remains the same, with the quality of the papers being the only difference. While the Indian Prints (#1 to #4) were thinner, the new set have more thicker quality papers, but still they are both comparable in terms of  the glossy paper quality. And to maintain the standards, they are being priced at the same range of INR 350 each.</p> <p align="left"><strong>We had discussed the steep price</strong> during our last post, but I still  believe that the world renowned characters, who are now available to us in brand new colored avatars, deserve that price tag.</p> <p align="left">So, without further adieu, let’s move on to our preview of these 5 titles of Bone.</p> <span id="fullpost"> <hr /> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Scholastic Graphix: Bone #5 <br />Rock Jaw – Master of the Eastern Border <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_uM5GQNI/AAAAAAAAGKM/0oz1Yx_9H1o/s1600-h/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%235%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Bone (Scholastic) #5" border="0" alt="Bone (Scholastic) #5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_vy5gbJI/AAAAAAAAGKU/6aZNQ-3g8y8/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%235_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="370" /></a>ISBN: 978-0-439-70636-0 <br /> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">2010 | 116 Pgs | INR 350 | C5 | Color | Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Bone #5, </strong>titled <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Jaw:_Master_of_the_Eastern_Border" target="_blank">Rock Jaw</a>, </strong>carries the Bone Cousins to the Eastern borders in their quest to take the Rat creature, named now as Bartleby <font size="1">(a character, which recently made it to the <a href="http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/10/16/celebrate-where-the-wild-things-are-with-five-misunderstood-comic-book-monsters/" target="_blank">MTV list</a>)</font>, and chronicles their encounters with the Big mountain lion, <strong>Roque Jaw</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 1)</font>, often mistakenly pronounced as Rock Jaw, much to his irritation.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_BXVZAEI/AAAAAAAAGLc/dDZA5ym1z_0/s1600-h/Book%205%20Inner%20Page%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Book 5 Inner Page" border="0" alt="Book 5 Inner Page" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_EPMJFTI/AAAAAAAAGLg/uXw0epoQ7ME/Book%205%20Inner%20Page_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="267" /></a></strong>In total Bone #5 comprises<strong> </strong>of 5 exact chapters where they get new allies in form of <strong>The Orphans</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 2)</font>, and also discover the <strong>Rat Creature Temple</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 3) </font>along with the unlikely duo of <em>Stupid Stupid Rat Creatures</em>.</p> <p align="left">Further down they fall victim to the mysterious <strong>Ghost Circles </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 4)</font> with a special face-to-face encounter with Kingdok and his hoard, as the volume comes to the close with a final answer to the <strong>Call of the Wild</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 5)</font> for their little Bartleby.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left">The encounters with the Stupid Stupid Rat Creatures and the monstrous Rock Jaw are a out and out laughter package, which is sure to tickle your funny bone.</p> <hr /> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Scholastic Graphix: Bone #6 <br />Old Man’s Cave <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_yPHvx_I/AAAAAAAAGKY/QjdsPHEyPR8/s1600-h/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%236%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Bone (Scholastic) #6" border="0" alt="Bone (Scholastic) #6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYApJ8Icxwl6oijFdWa5FnQAttnB9YolUDJ0VN8YvFO1vnDIdbUjdlDeAK6c5dT8SqDMyxOnY4gtvCW2NTPNsFStYBNFdHwHGgA6-qHLw66A74yOs0AJRTpcDbiEgCFLwaXBNGA/?imgmax=800" width="250" height="370" /></a> I</span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">SBN: 978-0-439-70635-3 <br />2010 | 118 Pgs | INR 350 | C5 | Color | Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Book #6, </strong>titled <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man%27s_Cave" target="_blank">Old Man’s Cave</a>, </strong>starts with a Prologue of <strong>Cranky Groundhog</strong>, where Fone Bone and Smiley Bone try to find their way back to the valley, to be close to their dear friends. </p> <p align="left">While back in the valley the long murmured showdown between <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_HFJHvzI/AAAAAAAAGLs/32CQnYX1UOg/s1600-h/Book%206%20Inner%20Page%5B13%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Book 6 Inner Page" border="0" alt="Book 6 Inner Page" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_INX8mBI/AAAAAAAAGLw/-GEhRz6VrUw/Book%206%20Inner%20Page_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="265" /></a>the Rat Creatures and the Valley people had started, with the first round being won by the demonic creatures, as the secret of <strong>The Hollow Tree </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 1) </font>is revealed to the readers. </p> <p align="left">Thorn turns out the Guardian angel to lost Bone cousins in <strong>Dragons in the Earth</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 2)</font>, while they try escaping the menace of Ghost Circles, through Thorn’s newly discovered power of <strong>Protection Spell </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 3)</font>, as they defy Grandma’s order and try to chart a new path of their own. </p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left">Back near the sanctuary of Stick Eaters, where the Valley people have retreated, their trusted ally Lucius is befooled by a <strong>Wolf Call </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 4)</font>, as the <strong>Blood Moon </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 5) </font>night arrives for a pinnacle showdown between Hooded One and Grandma Ben, with Bones and Thorn playing an important role in the final outcome.</p> <hr /> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Scholastic Graphix: Bone #7 <br />Ghost Circles <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_2PwZfWI/AAAAAAAAGKk/tDg8p8Y7XUI/s1600-h/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%237%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Bone (Scholastic) #7" border="0" alt="Bone (Scholastic) #7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_4TMdwzI/AAAAAAAAGKo/I9E5CQcfgdo/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%237_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="373" /></a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">ISBN: 978-0-439-70634-6 <br />2010 | 150 Pgs | INR 350 | C5 | Color | Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Bone #7</strong>, titled <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Circles" target="_blank">Ghost Circles</a></strong>, starts of with a heart-rendering Prologue of <strong>Jonathan</strong>, who at his last bed, repents his actions, which casts suspicions over the loyalty of Lucius.</p> <p align="left">Back at the Old Man’s Cave, a bloody war ensures between the  Good and the Bad, sounding the <strong>End Times</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 1)</font>. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_JMHQB2I/AAAAAAAAGL0/KSoSl1DKpvw/s1600-h/Book%207%20Inner%20Page%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Book 7 Inner Page" border="0" alt="Book 7 Inner Page" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_J5rubQI/AAAAAAAAGL4/MFu0Ni8GiQw/Book%207%20Inner%20Page_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="270" /></a>Thorn along with Grandma Ben, leads the Bone Cousins, for her final assault on the Rat Creatures stronghold, as <strong>The Promise</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 2) </font>is revealed, and <strong>Darker Truths</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 3)</font>, comes out to open.</p> <p align="left">Battle with the blood thirsty Rat creatures, turns to <strong>Snap! Crackle! Pop! </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 4) </font>action, and Thorn and Fone Bone, manage to enter the mysterious Ghost Circles, to find out the voices of <strong>Root Cellar</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 5)</font>, which gives them the necessary direction to face the evil looming at their path.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left">As they approach the Rat Creatures stronghold, for one final battle, Thorn and company, discover the <strong>Prayer Stones </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 6) </font>erected for the Dragon shrines, and their meanings are revealed.</p> <hr /> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Scholastic Graphix: Bone #8 <br />Treasure Hunters <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_6so6ySI/AAAAAAAAGKs/PcXyaiSm7oU/s1600-h/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%238%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Bone (Scholastic) #8" border="0" alt="Bone (Scholastic) #8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_7k46B7I/AAAAAAAAGKw/235kCadEfBs/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%238_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="373" /></a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">ISBN: 978-0-439-70633-9 <br />2010 | 136 Pgs | INR 350 | C5 | Color | Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Bone #8</strong>, titled <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Hunters_%28book%29" target="_blank">Treasure Hunters</a></strong>, brings Phoney Bone and his ever bright business minds back to the fore, but not before <strong>Lucius</strong> gets his own due with a Prologue dedicated to him.</p> <p align="left">The travelling party of Thorn and company, reach the <strong>Gate of Atheia</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 1)</font>, the place where the Old Kingdom once was <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_Kz5viXI/AAAAAAAAGL8/FBcGoQ1SqMM/s1600-h/Book%208%20Inner%20Page%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Book 8 Inner Page" border="0" alt="Book 8 Inner Page" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_MhQsC_I/AAAAAAAAGMA/ojQgrb35SdI/Book%208%20Inner%20Page_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="271" /></a>ruled by Thorn’s forefathers, who commanded the Valley and beyond.</p> <p align="left">What now resides there is a corrupt government, and mysterious areas covered with <strong>The Cold Spot</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 2), </font>for the evils to traverse between Dream and Awakened Worlds.</p> <p align="left">Meanwhile, Smiley Bone and the reunited Bartleby, turn out to be good <strong>Pals</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 3)</font>, inside the gates of Atheia. While, Fone Bone along with the trouble-maker Phoney Bone, faces the romantic battle of love and affection, with the <strong>To Be or Not to Bee</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 4)</font>, question looming large.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Inside the gates of Atheia, a secret meeting of the old loyalists <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_N3HnrEI/AAAAAAAAGME/lWkF6vf65aY/s1600-h/Bone%20and%20the%20Valley%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone and the Valley" border="0" alt="Bone and the Valley" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_PPhtgCI/AAAAAAAAGMI/5OeiJY6ar2Y/Bone%20and%20the%20Valley_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="181" /></a>take place, with Thorn finally being briefed about her queen mother, nicknamed <strong>Moonwort</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 5)</font>. She was apparently killed by the Rat Creatures, which ultimately led to the end of their family’s rein over the old kingdom.</p> <p>Thorn finally reveals that her search is aimed for the <strong>The Crown of Horns</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 6)</font>, which is said to be the key to defeat the demon lord of Locusts, who is on a quest to resurrect himself, for a rule over the Valley and beyond. </p> <p>With dark clouds looming around the city, Rat Creatures gather at the Gate of Atheia, for a final assault for control. Thorn and Grandma now find themselves, in the midst of a bloody battle.</p> <hr /> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <table style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,128) 2px solid" align="left"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">Scholastic Graphix: Bone #9 <br />Crown of Horns <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S_F_83h6c2I/AAAAAAAAGK0/H_fiFWTXC3s/s1600-h/Bone%20%28Scholastic%29%20%239%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Bone (Scholastic) #9" border="0" alt="Bone (Scholastic) #9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK1jtFmaJcbWelj1_qKKGtoxkeFp9gnqNMtUAaXe9nhbBzkXDb4-_ohhSiSoj_End38YFKlgsdurJkLt48GxGD3VDZpUMAtfSlDAaGeAHjArJdfRPMw0gGdyF-i7JOqWnjHzpQQ/?imgmax=800" width="250" height="373" /></a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small">ISBN: 978-0-439-70632-2 <br />2010 | 214 Pgs | INR 350 | C5 | Color | Paperback</span></b></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Book #9</strong>, the final volume of this Bone saga titled <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Horns_%28book%29" target="_blank">Crown of Horns</a></strong>, starts off with the recollection of the Thorn’s childhood in <strong>The Dungeon and The Parapet </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 1)</font>, which is the second biggest chapter of the entire Bone series.</p> <p align="left">The full blown chapter details the bloody war between the Rat <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_QQTXoCI/AAAAAAAAGPg/GsCzsgkj5JM/s1600-h/Book%209%20Inner%20Page.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Book 9 Inner Page" border="0" alt="Book 9 Inner Page" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_RN7bEQI/AAAAAAAAGPo/JMmc00EUbCY/Book%209%20Inner%20Page_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="279" /></a>creatures and their allies, and the rejuvenated but outnumbered forces of Atheia, making their final stand on behalf of the human kind.</p> <p align="left">An Insert of <strong>Mim</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 2)</font>, the first Dragon queen, is briefed in a short chapter, before Thorn reveals that the Ghost Circles which surrounds the city into an unbreakable magic cover has some <strong>Gaps </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 3)</font>, using which they believe that they can bring some much needed help from their allies at <em>Old Man’s Cave</em>, who unknowing to them are facing a handful of problems on their own.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>Escape from the City</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 4)</font>, then details Thorn and company’s escapade using these Gaps, as they desperately try to get some sort of helping hands in their battle against the evil. But unknowingly <strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAbZNGrRdQI/AAAAAAAAGNM/RhNRWdrOw7I/s1600-h/Bone%2041%20%28Original%20Cover%29%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone 41 (Original Cover)" border="0" alt="Bone 41 (Original Cover)" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_S0HaGqI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/zXjRXuOXYfE/Bone%2041%20%28Original%20Cover%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="242" /></a></strong>to Grandma, Thorn maps her own path to <strong>Chamber of Horns </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 5)</font>, to put an end to the menace in toto.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_Tz6nSxI/AAAAAAAAGNU/Mu8E5jXgu9s/s1600-h/Bone%2045%20%28Original%20Cover%29%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone 45 (Original Cover)" border="0" alt="Bone 45 (Original Cover)" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_UeGSqAI/AAAAAAAAGNY/yrBux2aMp5k/Bone%2045%20%28Original%20Cover%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="245" /></a>What happens is then the final battle of good vs evil, in another lengthy chapter <font size="1">(Chapter 5)</font> of the volume 9 <font size="1">(which even outnumbers Chapter 1 of the same book in terms of numbers)</font>, with the readers having to witness the familiar climax of many a fairytales unfold before their very eyes.</p> <p><strong>Homecoming </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 6)</font>, is a dedicated to Lucius, the martyr of the blood war, where he is sent on his final voyage back to his hometown for a royal burial. Joining them on their entourage are Bone cousins, who embark on their own mission back to Boneville, with Thorn & Grandma joining to see them off.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_VcQMumI/AAAAAAAAGOw/5N3FFwdtaKQ/s1600-h/Bone%2048%20%28Original%20Cover%29%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone 48 (Original Cover)" border="0" alt="Bone 48 (Original Cover)" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_WPHWEzI/AAAAAAAAGO0/G1IHu5ehqTc/Bone%2048%20%28Original%20Cover%29_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="244" /></a></strong>A small chapter of <strong>Solstice </strong><font size="1">(Chapter 7)</font>, is also inserted in this volume, which briefly recites the Christmas enjoyed by this travel party, on their voyage.</p> <p align="left"><strong>River Crossing</strong> <font size="1">(Chapter 8)</font>, finishes of the Bone saga, with the Bones reaching their mark for a farewell, with Thorn and Grandma giving them the send-off. Unknowing to them, Phoney Bone has managed to scalp the treasure of Atheia, as he tries to smuggle them out as the culmination of his long standing mission. </p> <table style="margin-top: 2px" class="pullquote" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="310" align="right"><tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td> <td width="95"></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px" width="100"></td> <td width="100"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="pullquotetext" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" align="center"><font color="#808080" size="1"><strong>"<font size="1">Despite the cover of the last issue of the original run, portrays Red Dragon asking us to keep mum; the ending of this Bone saga would be debated for long and hard, by those who followed the series through the 90’s and beyond the millennium”</font></strong></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px"></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="10" colspan="3"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left">Does he get the support of his allies Smiley and the do-gooder Fone, or do they become his nemesis, is unravelled in the final pages as the readers give a farewell to the Bone Saga, which redefined the thin line between Comics and Graphic Novels for over a decade.</p> <p align="left"><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_W6KISzI/AAAAAAAAGNo/zcZrWR96I7s/s1600-h/Bone%2055%20%28Original%20Cover%29%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bone 55 (Original Cover)" border="0" alt="Bone 55 (Original Cover)" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_Xl2ksQI/AAAAAAAAGNs/rsdFU1cDVeQ/Bone%2055%20%28Original%20Cover%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="227" /></a></strong></strong></strong>But, did the ending really satisfy </strong>the Bone readers to the fullest? I have my own reservations, and despite Jeff Smith claiming that he had the ending planned even before he started drawing his first album, I still don’t think that end was as he had envisioned originally, at least to the true essence of it. It was abrupt, and doesn’t bode well for the legacy set by the early adventures of Bone.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Nevertheless, despite the cover of the Original #55</strong> issue of Bone, portrays a Red Drag asking us to keep mum, the ending of this Bone saga would be debated for long and hard as long, by those who followed the series for the whole of 90’s and beyond the millennium.</p> <p></p> <hr /> <p></p> <p><font color="#000080"><strong><u><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_Yf8VqPI/AAAAAAAAGNw/z9RiwWQaikA/s1600-h/Jeff%20Smith%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Jeff Smith" border="0" alt="Jeff Smith" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_ZA3GAhI/AAAAAAAAGN0/JDUw7dUDZOY/Jeff%20Smith_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="180" /></a>CREATORS CORNER:</u> <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Jeff%20Smith" target="_blank">Jeff Smith</a></strong></font></p> <p><strong>We have spoken a whole</strong> lot about <strong>Jeff Smith </strong>in our two earlier blog posts about <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAbZTyydLnI/AAAAAAAAGN4/DNkNd5zozbw/s1600-h/Jeff%20Smith%20Daily%20Strip%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="One of Jeff Smith's earlier Daily Strips" border="0" alt="One of Jeff Smith's earlier Daily Strips" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAbZUl9AHNI/AAAAAAAAGN8/THqMDvLebtk/Jeff%20Smith%20Daily%20Strip_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="105" /></a>Bone, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/10/graphix-bone-pack-1-2008.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2008/12/media-article-bone-bangalore-mirror-30.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but he never seizes to amaze me, each time I read more about his path to glory. </p> <p>From a $7 per day strip maker, to a man who owns a fledgling comics business entity, his story is an inspiration for all those aspiring comic fans, who like to make their own cut.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAbZVgAdCzI/AAAAAAAAGP8/yUC_IbyuhcI/s1600-h/Jeff%20Smith%2C%20Vijaya%20Iyer%2C%20and%20His%20Bones%5B5%5D.gif" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ1ESKsDd9lZ1Hk0f2L5QADKkxrPBW2GXkQj2HcMYNs6iaUyoLDAycMdmP1bxkiju_k2awCc5XJTHSTXaFrwFBr-mgtnhHvYmuu2HZu4j-jB15mNCIpijqgWYLPRTKO_2b-zjRQ/s1600-h/Jeff%20Smith,%20Vijaya%20Iyer,%20and%20His%20Bones%5B6%5D.gif" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Jeff Smith, Vijaya Iyer, and their Bone empire" border="0" alt="Jeff Smith, Vijaya Iyer, and their Bone empire" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoWJVxKpgoDaVBSeR-gvfGZj2U__5D5NGNgEfCzi8tMJTKeibqoannLYrAMbneJ2w4zzLueOOm2A-92Zo0NzE8nNXULvuBUdtovzrl4kno1xyUGnmGbs9mU8H6ry0_cAYjkuWFg/?imgmax=800" width="243" height="178" /></a></a></a><strong>Jeff now devotes his time </strong>between guest talks <a href="http://samehat.blogspot.com/2006/12/trans-europe-express-4-jeff-smith-and_17.html" target="_blank">in comics forums</a> around the world, and writing and drawing his new adventure series, <a href="http://www.boneville.com/category/rasl/" target="_blank">RASL</a>. But, Bone continues to be his hallmark achievement, and now is a study material in many of the schools in his country. </p> <p>Recently, he won in his favour a <a href="http://www.boneville.com/2010/04/28/review-committee-votes-10-to-1-not-to-ban-bone/" target="_blank">Minnesota review committee ruling</a>, which was in response to a petition filed by a kid’s mom, to ban Bone based story telling from school syllabus. The reasons given - the Bone volumes portrayed violence, gambling, and drinking in its earlier episodes.</p> <p>Anyone who had read Bone series would stand against those allegations, so there was no wonder the judgement turned in the favour of Smith and company.</p> <p></p> <hr /> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font color="#000080"><strong><u><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_bjGzdtI/AAAAAAAAGOI/nnZpyvVKwEA/s1600-h/Steve%20Hamaker.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Steve Hamaker" border="0" alt="Steve Hamaker" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_cLrsK_I/AAAAAAAAGOQ/UXez2czEIcI/Steve%20Hamaker_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="127" /></a>CREATORS CORNER:</u> <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Steve%20Hamaker" target="_blank">Steve Hamaker</a></strong></font></p> <p><strong>Even though this collection</strong> of Bone series is not new, as it was only a re-issue version of the 9 <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_Z34s98I/AAAAAAAAGM8/s9hUHk77dK8/s1600-h/Steve%20Hamaker%20breathes%20colors%20into%20Bone%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Steve Hamaker breathes colors into Bone" border="0" alt="Steve Hamaker breathes colors into Bone" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAK_awN6aAI/AAAAAAAAGNA/ZLbDroxJbuk/Steve%20Hamaker%20breathes%20colors%20into%20Bone_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="152" /></a>volume Bone collection released by Jeff Smith’s own Cartoon Books, which in-turn collected the 55 edition single issues; where it standsout is in the breathtaking color rendition by the incredibly talented Steve Hamaker, who breathed his life and soul into turning a classic into a modern day Graphic Novel standard.</p> <p><strong>Bone had achieved a cult state</strong>, even before Hamaker came into the picture. But, he made the turnaround, which resulted in Bone now being introduced into schools in United States, as a medium of teaching. Steve Hamaker was recently nominated for Eisner Awards, for his works on <a href="http://www.boneville.com/2009/04/08/2009-eisner-nomination-for-bone-colorist-extraordinaire-steve-hamaker/" target="_blank">Bone’s latest volumes</a>, which incidentally was his 4th for this esteemed recognition in comics industry.</p> <p>As a tribute to his work, I could only do my part by dedicating the creativity rights of Bone, by naming him along with Jeff in the title of this Bone post. <strong><em>You deserved it fella !</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>And that completes our Bone run at Comicology</strong>, and if you haven’t read it, now is a chance to read them <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/bone/books.htm" target="_blank">all in one go</a>. So, head to your nearest book store, or sit and order it from your online store. </p> <p>Nevertheless, Enjoy the reading, <strong><em>Adios Amigos !</em></strong></p> </span> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-88640544010408954562010-03-31T23:59:00.000+05:302010-08-01T14:46:56.654+05:30Siruvar Malar – Faceache | Survival #12-22<p align="left">Have you heard about <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzo_illusion" target="_blank">Ponzo Illusion</a></strong>, introduced by an Italian psychologist <a href="http://www.premierphotographer.com/optical_illusions.html" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="op_illusion_6" border="0" alt="op_illusion_6" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0iTlpM3I/AAAAAAAAGCU/YVsbO8XrSuc/op_illusion_6%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="130" /></a>who lent his name to theory? Well, it says that “a human mind, judges an object based on its background”. </p> <p align="left"><strong>I hope to weave the same magic</strong>, to hide my on and off presence off late, by bringing back a post series started way back at Comicology, in fact at the start of 2009. Yes, I am indeed talking about the longest running Children’s weekly in Tamil magazines, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Siruvar%20Malar?max-results=3" target="_blank"><b>Siruvar Malar</b></a>, and the longest ever comic series published during its golden run <font size="1">(more about it in the later part of the post)</font>.</p> <p align="left">We had seen the legacy <strong>Siruvar Malar</strong> enjoyed during its golden run, in our <strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/01/siruvar-malar-flashback-1986.html" target="_blank">Intro post</a></strong>, and also had noted about some of the changes it went through during that famed period, notably a successful conversion to a 32 page supplement, from a 16 page one, which was then considered a luxury for a free issue, like Siruvar Malar.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0jqGn-zI/AAAAAAAAGCY/zHtZHCWL_88/s1600-h/Siruvar%20Malar%20Latest%20Logo%5B9%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Siruvar Malar Latest Logo" border="0" alt="Siruvar Malar Latest Logo" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8ctfKXuBkTSqzrRVT2M70V6QloYnKyQaw1aCE_sX5qymlcYDVJXNVTC5sflNMYB-eEY-gsVfRZheTn3DF4LDJYIaHy8rPT4_A1CTzNDD4aIV0mZv82S796UmJ_f14LR85fHbsQ/?imgmax=800" width="142" height="56" /></a>Siruvar Malar’s sudden change</strong> from a <i>16 page</i> supplement to a <i>32 page</i> supplement, meant that they  needed much more material to fill up their pages. Their deal with <b>Rang Rekha Features</b> comics syndicate, which owned the stories copyrighted by <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Amar%20Chitra%20Katha" target="_blank">ACK</a> & <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Tinkle" target="_blank">Tinkle</a>, was getting redundant and too stereotypical, and they were never the one to trust the local artists to create their own stories, especially considering that theirs was a free supplemental issue.</p> <p align="left">So they naturally turned onto their existing tie-up’s with the British genre, which had much to offer from their olden goldies, quite notably from their famous humour series, which made the kids and the young ones from the Queen’s country in that era, to laugh their heart’s content.</p> <p align="left"><strong>To mark the </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day" target="_blank"><strong>April Fools Day</strong></a>, let’s look into one of the mischievous characters from that famed stable, who decorated the Siruvar Malar’s editions week after week.</p> <p align="left"><b><span style="color: navy"><u><font size="3">Faceache</font></u></span></b>: One of the first humour strips they managed to feature in Siruvar Malar, was <em>Faceache</em>, which <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKowXq-DPNg2CvNi6h7um5Dy_wxhkVGBJM8xYj1qQwV4c4ZeEUvhlPAAylRxrH58TBKuItbaVsPYnqpNmj2RBALJCql3JhpLrouKLjMU5UKNJ0TpTAMEFUaFHNzZ1j_SCT065toA/s1600-h/Faceache+-+The+Boy+With+a+Hundred+Faces+01.gif" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 168px; float: left; height: 153px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360115215630405954" title="Faceache in transformation" alt="Faceache in transformation" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKowXq-DPNg2CvNi6h7um5Dy_wxhkVGBJM8xYj1qQwV4c4ZeEUvhlPAAylRxrH58TBKuItbaVsPYnqpNmj2RBALJCql3JhpLrouKLjMU5UKNJ0TpTAMEFUaFHNzZ1j_SCT065toA/s400/Faceache+-+The+Boy+With+a+Hundred+Faces+01.gif" /></a>has its origins dating as back to 1971. Faceache followed the funny <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0ms6oMTI/AAAAAAAAGCg/8K2gTLYen8Y/s1600-h/Reid%27s%20Faceache%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Reid's Faceache" border="0" alt="Reid's Faceache" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0owLSD9I/AAAAAAAAGCk/kZiI9EJ3oKg/Reid%27s%20Faceache_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="301" /></a>episodes of a boy named <b>Ricky Rubberneck</b>, who was a student at Belmonte School. </p> <p align="left">Rubberneck had a weird gift, using which he could shape his face to  any form, aided by the stretchable skin, which works as if its is made out of Rubber, and bendable face bones.</p> <p align="left">Most of the original strips of the series, were shown as him using his weird gift, to escape the punishments from his headmaster, Mr.Snipe, and to get to safety from the angered ones, most likely by his antiques.</p> <p align="left">Faceache was created by one of the talented British Comics writer and artist, Ken Reid, for the erstwhile <b>Jet</b> magazine, published by Fleetway, decorating its first issue, released on May 1, 1971.</p> <span id="fullpost"> <hr /> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0pknWmGI/AAAAAAAAGCo/0IvKfnRM0sI/s1600-h/Ken%20Reid%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><font color="#000080" size="3"><strong><u><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ken Reid" border="0" alt="Ken Reid" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0q9iflJI/AAAAAAAAGCs/k3lSq5j-DOo/Ken%20Reid_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="167" height="128" /></u></strong></font></a><font color="#000080" size="3"><strong><u>Creator’s Corner</u></strong>: </font><strong>Ken Reid <font size="1">(1919-1987)</font></strong>, was a born artist. He had a natural flare towards drawing right from his toddler age. Hailing from Manchester, one of UK’s biggest city, he lived a typical British kid’s childhood, drooling over the Comics which were available freely in the market, such as <a href="http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/History/HistoryExtraPages/FunnyWonder.htm" target="_blank">Funny Wonder</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illustrated_Chips" target="_blank">Illustrated Chips</a>.</p> <p align="left">Right near to his completion of studies in the Art school, the artist in him refused to wait any longer, as he left his institute, and started a freelance studio, at a age of 17. By his own admittance, he never saw his dream of the publishers running to him into fruition, and he was forced to go to the streets and meet the publishers instead. After numerous unsuccessful attempts trying to penetrate the huge walls of publishing offices, he eventually met his erstwhile employers at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Evening_News" target="_blank">Manchester Evening News</a> (MEN).</p> <p align="left"><strong>It was a pure lucky, as right at the same time MEN</strong> was planning on launching a children section in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnU7JtkDNHSSn3U1gWpH88_W3OJ8c-olZNARO63ZjBWqde-BGt4gcMGaGY5MFi1LdbWmm8_pu3mfCCQ9jrffMs7qDtRXlMOFwO30FPvEyatbxwcBe_O6h1-AQ38Ogii26QW4KZA/s1600-h/Fudge%20Annual%201939%5B7%5D.gif" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Fudge Annual 1939" border="0" alt="Fudge Annual 1939" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0tcHmnmI/AAAAAAAAGGs/IIR07Ff4RN8/Fudge%20Annual%201939_thumb%5B5%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="127" height="174" /></a>their newspaper, and <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0uqsmPFI/AAAAAAAAGC4/5lI0pa7wmKI/s1600-h/Elf%20in%20Color%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Elf in Color" border="0" alt="Elf in Color" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T0vluvzxI/AAAAAAAAGC8/J8wpUSfkJxo/Elf%20in%20Color_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="158" height="227" /></a>Reid was also asked to submit his own idea. After numerous attempts, Reid created his first comic series, and arguably his most famous one, in <strong>The Adventures of Fudge the Elf</strong>. </p> <p align="left">Reid never failed to acknowledge that his creation Fudge was inspired by Walt Disney’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse" target="_blank">Mickey Mouse</a> <font size="1">(you can see the similarity in the face)</font>. Fudge made its appearance in Evening News on April 7, 1938, and Reid was a proud owner of a comic strip series even before his 20s. </p> <p align="left">Fudge was an instant success, spawning 6 annuals, and numerous branded representations from Dolls, to kids wear. It continued to appear uninterrupted until Reid was drafted into the World War in 1941, like many other artists of his time, in the process suspending the series until 1946, when Reid eventually returned. </p> <p align="left"><strong>Post World War, Reid went to discover</strong> newer horizons, from illustrated work to full fledged comics, through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetway" target="_blank">Amalgamated Press</a> <font size="1">(more famously known to us as <strong>Fleetway</strong>)</font>, the legendary comic book publisher of his era. Before he could establish himself in their comic magazine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_Cuts" target="_blank">Comic Cuts</a>, AP folded their business, and Reid found himself in the rival company, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.C._Thomson_%26_Co._Ltd" target="_blank">DC Thomson</a>, by the fag end of 1953. </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T08jjWltI/AAAAAAAAGDA/BIiMHQQjLo8/s1600-h/Roger%20the%20Dodger%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Roger the Dodger" border="0" alt="Roger the Dodger" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T09lfbSLI/AAAAAAAAGDE/JLv9ND8sy3w/Roger%20the%20Dodger_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="213" height="217" /></a> DC Thomson, that time had just started to fill in the vacant spot left by AP, and Reid was placed along with a host of newly acquired artists talent pool, shaping their comic magazine, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beano" target="_blank">The Beano</a>. It turned out to be a master stroke, as <em>The Beano</em> turned DC Thomson’s fortune, becoming their most selling magazine ever.</p> <p align="left"><strong>At DC Thomson, Reid created his first</strong> prankster based comic character <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_the_Dodger" target="_blank">Roger the Dodger</a>. The popularity of the series prompted, his bosses to give him the chance of creating more comics series, and filling in for other long running series too. In this process, Reid found himself drawing for DC Thomson’s another comic magazine, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dandy" target="_blank">The Dandy</a>. During this phase, he created a number of comic series for DC Thomson, namely Little Angel Face, Grandpa, Bing-Bang Benny, Ali Ha-Ha, Big Head & Thick Head, and Jinx. </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1Az0bypI/AAAAAAAAGDI/syK0a_2HS78/s1600-h/Jonah%20Comic%20Series%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Jonah Comic Series" border="0" alt="Jonah Comic Series" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1B6gtKcI/AAAAAAAAGDM/Xf0kLlvsEco/Jonah%20Comic%20Series_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="264" /></a> This was also the same time, when Reid created his personal favourite, and considered by many of his fans as his biggest achievement - <em>a story about a goofy looking mariner named </em><strong>Jonah</strong>, who had the hardest lady luck of sinking any ship he sets his foot-in. Jonah made its debut in The Beano, on 15 March 1958, and was a trendsetter of sorts.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Reid not only used a different</strong> humorous art style for the series, he also introduced some of the <strong>firsts in the field of humour comics</strong> in UK. He enhanced the scripts <font size="1">(which were written by Fearne)</font> and made more elaborate artwork; decided to carry over story of the strips continued from one week to another; added real life caricatures of Beano’s and DC Thomson’s editors as part of its characters. He had the full support of his Editors, as they believed that it’s a direction which would take them to newer horizons. </p> <p align="left">Reid’s work on Jonah turned out to be his trendsetter for all of his upcoming series, both in terms of art style, and also in terms of humour based storytelling.  No wonder Jonah even toppled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace_%28U.S.%29" target="_blank">Dennis the Menace</a>, for the top spot in UK’s popularity chart, during its famed run.</p> <p align="left">All the while during these creations, Reid only worked for DC Thomson on per page contract of freelancing, which gave him a chance to move to another company named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odhams_Press" target="_blank">Odhams</a> in 1964, and later to, what is considered as a comics heaven for all British Comics fans, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPC_Media" target="_blank">IPC Magazines</a> in 1969.</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1WJUBIXI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/ZOTqAgZH690/s1600-h/FaceAche%20Firstever%20Strip%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong><u><font color="#000080"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="FaceAche Firstever Strip in 1971" border="0" alt="FaceAche Firstever Strip in 1971" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1XvwPmsI/AAAAAAAAGDU/abM1nqJ71GI/FaceAche%20Firstever%20Strip_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="285" /></font></u></strong></a><strong><u><font color="#000080"> Creation of Faceache</font></u>: IPC was the place where Reid created</strong> the comic character, known to all of us, as <strong>Faceache</strong>. Reid used his famous art style pioneered through Jonah series, to telling effect in Faceache.</p> <p align="left">Initially Faceache, used to carry his Rubberneck name, but eventually <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1ZFeVFdI/AAAAAAAAGDY/FdTAif0q2GQ/s1600-h/Faceache%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache" border="0" alt="Faceache" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1ZxjVFYI/AAAAAAAAGDc/wsjnZsfuCGA/Faceache_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="211" height="120" /></a>known only as Faceache, to suit the series title. As the series progressed, Faceache’s ability was given a form of shape shifting feature, from a mere a kid who can make funny faces with his bone muscles.</p> <p align="left">Whatever, the plot it was made out to be, Faceache, enjoyed a successful run, which started from 1971, in the first issue of Jet magazine, and then later on in the merged entity as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_(comic)" target="_blank">Buster</a>.</p> <p align="left">The popularity of Faceache was such that Reid didn’t allow other comics magazines to mimic its success. He instead another comic character in the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1bLLtl6I/AAAAAAAAGDg/qE_GsRbe1kg/s1600-h/Marthas%20Monster%20Makeup%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Marthas Monster Makeup" border="0" alt="Marthas Monster Makeup" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1b-gxgSI/AAAAAAAAGDk/GUeA1Yx78ys/Marthas%20Monster%20Makeup_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="63" /></a>same lines of Faceache, this time with a female character in the lead, <a href="http://www.toonhound.com/martha.htm" target="_blank">Martha’s Monster Make-up</a>.</p> <p align="left"><strong>But Faceache remained the original</strong> and dear to the fans, and it continued its famed run continuously until 1987, when Reid passed away due to a fatal heart attack. It should be noted that during his heart attack, Reid was actually working on another episode of Faceache, says more about this acclaimed artists dedication to his work.</p> <table style="margin-top: 2px" class="pullquote" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="310" align="right"><tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td> <td width="95"></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px" width="100"></td> <td width="100"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="pullquotetext" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" align="center"><font color="#808080" size="1"><strong>"<font size="1">I admit that sometimes simply got carried away things.  I’ve always had trouble just drawing a script as it is written.  This usually means lots more work on my part, and that’s why I’m not rich.  <br /> <br />I simply like to take what has been sent to me and do the best possible job I can do with it, even if it is a lot more work.</font>" <br /> <br />Ken Reid </strong>on why he took more time for his works</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px"></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="10" colspan="3"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left">After his demise, the series was illustrated by <a href="http://www.frankmcdiarmid.com/" target="_blank">Frank McDiarmid</a></a> <font size="1">(who has now given <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1dNlAmbI/AAAAAAAAGDo/wehPkTLrpD8/s1600-h/buster-gang%5B6%5D.gif" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Buster Gang: Top Row: Crowjack, Snooper | Middle Row: Val and her Vanashing Cream, Tony Broke, Clever Dick, A ghost from Rent-a-ghost | Bottom Row: Ivor Lott, Chalky, Face Ache, Scruffy Doug and Shaggy Dog, Tom Boy" border="0" alt="Buster Gang: Top Row: Crowjack, Snooper | Middle Row: Val and her Vanashing Cream, Tony Broke, Clever Dick, A ghost from Rent-a-ghost | Bottom Row: Ivor Lott, Chalky, Face Ache, Scruffy Doug and Shaggy Dog, Tom Boy" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1eUyrPEI/AAAAAAAAGDs/Sdn6Q4GixWU/buster-gang_thumb%5B4%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="164" height="170" /></a>away his hopes of illustrating comics anymore)</font>, and was scripted by writers Roy Davies and Derek Skinn. </p> <p align="left">But the series without Reid was never going to be successful, and it was folded with a last episode appearing on October 1, 1988 in Buster.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1fv6k5VI/AAAAAAAAGHY/6dtRFgfYqlA/s1600-h/Ken%20Reid%20with%20his%20famous%20creation%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1fv6k5VI/AAAAAAAAGHc/-eK3n_C3Z_4/s1600-h/Ken%20Reid%20with%20his%20famous%20creation%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Ken Reid with his famous creation" border="0" alt="Ken Reid with his famous creation" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_EFzatFacoECnjp7qds-7yDaPMzCON3NN6q8tJe6uZKNjLyopCrQg7_Y4SseeiCYhhSxmX6AWEt7s-hQtZr2Bgbs4b990tN-jVD-ESP6mw3WbngkiD2ediBWcZlzCdmiujueYA/?imgmax=800" width="162" height="130" /></a></a></a><strong>Ken Reid was honoured </strong>as the <strong>Best Writer</strong> and <strong>Best Artist </strong>by the British Society of Strip Illustrators in 1978. More than the awards he will always live in the hearts of all British comic lovers, for his dedicated work and the weird world fantasies he introduced to them.</p> <p align="left"><font size="1"><strong>For a detailed read on Ken Reid’s work, refer to these wonderfully written articles: </strong></font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="left"><font size="1">An in-depth look into the life & works of Reid on </font><a href="http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/Interviews/KenReid/KenReidOverview.asp" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Comics UK website</strong></font></a><font size="1"> </font></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><font size="1">A dedicated website on Reid’s earliest work - </font><a href="http://fudge-the-elf.com" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>Fudge The Elf</strong></font></a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><font size="1">Fellow blogger and comics artist Peter Gray’s archives of Ken Reid's </font><a href="http://petergraycartoonsandcomics.blogspot.com/search/label/Ken%20Reid" target="_blank"><font size="1"><strong>World-Wide Wierdies</strong></font></a><font size="1"><strong>  <br /></strong>(says a lot about Reid’s different take on the monuments of the world)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><font size="1">Ken Reid’s Obituary on <a href="http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/Interviews/KenReid/NewspaperCutting.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Manchester Evening News</strong></a>, the magazine which introduced this great artist to the world.</font></div> </li> </ul> <p align="left">Thanks to them for helping me on this write-up on the greatest humour comic creator from UK, and also for the original images sourced from there.</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbFbVh90I/AAAAAAAAGS4/_3sd--juBFY/s1600-h/idea_light_bulb%5B5%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="idea_light_bulb" border="0" alt="idea_light_bulb" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbFxmt52I/AAAAAAAAGS8/TUfYfTQLNvc/idea_light_bulb_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="60" height="82" /></a> <strong><u><a name="UpdJune10-1"><font color="#ff0000" size="1">UPDATE (June ‘10)</font></a><font color="#ff0000" size="1">:</font></u></strong> Some more of Faceache’s wonderful adventures from its Buster run, including a rare appearance on the cover of Buster <font size="1">(which incidentally talks about Faceache’s love life)</font>, and another 2 page adventure <font size="1">(which breaks away from the traditional 1 page format)</font>, are here for your reading pleasure. <font size="1">Courtesy: <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Scanarama/" target="_blank"><strong>Scanarama</strong></a></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbKLJialI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/bkGSUPxfbHo/s1600-h/Faceache%20on%20Buster%20Cover%20%28Rare%29%5B4%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache on Buster Cover (Rare)" border="0" alt="Faceache on Buster Cover (Rare)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbLTKhT4I/AAAAAAAAGTU/ZN5E5ZPkKEc/Faceache%20on%20Buster%20Cover%20%28Rare%29_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="178" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbNUWKHjI/AAAAAAAAGTY/CU4TdpvblS4/s1600-h/Faceache%20Story1%5B4%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache Story1" border="0" alt="Faceache Story1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbOHGngkI/AAAAAAAAGTc/nmfwS6kDZys/Faceache%20Story1_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="175" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbQ3oTx_I/AAAAAAAAGTg/IZbvFrb6FUA/s1600-h/Faceache%20Story2-1%5B4%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache Story2-1" border="0" alt="Faceache Story2-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbR0iCgGI/AAAAAAAAGTk/q4BWyLe5fPE/Faceache%20Story2-1_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="171" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbT_I9DXI/AAAAAAAAGTo/a6jy_y9l1-o/s1600-h/Faceache%20Story2-2%5B4%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache Story2-2" border="0" alt="Faceache Story2-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbU8_rOaI/AAAAAAAAGTw/UVqxvOVVphY/Faceache%20Story2-2_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a> </p> <hr /> <p align="left">Now that, we have looked into the legacy of the Faceache, let’s look at its Indian avatar, which was introduced by <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Siruvar%20Malar?max-results=2" target="_blank">Siruvar Malar</a>.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Siruvar Malar renamed Faceache</strong>, as <b>Palamuga Mannan Joe</b> <span style="font-size: xx-small">(பலமுக மன்னன் ஜோ)</span>, which literally means <i>’The Multi-faced Joe’</i>, closely rhyming with ‘The Boy with a Thousand <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1lr4Dn8I/AAAAAAAAGD8/LAbol1rO0aQ/s1600-h/900817%20Joe%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Joe on Aug 1990 Siruvar Malar" border="0" alt="Joe on Aug 1990 Siruvar Malar" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1m810slI/AAAAAAAAGEA/5-xVcHeXDyA/900817%20Joe_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="304" /></a>Faces’ subtitle from the original series. </p> <p align="left">It started with Reid’s run on the series, ably translated into Tamil, by those who were behind the weekly, and then started featuring Frank’s run on the series.</p> <p align="left">Quite frankly, the charisma you could witness in Reid’s work was not to be seen in Frank’s adventures. No wonder the series moved onto its sunset.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1wREAMoI/AAAAAAAAGEM/ktqNR-dOUHQ/s1600-h/891006%20Joe-LocalArt%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Joe on Oct 1989 Siruvar Malar (Local Art)" border="0" alt="Joe on Oct 1989 Siruvar Malar (Local Art)" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1xkR_VII/AAAAAAAAGEQ/8TTWZLeVNG0/891006%20Joe-LocalArt_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="280" /></a>There was also one episode</strong>, where I could witness a totally different art style being used. I wonder whether it was from Frank, or was it created locally by our artists. </p> <p align="left">But there can be no doubt, in another episode, when Joe eventually takes part in one of our own South Indian festivals, which is clearly a work of our artists. Can anyone name the artist, of this particular episode, based on the style?</p> <p align="left">Eventually, the stock run out of Joe’s adventures, also pulled the curtains of his Tamil run on Siruvar Malar.</p> <p align="left">But, there is no doubt, the moment someone makes a fun-face, those who had read the series can easily relate it to the childhood they spent, reading Faceache’s adventures, as <strong>Palamuga Manna Joe</strong>, aka <strong>A Boy with a Thousand Faces</strong>. </p> <p align="left">I am one, and I am not alone. <font size="1">Here is a </font><a href="http://browsecomics.blogspot.com/2009/04/siruvarmalar-heros.html" target="_blank"><font size="1">blog post</font></a><font size="1">, by fellow comics enthusiast Limat, on his (and ours) childhood Siruvar Malar superstars.</font></p> <hr /> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbFbVh90I/AAAAAAAAGS4/_3sd--juBFY/s1600-h/idea_light_bulb%5B5%5D.png" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="idea_light_bulb" border="0" alt="idea_light_bulb" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAjbFxmt52I/AAAAAAAAGS8/TUfYfTQLNvc/idea_light_bulb_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="60" height="82" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5bSeDD4I/AAAAAAAAGT4/TNaLnu7ee2E/s1600-h/Faceache%20My%20Art%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Faceache Mugshot (Art by Rafiq Raja - 1988)" border="0" alt="Faceache Mugshot (Art by Rafiq Raja - 1988)" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5cJFpGNI/AAAAAAAAGT8/YVVoBftSTjk/Faceache%20My%20Art_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="125" height="134" /></a> <strong><u><a name="UpdJune10-2"><font color="#ff0000" size="1">UPDATE (June ‘10)</font></a><font color="#ff0000" size="1">:</font></u></strong> When writing the post above, I ran out of time, and couldn’t possibly add an archive of <strong>Pala Muga Manna Joe</strong>, aka., <strong>Faceache</strong>’s appearance through the years on Sirvuar Malar. So, here is a archive across years when Faceache was reigning supreme in Siruvar Malar, often in full color episodes.</p> <p align="left">As you could see the first <strong>4 episodes</strong> listed below, are a trademark Ken Reid’s style, while the next <strong>2 episodes</strong> slightly mimic Reid’s style of work <font size="1">(you could see a slight variation in Faceache’s avatar, as he now as smaller tummy, and looks even small than his original self).</font> While the last 2 episodes, as discussed earlier, are a clear out and out work of some other artist <font size="1">(arguably the worst work in the series)</font>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5dmOHIRI/AAAAAAAAGUw/qyT_ZOqS3V0/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1987-07-24%5D%2008%20Faceache%5B10%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1987-07-24] 08 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1987-07-24] 08 Faceache" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j0pg-p_XY-1MorekE8HM07vxbtHf4EK1NrPnu_9X0LNGUkeHbW7DpbAJ1Rei8vs_sdZ_A5tLtiG1QbGSWe4RkD-OPiAIwd05gX9iMSvC-V2EKxQNhnvpHQ_EMlmlHrdzDi7KhA/?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5gZ7gknI/AAAAAAAAGVA/Kd9iauKlL3s/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1987-07-31%5D%2025%20Faceache%5B9%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1987-07-31] 25 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1987-07-31] 25 Faceache" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5hM8RLzI/AAAAAAAAGVI/JNjNywSSHAA/SM%20%5B1987-07-31%5D%2025%20Faceache_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5jqm-X4I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/1nrQVDY0C2E/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1988-02-05%5D%2024%20Faceache%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1988-02-05] 24 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1988-02-05] 24 Faceache" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5kIUVCwI/AAAAAAAAGVY/Tn-GmlfVvPE/SM%20%5B1988-02-05%5D%2024%20Faceache_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5l65phvI/AAAAAAAAGVg/Megi43exUbI/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1988-06-03%5D%2008%20Faceache%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1988-06-03] 08 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1988-06-03] 08 Faceache" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5mtwVEXI/AAAAAAAAGVk/MdHMOrzrG8E/SM%20%5B1988-06-03%5D%2008%20Faceache_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5ofYUM_I/AAAAAAAAGVw/-XWyeb38Mcs/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1988-10-14%5D%2020%20Faceache%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1988-10-14] 20 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1988-10-14] 20 Faceache" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5pOMw_uI/AAAAAAAAGV0/X3JR3d0z6E0/SM%20%5B1988-10-14%5D%2020%20Faceache_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYi85xD_FvJ53JDoUn7k2P0de9w3wzI3hhx2PNaEtMA313_b2Uifs15l9ZpFrOwqHyBWDLy4hdK6gIZ4SVeElelEHckFmaOiqa202rfGf482IaOio7RU0npZTlQ3ew2VHQLuuHQ/s1600-h/SM%20%5B1989-01-20%5D%2032%20Faceache%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1989-01-20] 32 Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1989-01-20] 32 Faceache" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/TAn5rb7VFkI/AAAAAAAAGV8/A2gZ5FyfG78/SM%20%5B1989-01-20%5D%2032%20Faceache_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="224" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1rHkcXBI/AAAAAAAAGEE/2gepmt-QsL8/s1600-h/900907%20Joe%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1990-09]Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1990-09]Faceache" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1ssXXGZI/AAAAAAAAGEI/ksQ5y4KNtAI/900907%20Joe_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="220" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T116_o3ZI/AAAAAAAAGEY/A7DyEjKjR64/s1600-h/910104%20Joe%202nd%20Art%20Style%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="SM [1991-01] Faceache" border="0" alt="SM [1991-01] Faceache" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T13NSFfEI/AAAAAAAAGEc/GbCUj8d7At4/910104%20Joe%202nd%20Art%20Style_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="220" /></a></p> <p>Hope you enjoyed these loveable characters appearance in our favourite language. </p> <p>And just in case, if you were wondering who is the artist of Faceache Mug Shot, at the start of the section, then it’s none other than <em>yours truly</em>. <strong>Hold those brickbats!</strong> it was an art of the kid who grew up in late 80’s, so the amateurism is visible enough. :) </p> <p></p> <hr /> <hr /> <p></p> <p align="left"><strong>So, it’s time to look back </strong>and continue our review, of the longest and most memorable comic series ever featured in Siruvar Malar: <b>Survival</b>, aka <b>Uyirai Thedi </b><span style="font-size: xx-small">(உயிரை தேடி)</span> in Tamil. </p> <p align="left"><b><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/SmNKqc61IQI/AAAAAAAAD9c/dvy56wbnbvU/s1600-h/Uyirai%20Thedi%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Uyirai Thedi" border="0" alt="Uyirai Thedi" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/SmNKrxzg83I/AAAAAAAAD9g/aCddxAiqkKs/Uyirai%20Thedi_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="188" height="50" /></a></b>In our last blog, we went over the origins of the Survival Comic series, and also looked at the <b><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2009/03/survival-siruvar-malar-1988-i.html" target="_blank">first 11 episodes</a></b> of the comic series, which ended with Pinkie nose-diving his car into a River, with an unwelcomed passenger on board. </p> <p align="left"><strong><u><font color="#000080"><font size="3">Survival 2nd Part: </font><font size="2">Episodes 12 – 22</font> <font size="1">(in Tamil as Uyirai Thedi)</font>:</font></u></strong></p> <p align="left"><b>Episode 12 </b>opens up with Pinkies car drowning in the river, as he manages to swim out of it for the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T15s7nJkI/AAAAAAAAGEg/pPZaiLfi65Y/s1600-h/Survival%2012-2%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="River Escapade" border="0" alt="River Escapade" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T161lwKHI/AAAAAAAAGEk/eOA1vCM5jEM/Survival%2012-2_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="109" /></a> surface, closely followed by the mutated adult who took the backseat of his car. Just when he thought that it was gaining over him, two Crocodiles join the party, and the mutated one becomes their target, relieving Pinkie of the danger. Pinkie slowly moves away from the location, as the day gives away to the dark night.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T18ft21HI/AAAAAAAAGEo/EHlPutkmhcs/s1600-h/Survival%2013-1%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mysterious TV" border="0" alt="Mysterious TV" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T19ulR5UI/AAAAAAAAGEs/fEj6YtHNeRw/Survival%2013-1_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="85" /></a> On his path, he finds</strong> a house with light emitting from it. As he gets closer, he finds to his astonishment that the light was from a running TV. He is shocked to see a TV with electricity, as the power supply had long been <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1-bMKOlI/AAAAAAAAGEw/y8C5w0zVFR0/s1600-h/Survival%2014-2%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mutie gets shot" border="0" alt="Mutie gets shot" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T1_SgNv3I/AAAAAAAAGE0/UgPlny5wiqw/Survival%2014-2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="126" height="227" /></a>seized since the plague.</p> <p align="left"><strong>He later finds that power</strong> was a result of generator nearby, and finally meets an another living kid, by the name of Johnny, who had found his home at this desolate house. Both of them are happy to have met a living being finally, and they start  exchanging their horrific incidents with the mutated adults. Their reciting was cut short by an attacking mutant, who instead gets shot by Pinkie.</p> <p align="left"><b>Pinkie repents over</b> his changed life, where from a kid who doesn’t even kill mere insects, has been changed to one, <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2A3xcq0I/AAAAAAAAGE4/4zQWAZRDKGY/s1600-h/Survival%2015-1%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Attacking Birds" border="0" alt="Attacking Birds" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2BuYn4II/AAAAAAAAGE8/px5dAFvkM-I/Survival%2015-1_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="125" height="156" /></a>who kills some of his own, at least in their earlier forms. Johnny consoles him saying that <i>desperate situations calls for desperate measures</i>.</p> <p align="left"><strong>The next morning,</strong> the duo travel to a nearby city, to collect their groceries and some gun power to defend them against the muties. But, as they were about to leave, a crowd of blood-thirsty birds start attacking them. The duo find their asylum  back inside the closed shops, as they watch over the birds hovering outside, and decide to spend the night inside. </p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2FesRwTI/AAAAAAAAGFA/z72AJOcSfcc/s1600-h/Survival%2015-3%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="A moment of Play" border="0" alt="A moment of Play" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2GSFryLI/AAAAAAAAGFE/RppExLk1NAs/Survival%2015-3_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="178" height="124" /></a>They find a Table Tennis</strong> board inside, and to relieve themselves of the pressure they start playing a game, only to be confronted by a blood thirsty eagle, which finds its way inside the store, followed by the hoards of birds running after them for a share of their own. Pinkie & Johny decide to use<strong> </strong>their guns to find their way back to their Truck, eventually reaching their hideout safely. Shocked by the incidents they decide to leave their setup, and move down south to <b>France</b>, hoping that the mainland Europe might have some survivors like them.</p> <p align="left"><strong><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2IiahnPI/AAAAAAAAGFI/DeW-uPaO8NA/s1600-h/Survival%2017-1%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Another attack" border="0" alt="Another attack" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2JymLkbI/AAAAAAAAGFM/gwEYuBYUem8/Survival%2017-1_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="169" /></a></strong>They decide to travel through </strong>the villages, to avoid trouble, but their curiosity pushes them to visit a city on their way, for one last time. As in the case of their struggle life, a mutie attacks them, whom they evade and reach a Supermarket on the way, to stock some more food on their en-route. Unknowing to them, the Supermarket security who caught the deadly plague, had installed an automatic gun, to save the property, at his absence. </p> <p align="left"><b><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2L4qDCfI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/L50TzHoBm78/s1600-h/Survival%2018-3%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Hoard of Muties Underground" border="0" alt="Hoard of Muties Underground" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2NbKOehI/AAAAAAAAGFU/f35L8HE-rX0/Survival%2018-3_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" height="132" /></a>Johny’s swiftness</b> <strong>saves both</strong> of them from the danger, and they decide to pursue a different store, fearing that there may be more problems laced inside the store by the erstwhile security man. While at the other store, Johnny decides to chance his shooting skills, by freely shooting at the antiques of the store. Unknown to them, that store had some muties too, who were awakened by the sound and start advancing at the friends.</p> <p align="left"><strong>But, Johny’s wayward shooting</strong> had pierced one of the gas pipe, which explodes <strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2PVGq8II/AAAAAAAAGFY/KLOv7jzjeoo/s1600-h/Survival%2019-3%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Snake Bite" border="0" alt="Snake Bite" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2QHKa_DI/AAAAAAAAGFc/opsUleNxuhI/Survival%2019-3_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="129" /></a></strong>at the same time, and kills the muties, with the kids barely managing to get away from the blast. Further through, they encounter a pack of Rhinos, which looks unharmed by the virus, just like other animals. But, a frightened Rhino, attacks the Duo’s vehicle, toppling it, and landing them inside a Snake Farm. The friends have a hard time getting out of the area surrounded by deadly snakes, one of which also bites Johny during their escapade. </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2U6tRkuI/AAAAAAAAGHo/FZKObhUYmAQ/s1600-h/Survival%2021-2%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2U6tRkuI/AAAAAAAAGHs/kBui29lw8OM/s1600-h/Survival%2021-2%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Unlikely saviour" border="0" alt="Unlikely saviour" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S7T2VjighAI/AAAAAAAAGGc/1sxG9NSXMjQ/Survival%2021-2_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="119" height="144" /></a></a></a><strong> Pinkie saves Johnny by sucking </strong>the venom laced blood from his hand, but Johnny loses his conscience, which prompts Pinkie to drag him to a safe house nearby, for the much needed rest. Pinkie leaves Johnny at the desolate house for rest, and goes in search of some food for him, to feed him when his conscious returns. </p> <p align="left"><b>But a returning Pinkie</b>, finds to his astonishment, the weakened Johnny is missing from his bed, where he left him. On a quick search, he finds that he is being piggybacked by a mutie in a distance, and in desperate attempt to save Johnny, he shoots the mutie. Later he comes to know through Johnny, that they mutie indeed saved him by offering food and shelter.</p> <p align="left"> <table><tbody> <tr> <td> <p align="left"><strong>Pinkie understands that not</strong> all muties, or the disfigured ones, are their enemies, and repents for his mistake. </p> <p align="left">Friends console each other, and they set about their mission of finding more survivors, and reach a desolate army camp in their en-route. </p> <p align="left">In their curiosity to try out a Battle tank, they find themselves engulfed by wildfire, which surrounds them to burn them alive.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Did they escape out of the fire?</strong> What more dangers await this unlikely duo, who go for search of life? </p> <p align="left">Would they ever find another living human in their misadventures, or would they lose their only companion in each other?</p> <p align="left"><strong>Answers to these will be continued </strong>in the next blog post, where we will explore further episodes of <b><i>Survival</i></b> aka <b><i>Uyirai Thedi</i></b>, along with some other gold comic series which found their place in the golden years of Siruvar Malar. </p> <p align="left"><strong><em>So, Stay Tuned Comikers. </em></strong></p> </td> <td><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Frafiqraja%2Falbumid%2F5360144484919682497%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCI_XgrTh-NXW-gE%26hl%3Den_US" height="550" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="left"><strong>And just in case</strong>, if you thought, I broke my earlier promise to provide the digital scans of the Survival Episodes, here are the second batch, as reviewed in this post. Happy Reading, Comikers. <b><i>Adios Amigos</i></b> !! </p> <p><strong><font color="#000080" size="1"></font></strong></p> </span> <p><strong><font color="#000080" size="1"><u>Note</u>: This post was originally made on March 2010, which was further updated on June 2010, with some vintage archives of Faceache’s adventure. The new updates can be tracked with contents over </font></strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/03/siruvar-malar-faceache-x-ray-survival.html#UpdJune10-1"><strong><font color="#ff0000" size="1">here</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#000080" size="1"> and </font></strong><a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/03/siruvar-malar-faceache-x-ray-survival.html#UpdJune10-2"><strong><font color="#ff0000" size="1">here</font></strong></a>.<strong><font color="#000080" size="1"></font></strong></p> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-46705480923367636572010-02-28T12:55:00.000+05:302010-03-04T16:11:30.580+05:30News – Return of Indian Superheroes | HT | Feb ‘10<p><strong>Those who are passionate</strong> about Comics among us would all agree that Comics in India, is <img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_2z45bMJ635Sj1SM8zUUHtU2dskNIaqcJHTj7DoLOo0vzs9we579_bvgssHelzZcdQ8_hZ1xz9RcYotYsAR3OulEE3JYcBO6U5zc3rghroZ5PJ-vAy8QC1A7AJs7zQrRb_HD-A/s320/Comics+Revival.jpg" width="205" height="134" />largely an industry, which never got its due credit, compared to the ones which its counterparts in <em>Americas, Europe, </em>and <em>Japan</em> enjoyed. </p> <p>Did we not have the talent, or the interest, or the creativity?, what pushed us in the back corner of the alley, when other industries flourished?</p> <p>Much was to do with the way the then Indian comics publishers perceived the market, who instead of relying on the wealth which had to be nurtured within, were instead eager to tap to this business medium, by bringing in the foreign content for local publishing. What they did in the process, was to cut out the creativity, and uniqueness of Indian comics creators, who failed to get the necessary backing. And evidently, the success of such publications over test of time, remains the best lesson learnt.</p> <p><strong>But, not all players</strong> followed the suit, as exhibited by a handful of publishers, who stood different and were ready to go any miles to promote local content. Only a handful of them survived the TV and Internet era, and <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/" target="_blank"></a></a>they remain to tell the story. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vL1Ha9wyI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/iOYjX0jkd38/s1600-h/TheReturnofIndianSuperheroesHindusta%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="The Return of Indian Superheroes - Hindustan Times 02152009" border="0" alt="The Return of Indian Superheroes - Hindustan Times 02152009" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S36AwRSdTaI/AAAAAAAAGBY/fsR1ufh501M/TheReturnofIndianSuperheroesHindusta_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="426" /></a>This month’s <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/" target="_blank">Hindustan Times</a> newspaper carried a thought provoking account of the same, with inputs from Comics publishers, who belong to the later category - the legendary <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Diamond%20Comics?max-results=3" target="_blank">Diamond Comics</a> and <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Raj%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Raj Comics</a>.</p> <p>It talks about the survivors from the <strong>Dark Ages of Indian Comics</strong>, a period highlighted by Diamond’s Gulshan Raj, as between 1997-2003, when TV and Internet medium took over from traditional print runs.</p> <p>The article talks about the current plans of those surviving publishers, in order to better align with the changing times.</p> <p><strong>One another interesting reference</strong>, in the article, is Raj Comic’s Sanjay Gupta’s acceptance that his creation, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagraj" target="_blank"><strong>Nagraj</strong></a>, created in 1980’s and arguably one of the first and better known Indian Comic heroes, failure from establishing himself in the bigger league. In Gupta’s own words, a stature similar to Superman/Batman.</p> <span id="fullpost"> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vNrYNJHdI/AAAAAAAAGAY/tfnHvCj6SC8/s1600-h/Superman%20%231%20sells%20for%20%241m%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Superman #1 sells for $1m" border="0" alt="Superman #1 sells for $1m" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vNtQ843oI/AAAAAAAAGAc/ENLgiLZGwI8/Superman%20%231%20sells%20for%20%241m_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="189" height="238" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vNvjPhozI/AAAAAAAAGAg/D0vEETGuCks/s1600-h/Batman%20%231%20sells%20for%20over%20%241m%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Batman #1 sells for over $1m" border="0" alt="Batman #1 sells for over $1m" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vNxWoI_oI/AAAAAAAAGAk/rhFqbYcAzE8/Batman%20%231%20sells%20for%20over%20%241m_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" height="238" /></a> <strong>Only recently,</strong> Superman and Batman’s first ever appearances in Comics, made headlines as they were outbid each other to a tune of $1 million, on comics auction sites.</p> <p>Eventhough, the real scenario under which these overshot money, could be attributed to the poor economy, and the need for newer investment fronts, the fact remains that the thought of Nagraj breaking grounds with Superman or Batman, cannot be realistic, keeping in mind the difference in the comic market as it was and is available in US, with the one we have/had in India, which are poles apart to say the least.</p> <p><strong>As much as we could</strong> mock the dream for all its ambitions, we couldn’t ignore that the intent was there, when the Nagraj character was envisioned. But was their equal weight of effort in planning to reach the big league? Let’s accept Superman/Batman evolved during time, mainly because that it was born in a language, which had a universal reach, and was contributed by the fact, they were the first of its kind. </p> <p>On the contrary, Raj Comics concentrated its market only for Hindi speaking sect, thus, apart from the Hindi speaking states in India, it was never popular in the other states, and sometimes even unheard in some among them. If it could not break the <em>Desi language barrier</em>, did it stand any chance at the International stage? </p> <p><strong>At least, their present</strong> focus to reinvent the characterisation, and their increased focus on reprinting the older issues, in better paper quality and print techniques, should bring them into mainstream, and hopefully this time they would do it sans the limited language focus.</p> <p>The best quote I can draw from the recent media article, was Karan Vir of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Vimanika%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Vimanika Comics</a>’s assertion on the same quality lines.</p> <blockquote> <p><font size="1">..Someday I hope to make Vimanika the DC or Marvel of India. <strong>We may not be able to replicate their success in the print runs but I'm sure we'll get there in terms of quality and art.</strong></font></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><font size="1"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S36AyxTmqtI/AAAAAAAAGAo/qUk1sNzkM9s/s1600-h/ComicPunchHindustanTimes15022009%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Comic Punch - Hindustan Times 15022009" border="0" alt="Comic Punch - Hindustan Times 15022009" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S36BGBRsKnI/AAAAAAAAGAw/CtWfJ3hxNa8/ComicPunchHindustanTimes15022009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="470" /></a></strong></font>That isn’t all.</strong> Hindustan Times, also carries another Comics article, aptly titled <strong><em>Comic Punch</em></strong>, where it looks in detail the present comics market, and then the future as it is being planned by the new and established players in the field.</p> <p>Staying with the article, the current comic market in India, is said to be around <strong>300 Crores</strong> mark, with an estimated print run <strong>12.5 crores</strong> every year. Industry experts also believe that the market is expected to <strong>grow by</strong> <strong>40%</strong> over the next few years, pooling in all those aspiring companies, to join the frenzy.</p> <p>Diamond Comics, Raj Comics, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Amar%20Chitra%20Katha?max-results=2" target="_blank">Amar Chitra Katha</a> (under it’s new ACK Media avatar), all seem to be gung-ho on taking their comics ventures, to the next level, in terms of animated and full-feature films, DVDs, Mobile and eComics.</p> <p><strong>On a reality check, t</strong>here is no harm in comics publishers trying to tap into newer mediums, which is the need of the hour. But hopefully, they would realize the importance of staying <em>true to the roots of print medium</em>, which eventually opened up all these frontiers. </p> <p>For reasons, they can always look back at another promising venture like <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Virgin%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Virgin Comics</a> <font size="1">(now Liquid Comics),</font> suffered at the hands of dreaming big, and losing their forte. Even though, they keep making news <font size="1">(including this very article in reference)</font>, it’s long time since they came out of hibernation, to prove that they still stand a chance in the industry. I hope I am proven wrong, but the Omen is strong enough, considering Virgin’s past track records. <strong>All izzz Well or hopefully will be</strong> :)</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>I guess this article</strong>, did turn out to a pretty serious mode, and to keep the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0oblGj8botlcYftfPAS4d7unhoodNaVdmJgAlRN8HQJMCQhimiycE7Lv0q2pwDCCdKS49mH0nyaBI6GaXBu9BeJpI7dzdXo4GTNsa1dys5a-Jz-SpcqwMs9H4I1Onc693HXOZg/s1600-h/PrantheManHindustanTimes02152009%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Pran the Man - Hindustan Times 02152009" border="0" alt="Pran the Man - Hindustan Times 02152009" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S36BZ7w8ArI/AAAAAAAAGA8/bhdA8ks9F4E/PrantheManHindustanTimes02152009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" height="410" /></a>comic spirit up, here is another article in the same newspaper, talking about the <em>Walt Disney of India</em>, <strong>Mr. Pran</strong>, the legendary creator of Chacha Chaudhary and umpteen other desi cartoon characters, which have been entertaining the kids and teens alike, for near 4 decades.</p> <p>Well, I must admit, that I have outgrown most of what Diamond Comics throws at us off late, but the fact remains Pranji, is still considered one of the greatest icon in comics medium, as highlighted by the fan following he enjoys among kids, even today.</p> <p><strong>No wonder Diamond Comics</strong>, which still publishes Chacha Chaudhary and other Pran characters, into comics format, is easily the biggest comics publisher until today. But they can’t sit on their laurels, as other players including the newer ones, are going to take the fight to them. Comics readers are in for a treat, for sure.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4-OTmBHgsI/AAAAAAAAGCI/6eLYhQB9314/s1600-h/1970s%20Lotpot%20Cover%20by%20Pran.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1970s Lotpot Cover by Pran" border="0" alt="1970s Lotpot Cover by Pran" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S4vOzG5KTsI/AAAAAAAAGCM/BsCUeKRvki0/1970s%20Lotpot%20Cover%20by%20Pran_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="219" /></a> <strong>In keeping with spirit </strong>of current times, here is a Pran designed cover art on occasion of Holi, which decorated the cover of yesteryear <strong>Lotpot</strong>, a magazine in which Pran’s legendary creation Chacha Chaudhary originally appeared in. <br /><font color="#808080" size="1">(Courtesy: </font><a href="http://comic-guy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#808080" size="1">Comic World</font></a><font color="#808080" size="1">)</font></p> <p><strong>Wish you all a Happy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi" target="_blank">Holi</a>, dear friends.</strong> <em>Adios Amigos!!</em></p> <p><strong><font color="#808080" size="1"> <br />References: </font></strong><a href="http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">Hindustan Times</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">, </font></strong><a href="http://stevenduque.com/2010/02/zeitgeist-supermans-first-comic-sells-online-for-1m/" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">Steve on Superman #1 Sale</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">, </font></strong><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100226/ap_on_en_ot/us_batman_comic_auction_3" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">Yahoo on Batman #1 Sale</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">, </font></strong><a href="http://comic-guy.blogspot.com/2010/02/lotpot.html" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">Comic World on Lotpot</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">, </font></strong><a href="http://getahead.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/24/entrepreneur-interview-with-karan-vir.htm" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">Rediff’s Interview with Karan</font></strong></a><strong><font color="#808080" size="1">.</font></strong></p> </span> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18147827.post-48114793437734525592010-01-15T04:22:00.000+05:302010-01-16T09:06:45.590+05:30Comics & Chennai Book Fair – 2010<p align="center"><b><font color="#808080" size="1">This post was originally published on Jan 6, 2009, and has been further updated on Jan 15, 2009. <a href="http://www.comicology.in/2010/01/comics-chennai-book-fair-2010.html#updates">Jump to the Updates</a></font></b></p> <p><b>Gone are the times</b>, when a variety of books and magazines, used to fill my imaginations in those childhood days. The materials available then, which ranged from Novels, Weekly magazines, to Monthly editions, was able to cater to all sects of elders at home. Kids, weren’t left alone in the party, as they <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhx79vmJnFhDCysXa9oHdQTkR-fifOgjbS0wpyPas1RwluznkA3StPAxUqnp-gKq6-6hC5_yqYb65QcvGXd1stQ7UvKrQYgsSs_YzXCiQLQkmIzFENMLNRxFsztmp3aI8waY8Zg/s1600-h/33rd+Chennai+Book+Fair.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhx79vmJnFhDCysXa9oHdQTkR-fifOgjbS0wpyPas1RwluznkA3StPAxUqnp-gKq6-6hC5_yqYb65QcvGXd1stQ7UvKrQYgsSs_YzXCiQLQkmIzFENMLNRxFsztmp3aI8waY8Zg/s400/33rd+Chennai+Book+Fair.jpg" width="183" height="136" /></a>had a variety of children's magazines to drool on, in the likes of Indrajal, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Amar%20Chitra%20Katha?max-results=2" target="_blank">Amar Chitra Katha</a>, Diamond, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Chandamama?max-results=2" target="_blank">Chandamama</a>, and our very own <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Lion%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Lion</a>/<a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Muthu%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Muthu Comics</a>, Poonthalir, or <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Siruvar%20Malar?max-results=2" target="_blank">Siruvar Malar</a>. </p> <p align="left">The penetration of TV, and Satellite channels, into our houses, weren’t able to deter the elderly crowd who still loved the print medium, but it effectively diverted the new generation’s interest.</p> <p><b>Now, those old </b>family get-together, have moved on to a new home, The <b>Annual Book Fairs</b>. Families throng the event, and do remember to bring their kids along with them. In <b><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyG5V16HI/AAAAAAAAFzM/Jb56BNiBp1w/s1600-h/Chennai%20Book%20Fair%20Entrance%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Chennai Book Fair Entrance" border="0" alt="Chennai Book Fair Entrance" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyH0TyaoI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/kPUA13ciuOU/Chennai%20Book%20Fair%20Entrance_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="153" /></a></b>a ray of hope that the environment, would give those young ones the right platform to grow their interest.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyJokpsvI/AAAAAAAAFy8/1rMOWD6FQ54/s1600-h/DSCN2895%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN2895" border="0" alt="DSCN2895" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyKpPJE5I/AAAAAAAAFzA/AfR6WTdfbYQ/DSCN2895_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" height="145" /></a>One such event is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Book_Fair" target="_blank"><b>Chennai Book Fair</b></a>, which celebrates it’s 33rd year of existence, this year. </p> <p>It was started by Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (<a href="http://www.bapasi.com/" target="_blank">BAPASI</a>), in 1977, mainly  covering the English editions of various publishers. It took until the turn of 21st century, for the regional language publishers to storm this event, and now they clearly overpower their <i>Angrezi</i> counterparts, in numbers. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyMnt--0I/AAAAAAAAFxM/-mZMS2nMQKU/s1600-h/DSCN2894%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN2894" border="0" alt="DSCN2894" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvqhDVdCqeNoXXmys5du9bNQKDe8jmZSSp_CmI7fqmQBdYRfwWIeWDG2jRt_-U-p4L6eeQnotnOK_UTwXv-HkytqOwGfO93unTcRRzZtOn4VqWZ2kDqufvZBpLFlNVNw1-uclmw/?imgmax=800" width="228" height="172" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TySZf1N-I/AAAAAAAAFxU/lPaTMJksPmw/s1600-h/DSCN2896%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN2896" border="0" alt="DSCN2896" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyTnLDB_I/AAAAAAAAFxY/5rNhLoePtlE/DSCN2896_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="172" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyXZ_nddI/AAAAAAAAFxc/br17AHZdZk8/s1600-h/DSCN2905%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN2905" border="0" alt="DSCN2905" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyYSEtjzI/AAAAAAAAFxg/mZdTdcXvJjc/DSCN2905_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="172" /></a> </p> <p><b>I have been a regular</b> visitor, since the day I came to know of its existence, through my elder sister. While she thronged the Book Fair, for laying her hand on the Literary works and Novels from famous authors, I used to restrict my visits to only get hold of some issues, from my beloved print medium, <b><i>Comics</i></b>. The kid in me, still refuses to look for any other modes of literary work, but, the key is that my love towards Comics, keeps my reading habit intact. So as long as it holds good, I wouldn’t look for a change. </p> <p>Since, we don’t have the likes of American <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic-Con" target="_blank">Comic-Con’s</a></b>, or France’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoul%C3%AAme_International_Comics_Festival" target="_blank"><b>Angoulême Festivals</b></a>, happening in India, these Book Fair's turn out to be our only resort. </p> <p>Let’s look at some of my recent buys, in this Book Fair, and I hope that it would help those Comics enthusiastic, who would be visiting the fair, which runs until 10th January. </p> <span id="fullpost"> <hr /> <p align="left"><u><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TygG5zr3I/AAAAAAAAFxk/RiH5HzjJpZ8/s1600-h/DSCN2902%5B22%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: navy"><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion & Muthu Comics" border="0" alt="Lion & Muthu Comics" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Tyh96vuoI/AAAAAAAAFxo/OEgS0eMeuu0/DSCN2902_thumb%5B20%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="166" /></strong></span></a><span style="color: navy"><strong> Lion/Muthu Comics</strong></span></u><font size="1"> <font color="#000080">(Prakash Publishers – பிரகாஷ் பப்ளிஷர்ஸ்)</font></font></b></p> <p>If it is a comics hunt, that too in Chennai, could you leave out the legendary Lion Comics or Muthu Comics, from the famed Prakash Publishers? </p> <p>Every year, it has always been a unfulfilled dream for the Tamil comics fans, to see a dedicated Prakash Publishers stall in the Chennai Book Fair. They always had to share the spotlight, by finding their way in some other vendor’s stall.</p> <p>But, from last year, two of our loyal Tamil comics fans, old-timer <b>RT Murugan</b>, and <b>Arun</b> from Rhythm <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0T5Bm-ACbI/AAAAAAAAFz8/bvk_TlkPMjg/s1600-h/DSCN2913%5B1%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Infomaps stall and Arun" border="0" alt="Infomaps stall and Arun" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyliN8GII/AAAAAAAAF0A/A9aGCYFvvfw/DSCN2913_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="117" height="153" /></a>Book Distributors, have made it a point to make the back-issues of Lion and Muthu Comics, be available at their extended stall. This year it is no different, as we have another bunch of those wonderful titles, waiting for you at the <b>InfoMaps Shop</b>, at<b> Stall No.P5.</b></p> <p>So, if you had missed any of the back-issues, or wish to buy a set for your closed <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0T719_MBdI/AAAAAAAAF0I/jjlB7KLAQcQ/s1600-h/Lion%20Muthu%20Comics%20Sales%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Look for this Sign on the Stall" border="0" alt="Look for this Sign on the Stall" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0T725IUHyI/AAAAAAAAF0M/jGq736qpZYk/Lion%20Muthu%20Comics%20Sales_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="112" height="107" /></a>ones, P5 Stall is the place to be. This year, Arun has got a nice gift wrapped set consisting of one title each from the available bunch. So those visiting can simply walk away with one such bundle for their collection.</p> <p align="left">Here are some more pictures, to tempt you into buying them, even if you already have it with you. I got one set for me, that way :). Look for this familiar sign, in the shop.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TyvIVgn9I/AAAAAAAAFx0/9CsWxPbKdaA/s1600-h/DSCN2908%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion & Muthu Comics Assorted" border="0" alt="Lion & Muthu Comics Assorted" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Tywr2ilMI/AAAAAAAAFx4/kIPRYwYrwQc/DSCN2908_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="174" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFubjfal2JZSPZWP5JY6e5eaOJG8G20H6fhWMkpqxg3EXWLb_Z8NmEnKAxOuJQX733-_pjzTyv-BXysoNNEggH4AV9xyuh63hrRSOqvMHEaAWXkifiKdasSk_1Ok1YwL_HvMw0bg/s1600-h/DSCN2903%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion & Muthu Comics Gift Pack" border="0" alt="Lion & Muthu Comics Gift Pack" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Ty1QIHl3I/AAAAAAAAFyA/c9rxVQ6f1c4/DSCN2903_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="174" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Ty696aJ4I/AAAAAAAAFyE/7F-nh5TgZz0/s1600-h/DSCN2909%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lion & Muthu Comics Assorted" border="0" alt="Lion & Muthu Comics Assorted" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Ty8FKTJYI/AAAAAAAAFyI/5ureKGCK4ds/DSCN2909_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="174" /></a> </p> <p><font size="1"><strong><u>Update</u></strong>: And just in case, if you miss out from buying the Lion/Muthu Comics in Book Fair, do remember that a sizeable number of the same is also available in the Chennai’s Koyambedu Bus Terminus at <strong>Sai Scholars Book Shop</strong> (Platform No.3-4)</font></p> <p></p> <hr /> <p></p> <p align="left"><b><span style="color: navy"><u><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Ty9wzSvnI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/l5K5Iv4nBz8/s1600-h/DSCN2954%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Persepolis Tamil Editions" border="0" alt="Persepolis Tamil Editions" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGxNcnM0lZ1-firsSSAOUpbLOfoh3jwd8mbsHqQ1HOTa0BP_z1rRqALFA_Xj3Q_ov7RzJ7BwdBys7_BzVAfN8HDlouZJ7YXAfLJ_0i3dOez7IMxF0oqHJCUCe19kUXRSdWlj4EQ/?imgmax=800" width="239" height="180" /></a>Persepolis in Tamil (Iran - ஈரான்)</u></span></b><font color="#000080" size="1"> (Vidiyal Publishers விடியல் பதிப்பகம்)</font></p> <p align="left"><strong>Coimbatore based Vidiyal Publishers</strong>, have their 2005 Tamil edition <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjane_Satrapi"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Marjane Satrapi" border="0" alt="Marjane Satrapi" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TmAs9a_I/AAAAAAAAF1Y/U2s3UEyWTcQ/Marjane%20Satrapi%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="74" height="88" /></a>of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjane_Satrapi">Marjane Satrapi</a>’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_%28comics%29" target="_blank">Persepolis</a>, for sale in their stall. The Tamil Editions, are in the same format as the original French title, both in terms of paper quality and package, and are priced INR 100 each. </p> <p align="left"><b>On the first glance</b>, I believe the translation could have been <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0Ty_6-_0HI/AAAAAAAAFyY/W2TZyaABMsw/s1600-h/DSCN2958%5B7%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Persepolis Tamil Edition Credits" border="0" alt="Persepolis Tamil Edition Credits" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzBaChdzI/AAAAAAAAFyc/VXcm4qOfSkI/DSCN2958_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="187" height="175" /></a>little better, but I presume that the publishers wanted the comic to adopt the same colloquial way, in which Marjane expressed her personal story in the original. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzCaSDqWI/AAAAAAAAFzc/fEhK1cHZgFs/s1600-h/DSCN2961%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Persepolis Tamil Edition Backcover" border="0" alt="Persepolis Tamil Edition Backcover" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzEpvH-HI/AAAAAAAAFzg/8W9E8gfZnoM/DSCN2961_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="131" height="188" /></a>In any case, I should restrain myself from passing any overall comment, until I read through this Tamil venture.</p> <p align="left">Nevertheless, the fact remains that, if not for anything else, for the sheer reason of promoting the Publishers intent to bring an International best selling comic title, for Tamil audience, this Tamil comics initiative should find its way in your collection.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Considering the higher </strong>priced Originals in the same format, a price tag of INR 100 justifiable. A friend in the Book fair told me that a Sri Lankan national who occupied a next seat to him, was coming over to Book fair, all along to find this edition. It’s a pity that such a publication, is unknown to us, when other nationals know about it even before us. Is it a problem with ourselves ?</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><strong><u><font color="#000080">Appusami Comics</font></u></strong></a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">Manimegalai Publishers (மணிமேகலை பிரசுரம்)</span></span> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzN8cT3XI/AAAAAAAAFys/EC-H7-BsBVk/s1600-h/DSCN2956%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Appusami Comis" border="0" alt="Appusami Comis" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzPHLCQxI/AAAAAAAAFyw/BrmQX3NF4SI/DSCN2956_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="211" height="152" /></strong></a><strong>Appusami is a famous</strong> comic character, among Tamil readers, more famously among those who have <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzN8cT3XI/AAAAAAAAFys/EC-H7-BsBVk/s1600-h/DSCN2956%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TnJWw1NI/AAAAAAAAF1c/Wxxj_MvsqCE/s1600-h/Appusami%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Appusami" border="0" alt="Appusami" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-ToexH6xI/AAAAAAAAF1g/ioDshn6mJgg/Appusami_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="101" /></a></a></a>witnessed his wittiest adventures, in various Tamil magazines, all through the past decades. </p> <p>Created by Ja.Ra. Sundaresan, under his pseudonym <strong>Bhakkiam Ramasami</strong>, Appusami’s many stint in a variety of magazines, also involved some comic strips, where the artwork was handled by one of the able and most stylist artists from South India, <strong>Jeyaraj </strong><font size="1">(who signs his artworks, with his initials as <strong>J.</strong>)  </font>The character Appusami is so famous that, there is still a running domain, under his name (<a href="http://www.appusami.com/" target="_blank">appusami.com</a>).</p> <p>I remember reading those comic strips back when I was a kid, and always felt that I never took enough care to collect those comic strips for safekeeping, as the artwork of <strong>J</strong> was one <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TpxAI32I/AAAAAAAAF1k/dUkiuzGAuMg/s1600-h/Appusaami%20Comics%5B69%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Appusaami Comics" border="0" alt="Appusaami Comics" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-Tqx-_6QI/AAAAAAAAF1o/K3CzvtQXWoU/Appusaami%20Comics_thumb%5B67%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="276" /></a>top class not to be missed. </p> <p><strong>Recently, after hearing</strong> about the availability of one such comic, as published by Manimegalai Publishers <span style="color: grey; font-size: xx-small"><b>(Courtesy: <a href="http://comicstamil.blogspot.com/2009/12/appusami-in-comics.html" target="_blank">Siv</a><font color="#808080"><u></u></font>)</b></span>, I wanted to get the same for my collection, badly. So, I landed up at the stall in the Book fair, and was lucky to find that the comic was still available, at a price of INR 10. </p> <p>The inflated price was not only because the book was of smaller size with 52 pages, but also because of the year in which it was published, which is 1997 <font size="1">(as a second reprint, with the original dating back to 1993)</font>. </p> <p>This comic edition follows the adventures of Appusami and Seetha Paati (his betrothed wife), on their quest to buy a Color Television set for their household. Look at the cover art which comically denotes this very concept. Typical J style.</p> <p align="left"><strong>I wonder, why such</strong> a good comic edition, is still left unsold after nearly a decade? Could the marketing have been faulty? as not many would have known that the comic is still available on sale with the  publishers, let alone leaving the fact that anyone knew of the existence of such comic at first place. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TrolfGDI/AAAAAAAAF1s/N9z0wlUOrN4/s1600-h/Artist%20Jeyaraj%5B6%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Artist Jeyaraj" border="0" alt="Artist Jeyaraj" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-Tsmj-0NI/AAAAAAAAF1w/ub6l94pxgo8/Artist%20Jeyaraj_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="97" height="104" /></a> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TthpcoBI/AAAAAAAAF10/-C8NmyaxUJw/s1600-h/Bhakkiam%20Ramasami%5B7%5D.gif" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bhakkiam Ramasami" border="0" alt="Bhakkiam Ramasami" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TuiWXOEI/AAAAAAAAF14/6TEmSUVEwII/Bhakkiam%20Ramasami_thumb%5B5%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="84" height="104" /></a>Nevertheless, I am going to  cherish this collection, and only hope that some other  publisher would start collecting all other adventures of Appusami in comics format, very soon.</p> <p align="left">To know more about <strong>Artist Jeyaraj</strong>, read his Interview <a href="http://www.manavai.com/n_jeyaraj_part1.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, with some artworks to spice up his profile :). </p> <hr /> <p></p> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><font color="#000080"><strong><u>Turok in Tamil</u></strong></font></a><strong><u> (Taara - தாரா)</u></strong> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">Manimegalai Publishers (மணிமேகலை பிரசுரம்)</span></span> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzSWTtAvI/AAAAAAAAFzs/wYuYDOQw5yE/s1600-h/Tamil%20version%20of%20Dell%27s%20Turok%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Tamil version of Dell's Turok (Cover)" border="0" alt="Tamil version of Dell's Turok (Cover)" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0TzTPaf2gI/AAAAAAAAFz0/5dMiM6s9jpM/Tamil%20version%20of%20Dell%27s%20Turok_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="189" height="242" /></strong></a><strong>After a long hiatus</strong>, Manimegalai Publishers, seem to have ventured back into the comics field, by publishing the world famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turok" target="_blank">Turok</a> comic series, originally published by Dell Comics of US.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-Tv35lsMI/AAAAAAAAF18/p47TzneGZuw/s1600-h/Turok%20%28Dell%20Comics%29%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Turok (Dell Comics)" border="0" alt="Turok (Dell Comics)" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-Tw7Z9NLI/AAAAAAAAF2A/gdrT_AmrR9M/Turok%20%28Dell%20Comics%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="127" height="171" /></a>After hearing about this venture, through <a href="http://comicstamil.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html" target="_blank">Siv’s blog</a>, I was on the lookout for the same, during my first visit to the publishers stall in the book fair. It was in vain, as it was out of stock then. But, was able to lay my hands on the same on my revisit.</p> <p align="left"><strong>The classical series</strong> is renamed as Taara in Tamil, and the Book is priced INR 50, in a size similar to A4, with hard covers. </p> <p align="left">Where it actually lacks the punch, is in the translation. Malaysian born Rajathilagam, fails miserably in that account, as the sentences <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TyAat9BI/AAAAAAAAF2I/iZpew7k1HH0/s1600-h/Turok%20in%20Tamil%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Turok in Tamil" border="0" alt="Turok in Tamil" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-TzRtBmPI/AAAAAAAAF2M/V_LIiB-mbmU/Turok%20in%20Tamil_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="230" /></a>seem to be abruptly ended, or continued, without any context. Having witnessed the works of Mullai Thangarasan, S.Vijayan, and Ramajayam, in the <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Tamil%20Comics?max-results=3" target="_blank">Tamil Comics</a> field, this sub-standard work is quite unacceptable.</p> <p align="left"><strong>The quality is further</strong> degraded with a printing, which looks as if that it has been watershed on all pages. The reason seems to be a low quality adoption from the color originals, which could have been better, if they had done some color correction, before going into print. <font size="1">(The artwork page, given at the right is a result of some color correction in Photoshop, from the scanned version)</font></p> <p align="left">I only hope that Manimegalai publishers, will improve the print and translation quality with their further instalments, which we can only hope for. The classical note of the comic character Turok, deserves a better presentation, for sure.</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><font color="#000080"><strong><u>Abdul Kalam in Comics</u></strong></font></a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">Prodigy Comix (கிழக்கு பதிப்பகம்)</span></span> </p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T0icGgkI/AAAAAAAAF2Q/Kxptds7U-fc/s1600-h/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28English%29%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Prodigy Comix Kalam (English)" border="0" alt="Prodigy Comix Kalam (English)" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T1vP9DBI/AAAAAAAAF2U/jxyRdTewyIA/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28English%29_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="225" /></a> The New publishing </strong>sensation in the Tamil publishing field, <a href="http://nhm.in/" target="_blank">New Horizon Media</a> (NHM), have also joined the bandwagon in the Comics field, by releasing their Prodigy Comix series, starting with the pictorial representation of the life of, Dr. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._J._Abdul_Kalam" target="_blank">Abdul Kalam,</a> a living legend, and former President of India.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T2mjatxI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/6H9NHLbCGvk/s1600-h/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28Tamil%29%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Prodigy Comix Kalam (Tamil)" border="0" alt="Prodigy Comix Kalam (Tamil)" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T3fTQV-I/AAAAAAAAF2c/803iHt_YD2A/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%20%28Tamil%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="122" height="160" /></a>It’s a 32 page, A4 Sized feature, priced INR 35, which is also available in the regional language, Tamil. </p> <p align="left">The artwork is quite sub-standard, with the saving grace being the coloring work, which adds some semblance to the overall effort. </p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/02563596810587587859" target="_blank">Badri</a>, the cheif convenor</strong> of NHM, explains in his comment on <a href="http://comicstamil.blogspot.com/2010/01/prodigy-comix.html" target="_blank">Siv’s blog</a> that, it has been drawn manually, and digitally colored for publishing. He further adds that it currently on a trial run, with the expectation of improving the quality with the forthcoming issues.</p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzhgUzH_GIBlplSI6hb0dhN7VMWKqBQ4RwvdKZ11nRPfrXoyE4N-Qc0frJ_BPZ63_v-uCTTrO6MhyAzoGmntK-Drcp_kldgT5XOlI1Te2_hkGQL6HSL0h4L_bo4OxvSfRlP5mvQ/s1600-h/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%2001%5B8%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Prodigy Comix Kalam 01" border="0" alt="Prodigy Comix Kalam 01" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T5R7d0GI/AAAAAAAAF2o/zKCMD6Orwh0/Prodigy%20Comix%20%20Kalam%2001_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="167" height="231" /></a>Comics business in India</strong>, and especially South India, have always faltered in recognising the true stature of Comics medium. They often restrain themselves from instigating an international standard in their artwork or script writing, by calling it as a Children magazine. What they fail to understand is that, even if it is for targeted for younger audience, the westerners never fail or compromise on the quality of the work. For example, see <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Yakari?max-results=2" target="_blank">Yakari</a>, <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Yoko%20Tsuno?max-results=2" target="_blank">Yoko Tsuno</a>, etc. Such was the professionalism on the display. <table style="margin-top: 2px" class="pullquote" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="310" align="right"><tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td> <td width="95"></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px" width="100"></td> <td width="100"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td id="pullquotetext" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" align="center"><font color="#808080" size="1"><strong>"Comics business in India, and especially South India, have always faltered in recognising the true stature of Comics medium... Unless, we ape the success factor of Westerners, Tamil comics will always live in the substandard quality."</strong></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td style="background-color: #3333cc; height: 4px"></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="10" colspan="3"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> <p align="left">That’s the reason those supposedly ‘Children’ Comics, were able to live upto the test of time, to be classified as a Classic, and be rated with the greats of the Comics from those golden age. </p> <p align="left"><strong>Unless, we ape that success </strong>factor, Tamil comics will always live in the substandard quality. Given the financial backing<strong> </strong>NHM enjoys, and a serious management which looks into their publications with pride, I sincerely hope that they would be able to bridge that gap in near future.</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><font color="#000080"><strong><u>Mathi’s Adade Cartoons</u></strong></font></a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">New Horizon Media (கிழக்கு பதிப்பகம்)</span></span> </p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T6U25_1I/AAAAAAAAF9M/SF-ZPXNugXQ/s1600-h/Mathi%27s%20Adade%20Cartoon%20Collection%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T6U25_1I/AAAAAAAAF9U/uCdxMQ8e5h4/s1600-h/Mathi%27s%20Adade%20Cartoon%20Collection%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mathi's Adade Cartoon Collection" border="0" alt="Mathi's Adade Cartoon Collection" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T7UHZoQI/AAAAAAAAF6g/AbDdoNTdsUc/Mathi%27s%20Adade%20Cartoon%20Collection_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" height="302" /></a></a></a>New Horizon Media, </strong>did not stop with their Prodigy Comix venture alone. Under their most famous <em>Kizhaku Pathipagam</em> imprint, they have collated Artist Mathi’s cartoons, which was originally published in 2003. Mathi is most famously known for his witty political and social cartoon strips on <a href="http://www.dinamani.com" target="_blank">Dina Mani</a> (தின மணி), a regional <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T86iQ3TI/AAAAAAAAF6s/ilm5B8zl-jc/s1600-h/Mathi%27s%20Cartoon%5B10%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mathi's Cartoon" border="0" alt="Mathi's Cartoon" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T-HdtWrI/AAAAAAAAF6w/TQ9eJfy4CJY/Mathi%27s%20Cartoon_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="109" height="188" /></a>newspaper.</p> <p align="left">The last I remember of such an effort, was when Vikatan group of publications, collated such type of cartoons, with the work of their chief cartoonist Madan.</p> <p align="left"><strong>This volume consists </strong>of 176 pages in B6 size, and carries one cartoon per page, with a price of INR 80. I don’t know how many parts in which these books are segregated into, but I picked up one for the collection, which was Part 3.</p> <p align="left">I also saw that there was a jumbo collection available, collating Mathi’s cartoon in a bigger hardcover sized edition, which is priced at INR 450.  </p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UB4o7iaI/AAAAAAAAF9c/vsxNNRTYXoo/s1600-h/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T_C27XjI/AAAAAAAAF9k/2Imp0fuBP7Q/s1600-h/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%20%28Inside%29%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-T_C27XjI/AAAAAAAAF9o/6IXk1ipYji8/s1600-h/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%20%28Inside%29%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mathi Cartoon Jumbo Collection (Inside)" border="0" alt="Mathi Cartoon Jumbo Collection (Inside)" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UA5pQ6AI/AAAAAAAAF3I/FdNEEQELic0/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%20%28Inside%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="114" /></a></a></a><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UB4o7iaI/AAAAAAAAF9c/vsxNNRTYXoo/s1600-h/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UB4o7iaI/AAAAAAAAF90/5QPR9W5rhGQ/s1600-h/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Mathi Cartoon Jumbo Collection" border="0" alt="Mathi Cartoon Jumbo Collection" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UDTqCjKI/AAAAAAAAF3U/DzQ8hpYrC4c/Mathi%20Cartoon%20Jumbo%20Collection_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="174" height="114" /></a></a></strong>Quite frankly, I don’t</strong> know whether such a market exists in India. Such ventures which are mostly adopted by the English Newspaper giants in our country, remain largely a marketing failure. </p> <p align="left">I would personally not shell out such a huge price for a collection, but then everyone have their own opinions and choices, and I presume Badri, would have gambled on with a plan.</p> <hr /> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><font color="#000080"><strong><u>Russian Revolution Comics</u></strong></font></a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">New Century Book House</span></span></p> <p align="left"><strong>Also was on sale</strong> in the Book Fair was New Century Book House’s comics based on Russian Revolution<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UETFlf5I/AAAAAAAAF98/ljCRbUbJBmU/s1600-h/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%5B2%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UETFlf5I/AAAAAAAAF-E/SHnkbzgnPH4/s1600-h/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Russian Revolution Comics" border="0" alt="Russian Revolution Comics" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UGcLysjI/AAAAAAAAF3o/o9DRcU0vOjk/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="220" /></a></a></a>, published in early 2008. The book was by a team of Russian artists and script writers, which was originally published by Progressive Publishers.</p> <p align="left">The artwork quite frankly resembles the one which was used by the old Ponni <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UHV0y6HI/AAAAAAAAF3s/SfjJG2gS4lM/s1600-h/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%2001%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Russian Revolution Comics 01" border="0" alt="Russian Revolution Comics 01" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UIUjUvAI/AAAAAAAAF3w/yvTEr8YEynM/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%2001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="157" height="234" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UJpaXa5I/AAAAAAAAF30/GnmE37RzArE/s1600-h/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%2002%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Russian Revolution Comics 02" border="0" alt="Russian Revolution Comics 02" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-UKn4Vz5I/AAAAAAAAF34/0m3EGa1ZC0s/Russian%20Revolution%20Comics%2002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="157" height="234" /></a> Comics, but the credit pages says that they are of a Russian artist, by the name of Anatoli Vasileov <font size="1">(I hope I spelled it correct)</font>. </p> <p align="left">But, even then the style quite frankly fits the old school thought way of retelling the historical significance of Russian revolution.</p> <p align="left">There are no credits given for the Tamil translation, but it looks of a top quality work, at phases.</p> <p align="left">The issue which is titled in Tamil as Rushiya Puratchi <font size="1">(ருஷ்ய புரட்சி)</font> is of B6 size, with 150 odd pages, priced at INR 75. <strong><font size="1">ISBN: 81-234-1238-X</font></strong> </p> <p align="left">Definitely, a comic worth to be in Tamil comics fan’s collection. And I hope that this comic venture by New Century Book House, will turn out a successful affair, so that we see such international comics be translated to our language, for the coming years. <font size="1"><a href="http://comicstamil.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html" target="_blank">Thanks to Siv</a>, for introducing this comic venture.</font></p> <hr /> <p align="left"><span style="color: navy"><a name="updates"><font color="#000080"><strong><u>Somu in B.C. (கி.மு.வில் சோமு)</u></strong></font></a> – <span style="font-size: xx-small">Narmada Publications நர்மதா பதிப்பகம்</span></span></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-gHWDZwsI/AAAAAAAAF-M/umFF2hGNf3Q/s1600-h/Kimoovil%20Somu%5B3%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><strong></strong></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-gHWDZwsI/AAAAAAAAF-U/mLiZhZ7RZw0/s1600-h/Kimoovil%20Somu%5B4%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Kimoovil Somu" border="0" alt="Kimoovil Somu" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-gInVtHEI/AAAAAAAAF80/Ve3rQSO2vRc/Kimoovil%20Somu_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="256" /></a></a></a><strong>Lastly, I picked up, </strong>present Tamil movies director Simbu Devan’s 1999 humour comics, titled <strong><em>Keemuvil Somu</em></strong>. This was a 2004 reprint of the original edition, which collected the series which ran in Ananda Vikatan, a Weekly magazine, for a total of 25 weeks.</p> <p align="left">The series was drawn and scripted by Simbu, who has <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-gJjg8zBI/AAAAAAAAF88/3kd5xnM4pWY/s1600-h/Kimoovil%20Somu%2001%5B5%5D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Kimoovil Somu 01" border="0" alt="Kimoovil Somu 01" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Hp_w4URX2Ko/S0-gKoR9bfI/AAAAAAAAF9E/zRHm7N9fhAU/Kimoovil%20Somu%2001_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="168" /></a>a uncanny knack of a cartoonist, in his art style, which quite adds up the uniqueness of this venture.  </p> <p align="left"><strong>It’s a hilarious account </strong>of a character named Somu, who finds himself in the pre-historical era, with the aid of his Time Machine. He befriends a Jr. Dinosaur, enroute his adventures and misadventures, which are a total laughter package, for sure.  </p> <p align="left">It was good to know that the series which I enjoyed during its weekly run, was also available in a complete comics format. It’s in a B6 size, consisting of 100 odd pages, priced at INR 40. Surely, a comic for keeps.</p> <p align="left">Surely, Simbu Devan’s loss to comics field, is a quite noteworthy, but considering that he is able to weave his comic magic in his Silver screen ventures, it does bodes well.</p> <p align="left"></p> <hr /> <p></p> <p>Apart from these, the old <b><a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/Gotham%20Comics?max-results=2" target="_blank">Gotham Comics</a></b> issues, and the back issue titles of <a href="http://www.comicology.in/search/label/The%2099?max-results=2" target="_blank"><b>The 99</b></a><b> </b>Series, could be found on many stalls. I hope that this Book Fair provided all those book readers in general, and comics geeks in particular a well deserved shopping experience. Happy Reading, Comikers. <b><i>Adios Amigos !!</i></b></p> </span> Rafiq Rajahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04589402571072945860noreply@blogger.com56