17 2008 - Comics Round Up: A TCU Exclusive

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome to the Special Year End Review Post of Tamil Comics. When we say Review of Tamil Comics in 2008, we literally mean the Comics published from the famed "Prakash Publishers" or the "Sunshine Publications" (as they are known elsewhere) and their Publications include Lion Comics, Muthu Comics and the Comics Classics. The Year 2008 was a far better Year for Tamil Comics Ulagam (As compared to the Year 2007) for the simple reason that we saw all the three brands in the stands and that itself was a motivating factor.

The following table illustrates how we have going down Year-On-Year on the "Number of Issues" per Year. The motivating factor could be the fact that we have seen the Nadir (Year 2007) Since the "Come Back" of Prakash Publishers in 2002 & there could be no horrific Year than that. As referred classically, 'the only way from here is - UP". 

 

Year	Lion	Muthu	Classics	Total
2002	6	5	2	13
2003	8	5	1	14
2004	6	4	3	13
2005	4	4	4	12
2006	4	4	1	13
2007	3	2	0	5
2008	4	3	2	9
Total	35	27	13	75

The Poet in Yours Truly has woke up and here is a stanza from Robert Browning's Rabbi Ben Ezra:

"Grow Old Along With Me,        

The Best is Yet to Be:

The Last of Life,

For Which the First Was Made".

Well, Don't go mad on Me. (By the way, the other quote from the same poem is more famous - What i aspired to be, and what i am not, comforts me). We will see how the Love towards Poetry got rekindled in yours truly later in some other post. However, the fact remains the same - the love towards poetry is ignited again. As mentioned, this year saw 9 Books from Prakash Publishers hitting the stands and the list is here:

No	Series	Title	Month	Sale Date
1	Classics	நாச அலைகள் + எத்தனுக்கு எத்தன	Jan	22-01-2008
2	Lion	மேற்கில் ஒரு மாமன்னர்	Jan	28-01-2008
3	Muthu	கதை சொல்லும் கொலைகள்	March	26-03-2008
4	Lion	மரணத்தின் முன்னோடி	June	16-06-2008
5	Muthu	சித்திரமும் கொல்லுதடி	July	06-07-2008
6	Lion	காற்றில் கரைந்த கழுகு	Aug	09-08-2008
7	Classics	காற்றில் கரைந்த கப்பல்கள் + மூளை திருடர்கள்	Sept	15-09-2008
8	Muthu	பொன்னில் ஒரு பிணம்	Oct	29-10-2008
9	Lion	எமனின் எல்லையில்	Nov	19-11-2008

Here is a Short Review of all the books with Cover scans and Editorial. Forgive me for not going in a chronological order of Publication as am going ahead with brand wise. As Usual, Lion Comics is the first and it had 4 releases this year (Technically 2 Stories) and the Heroes were restricted to Cow-Boy Genre: Lucky Luke and Tex Willer. Have a Look:

The Year started with Lucky Luke's Merkil oru Maamannar and let me say this straight: The cover art work left a lot to be desired. A Specialist like Ayyampalayam Venkateshwaran would have done a Lot better work than this, to say the least. However, The best part of this is that the price of the Book - Full Colour for 66 pages and the price was Just Rs 10/- The editor has requested the ComiRades not to support People Like the Pondy Comics Fan who made money out of Scans of the Golden oldies of the same publication. Story Was Good and so was the packaging. A Little birdie whispers that this is the final Lucky Luke Story with Lion Comics and they need to buy new stories to publish anymore. Am keeping my fingers crossed

King Viswa's Verdict: 8 / 10.

After a 4 Month Break, the second issue of Lion comics appeared and what an issue. Mind Blowing Cover and let me tell you something - Yours truly haven't seen a Terrific cover than this in the last 4 to 5 years. Kudos to the local artist and the fact has to be mentioned that this cover was inspired by the original one in Italy. Here the editor tries out his concept of Batch Sales (a batch of books once in 3 months, a-la Euro Books). Contrary to the previous hotline, the next issues after this series becomes "Chick Bill, Modesty and Corrigan". Note that XIII Special is planned for a Jan 2009 Release then itself. Hopefully, we'll have that special in 2009.

King Viswa's Verdict: 8.5 / 10.

The second installment of the 3 part saga came within 2 months time and that has to be appreciated. As usual, the cover work was stunning and dare i say that it was better than the original (The colouring helped - really).

The editorial clearly mentions that only, ONLY 327 people have booked for the XIII Special and imagine the situation of the publisher when the top selling book in the world has got only this much of takers in Tamil? where are we going with our reading habit? The next issue following the series is now "Corrigan, Chick Bill". Where is Ms Modesty?

King Viswa's Verdict: 8 / 10.

What is the best way to better the Best? Bring on something Great. Yes, the cover work was so stunning that Our Comics Doctor got mesmerized and forgot to add his relevant comments on this topic.This issue raised a very serious issue of Change in Price/Size/Package and it was left to the ComiRades to take the action and click here to know on this post. This post has got the maximum comments for a Blog post related to Good Tamil Comics. Thanks Guys for the support that made TCU Very Proud.

King Viswa's Verdict: 9 / 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, Lion Comics Issues were terrific as the storyline was strong and so was the art work. No questions about that. The Actual credit for making them an enjoyable experience to read must go to Mr S Vijayan who has taken additional burden to translate them. ComiRades must be proud of the Fact that we are the only ones to read Tex Willer stories in a Language other than Italian. Hats off to The Editor of Lion Comics and the editorial staffs including Mr Prakash (Mr Vijayan's Brother) on whose name the publishing house functions.

The Next year looks good with the next three issues (Featuring Phil Corrigan, Chick Bill, Modesty Blaise) holding more promise than ever. As told by Linda Hamilton in T2, The future Holds more promise than ever, NOW.

The first issue of Muthu Comics for the year was Kadhai Sollum Kolaigal featuring Agent John Steel (A Sixties thriller). What many felt was that the title revealed far too many and the Mystery which was supposed to hold you was missing. The Title art work seems to be inspired from Share Hunter's Favourite Hero: Johnny Nero.

The Editor says that the following are the next issues: Ponnil oru Pinam, Norungiya Naanal Marmam, Chthiramum Kolludhadi followed by Reporter Johnny stories (2 In fact). So, in the beginning, there were 6 Books planned to print and it ended with 3. Not Bad .

King Viswa's Verdict: 6 / 10.

 

 

 

 

Surprise, surprise. What we had as the next issue was not the Ponnil oru Pinam (as mentioned in the previous book) and instead we had Chithiramum kolludhadi Featuring Nick Rider A.K.A Detective Robin (One more hero from the bonneli clan).

The cover art work was somehow interesting and the same goes for the storyline. there may be a quite few ComiRades (Share Hunter) who may not like Robin (Kindly Read Video'vil Oru Vedigundu), However, there are many who love his style of action.The Next issue is now "Ponnil Oru Pinam, Norungiya Naanal Marmam, Reporter Johnny, Mandrake". Let's see.

King Viswa's Verdict: 7.5 / 10.

 

The best of the muthu comics in the year 2008, without doubt. Ponnil oru pinam turned out to be the Surprise hot of the year with a very strong story line coupled with reality. The Cover art was so good and the innovation of having the tower as the background must be appreciated.

The editorial clearly says that read the story twice to understand that the same will be the advise from Yours truly as well. The Next issue is as per the last issue order only. The editor has to be praised for serving this complicated storyline in such a simple manner. Hats off to You Mr Vijayan. Good work.

King Viswa's Verdict: 9 / 10.

As a Whole, The year was Good for Muthu comics in terms of Story selection. However a Lot was left to be desired with the number of issues being only three in this year. Let's hope and pray that the count increases. The Next Releases will Be Detective Julian, Reporter Johnny and Mandrake.

After a Gap of nearly 2 years, Comics Classics reappeared with this title which was never ever got advertised. However, No one is complaining for the fact that it came.

Two of the Greatest heroes of Prakash Publishers together in a single issue that happened to be the first one for the year signals something: Hey, we are Back.The Story line may be very odd for this generation of Comics Readers. However, they were golden oldies and the Only thing missing is the Editorial called "Old is Gold".

 

 

 

 

 

 

well, well. Here is the next issue of the comics classics which was advertised well in advance and it also had no editorial feature and we were left wondering what could be the next issue of the series.

Those who were wondering why there was no rating from yours truly should know that am in no position to judge some of the best stories which we used to read while growing up and am in no mood to sadden the thoughts of many others by rating this golden oldies. They are piece of gold, and grab them before you lose them completely.

That's it People. Am signing of with Couple of Announcements. Judge is Yours Truly and please raise your Queries by Comments on this Awards:

The Best Blog: There were Quite a Few. Apart from the two Long-Running Horses (Muthu Fan & Rafiq) there were new entrants like Comics Doctor, Ayyampalayam, Ka Ko Ka ku, Kanavugalin Kaadhalan, Bruno Brasil, Siv, Greatest Ever Comics, Share Hunter, Rani Comics and list is going on (The Next one will be our Chithira Puthaga Maha Rasigan). However, the one Blog that stood tall among others was "Comics Pookal" for the sheer effort of content strength. So, the award for the Best Blogger Award Goes to Mr Ayyampalayam Venkateshwaran Sir. Keep up the Good Work.

The Best Blog Post: Somehow the other, C.I.D 333 became an integral part of our life and hence there is no other way to look other than going to Greatest ever comics first post on Blogosphere. On a More Serious note, the Best post for the Critic's Award Goes to Mr Kanavugalin Kaadhalan's First Post which Brought Tears from Yours Truly's Eyes. And Hence it gets the Nod. Click here to read that awesome Post.

The Best Effort: This award goes to Mr Siv who has No system in his home (And Hence No Internet Connection, obviously), No scanner and still goes on blogging about New Variants of Comics. He happens to be the youngest of the Comi-Bloggers and way to go Siv.

The Best Looking Blog: Who else? Mr Rafiq has no competition over here and just have a look into the kind of effort he has put on his blog (Technically, Now a Web Site). He is one person who is the envy of the rest of the bloggers for the kind of changes he has made. Keep it up Rafiq.

Predictions for The Year 2009:

(1) There will be about 3 new Tamil Comics, If everything goes well as per the plans. Touchwood. If that happens, then the year 2009 will turn out to be a Red Letter Year in the annals of Tamil Comics, As important as 1972 or 1984. The best part is that Yours truly will be involved in all the three projects. Kindly do not question me more on this. When the right time time comes, and if everything goes well, we will have them hitting the stands.

(2) The Blogging interest for most of the new Bloggers will come down (Some of them may get married and hence the interest level going down).

(3) There will be either a Documentary or a Book that will be published from a leading publisher on the history of Tamil Comics.

(4) One more Cartoon Channel will be Launched in Tamil.

Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. For those who want to Pen their thoughts in Tamil, Kindly Use the Option Provided in the Widget in the sidebar. The next Old Review Post will be on the 6th issue of James Bond Comics (Pending). There are certain other surprise posts also waiting in the wings to be published on Jan 1st week.

TCU Wishes all the readers a Happy and Wonderful New Year.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.