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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

13 Mekala Comics: 05 Aayudhap Pudhaiyal-Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Daily Strip No 086 & 087 By Archie Goodwin & Al Williamson

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back to TCU. Continuing our home run towards the 100th post, we have another one from the Mekala Comics. This is the 5th Post on this particular series and the previous posts can be read over here in TCU:

Just looking at the dates of these issues gives a staggering disbelief that already 16 years have been passed on whilst it is in the memory as if it happened just last year. How many of our collectors do have the complete run of all the issues published? It seems that most of the ComiRades who have bought and read these issues have not safeguarded them, as they do with our prized possessions from the famed Prakash publications. Now, enough of the nostalgia talk and let us move into this edition’s coverage. Here are our customary Advertisement and cover images (Cover art by Shyaam). Isn’t it stunning, to say the least?.

Mekala Comics Issue No 04 Dated Aug 1995 Enge Andha Vairam Inner Cover Next Issue Ad for Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Aayudha Pudhaiyal Daily Strip 86

Mekala Comics Issue No 05–Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Aayudhap Pudhaiyal Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure–Daily Strip 86 Army Contraband–Cover By Shyaam

Mekala Comics Issue No 04 Dated Aug 1995 Enge Andha Vairam Inner Cover Next Issue Ad Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Cover

Mekala was different from the rest of the 2nd line Tamil comics as it had lots of fillers and quality stories, apart from the title story. Also it had a regular Editorial section, something which was very much missing in Rani comics. The interaction of the editor with the readers was sorely missed in the 2nd half of the initial Rani comics run. Note how the Editor names the readers. You must be kidding, right?

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Henry Filler Story

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Editorial

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Henry Filler Story Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Editorial

Daily Strip No 086 – A Jewel For Blackmail: We all know that the Agent X9 series was taken to greater heights by the talented duo of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson. This story is amongst the foremost stories to be published in Tamil language. Yes sir, this is the 5th story from the dynamic duo and the 1st ever to be published in Tamil. As mentioned, it was daily strip numbered as 86 and was running from 04-12-1967 to 17-02-1968 for 11 weeks with 68 daily strips of pure excitement.

The story is one of the spy-chase stories from the combo. It all starts with Phil taking charge of the Missile defence conference which is headed by Susan Foster. As his wont, Archie Goodwin starts the story with Mr Foster being kidnapped by Mr Chang, in lieu of certain favours from his wife about the conference and the content. Enter Phil Corrigan and all the well laid plans of Mr Chang comes to a sudden end. As usual, Mekala comics severely edited the story and they presented the edited portion in a short paragraph. This is one of the very few Corrigan stories to have missed by the other editors, in Tamil comics.

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 – 1st Story - Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Oda Oda Virattap Patta Seenathu Otran - Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Oda Oda Virattap Patta Seenathu Otran Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure

Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Daily Strip No 086 – Story: A Jewell For Blackmail By Archie Goodwin (Story) & Al Williamson (Art Work)

Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Daily Strip 86 A Jewell For Blackmail By Archie Goodwin & Al Williamson

Daily Strip No 087 – Army Contraband: Mekala comics did a very good thing by starting to publish the stories in their appearance order from this issue and we had the next daily strip in the same book as the 2nd story. When you have two full length daily strips in the same book and still have enough place for the regular filler stories, One can imagine the editing of the original story. This was the 05th story to have appeared in the dailies from the famous combination of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson. This daily strip started where the previous one ended and the strip ran from 19-02-1968 to 04-05-1968 for 11 weeks and exactly the same number of daily strips as that of the previous one: 66.

The story starts where the previous one ends and this one takes place in the heart of middle east in a country named as Jhahran where the ruler is peace loving and invariably has contenders for the throne. One such is Harhat Bin Rashid and he plans to dethrone the present ruler by acquiring ammunition from a arms dealer named Bradley. Then things go out of control and add Phil Corrigan in the mix, you have a fantastic daily strip with enough dose of excitement and adventure.

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Aayudhap Pudhaiyal - Pudhai Porulum Pudhaikkappatta Porulum Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure

Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Daily Strip No 087 – Story: Army Contraband By Archie Goodwin (Story) & Al Williamson (Art Work)

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Pudhai Porulum Pudhaikkappatta Porulum Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Agent X9 Phil Corrigan Daily Strip 87 Army Contraband By Archie Goodwin & Al Williamson

X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan Volume 1By the way, Now you can buy the Daily strips of Agent X9 (By Archie Goodwin & Al Williamson) – courtesy IDW Publications. Muthu Fan has done a wonderful post on the book and you can have the pleasure of reading that post HERE.

As mentioned elsewhere, Mekala comics had some nice filler stories and most of them are the handiwork of the uber talented Mr Bujjai. There were several stories from him in this series and one such was published here. Unfortunately Yours truly is not going to publish the full story as it was the case in the previous post as one publisher is accumulating the stories of Bujjai to publish in a single volume. Best of luck to him.

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Bujjai's Thumbu Vaangiya Vambu Story

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 – Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure - Aaydhap Pudhaiyal - Bujjai's Edhir Neechchal Story

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Bujjai's Thumbu Vaangiya Vambu Story Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Bujjai's Edhir Neechchal Story

The regular readers review of the story was also present. Most of the comirades liked the situation where Corrigan catches Mr Chang with the rope. Equally liked is the scene where Phil finds his way back in the dessert with the help of the steps of the camels. It was refreshing to know that the readers actively participated in these competitions. Here is the prize winning review:

Mekala Comics Issue No 06 – Issue Dated Oct 1995 - Readers Review of the Previous Book (Mekala Comics No 05 Aayudhap Pudhaiyal)'s Best Panel

Mekala Comics Issue No 06 Readers Review of the Previous Book's Best Panel

The regular letters to the editor by the readers mentioned the point of view of the way the readers were mentioned by the editor. Also there was the question on the change in the look and appearance of Corrigan from the way he looks in the cover to the way he looks in the story. Probably the reader has not noted that the inner art is drawn by somebody whilst the cover was drawn by our local artist Shyaam.

Mekala Comics Issue No 06 Readers Comments of the Previous Book

Mekala Comics Issue No 05 -  Issue Dated Sept 1995 - Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Next Issue Ad – Kazhugu Paarvai – Mekala No 06
Mekala Comics Issue No 06 Readers Comments of the Previous Book Mekala Comics Issue No 05 Agent X 9 Phil Corrigan Adventure Aaydhap Pudhaiyal Next Issue Ad

Well, that's all for the time being & TCU will be back with the next issue of this series in the alternative post, as the next post will be the 100th post of Yours truly and hence it will be a special one.

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 Blog.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

13 comments:

  1. மீ தி முதலாவது !

    தன்னுடைய 99 வது பதிவில் 68 = 66 என்று கண்டறிந்து உலகிற்கு வழிகாட்டிய தானைத்தலைவர், கணக்கில் புலி கிங் விஸ்வா அவர்களுக்கு நன்றி!

    ReplyDelete
  2. //தன்னுடைய 99 வது பதிவில் 68 = 66 என்று கண்டறிந்து உலகிற்கு வழிகாட்டிய தானைத்தலைவர், கணக்கில் புலி கிங் விஸ்வா அவர்களுக்கு நன்றி//

    பை தி வே,//and exactly the same number of daily strips as that of the previous one: 66.//

    இந்த தொடரில் Exactly என்பதற்கு பதிலாக Almost என்று வந்திருக்க வேண்டும், அவசரத்தில் Exactly என்று வந்துவிட்டது. மன்னிக்கவும்.

    அப்பாடி, காமிக்ஸ் உலகின் தானைத்தலைவராகிய உங்க கிட்ட இருந்து கமென்ட் வரவழைக்க என்னவெல்லாம் பண்ண வேண்டி இருக்கு?

    ReplyDelete
  3. இப்போதெல்லாம் கமெண்ட் போடாததற்கு காரணம் உங்கள் போஸ்டிங்கை கைத்தொலைபேசியில் படிப்பதால். மன்னிக்கவும்.

    Keep it up with the good work !!

    மேகலா காமிக்ஸை சமீப காலங்களில்தான் படிக்க நேர்ந்தது. இந்த புத்தகங்கள் வந்த காலத்தில் நான் தமிழ் நாட்டை விட்டு வெளியேவந்து விட்டேன். ஒரு புத்தகம் கூட கடையில் பார்த்தது கிடையாது. உங்களை போன்ற நண்பர்களின் உதவியில்தான் இப்போது பார்க்கிறேன். நன்றி.

    பி.கு: கடைசியாக போட்ட கமெண்ட்ஸ்-கு இன்னும் பணம் பட்டுவாடா ஆகவில்லை என்பதை நினைவுபடுத்த விரும்புகிறேன். பழைய பாக்கி - Rs 70 , புது பாக்கி - Rs 20 . மொத்தம் Rs 90 . உடனடியாக பணம் அனுப்பவும். இல்லாவிட்டால் புது கமெண்ட்ஸ் எதுவும் போட முடியாது.

    ReplyDelete
  4. // as the next post will be the 100th post of Yours truly and hence it will be a special one. //

    ஆவலுடன் எதிர் பார்த்து காத்திருக்கிறோம் ;-)
    .

    ReplyDelete
  5. // இப்போதெல்லாம் கமெண்ட் போடாததற்கு காரணம் உங்கள் போஸ்டிங்கை கைத்தொலைபேசியில் படிப்பதால். //

    அப்பாட ரொம்ப நாளைக்கு அப்புறம் தலைவரோட கமெண்ட் ;-)
    .

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, King Viswa, for this excellent post. Any links to download the English Corrigan strips featured in this page? If so do let us know. Thanks in advance

    Komixkreate

    ReplyDelete
  7. if this book {or for that matter, the entire mekala comics books} are available for sales, iam willing to buy.

    if anybody wants to sell, kindly drop in here and mail me.

    S.A.D

    ReplyDelete
  8. விஸ்வா!
    தொடர்ந்து பதிவு மழை பொழிந்து வருகிறீர்கள். வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi all

    Do visit this blog to see post on Tex viller adventure மரண தூதர்கள் and please provide your valuable feedback
    http://www.arunandprasad.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. காரிகன் - நான் படித்த காலத்தில் இன்னொரு ஜேம்ஸ்பாண்ட் போல..!! நல்ல பகிர்வு. நன்றி.

    ReplyDelete
  11. கிங்க் விஸ்வா,

    நீங்க மெய்யாலுமே காமிக் கிங்க் தான்!

    உங்க பதிவை படிக்கமா இருந்ததற்கு மன்னிக்கவும், நான் கைப்பேசியில் இணையம் பயன்ப்படுத்துவதால் சில பதிவுகள்,தளங்கள் திறக்க தாமதம் ஆகும், எனவே பார்ப்பதே இல்லை. அருமையான முயற்சி.வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்கும் போதெல்லாம் வருகிறேன்.

    எனது பழைய பதிவில் இருந்த பிழையைக்கூட திருத்தி சொன்னதற்கு நன்றி. வீரப்பிரதாபன் கதைகள் வாண்டு மாமா என நினைத்துக்கொண்டு போட்டது.சின்ன வயதில் படித்ததா சரியா நினைவில் இல்லை. அணீல் அண்ணா வா அது. வாண்டுமாமா உருவாக்கிய ஹீரோ யார், அப்போ அந்தர்,அலேக்,அஜய்னு மூன்று குள்ளர்கள் துணையுடன் வரும் ஹீரோவா பெயர் மறந்து விட்டது.

    இரத்தப்படலம் கதை சாகாவரம் பெற்றது போல மீண்டும் வருகிறதா!
    அப்போ இதை காப்பி அடித்து தான் வெர்றி விழா படம் எடுத்தார்கள்.உங்களுக்கு தெரியததா நான் சொல்லப்போறேன்.

    ReplyDelete
  12. @வவ்வால்
    தோழர் வவ்வால்,

    வருகைக்கு நன்றி. உங்கள் பதிவில் நான் திருத்தம் எதுவும் செய்யவில்லை. நமக்கு மறந்ததை மறுபடியும் நினைவூட்டினேன். அவ்வளவுதான்.

    தொடர்ந்து எழுதுங்கள். பை தி வே, நேற்று இரவுதான் பெங்களூருவில் இருந்து சென்னை வந்தேன்.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

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