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Saturday, December 07, 2013

16 Danger Diabolik – Operation Tornado Lion Comics No 223 Dec 2013

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back after a long, long sabbatical from yours Truly. This particular post is warranted because we have received a bunch of 4 books for the second time in the year. Considering the comics drought we had couple of years back, this is not only a welcome change but also making the ComiRades choking for space with such array of breath taking titles.

Incidentally, the previous time we have received a set of 4 different books was in the month of June 2013, when this Smiling assassin from Italy made his re appearance in Tamil Language in India. For those who came in late, here is a small intro of Danger Diabolik (This introduction was published in Lion Comics Issue No 219, Issue Dated June 2013 Title: Kutra Thiru Vizha – Crime Carnival).

Lion Comics Issue No 219 June 2013 Danger Diabolik Kutr Thiruvizha  Page No 04 Introduction

Lion Comics Issue No 219 June 2013 Danger Diabolik Kutr Thiruvizha  Page No 05 Introduction

The Most amazing stat about this particular character created by the Guissani sisters is the sales figures. Including the Re print sales (Which constitutes about 15 lakh copies a year), the total sales for these wonderfully scripted comics books is a Mind boggling 55 lakhs per annum.An we are talking only about the Italian market alone. Imagine what could be the sales figure if this series is published again in English?

DiabolikDanger Diabolik – A Small Introduction: Just like Yours Truly, the Co creator of Diabolik Angella Guissani used to  commute a lot in Train. Her thought process got tuned a lot on the reading habits of the train commuters and she planned to launch a character based on the mystery Genre. Train also played a part in the The size of these books. Yes, The size was designed based on an abandoned pocket mystery novel in train. Thus the super villain Diabolik was actually born in Train and saw the daylight in 1st Nov 1962.

Eva Kant Forget about the readers, Even Diabolik doesn’t know his original name. He was raised as an orphan in a secret island by a crime syndicate. He grew up to become the criminal mastermind that he is now. Initially his character was that of a typical villain. Later on, to tone down the amorality of the character, he was shaded as a later day robin hood, never ever killing the police or the innocent. Diabolik is aided with a Mask with which he can disguise as, Practically, anybody. This particular mask is Diabolik’s USP.

Ginko No Hero is complete without a Heroin (After which he is completed ot Finished – This punch dialogue is dedicated to Our beloved MF) and this concept forced the creators to launch a new character in the series in March 1963. From then onwards this character, Eva Kant, has gone on to become a more and more dominant partner and aide.

If the hero is actually a villain, then the series requires a honest cop who always ends up as the second best. This is the unwritten rule in script writing. Without violating any such, the characters created Inspector Ginko. He doesn’t have a surname to go with. But has a girl friend named Altea.

Danger Diabolik in India: This month’s edition is actually the 3rd book to be published in Tamil, rather in India. Also in Asia & in Asia Pacific. Here are the images of the previous two issues:

1. Danger Diabolik – Lion Comics Issue No 44 – Dec 1987

Lion Comics Issue No 044 Danger Diabolic Cover

Lion Comics Issue No 044 Danger Diabolic Page No 03 Story Title Page

Lion Comics Issue No 044 Danger Diabolic Page No 04 Story 1st Page

Lion Comics Issue No 044 Danger Diabolic Page No 05 Story 2nd Page

 2. Kutra Thiru Vizha – Crime Carnival – Lion Comics Issue No 219 – June 2013

Lion Comics June 2013 Danger Diabolik 2nd Story in Tamil Kutra Thiru Vizha

Lion Comics Issue No 219 June 2013 Danger Diabolik Kutr Thiruvizha  Page No 06 Story 1st Page

Lion Comics Issue No 219 June 2013 Danger Diabolik Kutr Thiruvizha  Page No 07

 3. Operation Sooravali – Operation Tornado – Lion Comics Issue No 223 – Issue Dated Dec 2013

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013 Dabger Diabolik

The cover image of this book was first made available in a Fan club page of Diabolik in Italy. Then only it was revealed to the Indian readers. Such is the interest for this character and the respect shown by the editor to send it to Italy first and then later on to be revealed in India. 

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 04 Story Title PageLion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 06 Story Title Page

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 07 Story 1st Page

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013 Pg No 44

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013 Pg No 95

This Book also has some other interesting features. Particularly the glowing intro by the editor about the fan club of Diabolik in Italy and their enthusiasm to order this book, in spite of the fact that this is published in Tamil Language. Click on the image to read / see the scans in a larger format.

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 03 Editors Hotline

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 04 Editors Hotline

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013 Pg No 96

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 176 Next Issue Ad Bruno Brazil

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 177 Next Issue Ad Bernard Prince

 Though this character was published only once before this june, the name is quite popular in South India. Ace film comedian Vivek used to promote this character through his film dialogues. In fact i have seen in couple of films where he names the villains as Danger Diabolik.

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Annex Feedback Form

Lion Comics Issue No 223 Operation Sooraavali Dec 2013  Page No 178 Sunscription Form

 Danger Diabolik is all set re appear in 2014 Summer in Lion Comics. Watch out for this space for the official announcement.

Well, that’s all for this post and TCU will be back with another post on Monday and will try to be as regular as possible from here onwards. 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 section or Click Here.

Thanks & Regards, 
King Viswa

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