18 TCU Presents. . . 06: டாக்டர் நோ நாவல் - இயன் பிளெம்மிங்'கின் ஜேம்ஸ் பாண்ட் 007 - தமிழில் கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகம் – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel in Tamil

காமிரேட்ஸ்,
நீண்ட நெடுங்காலத்திற்கு முன்பாக இடப்படவேண்டிய இந்த பதிவு, என்னுடைய கடுமையான பணிச்சுமை காரணமாக (சோம்பலுக்கு இப்படியும் ஒரு மாற்றுப் பெயர்) இன்றுதான் வலையேறுகிறது. சென்ற ஆண்டு இந்த பதிவில் முகமூடி வீரர் வேதாளர் (ராணி காமிக்ஸ் ரசிகர்களுக்கு - மாயாவி) அவர்களது சமீபத்திய கதைகள் தமிழில் வெளியாக இருப்பதாக அறிவித்து இருந்தது தமிழ் காமிக்ஸ் உலகின்தொடர் வாசகர்களுக்கு நினைவிருக்கலாம்.

அந்த முயற்சியில் இறங்கியவர் எங்கள் நண்பரும் பதிப்புலக ஆசானுமாகிய திரு காந்தி கண்ணதாசன் அவர்களே. கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகம் மூலமாக இந்த கதைகளை தமிழில் வெளியிட சில முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொண்டார் (அவை என்ன ஆயிற்று, ஏன் தடைபட்டது என்பது ஒரு மழைக்கால மாலைநேரப்பதிவில் விலாவரியாக விவாதிக்கப்படும்). இப்போதைக்கு அதை மறந்துவிட்டு இந்த பதிவுக்குள் நுழைவோம்.

கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகம்: ஒவ்வொரு பதிப்பகத்திற்கும் ஒரு முத்திரை உண்டு. அதாவது அந்த பதிப்பகம் எந்தவிதமான புத்தகங்கள் வெளியிடும் என்பதை வாசகர்கள் ஒரு ரசனையோடு தெரிந்து வைத்திருப்பார்கள். அவ்விதத்தில் கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகத்தின் முகவரி மொழிமாற்று புத்தகங்களே. உலகின் பல சிறந்த புத்தகங்களை தமிழில் மொழி மாற்றம் செய்து அற்புதமான பேக்கிங்கில் விற்பனை செய்கிறார் திரு காந்தி கண்ணதாசன் அவர்கள்.

அது ஜேம்ஸ் ஹாட்லி சேஸ் ஆக இருக்கட்டும், அல்லது அகியோ  மோரிட்டாவாக இருக்கட்டும் - அவர்களது எழுத்து சுந்தர தமிழினில் நாம் படிக்க ஏதுவாக பதிப்பிப்பவர் இவர். இவரைப்பற்றி புத்தகம் படிக்கும் நண்பர்களுக்கு சொல்வது என்பது விளம்பரத்திற்கு விளம்பரம் செய்வது போல. ஆகையால் இத்துடன் முடித்துக்கொண்டு இந்த புத்தகத்தை பற்றி பார்ப்போம்.  சென்ற ஆண்டு சென்னை புத்தக திருவிழாவிற்கு பிறகு காந்தி கண்ணதாசன் அவர்களை சந்திக்காமல் இருந்த நாம், ஒரு நாள் திடீர் ஞானோதயம் பெற்று சென்னை தியாகராய நகரில் இருக்கும் கண்ணதாசன் பதிப்பகத்திற்கு சென்றபோதுதான் இந்த டாக்டர் நோ அவர்களை மறுபடியும் (தமிழில்) சந்திக்கும் வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தது. பின்னர் இந்த ஆண்டு புத்தக திருவிழாவில் இந்த நாவல் விற்பனைக்கு வந்ததும் அனைவருக்கும் தெரிந்திருக்கும் (என்றே நினைக்கிறேன்).

KannaDasan Pathippagam – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel Cover Front	KannaDasan Pathippagam – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel Back Cover	KannaDasan Pathippagam – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel Credita Page

தமிழில் நாவல் படிப்பதையும் ஹார்ட் ரீடிங்'ஐயும் நான் விட்டு பத்தாண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாகிறது. இந்த சூழலில் 432 பக்கங்கள் கொண்ட இந்த நாவலை ஒரே இரவில் படித்து முடித்தேன் என்பது என்னாலேயே நம்ப முடியாத ஒரு விஷயம். ஆங்கிலத்தில் இயன் பிளெம்மிங் எழுதிய நாவல் எதனையும் படித்ததில்லை. ஆனால் இந்த தமிழாக்கத்தை படித்தவுடன் ஆங்கல நாவலையும் படிக்க வேண்டுமென்ற ஆவல் மேலிடுகிறது.

ஜேம்ஸ் பாண்ட் நாவலாசிரியர் இயான் பிளெம்மிங் அவர்களைப்பற்றிய இந்த ஒரு குறிப்பு மிகவும் அருமையாகவும், ரத்தினசுருக்கமாகவும் எழுதப்பட்டு இருக்கிறது. இதில் சமீபத்திய ஜேம்ஸ் பாண்ட் நாவலாசிரியர் ஜேம்ஸ் கார்ட்னர் அவர்களைப்பற்றி எதுவும் குறிப்பிடாதது வருத்தமளிக்கும் ஒரு விஷயம்.

KannaDasan Pathippagam – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel Intro On Ian Fleming bu The Editor

இந்த அருமையான நாவலுக்கு முன்னுரையாக என்ன இருக்கும் என்று புரட்டி பார்த்ததில் ஒரு இனிய அதிர்ச்சி. சைமன் விண்டர் அவர்கள் எழுதிய முன்னுரையை அழகுத்தமிழில் படிப்பது அதிர்ச்சிதானே? சைமன் விண்டர் பற்றி தெரியாதவர்கள் அந்த சுட்டியை கிளிக்கி அவர் எழுகிய ஒரு ஜேம்ஸ் பாண்ட் குறித்த ஆய்வு மற்றும் ஜாலியான விமர்சன புத்தகத்தை வாங்கி ஒரு முறை படித்து விடவும். ரசிகர்களின் கவனத்தை சுண்டி இழுக்கும் சில விஷயங்களை லகான் பிடித்து அருமையாக தொகுக்கும் வல்லமை படைத்தவர் இவர்.

South Indian KannaDasan Publiations – Ian Fleming’s Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel Foreword By Simon Winder

தமிழில் நாவல் எப்படி மொழி மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டு இருக்கிறது என்றறிய துடிக்கும் ரசிகர்களுக்காக ஒரு சாம்பிள் பக்கம். இதுவே அதிகம், இதற்க்கு மேலும் ஸ்கான்'களை கேட்க வேண்டாம். நாவலை விலைகொடுத்து வாங்கி படித்து விடவும்.

South Indian KannaDasan Publications– Ian Fleming's Dr No Novel - Tamil Translated Novel - 1st Page Sample Page

நாவலைகுறித்து என்னுடைய கருத்துக்கள்: இந்த கதையை பல நூறு முறை காமிக்ஸ் வடிவில் தமிழில் படித்து இருந்ததாலும், டாக்டர் நோ படத்தை எண்ணிய பல்திற வட்டு தேயும் வரை பார்த்திருந்ததாலும் கதையோட்டம் சுவாரஸ்யமாகவே இருந்தது. மொழியாக்கம் சில இடங்களில் தொய்வு தட்டினாலும் எங்கேயும் குறை சொல்லும் அளவிற்கு இல்லை. ஆனால் சில சொற்களை ஆங்கிலத்திலேயே வழங்கி இருக்கலாம் என்ற எண்ணம் மேலோங்குவதை தவிர்க்க இயலவில்லை. குறிப்பாக ஆக்டோபஸ் என்பதை அசுர மெல்லுடலி என்றெல்லாம் மொழி பெயர்க்கத்தான் வேண்டுமா? அப்படியே மொழி மாற்றம் செய்தாலும், இரண்டாவது தடவை அந்த சொற்தொடரை பிரயோகிக்காமல் ஆங்கிலத்தில் வழங்கியிருந்தாலும் தவறில்லையே? அதுவுமில்லாமல் நான் பல வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு தமிழில் நாவலை படிப்பதாலும் எனக்கு இந்த சொல்வழக்குகள் அன்னியமாக பட்டிருக்கலாம். இந்த மொழி பெயர்ப்பாளரின் மற்ற புத்தகங்களையோ அல்லது இந்த தொடரின் அடுத்த புத்தகத்தையோ படித்தால் தெரிந்து விடும்.

டாக்டர் நோ - கண்டிப்பாக ஜேம்ஸ் பாண்ட் ரசிகர்கள் ஒரு முறை படிக்கவேண்டிய நாவல்.

இந்த நாவல் எங்கே கிடைக்கு, என்ன விலை என்பதெல்லாம் மேலே உள்ள ஸ்கான் செய்யப்பட்ட  கிரெடிட் பக்கங்களிலேயே இருக்கிறது. மறவாமல் வாங்கி விடுங்கள். அடுத்து வரும் இரண்டு பதிவுகள் சமீபத்தில் தமிழில் வந்துள்ள இரண்டு ஃகிராபிக் நாவல்களை பற்றியதாக இருக்கும்.

இப்போதைக்கு இவ்வளவுதான் காமிரேட்ஸ். வழக்கம் போல உங்களுடைய  கருத்துக்களை, கமெண்ட்டுகளை பதிவு செய்திடுங்கள். தமிழில் டைப் செய்ய விரும்புவர்கள் இந்த லிங்க்’ஐ கிளிக் செய்து தமிழிலேயே டைப் செய்து கருத்தேற்றலாம்.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa

பின் குறிப்பு: தமிழில் வந்த டாக்டர் நோ காமிக்ஸ் கதையைப்பற்றி தெரிந்து கொள்ள பயங்கரவாதி டாக்டர் செவனின் இந்த பதிவை படிக்கவும். அமெரிக்காவில் டாக்டர் நோ படமாக வந்தபோது வந்த சினிமா காமிக்ஸை படிக்க இங்கே செல்லவும்.

14 Review 08: James Bond Comics No 5 - Parakkum Gundu பறக்கும் குண்டு

Dear ComiRades,

Here comes the fifth instalment of the James Bond Comics in Tamil Language Edited By Mr RamaJayam titled as - “Parakkum Gundu - பறக்கும் குண்டு – The flying Bomb”. Incidentally this happens to be the first issue in the new size B 5, After the first four issues were printed in the A 4 Size. The Editor & the publishing house has to bow down to the pressures of the Distributors and the Basic Law of Comics (The Godzilla Law) which was discussed in the previous post, relating to the Size of the Comics Book and the Sales related to that book in Tamil. Here are the Cover scans of the Tamil James Bond Comics and the corresponding Cover Scan of the Semic Press Publication issue.

Title: Parakkum Gundu (பறக்கும் குண்டு – The Flying Bomb)

Semic Title: Code Name -Romeo

Cover Design: Art By V.Chinnaiah

Cover: Soft Cover, Non-Laminated.

Serial Number: No. 5.

On Sale From: 1st September1988 Onwards.

Total No. of Pages: 64 Pages (Story 48 Pages), Black & White in Tamil.

Price: Priceless for Comic Fans; For others, INR 2/- for Tamil Version.

Story: Sverre Arness

Original Artwork: Joseph Gual.

This particular issue was the 13^th James Bond Adventure to be printed by the Semic Press in 1985. The Story credits goes to Sverre Arness and the artwork is done by Joseph Gual (Yes, the same Gual who was the artist for many of the Commando Comics and Creepy Comics over the years). Many a ComiRade will straightaway put down Gual by saying his artwork was un-inspiring, to say the least. Apart from this story, Tamil Comics fans have come across Gual in Rani Comics stories such as “Paadhi iravil oru Parakkum thattu - பாதி இரவில் ஒரு பறக்கும் தட்டு – Operation UFO”.

Now, moving on to the storyline: Across the world, two major terrorist attacks are carried out by flying bombs, which the assassins have code named, after Shakespeare’s much acclaimed Drama Character, 'Romeo'. 'Juliet' is a small transmitter planted on the target and when the assassins release the bombs from a small plane 'Romeo' will seek out 'Juliet' with deadly results, causing mortal destruction. Regular ComiRades may recall a similar storyline featuring James Bond Himself: Eri Natchathiram – எரி நட்சத்திரம் - Rani Comics Story in which the villain himself plants a transmitter on the Targets in the form of a Pen, or a Locket or a Chain and then sends his helium based Balloons to finish them off.

The head of the CIA will be visiting London in three days time and James Bond is assigned by his agency to track down the assassins and stop them before they can strike at this tempting target. James Bond does this in his and gets injured a tad in the end. This is an okay, but rather generic action story. There is nothing really 'James Bond'-ish about the actions of the hero in this particular story & even if you replace James Bond with another Action Hero, Say, Remington Steel, You will not find much difference, and the weak artwork by Joseph Gual does nothing to lift the storyline.

The Norwegian author Sverre Arness has a penchant for writing such action packed stories. His other story, Operation – blucher was never meant to have starred James Bond. And as a matter of fact, the story was later turned into a Norwegian movie, without Bond. Imagine such a situation whereby you make a Phantom Movie even without the Character of Phantom. Goodness, Gracious me. The story on its own is pretty thin, but with the added complication of having to have a British agent as the main protagonist, it falls completely apart.

 The editor defends the decision to change the size of the book by saying that he actually has obliged to the requests of the readers. If it is true, then Hats off to the editor who gives the Due respect to his readers opinion. At a Time when the Tamil ComiRades also facing the same issue with reference to the Change announcement of Lion Comics, this page is relevant in many ways.

The next issue in the Tamil James Bond Comics is Paalaivana Por - பாலைவன போர் – Dodande Sand – The Desert war”. By the way, have a look at the name of the person who has won the prize for the best review: it is our own Long Time ComiRade Mr S Suresh John of ulundhurpettai (உளுந்துர்பேட்டை  சுரேஷ் ஜான்).  Suresh, if you happen to Read this, Kindly mail to yours truly. And in the letters to the editor section, the first letter that got featured was that of R.Amudha of Vadugavirutchiyur (வடுகவிருட்சியூர் ஆர்.அமுதா) who has a penchant for writing to the comics publications in those days & fellow ComiRades may recollect his (Yes, His) letter about Lion Diwali Super Special 1987 in the next issue.

The Back cover features the Art work of the “Greatest ever Tamil Artist” Mr Chellam.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.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

16 Review 07: James Bond Comics 04 - Marma Kottai (மர்ம கோட்டை)

Dear ComiRades,

This is the fourth Instalment in the James Bond Comics Series Started By Mr Rama Jayam. Regular Visitors to TCU May Recollect Posts on Issue No 1, Issue No 2 & Issue No 3 and the subsequent controversies regarding the Right to change the storyline & content so As to Make it more suitable to the children. Anyway, all said and done, Rani Comics have done it & let us not dwell on it so as to Be-Little the efforts made by them towards the Tamil Comics Ulagam. 

Moving On to this Post, Marma Kottai (மர்ம கோட்டை - Secret Castle) is the last issue to get printed in the A4 Size as the next issue was of the same size as that of Rani Comics & Present Day Lion Comics, thus depriving us the charm of Reading a Comics Book in Tamil in that size. ComiRades may remember that Even Mr Vijayan has once described about the dismal sales and the Number of returns they have to take the next month when they were printing XIII Series issues No 6, 7, 8. This may be the curse of Tamil comics that any magazine, from the late 80's till now, which gets printed in Bigger size doesn't has a Longer run.

Yours truly had the privilege of Meeting couple of Comics Publishers (Still continuing to publish, but not Comics) who echoed the same feelings. One Publisher very copulatively said that "The size of a Tamil Comics Book is Inversely proportional to the sale of the book". Which literally means, the bigger the book is, the lesser the sales will be & the smaller the Book is, the better the sales is. The same was noted by Mr Vijayan way back in 1984 when he shifted to Pocket size. As a Matter of Fact, many of the first set Comics Classics issues were not available now-a-days & the same period Comics of Lion/Muthu are available even with the publisher themselves. Amazing Huh? But this is true only. Remember the Tagline for the Hollywood movie Godzilla: Size does matter. It matters, infact.

Enough of the size Talks, This particular issue's story was written by Jack Sutter (Who has a Penchant for Robotic/Unusual Villains) and was published originally in the semic press under the title "Operation - Little" in 1984 as the eighth installment of their series on James Bond Stories. Have a Look at the Tamil James Bond cover and the original cover for the same story: Operation little and the cover from which this Tamil James Bond cover was inspired. These editors - My Oh My- they do really have some kind of a Sense to catch the attention of the ComiRades. Have a Look at these covers and judge for yourself: Which Cover looks more attractive - The Tamil James Bond Comics Cover (Even though this itself is Inspired from) or the Semic issue cover?

The story line is as follows: The worlds best assassin is a dwarf who goes by the name 'Little' (Very aptly Named by Sutter), he lives in an impregnable castle in Switzerland, where he drives around underground on a large toy train, and he kills any intruders by remotely controlled flying saucers, and various other fancy gadgets. But now someone is trying to kill him and Bond is sent in to discover who it is. Bond also is Captured By Mr Little who informs that the reason why many countries try to kill him is an Identity crisis & he gives some tips towards un-Locking this mystery.

Bond, As usual romances with the Russian Army officer (She was the tip - Come On Ya, this is a James Bond Story and we have to get some female character) and gets to a Video tape which shows that somebody looking like Mr Little Assassinating the Russian Top-Guy. Based on the video Tape only the Russian and other Governments (They also have a similar tape) try to eliminate Mr Little.  Bond Discusses this with Mr Little, who discovers that the Identical personality in the Video Tape is in fact an Ape.  Later on They discover the secret about one Mad Scientist Named Dr Kurth who is bent on to Rule the world with his Animal soldiers who were transformed with serum into an Intellectual level superior to that of Human Beings (So Typical of Jack Sutter). 

Bond and Mr Little get into Dr Kurth's Place and destroy everything & in that process, Mr Little is changed into another Animal-Soldier and Bond, Taking a Tough Call, Kills Mr Little. He was to be visited by Felix (Remember him in old Rani Comics Stories as Another Secret agent who loses his Hand in Rani Issue No 9 - Mandhira Theevu மந்திர தீவு). ComiRades can have a look into the Editors Write Up on the censorship about the Panels by an ardent fan from Ambur. Look into the part where the editor announces about the English edition of the James bond Comics from this particular month (August 1988) onwards. moving on to the letters to editor page, you can see that many of the Readers were inspired by the cover art work & someone went to the level of saying that the Cost of the book is worth for the wonderful cover itself.

Look at the Original Semic Panel and the corresponding panel in Page No 11 (2nd Page)

Finally, the Back wrapper of the book where the ever-present Night visit Vivek with the wonderful art work of the Immortal Great Artist of Tamil Comics Ulagam, Mr Chellam.

Title:Marma Kottai (மர்ம கோட்டை - Secret Castle)

Cover Design: Art By V.Chinnaiah

Cover: Soft Cover, Non-Laminated. 

Serial Number: No. 4. 

On Sale From: 1st August 1988 Onwards. 

Total No. of Pages: 16cmx24cm, 36 Pages (Story 24 Pages), Black & White in Tamil & Colour in English. 

Price: Priceless for Comic Fans; For others, INR 2/- for Tamil Version and INR 4/- for English Version.

Partner in Crime: Kovai Dr Sathish.

Story: Jack Sutter

Original Artwork: Sarompas.

and the next issue announcement.

As a Pattern, Yours Truly will Be sharing the Happenings of Comics Houses in the cyberspace. Here are they:

(1) The New Blog Comics Pookal - காமிக்ஸ் பூக்கள் by Ayyampalayam Venkateshwaran has been completely revamped with better designs. Worth a Visit & Kindly park in your thoughts over there.

(2) Our Own Comics Doctor Has Woken & Posted a New Blog Topic which was Long pending in a Blog which was very recently started. As usual, Doctor has done deep research on the topic & come out with flying colours. So Enthralled was the Readers, that they have Best-Owed the Title "Captain VijayaKanth of Comics" for his style of presenting the facts.

(3) Our Beloved Poet Mr Josh (Of the Share Hunter Series) has started a New Series on the western style where 3 Cowboys which is quite innovative & there is a Surprise Element in the characterisation of the Lead Roles in that story. Read it to find out. Click here to read that.

(4) Going by the popularity of the 2011's Comics Chief Minister Dr Sathish's Blog, There is another Blog (க.கொ.க.கூ = கடத்தல் கொலை கலகக் கூட்டமைப்பு) which is very similar to that in Title of the Blog & Post of the same. However, the similarity ends there itself as the Pretender has a long way to reach the heights of Comic Doctor. Anyway, it is so nice to know that the Blogging interest is now on with reference to Tamil Comics which was not the same case some 2 Months back when yours truly started TCU, Wherein Muthu Fan & Rafiq were the only entrants in Tamil Comics Cyberspace.

Coming Back to Yours Truly, the Non-Appearance of Myself over the last 2 Weeks in the Tamil Comics Blog's in any form (Be it Comments, Visits, Reply's, Posts etc) was for the fact that Our Beloved Pet Dog Browny was Admitted in Hospital for the last One week & Has passed away on 15th Nov 2008 (Saturday evening 4 PM). This particular post was ready by last week itself & could not be posted because of the Mental Agonies we, as a Close Knit Family, were going through. The best Part about Browny was that,within 22 months, it has become such a close part of our Family that even a Person Like My Father (Participated in 2 Wars for India in His career with Indian Army) broke down when he saw Browny on Saturday Morning.

Browny had so much affection towards My father, that it started crying and so was my Dad. In My lifetime, this is the first time am Seeing My Father Crying. Words really, REALLY cannot describe the impact left by Browny with our family. Kindly excuse me if i do not reply to your personal mails, or Comments on the Blogs for the next few weeks as i have to take care of both my "Patient" Parents after the loss of Browny.

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 New Comics Review post on this blog will be the review of Lion Comics Issue No 205 (எமனின் எல்லையில் - Tex Willer Adventure). However, the next Old Review Post will be on the 5th issue of James Bond Comics. The Next Actual post will be on a News Paper article about the 60 Years of Comics in Tamil.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

19 Review O6: James Bond Comics 03-Cheena Pudhir:சீனப் புதிர்

Dear ComiRades,

Let Me Wish Happy Diwali to All the Readers Of TCU. For those who requested - Nay, Ordered- Me to Write in Tamil, Here it is: தமிழ் காமிக்ஸ் உலகம் ரசிகர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் எனது உளம் கனிந்த மனமுவர்ந்த தீப ஒளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்.உதிப்பவை எல்லாம் உன்னதம் ஆகட்டும். விரும்பியது எல்லாம் உங்கள் வசமாகட்டும்.

Here is the 3rd edition of the James Bond Comics: Cheena Pudhir (சீனப் புதிர்). For those who came in late, this issue followed Adhiradi Ulavali and Rocket Ragasiyam. As soon as i started a Series on James Bond Comics in Tamil, the traffic to this Blog has increased and so are the controversies. Many people have voiced out their thoughts / Anger / Support on the issues relating to the Translation / Editorial work on Rani Comics, James

Bond Comics and Lion/Muthu Comics. Any way, am happy on one sense that at last, people are started to notice what an editor can do to a publication. Let us not get into anything serious on that. Here is the cover of the 3rd issue of James Bond Comics and the corresponding cover of the Semic Press issue no 17 which got published in 1985 and the English version of James Bond Comics.

The Story line is as follows: James Bond is sent to Hong Kong to meet a contact named Tsu Chai and guide for a trip into the Han-Su province in China. Mysterious things have been happening there lately and the Secret Service wants to discover precisely what is going on.James Bond Gets attacked by a Giant of a Man (Kayo). Later on, James Bond Discovers that a mysterious robot scientist (Saviz) is working on constructing a secret army of humanoid robots, inspired by the first emperor of China's terra-cotta warriors SHI HUANG Who ruled 6 States about 2, 200 Years ago and his Capital was called Chin from which the present Name China was derived. As usual, James Bond Demolishes the Plan of Saviz and Saves the World from Robot Warriors. Have a Look at some of the pages in Tamil and the corresponding pages in Full colour in English.

Have a Look at the same pages in full colour (Done By the Everest Publications Themselves). The translation was Good; However, the same cannot be said about the colouring work by the Publishers. Anyway, what has to be appreciated was the fact that someone has taken the effort to pave way for a new era in Tamil Comics world.

Here are the final pages of the story. Now, when yours truly was doing research work on the cover, the original cover from which the covers got inspired were found. Have a look at the cover. Sometimes, i do feel, that our editors have a tendency to go overboard on the covers and they tend to ignore the original covers from the official publisher. I Have noticed the same from M/s Prakash publishers when they have ignored the original / official cover work and changed it with another cover. Anyway, in this particular case, the changed cover looks much better than the official cover, even though it bears no relation with the story or the inside panels. By the way, have look into the covers of the Tamil and English versions and you will see a minute change.

For the Un-initiated, the Tamil version cover is a replica of the above cover. Whereas the English version was modified and the length of the dress was increased till the knee. For those who crave for statistics, here is something: Even though the 1st issue of Tamil James Bond Comics came in May 1988, the English version of the same appeared only in August 1988. In the meantime, the cover artist became more conscious towards the society (Forced by the Editor?!?) and covered her thighs. Have a Look at the editorial and the comments section. Note the change in the titles from English version to the Tamil Version. This is where a Editor plays a Major role. Yours truly agrees completely with both the titles as they convey the story line to the readers. By the way, Give another reading on the Editorial and you will find that the editor was having thoughts on changing the book to Pocket size (Readers Request).

Here are the announcements for the next issue of the Secret Agent James Bond Comics:

The Regular feature in all the 3 issues was the Story By Gnani with fabulous art work by the Greatest Tamil Artist ever (No Arguments - Judgement Arrived) Mr Chellam.

However, the English version carried out a Picture of the Indiana Jones of Indian Cricket - Dashing Opening Batsman Kris Srikkanth. Any Guesses on why so? The Publication was celebrating the appointment of Him as the National Cricket Team Captain for the toughest Tour: Pakistan. 

 

Title: சீனப் புதிர் (Chinese Riddle)

Cover Design: Art By V.Chinnaiah

Cover: Soft Cover, Non-Laminated.

Serial Number: No. 3.

On Sale From: 1st July 1988 Onwards.

Total No. of Pages: 16cmx24cm, 36 Pages (Story 24 Pages), Black & White in Tamil & Colour in English.

Price: Priceless for Comic Fans; For others, INR 2/- for Tamil Version and INR 4/- for English Version.

Partner in Crime: Kovai Dr Sathish.

Story: Bill Harrington

Artwork: Sarompas

As a Pattern, Yours Truly will Be Introducing / Highlighting Couple of Comics Houses in the cyberspace. Here are they:

Aa.Ko.Thee.Ka: This is a Very Recently Created Blog on Tamil Comics where the feel will be entirely different from the rest of the blogs. This one was created for the Tamil Comics fans craving for quality writing in Tamil about Comics that they loved and are still loving. The person who is in charge of Tamil blog is None other than the Doctor Himself. Join the Gang by clicking here.

Srini's TriPod: Mr Srini who is currently in Bangalore is from TN only (From Kovai to be precise). He has created a nice Tri-Pod site for the Comics.Even though it is yet to be Updated for the last so many months, it still worth a visit. Srini, My Dear Friend, Kindly Update your wonderful site. Have a Look into it by Clicking here.

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 Widgets Section, Just above the glossary. The next post on this blog will be the review of Muthu Comics Issue No 310 (பொன்னில் ஒரு பிணம் - Martin Mystery Adventure). However, the next Old Review Post will be on the 4th issue of James Bond Comics.

Post Script: The Same concept of Using the Ancient Soldiers to conquer the world was used in the recently released Film The Mummy - 3rd Part as mentioned by Mr Shankar ViswaLingam.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.