21 Review O5: James Bond Comics No.2 Rocket Ragasiyam

Dear ComiRades,

Apologies for Posting the second issue review of James Bond Comics late. However, once you read this post completely, then you will agree the difficulty that Yours Truly has gone through to complete this particular Post. Here comes the review of the 2nd Issue of James Bond Comics: Rocket Ragasiyam.

The Cover of the 2nd issue was not as good as the action packed 1st issue of James Bond  Comics in Tamil. The reasons for this could be that the original Semic cover was also not that great. In fact, the English version of the Same James Bond Comics Edited by Mr S.Rama Jayam was comparatively better than the semic original. Have a look at these & judge for yourself.

This particular story titled as "Death in Florence" in Swedish Semic Press and was Named as "Death of a Spy" in the Tamil Version of the James Bond Comics (Yes, these James bond comics' were published in English as well with full colour). Unlike the first issue of James Bond Comics, This story was written by Bill Harrington and artwork was done by Manuel Carmona. Have a Look at the first page of these issues.

The Original Storyline featured in James Bond Comics was something like this: 007 James Bond comes out of a Movie Hall with an Actress after watching a Movie & was taken inside a car where Mr M briefs him about his next mission in Italy - Florence. A Russian Spy, Mr Orkin, wants to get settled in USA with Italian Missile Secrets. Obviously Italy Doesn't like this & wants to prevent him going to USA at ANY COST. Orkin's Love interest is an Actress named Mirella. After this Brief, Bond comes back to meet his Actress Friend & informs her that he is going to Italy.

Meanwhile, Italian Intelligence Meets Mirella and she is upset with the behaviour of one of them (Bini) and complains this to Their Head (Rinaldi). Later she is informed on Orkin's Mission. She Neither Accepts nor rejects the offer made by Italian Intelligence. Rinaldi asks Bini not to follow her & gives that Responsibility to another secret Agent Gina. When Mirella meets Orkin, He explains his plan of escaping to US of A with the Missile Secrets. He says that they can get their names inscribed in a Locket by a Jeweller named Lodi.

Bond meets mirella posing as London Times Reporter in a Hotel.However, Just below the hotel, Orkin's Dead Body is found & Bini is noticing them. Mirella Confesses the truth to 007 and Says that she is yet to get the Micro Film with Missile Secrets.They Visit the Jeweller Lodi & find out that the Micro Film is not placed in the Locket. They Spend the Night Together.Bini was still around. Later, in the morning Mirella is not to be seen and Gina Enters and informs about Orkin's intentions. They decide to form a Team to find out the Micro Film.

They visit one person known for Duplicate Passport and then to a dentist and finally a Museum where Gina is Shot on her shoulder.Leaving her, 007 follows the Shooter & meets Mirella who says the Shooter is a Lady. She also says that Gina is Her friend. She has noticed the Car Number & 007 goes to the Hospital from where Orkin's Body is taken for the last rituals. The Lady Happens to be Orkin's Secretary Katya who says that there was actually no secret micro film with Orkin & he just wanted that as a cover so that he can settle in US of A. Katya threatened Orkin & he committed suicide. Katya Tries to kill 007 as well & was saved by the Injured Gina and Katya dies in that accident. 007 watches another movie with Mirella and Gina.

This particular story was issue no 20 in Semic publication which got published in 1986 & it appeared in June 1988 in James Bond Comics in India. Here are the Regulars of James Bond Comics Issue (Editorial, Letters to the Editor and The Back Wrapper featuring Night Visit Vivek). Take a note on the next issue Cheena Pudhir (Chineese Puzzle).

The Back Wrapper featuring Night Visit Vivek with artwork by the Great Chellam.

Here is the English counterpoint for the same.

As usual, Judge George occupied his usual slot in both the inner pages. The English version (Even though it was a Good idea) was not much of a success as the printing was not up to the best quality. By that time, we were used to the Wonderful colours of Indrajaal comics & hence this kind of colour printing was, let's Say, Average.

Here is the Back Wrapper of the English Version of the James Bond Issue No 2.

Title: Rocket Ragasiyam (Death in Florence)

Cover Design: Art By V.Chinnaiah, Soft Cover, Non-Laminated.

Serial Number: No. 2.

On Sale From: 1st June 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.

Here comes the U-Turn in the Post. After the James Bond Comics Issue No 6 (Oct 1987), The Publication stopped the series & Later on Rani Comics Published the same story which featured in issue no 2 in as their Issue No 113 in March 1st 1989. ComiRades will agree that the golden age of Rani Comics was when Mr Rama Jayam was the Editor. When he was replaced by A.M Samy, the quality of Rani Comics took a plunge (Translation, Pronunciation, Story, Editing etc). This issue was the classic example to show that how a story can be altered by the editor.

 Notice the Fact that the title is changed for commercial purpose. Here comes the 1st Twist: The 4 leading bond girls were trimmed to 2 without cutting their panels. Yes, The 1st Actress with whom Bond goes for a Movie in London & The Italian Spy Gina are clubbed into 1 Character (Come On). Later, Mirella and Katya were Clubbed into 1 Character. Mr M becomes Police Commissioner.

Here Comes the Best: Italian Intelligence Chief Rinaldi & The KGB Spy Orkin were clubbed and they become one single person. The Great Editor of Our Beloved Rani Comics thought all the Readers were ignorant fools & if he can say they are one, people will believe. Shame on a Publication which continued with the Editor even after this fiasco.

The Story Goes for a Complete Toss. As they have merged the Characters of Katya and Mirella, look what they have done in the last 2 pages of the story: Editing & Cutting of Artworks in Panel.

The Rani Comics Version was a Complete Mess of a Story. Let us stop cribbing about that. They are a publication which has to be appreciated for a Single fact that their comics were on sale in stands on 1st & 16th of every month for over 2 decades, even though they very much compromised on all aspects of Running a Quality comics after Issue No 92. I want your comments on this. By the way, Am just producing one panel from all the 4 possible versions (Semic, James Bond English, James Bond Tamil & Rani Tamil). Judge Yourself:

Now, here comes the Rani Comics Panel. Even though, they have covered the frontal exposure their way of looking at things leaves a lot to be desired. When 007 is on a mission to meet her, he plans the next step in all the 3 panels; whereas in Rani Comics version, he just admires her beauty. However, when they have actually changed the entire script, they can have the liberty of doing this - i Guess. There are many ComiRades who are Die-Hard Rani Comics Fans who say that the Rani comics issues were of good quality, even at least till issue no 250. This is issue no 113. What's your take on this?

This has become a Very big Post with so many scans. Let me sign off with 3 more scans which showcase how the cover arts are inspired: the original inner panels from which the cover arts get Done.

Well, that's all for the time being. As usual, post your comments in the comments section. The next post on this blog will be two news features with relation to comics. However, the next Review Post will be on the 3rd issue of James Bond Comics only. 

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.

20 Review O4: James Bond Comics 1-Adhiradi Ulavali

Dear ComiRades,

In This Post, we are going to discuss about The Ever Green Spy - 007 James Bond. What More appropriate time than now when we are eagerly awaiting the theatrical Release of "Quantum of Solace"?. The moment i say James Bond in Tamil Comics, ComiRades would have jumped in Joy hoping that am going to start a Series on Rani Comics (An Indian Publisher of 007 Stories in Tamil Language). Excuse me, Gentlemen. There are other comics also which have printed James Bond in Tamil (Rani Comics' Sister Concern Devi'n Kanmani Comics etc); However, am not talking about them over here. Am Referring about a Comics started just for James bond stories itself in Tamil, from Chennai titled as Secret Agent James Bond Comics. Here, Have a Look at the Front cover of the 1st issue & first page of the Rare Book.

Amazing, isn't it? Unbelievable, But true. Mr.S.Rama Jayam was the editor for the above mentioned Rani Comics till issue no 92. After which, he started his own comics named James Bond Comics. However, he didn't use the Regular newspaper strip stories of James Bond that were the norm of the early Rani Comics. The Background Story is Quite interesting; However, i will brief it Shortly. After the demise of Ian Fleming's Widow in 1981, Swedish Publisher Semic Press was allowed to start their own comic series based on the Character (ComiRades may recall that at this same time, British Writer John Gardner started James Bond Novels). The English rights of these were given to Bulls Press, Sweden - And Glidrose Publications, London. Mr Rama Jayam acquired the Official Rights & this can be referred by the credits in the last page of the book itself. Here is the scan:

 The 1st issue of this series was Adhiradi Ulavaali (Loosely Translated as The Dare Devil Spy). This was published sometime in 1987 as part of the Semic Series of James Bond Stories as The Spy Trap (This Publication House were as notorious as some of our own Home-Brewn Publishers in not maintaining Issue Numbers, Delays and Regular Releases). Movie Buffs should no way confuse this title with the 1992 Arthur Sherman Directed Hollywood Film.The story was penned by Jack Sutter (Famous for His Super Villains Against Bond & One-to-One Combat Storylines) and was illustrated by Sarompas. Be a Judge & rate these Sketches of Page No 4, 10 & 23:

Well, the story line in Tamil is something like this (Hey what do you mean by Tamil Story Line? Wait till the end of this post): A Scientist is kept as a prisoner in Alps Mountain & a mysterious man 'saves' him from there by indulging in Daredevil activities only to Hand over him to the Chinese. Meanwhile, Bond is Resting with his new Flavour Anna in Greece. Both of them receive individual Telegrams making them to separate from each other. Bond collects a video tape in which he receives Instructions from Mr M about the new Chinese Spy whose image was captured by an American in a camera Film which got destroyed while flying.

Bond has to recover that Film to identify the new Super Spy. Bond Gets in to the sunken Flight underwater and hands it to the Consulate only to lose it to the Chinese Super Spy who destroys the embassy to recover it. Then begins the chase which Takes Bond in Land (Bikes), Water (Swimming), Land Again (Car), Sky (Flights), Land Again (Walk, Cycle & Truck), Sky Again (Helicopter).

Take a look at Page 23, where you can Almost hear Bond saying "எப்படி இருந்த நான் இப்படி ஆயிட்டேன்!" as he rides the bicycle. Finally Bond destroys the film as the Super Spy escapes from the clutches of Bond. The story ends with Bond meeting Anna Again to tell the truth that he indeed is a Spy & left her only to capture the Chinese Super Spy;

Anna in Turn says that she is an American Spy who was ordered to capture the same Chinese Super Spy. Both of them decide to Capture the super spy.

This is the last page of the Story. This is How the Tamil story line was. Actually, the original story by Jack Sutter was something like this: It was the Russian Super Spy who Took the Scientist & James Bond's New Found Interest Anna is Actually the Russian Super Spy (Look at the Bruises and Bandage that she has in the last page).

Many ComiRades will not accept that Bond is Outsmarted by a Lady & Because of this, the change in the storyline for the Tamil Version. Am Planning to meet the Tamil Publisher to clear the air.

Title: Adhiradi Ulavali (The Spy Trap)

Cover Design: Art By V.Chinnaiah,

Cover Type: Soft Cover, Non-Laminated.

Serial Number: No. 1.

On Sale From: 1st May 1988 Onwards.

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

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

Partner in Crime: Kovai Dr Sathish.

This is Editor's Corner where Mr Rama Jayam Expresses his view on Tamil Comics (Series on the First ever Single Hero. Correct Me if am Wrong).There were other gift announcements like HMT Watch prize, Rs 50/- prize for the best comment (a la Rani Comics). The story Amma Aasai iravugal By Chithra Manalan started from where it got ended abruptly in Rani Comics.Many a ComiRade will recall the fact that the Next story Rocket Ragasiyam got published in Rani Comics Later.

The next thing in the book was a pleasant surprise for all the avid readers of Tamil Comics. It featured two Legends of the Tamil Comics Industry, Namely Mullai Thanga Rasan and Chellam.

For those who came late, Mullai Thanga Rasan was associated with many a Tamil Comics Publication and Chellam is the Greatest Tamil Comics artist. Period. No more questions on the authenticity of these Legends. These two combined to give a Series named Vengala Silai Marmam.

Here are the scans of the 3 pages from the 1st issue of James Bond Comics.

The inner covers of the issue carried out another Surprise for us. Judge Dredd as Judge George. ComiRades must note that Judge Dredd was published in another Tamil comics Publisher more than a decade after this. Who is that? that's for me to know & you to guess and comment in the comments section.

The back wrapper featured Night Visit Vivek (Story by Gnani and art work by Chellam). Have a Look at these.

Well, That's all for the time being. The next posting will be on the 2nd issue of James Bond Comics itself. As usual, post your comments in the comments section using the link just below my Signature.

P.S: Kindly do not send any mails regarding the Old issues Scanned copies, Book sales, exchange etc. As for as Scanning is considered, am doing it for promotional purpose only & have no intention in violating the Copyright law.

Thanks & Regards,
King Viswa.