39 Advertisements in Comic Books – A Walk Down Memory Lane

Dear ComiRades,

About 6 Years Back, Yours Truly Entered The Exciting World of Media in the 1st week of April & to Celebrate the occasion of the Anniversary, Here is a Special Post on the Advertisements that featured in TCU’s Favourite Comics. This Post is not an exhaustive one. And also the fact that need to be taken into consideration is that the Next Issue, Coming Soon. etc are not to be taken as Advertisements in the strictest way. Hence we are talking about only Commercial Campaigns and Not Cross Over Promotions.

To start with, here are some of the advertisements which featured in Lion Comics and Muthu Comics. Many ComiRades think that Commercial Ads never featured in Our beloved Publication and Mr Vijayan, Editor Of  Prakash Publications, himself mentioned in one of the Interviews that they are not very good in Marketing. These Ads Are very rare and the brands mentioned over here are Local Brands.Apart from these, Commercial Ads featured very rarely and As General Elections are Coming in the Next Month, the Self-Proclaiming Ad of Prakash Publishers are apt one to feature in this Post. 

Anil Anna (அணில் அண்ணா) is a Magazine which has Very good History among Tamil Children’s Magazine since Independence when they Had Mr Tamil Vaanan (தமிழ் வாணன்) himself as the Editor of the Magazine. Later On when the Magazine Ownership changed in the Later 70’s, Mr Puvi Vendhan (புவி வேந்தன்) became the Editor and the Publishers are None other than Mathi Nilayam (மதி நிலையம்) who were the Publishers of Mathi Comics (மதி காமிக்ஸ்). And again, this series got shelved and for the final time it was Revamped in 1987 when The Publisher was from the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Anil Anna is known for setting very high standards when it comes to publishing Children’s Magazine. This Particular Ad featured in the 2nd issue of Anil Anna in 1987.

Shell Shampoo Ad In Lion Comics - பெர்முடா படலம்	Shell ShikaKai Ad in Lion Comics = துரத்தும் தோட்டா
Election Ad in Lion தங்க நகரம் & Muthu பச்சை வான மர்மம்	VST Group Corporate Ad in அணில் அண்ணா - Feb 1987

 Now, Dan Dare Collector’s Edition is available in Odyssey Book Shops in Chennai, And this brought in picture the Falcon Comics of the Mid 60’s when they were in publication with very high standards. Even though Yours Truly is Not is Possession of these wonderful books, It is tough to forget the Ad of Remi Oil featuring the then Upcoming Actress, Later On The Chief Minister Of the State Of Tamil Nadu Madam J.Jayalalitha.This Ad is the Replica of the Same One which featured in Falcon Comics and Thanks to Mr Saathaan (சாத்தான்) for sending this Ad.

Former Chief Minister Of Tamil Nadu – Madam J Jayalalitha in Remi Hair Oil Ad in Falcon Comics Magazine Dated 1966

And then Comes Indrajal Comics. As a Comics from the Times Group, this series had the Longest Run in the annals of Comics publication In India and got published 800+ issues over a period of 27 Years (Yours Truly is in the finalising stage of making a complete list of all the comics that got published, Date wise, in Both Tamil and English). They also had some of the memorable Advertisements such as the BSA SLR cycle ad (After which Yours Truly fought with parents to Buy the same Blue Colour Cycle), The Poppins Campaign, The SBI, LIC, Binaca etc etc. Kindly click and enlarge the Ads and Enjoy them as everyone of the ads featured here are wonderful piece of Nostalgia.

The Famous Kapil Dev Ad for BSA SLR in Indrajal Comics Oct 1981	Poppins Rasu-Vasu Campaign Ad in Ambulimama in Aug 1980
Binaka F Fighting Killer COOH in Binaca Ad in Indrajal Comics Mar 1977	Poppins Magic Stories By Ram & Shyam Indrajal Comics Feb 1983
Cadburys Gems Ad – Butterfly Version in Indrajal Comics Nov 1981	Cadburys Gems Ad – Bear Version in Indrajal Comics Aug 1982
Cadburys Gems Ad – Train Version in Indrajal Comics Mar 1983	Ecko Sketch Pen Set Ad in Indrajal Comics Mar 1977
Natraj Pencil & Apsara Pencil Ad in Indrajal Comics in Oct 1981	Gee Flo Pen Advertisement in Indrajal Comics in Mar 1983
HMT – Boy Version Ad in Indrajal Comics in Feb 1983	HMT – Girl Version Ad in Indrajal Comics in Feb 1983
LIC Of India – Jeevan & Anu – Adventures of Dogs – Indrajal Jan 1983	LIC Of India – Jeevan & Anu – Adventures of Monkeys – Indrajal Jul 1983
DuckBack Rain Boots Advertisement in Indrajal Comics in July 1983	UCO Bank Small Savings Scheme Ad in Indrajal Comics Feb 1983
State Bank Of India – Learn Magic Series – Indrajal Comics Jan 1983	The Forgotten Gold Spot Ad in Indrajal Comics in Aug 1983
The 007 Bubblegum from NP Ad in Indrajal Comics in Oct 1981	Fevicol Ad – Kanmani Series – Indrajal Comics – May 1986

 If Times Group is the Power House in the North, then The Thanthi Group can match them when it comes to regional Reach. They also had one of the Un-interrupted run of 500 issues of Comics Called Rani Comics and they also feature some of the memorable ads. Like the 1st one which features Actress Ramya Krishnan and also the Medimix Ad which also features her as the Model.

Ramya Krishnan – Windsor Foods – Rani Comics – Sep 1984	MP Lottery Ad in Sept 1984 (Before Children's Day) in Rani Comics
Amrutanjan Ad in Rani Comics New Yr Special in 1985	Then Famous KAS Sekar Lottery Agency Ad in Feb 1985
Forgot Her Name – Model in Effermint Paste Ad in Apr 1985	Ramya Krishnan - Medimix Ad – Apr 1987 – Watch Out
Fevicol Ad – Kanmani Series – Rani Comics – New Yr Special 1988	Nutrine Bon Bon Ad Campaign with Train – Rani Comics May 1988
Nutrine Chacolate Eclairs Ad Campaign – Rani Comics June 1988	Campco Chacolate Ad in July 1988 Rani Comics
Nutrine SuperStar Campaign Ad in Rani Comics Nov 1988	Nutrine Gulab Jamoon Ad in Diwali Special in Nov 1988 Rani Comics
Nutrine Chacolate New Campaign in March 1989 Rani Comics	Complan Tin Campaign Ad in Rani Comics Dated Feb 1990
Maggie Club with Archie Comics Campaign in Jan 1991 Rani Comics	Ampro Biscuits Ad in Rani Comics Dated Dec 1991 – Stopped Buying

 And Finally, here are some filler Commercials which are placed over here to provide an interest for the ComiRades. Does Anyone remember the Ads for Ding Dong and Mixture? they appeared in 3-4 books in the late 70’s and that was the only progress they have made. No Info apart from that. 

Ding Dong Children’s Magazine-Coming Soon Ad-Nov 1978 Muthu Comics	Mixture Student’s Magazine-Coming Soon Ad-Nov 1978 Muthu Comics
Anil Anna Magical Stories Coming Soon Ad in Anil Magazine Apr 1979	Kannan Stories Publication Ad in Apr 1959 – Kannan Magazine

This One Is an Exclusive One. Thanks to Mr Haja Ismail, TCU Has a Spread Promo Sheet for the promotion of James Bond Comics which was in Publication in 1987.Have a Look at this as this is part of Very Rare Comics Memorabilia. 

Secret Agent James Bond Comics Ad Material – Courtesy Mr Haja Ismail – Distributed to All Comics Dealers in 1987

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 or Click Here.

Thanks & Regards,
King Viswa.

12 Memorabilia 1: Lion Comics - Dice Game

Dear ComiRades,

There are many Comics Memorabilia that we would have collected. The Lion Comics Key Chain, The Prakash Publishers T-Shirt, Lion Comics Comics Album, Rani Comics Note Book Labels, Prakash Publishers Seasons Greetings etc. However, the one that am going to Show is quite different from the rest of the ones that i have mentioned over.  

Am talking about the Dice Game (தாய விளையாட்டு) that was given with the 50th Special issue of Lion Comics (Dragon Nagaram). Have a Look at the Cover Scan of the 50th issue & the 1st page where the miniature version of the game is shown. Unlike Many ComiRades, I was not living in Chennai, Tamil Nadu at the time this Issue got released. Hence, the only contact for me with this dice game was that picture showing the game in the 1st page of the book. Have a look at the month of Publication & you will realise that our previous post on James Bond Comics issue no.1 was also released at the same time. What a Co-Incidence.

I sincerely believe that there will be many ComiRades who will be in the same position as of yours truly. Hence I just wanted to start this section where the comics memorabilia will be updated for those who came in late. So, Have a close look at this very rare Dice game. If anyone who has this dice game, Take a Snap / Scan of the same and mail it to tamilcomicsulagam@gmail.com and who knows, you may end up getting a surprise gift from the TCU Team. (Well, TCU stands for Tamil Comics Ulagam, of Course).

Here comes the Surprise element of the post. The Dice game has a origin. The Scream Magazine Has given the same with their 1986 Holiday special. Here is the scan of the same. 

Now, Now. Hasn't this post turned to be different? If so, all credit goes to My Partner in crime Dr.Sathish who reminded of this timely so that we can start a new section on comics memorabilia.

Hope you liked this new section. Based on the comments and suggestions, we can start new sections like this in our Blog. All you need to do is, hit the comments section and pen your thoughts on this.  

Many a ComiRade may question that our next ComiPost is advertised as James Bond issue no 2 & we are uploading this as a sudden thought. Not truly, sir. Our series still continues with the second issue of James Bond comics issue no.2 as the next post. Wait for that.  

Well, That's all for the time being. Thanks for all your support on keeping this blog alive and don't forget to add your views in Comments section.  

Thanks & Regards, 

King Viswa.