2 Comic Cuts 35-News 35: M.S.Subbulakshmi Graphic Novel (Dina Malar Vaara Malar), Wilco Picture Library, Season’s Top 5 From Comic World & Steel Claw gets his weapons

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back to TCU. Again another Comic cuts and yours truly is very much happy these days as there are lots of news on the comics front and at least they keep the interest on comics going on till we get some of the new Tamil comics for the season. Let us get on with this post.

Friday, The 15th: 15-07-2011: On this day, Yours truly initiated a small move and this particular move brought this particular quote from Neil Armstrong “One small step for a man, One giant leap for Mankind” to memory. What is that step? Is that so important to Tamil Comics? Will it have any change in the trend? Only time will answer these questions. If the results of this step is fruitful, We will have the golden era of Tamil Comics from Next year onwards. As of right now, only this much can be said of this step and keep a closer watch on these pages for the updates.

The Hindu – Wilco Picture Library: There are so many picture libraries in India which are very much similar to that of ACK in both content and style. Most of them lack the extra edge required to last long. However, there is no stopping for the new publications to try and make some impression. Here is a new one named Wilco Picture library. TCU has tried some of these in the month of March itself and they are OK to say the least.

The Hindu Daily News Paper – Issue Dated 12072011 - Supplement Young World - Page No 4 – Book Buzz Section - Stories in Pictures - Wilco Picture Library

Deccan Chronicle – Comic Relief: Deccan Chronicle often comes up certain innovative and thoughtful write ups on comics and related issues. Apart form the odd news, most of them well designed. Here are the latest news from them in their regular teen tonic section. Have a read, folks.

Deccan Chronicle Daily News Paper – Chennai Edition – Supplement - Chennai Chronicle – Issue Dated 11072011 - Page No 25–Teen Tonic Section-Comic Relief

Deccan Chronicle Daily News Paper – Chennai Edition – Supplement Chennai Chronicle – Issue Dated 11072011 - Page No 25 - Comic Relief Season Top 5

Dina Malar Vaara Malar – M.S.Subbulakshmi Graphic Novel: This particular book from Ms Lakshmi Devnath has created enough interest in the market, that it is still talk of the town well after a month after the launch. This time it is from the celebrated weekly supplement of Dina Malar news paper titled Vaara Malar, where Andhu Mani wields the magic wand, issue after issue making it the most read and sought after weekly supplement in Tamil magazines. If you haven’t read this, you’ll definitely regret missing it later on.

Dina Malar Vaara Malar Book - Sunday Supplement - Issue Dated 17072011 - Page No 29 - MS Subbulakshmi Graphic Novel By Lakshmi Devnath – Book Review

Dina Malar Siruvar Malar – Steel Claw Copy Cate Lee Rock: Some time back TCU has done a post about the resurrection of Siruvar Malar. Now they have reverted to the old style again and they have only 2 comics stories in the entire book, spanning a grand total of 8 pages. In out last comic cuts post (Comic cuts 34), we have mentioned that this new series titled Lee Rock is aping the most loved Comic Character of South India for the last 41 years.

The story line continues and here in this latest episode, Lee rock gets his gadgets in his artificial steel claw and if they are similar to that of Louis Crandell, am not surprised. Here are the pages for this week’s episode.

Remember, you can read Siruvar Malar free of cost in their home page. Here is the link for that: Siruvar Malar

 Puthiya Thalaimurai – Surprise in the Next week Issue: We all know that this particular magazine is not like the regular magazines and it gives value to infotainment rather than mere market and commercial elements. Hence it was always in yours truly’ s reading list.

Now, they are mentioning that there will be a surprise from their next issue. What it could be? Well, that’s for me to know & you to find out, before the next Friday.

Well, that's all for the time being & TCU will be back with the next issue of this series in the next post.

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.

10 TCU Presents. . . 05: New Comics Intro - Pictures of melody-M.S.Subbulakshmi:Queen of Song-Graphic Novel Review

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back to TCU. Since last week, TCU was eagerly waiting for a new Graphic Novel/Comics. Of late, TCU is introducing certain new Comics series which are going to be translated in Tamil Language in the near future. In this series, we are going to see a new kind of Comics from Chennai itself. Yes sir, we are talking about a new imprint from Chennai.

Necessity is the mother of all inventions is an old saying. Here in the present day, we can say that Necessity is the mother of a New Publication. Way is that? To know more, read on and complete this post on a wonderful initiative from a wonderful Lady.

Those who live in Chennai or Have an ear for music will be familiar with the Name Ms Lakshmi Devnath (Here is the link to her Website: http://lakshmidevnath.com/). She has written more than 200 articles and research features on Carnatic music in leading publications like The Hindu & Sruti (India’s premier magazine for the performing arts). For some time, she was working on a Biography on the legendary musician M.S.Subbulakshmi. She then decided to give it in a form that will be easy to read even for the kids, for they are the ones who have an avid interest in learning Carnatic music. Once she decided that the story will be told in Comics format, she tried for the publishers. However, when there was no push from any of the present set of publishers, she decided to take it on her own and launched her own publishing house “Heritage Publishing House”. The 1st ever book from this newly launched publishing house is the biography of M.S.Subbulakshmi titled as Queen of Song. Here are the cover images of the lovely book. If the cover images look stunning and familiar at the same time, it is because our beloved artist Aras has worked on the cover image and made so lovely. Of course the back ground images are from the book itself.

Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi Dated June 2011 Cover	Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi June 2011 Inner Cover

If the cover image was so stunning and eye capturing, the inner works by artist G.Sekar are also good. Here are the sample images from the 1st and last pages of the book. Kindly look at the 1st page last panel artwork. it is so stunning that you are tempted to say that MS is looking at you. At the same time, one must say that drawing and drawing for comics are two different things and here is where sekar found wanting. Of course, this is also where legendary artists of the calibre of Maniyam selvam have been found wanting. The inexperience in drawing comics is shown in other panels. One must say that, with experience of drawing many comics stories, Sekar will be a world class Comics/Graphic Novel artist.

Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi June 2011 Story 1st Page	Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi June 2011 Story Last Page

Of Course, this book is not a work of accidental planning. It is the first amongst many. Here are certain other stories which are about to be launched very soon by the very same publishing house. In the last cover, we have the picture of Ms Lakshmi Devnath and her profile. It must be noted that this book comes with a Wonderful A4 Size photograph of M.S.Subbulakshmi and what more, it is signed by her as well. Of course, that scan is not included here and you need to buy this wonderful book to have a look into that signed photograph.

Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi Dated June 2011 Inner Cover Forthcoming Issues Annex	Heritage Press Picture of Melody 01 MS Subbulakshmi June 2011 Back Cover

Book Review: When TCU read the articles about the book in leading news papers, the eagerness to buy these books was unmatched. Hence TCU visited certain bookshops and when found wanting on the info of the availability of the same, TCU has sent a mail to the author on the same. You wont believe, not only the wonderful lady made a personal call on the whereabouts of the book, she also made sure that TCU got the book very soon. TCU thanks the wonderful gesture from the renowned author.

Once the book was available, TCU was ready to write a review of the book. However, after reading the wonderfully penned article from Carnatic Darbar, TCU decided that this review exemplifies the book in a much better way and hence the same review is produced over here. Have a read guys,

Excellent Book Review By Sudha Jagannadhan in Carnatic Darbar on 20th June 2011: Article Available in http://carnaticdarbar.com/news/201101/20110620.asp

Articles in Leading Magazines/News Papers: The reception for the book is seen to be believed. Each and every one who had a glimpse on the book has got only better things to say. Here are some of the articles which have appeared within a weeks time. TCU believes that many more will be following these.

The Hindu - Chennai Edition – News Paper Dated 17062011 - Friday Review Section - Page 01 - Book Review - Melody in Pictures 01 – M.S Subbulakshmi

Deccan Chronicle - Chennai Edition – News Paper Dated 17062011 - Page 02 - Book Review - Pictures of Music – Heritage Press – M.S.Subbulakshmi

Anantha Vikatan Tamil Weekly - Issue Dated 29062011 - Vikatan Jannal Section – Page No 96 - Book Intro - Heritage Press M.S.Subbulakshmi Graphic Biography

Possibility of the Book in Tamil?: When discussing to the author, TCU has raised the question on the possibility that this wonderful book being available in Tamil Language. Ms Lakshmi Devnath instantly said that she is open to the idea and once this book is welcomed by the readers, she will definitely consider the option of publishing the same in Tamil Language. So guys, if you want to see this wonderful book in Tamil language, show your support by buying this right now. Here are the places where you can buy these books presently.

Giri Trading Agency New No 14/,Old No 10, Kapaleswarar Sannidhi Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.	Sukra Musicals No 12, North Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600004.	The Carnatic Music Book Centre No 23A ,Sripuram 1st Street, Royapettah, Chennai 600014.
New Book Lands No 52c, Basement North Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai 600017	AVM's Sound Zone New No 281/Old No 267, Sankara Hall T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018	To Buy Online, Click here: Kalakendra Very soon, it will be available in Landmark and Odyssey bookstores as well.

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 Blog.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.