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.

14 Comic Cuts 32-News 32: ‘Nool’ Pandiyan, Graphic Novel on M.S.Subbulakshmi & TV Celebrity Reading Comics

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back to TCU after a very short break. Over the last 3 months, the trend on the number of posts and the sequence has been similar. Not much posts in the first 20 days and a continuous uploading of them in the next 10 days. Even in this month, the trend is following and try as hard, TCU couldn’t break the repeating of the same trend. Hopefully from next month onwards the trend may get reversed. However, one good thing for the last 3/4 months is that the number of posts is being constant: A Minimum of 5 posts per month, though most of them are Comic Cuts and TCU Presents series. A Lot of reader request are arriving with post requests on golden oldies of Tamil comics being the top of the request list. TCU is trying the best to accommodate them in the near future.

Moving on to the current post, this Comic Cuts is also similar to that of the News Post 28 (Comic Cuts 28) for the simple reason that all the news items are in Tamil language. TCU will try to differentiate the news articles in language wise in the near future as well. Henceforth the news articles in English will be segregated and posted in a single post and the remaining Tamil news articles related to Comics will be featuring in Tamil Comic Cuts.

01 Puthiya Thalaimurai – Nool Pandiyan: The name Nool Pandiyan is very popular amongst book collectors. Ever since TCU regained the Comics interest, the hunt was on to get the missing issues of Tamil comics and at that time Nool Pandiyan was introduced by one of the ComiRades. Nool Pandiyan is more popular and got more access to many book series than Mylapore Alwar and his book shop. His TV Interview will also be featured in the forthcoming Comic Cuts with the video. Watch out for that.

Note: Nool Pandiyan can be reached at This mobile Number: +91 94444 29649.

Puthiya Thalaimurai - Tamil Weekly - Issue Dated 23062011 - Page No 44 – Article on Nool Pandiyan By Yuva Krishna – Titled ad Pandiyan Parisu

02 Dina Malar – Nool Pandiyan: The very next day, this particular piece was carried out in Dina Malar in the page next to the headliner. Dina Malar has been doing this kind of Un-credited article usage for many years. However, since it has given more mileage to out best friend, we left the stones as they were.

DinaMalar Tamil Daily Dated 18062011 Nool Pandiyan Article

03 Anantha Vikatan – M.S.Subbulakshmi Graphic Novel: TCU has done a complete post on this book and that can be read over here (TCU Presents 04). It was nice to see leading magazines give their due respect to a honest work in the field of Comics. TCU expects much more coverage for the same in the near future.

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

04 Dina Mani Kathir – M.S.Subbulakshmi Graphic Novel: Anantha Vikatan has given only a small introduction about the book. Dina Mani Kathir has given a wonderful review of the same with photos and scans. We expected such work from Dina Mani based on their literary likening. Hopefully their own Children's magazine (Siruvar Mani) may get revamped, just like Dinamalar Siruvar malar gotten for a shorter period.

Dina Mani Kathir Weekly Supplement to Daily Dina Mani Dated 26062011 Page 01	Dina Mani Kathir Weekly Supplement to Daily Dina Mani Dated 26062011 Page 02

Kungumam – Graphic Novel on Steve Jobs & Kumudham – Mamathi Chari reading Comics: Most of the Tamilians know that Mamathi chari is a popular RJ/TV Compere. She was also an ex colleague of Yours truly. During those days, the Comics fire was not re-ignited with Yours truly and hence may not looked after those interest. The next time we meet, you can bet on the topic of the 1st question. The Photo of SriDevi was un-edited in the scan for some old timers.

Kungumam Tamil Weekly Dated 27062011 Page No 02 News Way Comics Book on Steve Jobs	Kumudham Tamil Weekly Issue Dated 29062011 Page No 48 Mamathi Chari Reading Tamil Comics Cut

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.

19 Comic Cuts 28–News 28: Comics News From The Latest Issues of Dinakaran Vasantham, Puthiya Thalaimurai & The Sunday Indian

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back to TCU. After couple of hectic months, TCU is started blogging again and let us hope that this stream continues for some time without a break in between. TCU’s last 3 posts were in Tamil Language and the response was tremendous and TCU promises to continue to enthral with Tamil Post’s in the future as well. Meanwhile many-a-Completed posts are waiting in the wings in TCU and

The Sunday Indian - Tamil Edition  - Dated 07032011 Page No 13 - Uncle Pai Demise News

most probably they all will see the daylight in the coming month’s. Couple of New Comic Book series were launched and TCU got those books last week itself and they will be posted as soon as TCU goes through them.

Now, This was an Old news. However, it has to be recorded in the annals of the history and hence it finds its place in this particular post. Uncle Pai breathed his last on 24th Feb 2011 and this particular news was not covered widely in Tamil magazines. In fact there were only a handful of media which covered this news in English as well (In Tamil Nadu).

Uncle Pai needs no introduction for Tamil ComiRades. His works were published in Tamil Language right from the late 60’s till the early 2000. However, he hogged the lime light in 2 time periods and both of them were due to the sterling efforts of translation with Vandu Mama. Initially in the time period of 1975-1977, lots of Uncle Pai’s works were published in Kalki magazine and some of the notable success were Rekha, Ramu & Somu etc.

The 2nd Time period was considered as the golden period for the children's magazine as it coincided with the launch of Poonthalir magazine which had features of Tinkle in Tamil language and other wonderful stories from the Greatest ever story teller for Children of all ages in Tamil Language – Vandu Mama.

Yours Truly had plans to meet Uncle Pai to clarify some of the “Black-Holes” in the Tamil version’ of ACK and other stories from the Rang Rekha Syndicate. Along with Dr 7, A Short 3 day tour was planned and it remained as a plan only without ever materializing into a tour.  If at all there are regrets in TCU’s life, then this will be in that list. Thank You, Uncle Pai. Thanks for the wonderful childhood and a better growing up period.

Dinakaran News Paper Sunday Supplement Book-Vasantham: The coverage for the XIII Jumbo Special is continuing and this time, it is Nattamai of Vasantham Book. He vouches for the book and the interesting storyline. This is the 2nd time in the last 5 months that this sundae supplement is in the comics news. To add a little bit of glamour quotient, the rest of the page is also published un-edited.

Dinakaran Tamil Daily News paper - Sunday Supplement Vasantham Weekly Book - Dated 06022011 - Page No 14 - Nattaamai Answers About XIII Jumbo Special

Puthiya Thalaimurai Magazine: Recently TCU met Cartoonist Bala in a Film preview in Sathyam theatre and though we exchanged few words, a Long conversation is due. In this feature, He explains how he was drawn into the world of drawing (Pun un-intended). It is not a big surprise to know that it was Rani Comics’ Phantom stories (Re-Christened in Rani Comics as Mugamoodi Veerar Mayavi) which led him to become what he is now. Read this article completely. Very interesting.

Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil Weekly Magazine – Issue Dated 03032011 - Page No 18 - Cartoonist Bala On His Inspiration to Draw – The Phantom – Page No 1

Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil Weekly Magazine – Issue Dated 03032011 - Page No 19 - Cartoonist Bala On His Inspiration to Draw – The Phantom – Page No 2

Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil Weekly Magazine – Issue Dated 03032011 - Page No 20 - Cartoonist Bala On His Inspiration to Draw – The Phantom – Page No 3

Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil Weekly Magazine – Issue Dated 03032011 - Page No 21 - Cartoonist Bala On His Inspiration to Draw – The Phantom – Page No 4

Oonjal Monthly Magazine: We all know that the Monthly Novel Ullasa Oonjal is now available in the name of Oonjal & though the name is changed, the same author is penning the stories month after month. PKP, Or for those who came in late, Pattukkottai Prabhakar is the one who is writing the novels in this magazine. Last month’s issue featured a wonderful story on the onion price rise with Appusamy being the prime character. It was lovely to see the artwork of J again. For the readers, the complete story is presented here.

Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 113 Appusamy Story Page 1	Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 114 Appusamy Story Page 2
Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 115 Appusamy Story Page 3	Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 116 Appusamy Story Page 4
Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 117 Appusamy Story Page 5	Oonjal Monthly Novel Dated 01022011 Page No 118 Appusamy Story Page 6

Old News – Cinema Express – Sanraa Media – The 99 Comics into Animation Show: Though this news was published in last year’s magazine, TCU had contacted the COO of Sanraa Media (Ex Colleagues) and he said that the project is costly one with each Half-an-Hour episode (of 22 Minutes) requires close to 14 lakhs. TCU is still waiting for the update on the news.

Cinema Express Bi-Monthly Cinema Magazine from The Indian Express Group – Issue Dated 16042010 - Page No 50 - Sanraa Media The 99 Animated Show News

Now,then; The next post will on the year end review post for the year ended 2010. Most probably that will be done by Wednesday and from next month onwards, ComiRades will see a radical change in the number of posts in TCU.

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.

43 News 20 - Comic Cuts 20: Muthu Fan & Steel Claw in Lime light – Dinakaran, Anantha Vikatan & Kungumam

Dear ComiRades,

Welcome back. After another long break, TCU is posting a Comics News post. However one good thing to announce is that, from here onwards, every Monday ComiRades will get a new Comics News (Comic Cuts) post. Now, now. There are certain people like Dr 7 who may say that regularity is not a thing to be associated with Tamil Comics & TCU. Well, all we can say is, we are entering into a new age. From now onwards, expect a lot of posts from TCU and competitions as well. Get ready Folks, TCU is back. To make matters more spicy and glamorous, Next Monday TCU will feature a news article about a current heroin reading comics.

News 1: We all know that Steel Claw is the No.1 Hero of Tamil comics and will remain so for more years to come, as the Editor is keeping him alive through various reprints. Even if there is any doubt, here is further proof for that. The No.1 Tamil daily New Paper Dinakaran has a weekly supplement on Sundays named “Vasantham – வசந்தம்” and it features a Q & A page as well. In last week’s Vasantham, there was a question about the book which will never bore the readers. Without hesitation, the Editor has answered that “Steel Claw Stories - இரும்புக் கை மாயாவி காமிக்ஸ்". Here is the scan of that page and you can read that online in this page: Vasantham. This particular information was reminded by our Tirunelveli ComiRade Saravanan.

Dinakaran Tamil Daily News Paper - Sunday Supplement Vasantham – Dated 14-11-2010 - Q & A Section – Naattamai Answers – Steel claw Mention

News 2: Anandha Vikatan: Last week’s Anandha Vikatan featured an interview with the Director Prabhu Solomon, who has just recently gave a hit film named “Mynaa – மைனா” in a segment named Energy Pages. In that, he describes that the only memories of his childhood is filled with “The Steel Claw” and the adventures he carries across the world. TCU will be meeting with him very soon and will let his comments be published over here in TCU. It is heartening to know that he is also among the selected few who reads comics in the tinsel town along with Actor/Director PonVannan, Director A.R Muruga Doss, Art Director Trotsky Marudhu, Director Simbhu Devan, Writer S. Ramakrishnan etc.

Anandha Vikatan - Dated 24-11-2010 - Page 56  - Energy Page 16+ - Dir Prabhu Interview – Childhood Memories About Muthu comics & Steel Claw

News 3 – Anandha Vikatan: In that same issue of Anandha Vikatan, there was another feature which was related to Comics. Anandha Vikatan has a segment named “Welcome Page – வரவேற்பறை” in which they introduce a new web site, a new Blog, a new book, C.D, etc to the readers based on the popularity and the recency. In this issue, they have chosen our beloved Muthu Fan’s blog as the blog of the week and they have the customary mention about the Spider man over The Spider.  All said and done, it feels great to see our Master’s name in the book. Hats off to you, Sir. TCU wishes the Man with the Golden Pen.

Anandha Vikatan - Dated 24-11-2010 - Page 86  - Vikatan Varaverparai – Blog Introduction – Muthu Fan Blog – The Default syndrome of Spiderman

If you ever thought that this is the first time that MF is featuring in a news article, you are wrong in the right way. As a matter of fact, this is the 3rd time in the last 2 years that MF is discussed in a Comics news article. Here are the scans of the previous 2 occasions in which he was featured in the news section. This article was featured in TCU’s news post News 11 and the news below was the focal point on which TCU was started and it happens to be TCU’s 1st ever post News 1.

Deccan Chronicle – Chennai Edition - Chennai Chronicle - Page  26  - Dated 31:12:2008 – Pulp Fiction Reloaded – Mention about Muthu Fan

Deccan Chronicle – Chennai Edition – Chennai Chronicle - 28th July 28072008 – Tamil Comics Article – Mentioning about Muthu Fan

Now that the issue is sold out/off the shelf, TCU can safely mention about the article which featured about yours truly. Yes, it happened in the Puthiya Thalaimurai (புதிய தலைமுறை - Generation New, literal translation). This article is featured here for the records purpose as it was already discussed over here in this Post by Dr 7: AKoTheeKa Times.

Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil weekly Magazine – Children's Day Special Issue - Issue Dated 18-11-2010 - Comics Article - Page 1,2 & 3,4 – Author: Yuvakrishna

In this post, there was a mention about Cinema Celebrities reading Tamil Comics. The maximum news about them is redirected towards one person: Actor / Director Pon Vannan. Here are the links for the previous Posts about his comics reading: TCU News 2 & AKoTheKa Times.

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. Now, don’t forget that from here onwards, The Monday’s wont be the same. They will be TCU’s Comic Cuts Monday’s. To Make this happen regularly, Kindly intimate TCU either through mail or comment about the latest Comics News that you’ve read or seen over in any of the media.

By the way, when was the last time that you’ve written a letter to our Editor on the comics? Kindly do write in your opinions and the comments about Jumbo special and other things.

Thanks & Regards,

King Viswa.