Monday, June 04, 2007

As we are waiting for the arrival of the Cowboy special, which also will be the issue number 200 of Lion Comics, I think it is appropriate to recollect a Hot Line published in the 50th Lion issue Dragon Nagaram. Particularly read the letter from R Amutha(also known as Chinnanchiru Gopu). As per schedule, 200th issue would have got released sometime in 2000. However we are in 2007 and still waiting for the 200th issue. Better late than never.

Take a look at the hot line and the cover of the 50th issue.





Let us recall one more landmark issue. Take a look at the hot line of the issue number 150 and cover of the issue.





Though the issue number 200 was not released in 2000, issue number 157 will remain as a milestone of this period. Titled as the Millenium special, this was the highlight of the year 2000 as far as Tamil comics is concerned. I'm not going deep into this issues as most of the readers would have read the book very recently. So only the cover scan of this landmark issue is posted here.



I'll do a review of issue number 200 as and when it is released.

Regards,
Muthufan

23 comments:

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear MuthuFan,

The cover Scan of Dragon Nagaram has rekindled the Memory about the Golden times of Tamil comics (i.e) the Late 80's. It was such a great feeling to have that book in my hand and wondering which story to read first. Since Spider was my favourite hero then, i read Venus Kal Marmam.

Anyway, thanks for giving me such nostalgia. Waiting for your next posting.

Anonymous said...

Great job Muthufan. It was nice to read about the special issues that Mr. Vijayan brought out previously. Though these golden issues probably sold better than the recent ones, it is hard seeing the recent Lion Jolly special is still available. These wonderful comics books deserve to sell in the hundreds of thousands, but Mr. Vijayan was only hoping for a thousand or five hundred advance bookings, and the delay in releasing the cowboy special means that the editor is probably not very encouraged with the response he has received. The lion comics website was not functional for several months and now it is not there. Hope it is only temporary. In the meantime it is very nice to see your articles and that too about rare issues, makes it worth the wait.

Saleem.

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear Saleem,

On the point that the lion comics website is not being there, the fact is, it requires Renewal & i do believe that Mr Vijayan has not renewed it. Still it cannot be taken by anyone as the backorder will be accepted only after some time.

I Also do believe that it is only temporary.

Unknown said...

Dear Muthufan,

Hats off to You. Nice postings & great dedication. Now i know why my brother praises you so highly. However, it would have been nice had you included the cover scans of Lion century specuial (100th issue) as well in that posting.

Keep up the good work. All the very best.

Anonymous said...

Biceps Baala,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, World.

Sir,

Your blog is simply super & wonderful to read. Will it be possible for you to post the same in tamil also?

Why i was asking was, there are so many people who are hardly shakesphers in Tamil Nadu; However, they love comics like anything.

Thanks Sir.

Anonymous said...

Chezhiyan.K,
Tamil Nadu.

Hey Comic Fans,

When you people talk about Lion Century Special (100th issue of Lion Comics), Does anyone remember the spider story that appeared in that book?

It was titled as "Pani ilavarasan". If My memory serves me right, that was taken from a DC Comics Story featuring Batman & that comics off the late 80's. I Got the lion century special only recently from Dr Sathish of Cbe & hence i couldn't post my comments about that earlier.

What Mr Vijayan has done was, He took the book & may be scanned the pages & re-created it with spider by replacing wherever batman was. If you look into that story closely, You will find the diffences:

(1) There will be no Roy Ordini / Pelham in that entire story.

(2) There was no heli-Car in that entire story.

(3) The Combination art work (Spider with other characters) was not appropriate.

(4) The individual panels in which spider appears alone were taken from some of the earlier spider stories.

i have the complete list of spider stories published by Fleetway publication, UK : Written by Ted Cowan and illustrated by Reg Bunn. However, there is no story like this.

Sorry Mr Vijayn, i NEVER EVER expected this from You. Once in a hotline of yours, you have mentioned about rani comics recreating the character of Modesty Blaise with local artists. You said it is a big crime. Now hat have you done sir?

Only one question rings in my mind: Et Tuu Vijayan? (You Too Vijayan?).

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear Mr Baala,

Kindly read Muthufan's 1st posting in which he has very clearly mentioned about the difficulties in posting in tamil Language.

Anyway, Thanks for your interest in Tamil Comics. Keep on reading.

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear MuthuFan,

It seems you have to wait a little more than the expected time to review The CowBoy Special. The latest information is that the book is getting delayed (Again) and will be available only in the End of June (If we are lucky) or in the first week of July.

The general logic is that the comic books sell more in the months of April-May-June (Dont misJudge me on claiming the months).

Comics is not for kids & they are for matured readers. Moreover, the current comic fans are in the age group of 22+. However, during the months of April-May-June, The sale will be more than the sum of the parts.

That is, if normally 75 books are sold during other season, In the months of April-may-June, it will be like 125-150 Books. (75% to 100% increase in sales).

Anyway, better late than never.Hope for the best.

Waiting anxiously with my fingers crossed for the 3rd book in the 100 Rs series.

Anonymous said...

Punch Jagan,

Dear Sir,

Your postings are very very interesting to read. I Was following you from the very beginning (Like your earlier sites). However, i couldn't post or write to you. Seeing the cover of Dragon Nagaram, i got so excited that it made me to post this comment.

P.S: Thanks viswa for letting me know this wonderful post through SMS.

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear Saleem,

The Lion comics Web Site is now partially functional. However, the posting method is the same again. We cannot post anything for the time being.

Anyway, We must be happy that the site has come to life again, rahter than being redundant.

Thanks & Regards,
Viswa.

King Viswa said...

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai

Dear Comic Fans,

There is good news for all of you. At Last we are going to see the Cow Boy Special from Lion Comics. Yesterday i spoke with them and they they said that the book will be available from Monday (July the 2nd) onwards. They will post it on monday for those who booked in advance booking. Eagely waiting for the 3rd book in the 100 Rs series from Lion Comics.

Thanks & Regards,
Viswa

Anonymous said...

I heard that my copy of the Cowboy special was posted yesterday from Lion office. It appears that this work has taken up a lot of their time. I guess that explains why the lion website is left unattended and also why we have not seen other issues like classics come up in the past few months.

Work is ongoing on compiling the XIII jumbo issue targeted for April next year. This is good news indeed.

Anonymous said...

Chezhiyan.K,
Chennai.

Dear Comic Friends, Received The lion Comics Cow Boy Special after much delay.

However, better late than never. Was Happy.

As usual, there were some changes in the book. There is no Chick Bill Story & Instead of that, what we have is the third part of the Young Mike Donovan (Blue Berry) saga.

Lucky Luke, Tex Willer & Blue Berry are Very good. However, the remaining stories are not exactly in the same league.

However, there is still a Small Suprise element in this special: Irumbukk Kai Mayavi makes a cameo appearance in a mini story.

I Have a doubt lingering in my mind & this question is directed to Mr Vijayan: Dear Mr Vijayan, the only reason behind putting the 3rd part of the Young Blue Berry saga in the CowBoy Special without any announcement was to make sure that you publish the story before IceBerg Comics' "Marana Porattam" hits the stands, isn't it?.

My Apologies to The Great MuthuFan for putting the question here.

Rafiq Raja said...

The #50 Issue Cover Scan rekindles lost memories, when after seeing that book on the shops, I literally begged my brother to buy it for me. Rs.5 way too much for my Pocket Money that time. Golden Period of Tamil Comics.

Eagerly looking forward for Muthufan's review on Lion #200 Issue.

Anonymous said...

http://freecomicbooks.blogspot.com/2007/07/phantom-tamil-comic.html

Rafiq Raja said...

Muthufan, eagerly looking forward for you review of #200 Issue. I will pass on mine in my blog by next week.

Meanwhile, for all others, Have a sneak preview of Iceberg's 4th installment featuring our favorite Cowboy.

Visit Comicology

Anonymous said...

Rafiq,

Is that your blog site? Very nice! How did you get the cover for the latest Muthu? Is that issue released already?

My review of the Cowboy Special:

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cowboy special. The Tex Willer story was different: nice artwork, different setting and was staged as a nice detective mystery instead of the usual cowboy/Indian story.

The Blueberry story was excellent as usual. Nothing special, but the story was a good time-pass.

Lucky Luke was marvelous. They took Lee Van Cleef's deadly bounty hunter character out of the movie "For a few dollars more" and made him extremely funny here. The artist's rendering of Van Cleef's face was very realistic and funny.

If you haven't seen Clint Eastwood's "For a few dollars more", I recommend you to see it and then compare it with this Lucky Luke story.

King Viswa said...

B N: The particular Cover Scan of Muthu Comics is Available in Lion Comics Website. They have updated only the Muthu Comics Page & not other pages like Lion Comics, Comics Classics, Message Page etc.

Rafiq: Your Blog Looks really nice. What i was planning to do, you've done it. Hats off to you.

P.S: Infact i have seen the Movie several times. However, i couldnt Relate that with This Lucky Luke story. Will watch tonight.

Thanks & Regards,
Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Rafiq Raja said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rafiq Raja said...

Hi BN, Thanks for the comments. I am trying to publish as many comics as I come across on the blog. There are few more pending, would get them done in coming weeks.

As Viswa pointed, not many people tend to check out the lion/muthu sections, due its occassinal updates, and i surprisingly found out that this muthu's was updated. Hope it gets updated for others too.

I have marked "For a Few Dollar's More" in my checklist, during the next visit to video library.

Thanks Viswa for the comments. You can also contribute articles to comicology blog, just create an google account and let me know, and I can add you, BN as Team Members for contribution. I always believe that teamwork always goes a long way, instead of an individual work.

And, I have updated my reviews about Lion #200 on my blog Comicology. I hope I cannot challenge BN, Muthufan, Viswa to the TRIVIA in there, it was meant for other readers only :)

Muthufan, where are you.... your posting is pending for long :)

Anonymous said...

Viswa: The main story of the movie does not have much connection with this lucky luke story, but the character of Elliot the bounty hunter is a direct parody of the Lee Van Cleef character in that movie. And a very well done and extremely funny parody at that! The cartoon caricature of Lee van Cleef's face they made here is so funny that I couldn't stop laughing :)

Now if you take the Blueberry story "Thotta Thalainagaram", it is a direct copy of the John Wayne movie "Rio Bravo".

King Viswa said...

BN : Bhai Jaan, You are a Mobile Video Library. Still you remember all those movies which got released way back. Goodness, Gracious. Now, The movie Rio Bravo is in my Search list & most probably will watch it by this week end.

Thanks for the update.

Thanks & Regards,

Viswa Nathan.D
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Anonymous said...

Dear Viswa,

After you watch the movies, let us know what your opinions are regarding the similarities!