Cinebook – Backlist Titles | 2010 | Part I

We are almost at the end of the year 2010, and still there are a lot to catch up at Comicology. I am trying to shake those cobwebs, as the new year dawns, and expect to go at them one by one through the eve. First up on the list is our old favourite, Cinebook – The 9th Art Publishers - the publishing house from the other side of the sea, but the one which still does business in India, as if it belongs here.

We had covered Cinebook’s last two Indian batch releases in 2008 and 2009. But this time around, we are going to look at it in a different way, talking briefly about each of the series making the line-up. This would also help to better introduce new and old titles, as an exclusive review on them is going to take some time coming (considering the pace at which our blog moves these days :)).

The biggest change in this set from the earlier ones is that, starting from 2010, there are no more double-issues, or 2-in-1 editions, in Cinebook’s line-up. Meaning, they are published as single albums, as they were originally released in Bande-Dessine. Cinebook cites the reason to them, as the way to bring down the higher price attached to double volumes, which generally reflects on the sales, as they are generally, slow to move off-the-shelf.

From my side, even though they were value for money editions, I still missed the individual covers in their  laminated glory. Moreover, double volumes are more prone to damages at the crimp, due to how they weigh. So overall, I am much satisfied to see them in single volume editions.

There are a total 32 albums which have made their way into India, as part of the batch, and they were available from the mid of this year. We will look at them as per the alphabetical order, as it’s difficult to classify the priorities to the list. The reason, I hardly find them inferior to each other, as they always stand good on their own ways. A credit to the wealth available at Franco-Belgian Genre, which Cinebook is gung-ho to introduce to the English speaking nations.

Due to the size of this batch release, we will preview them over two posts, with the 1st part here, and the follow-up sooner at Comicology.

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Betelguese
Genre: Science-Fiction

01.	#2: The Caves	45 pp	B5 size	INR 195
02.	#3: The Other	45 pp	B5 size	INR 195

A journey which started in the distant planet Aldebran, nears a conclusion in another remote planet Betelguese, as the 10 part saga comes to a close. Aldebran/Betelguese is a masterpiece of Artist/Write Leo, who showcases the wonderfully imagined life on an outer world, and showcases the disaster of how a menacing human kind can bring, much like the one befallen in our homeland. If you had liked Avatar, the recent movie block buster, you would love this venture for sure.

To go with the 2010 model, these two titles are released as single albums, breaking up from its earliest releases, which were 2-in-1 volumes, and covered 8 previous albums into 4 issues. Refer Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles.

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Bellybutton
Genre: Humour

03.

#2: It's Ugly Out There

48 pp

A4 size

INR 195

As the name suggests, Bellybuttons retells the up and happening story of 3 college cuties, Jenny, Vicky, and Karine, while the last one certainly doesn’t fit the description. Karine is indeed a simple, not-so-good looking types, you find in every group, which brings her all the trouble from the dominating peers in the quartet. It’s a humour laced tale, drawn and told in a cartoonish style, sticking to its genre.

Issue 1 of this series was released in India, in 2009, which is now followed up by the second title. Refer Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles.

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Blake & Mortimer
Genre: Detective/Thriller/Classic

04.

#7: The Affair of the Necklace

72 pp

A4 size

INR 250

Cinebook’s treasure hunt into Edgar P. Jacobs’ Blake and Mortimer classics, brings us another tale of their adventures, as the seek to find the mystery surrounding a Necklace, which trace its origin to the last French Queen. To make matters worse, they come face to face with the old arch enemy, Olrik. How they bring his current misdeeds to closure, is told in classic pages filled with Jacob’s own style of storytelling, which has its parallel to the much famous Tintin series.

A total of 6 volumes, have been released in India, in the last couple of years. To read more about the Blake & Mortimer series, refer to our preview post on Blake & Mortimer #1 to 3

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Bluecoats
Genre: Humour/Action

05.

#3: The Skyriders

48 pp

A4 size

INR 195

The adventures and misadventures of Sergeant Chesterfield and Blutch, continues in the latest volume, Skyriders, where they become the pilots of the new addition to the US cavalry, an “Observation Balloon”.

We would have read countless stories about American Civil War, but creators Lambil and Cauvin, introduce humorous touch to those blood ridden history, yet staying true to much of the incidents which shaped the war, that was. The dynamic duo of Chesterfield and Blutch, reminds us of the Dog Bull and Kid Ordinn duo from the classic Chick Bill series.

The two earlier issues of the series were both released in India, in 2009, which is now followed up by the third title. Refer  Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles.

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Buck Danny
Genre: Action/War

06.

#2: The Secrets of Black Sea

48 pp

A4 size

INR 195

Buck Danny, the celebrated aviation hero, this time enters the mission to unravel the secrets over the Black Sea. Set at the end of the Cold war, this tells the story of how remains of fallen empire, would never cease to tread the righteous path. Francis Bergese’s artistic talent, and his intrinsic detail laced sketch of airliners, add value to the storyline, a department handled by De Douhet for this album.

Cinebook has ably filled up the void left by the cancellation of Biggles titles, by introducing another fictional war hero in the form of Buck Danny. The series is wonderfully enriched by the art of Bergese, whom readers would remember from the same Biggles venture, launched by Euro Books in India, followed by Cinebook’s own short run with the series.

Buck Danny was introduced to India in 2009, with the release of Issue #1, which is now followed up by another classic. To read more about Francis Bergese’s earlier releases in India, refer to our posts on Euro Books Biggles Series & Cinebooks Biggles Recounts Series

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Chimpanzee Complex
Genre: Science-Fiction

07.

#2: The Sons of Ares

56 pp

A4 size

INR 250

Chimpanzee Complex is a 3 issue mini series which received critical and commercial reception when it was released in French heartland. It traverses in two different realms, told from an adventurous space women, and her estranged daughter. Caught between her unblemished love towards her daughter and the ambitions to live up to her career aspirations, Helen Friedman’s adventures to discover the true origin of space flights, are wonderfully told in this intriguing tale.

The dark themed artwork of Jean-Michel Ponzio’s makes a perfect foil, to the adventurous script of Richard Marazano, which makes up for an interesting wait to the concluding issue, expected in the new year.

Chimpanzee Complex Issue 1 was released in India on 2009, which is now followed up by Issue #2. Refer Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles.

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Ducoboo
Genre: Humour

08.

#4: The Class Struggle

48 pp

A4 size

INR 195

You can never have a dearth of fun and laughter, as long as the world’s biggest dunce, Ducoboo is around. Issue #4 carries over from the previous releases, which are laced with one page slapstick comedy featuring the King of Dunces himself, and his most loved friend and enemy, Leonie, sharing the spoils.

Ducoboo’s Issue #1 and #2 were released in India in 2008, while the Issue #3, founds it way with 2010 batch. To read our review on Ducoboo, refer to the post Cinebook’s Children's Category

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Insiders
Genre: Action/Adventure

09.

#2: Missiles for Islamabad

48 pp

B5 size

INR 195

The newest and most deadliest female agent, Najah Cruz, continues her mission of infiltrating the international crime ring, famously known as High Circle. She is a high-profile insider, who directly reports to the US White House, thus her adventures become all the more risky, entangle in a political time-wrap, mixed with conspiracy and betrayal. Her latest adventure brings her close to India, to probe a French missile sales to Pakistan.

Insiders was launched in India with Issue #1 in 2009. It was long touted to be featured, re-titled as Code Name Minnal, in Southern India, by Tamil Comics publishers, Lion Comics. It was also touted be part of the future releases by, now defunct, Sri Lankan Tamil Comics company, Iceberg Comics.  But both projects never saw the daylight, marking the Cinebook’s English versions as Insider’s official entry, for Indian comic fans. Refer Cinebook 2009 Backlist Titles.

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IR$
Genre: Action/Adventure

10.	#4: Silicia, Inc	48 pp	B5 size	INR 195
11.	#5: The Corrupter	48 pp	B5 size	INR 195

At the end of the year, and what do you normally hear more about? the Taxman. Cinebook’s line-up has a Taxman of its own, but he isn’t your regular law-enforcer, he is the one who has License to Kill and Thrill, just like 007.

We are talking about the Incredible Larry Max, from the United State’s Secret Service IR$. We had briefed about IR$, in our debut review about the series at Comicology. And I for one had opined that the stories were little off-color, in their rendition, and probably the colouring of the artwork, itself.

But, it needs to be admitted that it has an unique attraction over its fans, credits to its plot-work which decodes the illegal accounts of crime and political syndicates, which has no dearth in the world we live. No wonder Cinebook continues to keep the mercurial agent on their line-up.

In the latest adventure, Larry find his match, in the beautiful and dangerous Silicia. Does the usual Larry’s womanly attractions, make him fall over the huntress, or does he stay true to his national call? The answers are action packed in this two issue release, both of which have been released together (thanks to the batch releases, at least in this count), saving us from pondering over the conclusion.

IR$ was launched originally as part of 2008 batch, with the 2nd issue following along with 2009 batch. Both the issues were double/2-in-1 issues, thus covering 4 of the original albums. As per 2010 Cinebook policy, they have now been released, just like the originals, in single straight volumes. Read more about IR$ in our Review post Cinebook - IR$ #1.

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Iznogoud
Genre: Humour

12.	#1: Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud	48 pp	A4 size	INR 195
13.	#2: Caliph's Vacation	48 pp	A4 size	INR 195
14.	#3: Day of Misrule	48 pp	A4 size	INR 195
15.	#4: Magic Computer	48 pp	A4 size	INR 195
16.	#5: A Carrot for Iznogoud	48 pp	A4 size	INR 195

And now to the biggest surprise of the lot, the Incorrigible Iznogoud, makes it Cinebook debut in India too, finally. It was long anticipated ever since Cinebook added the most famous Grand Vizier of Comic books in their line-up back in 2008.

But, the rights which were held by Euro Books in India, over the brand, by their launch of Iznogoud Titles in 2009, made Cinebook’s entry all the more difficult. I had been pressing over the point with the Cinebook management about the no-compete clauses, as the selection of Cinebook (which depends on Original classics), never compete with Euro Books (who deal with most recent and latest ones from a series). Finally, the decision makers at Westland (Cinebook’s Indian distributors), concluded the right way, and have ordered all the 5 editions of Iznogoud released so far (Iznogoud #6, was released after this consignment).

Now we have the long awaited classics from the pens of René Goscinny and Jean Tabary, in all its glory. If you would have skipped Iznogoud with Euro Books last attempt (which we did recommend, during our last review post), then this lot is the perfect one for you to make a head-start into the legendary series. Don’t miss them, folks.

Iznogoud was originally launched in India, in Hindi Language by Gowarsons, and was later introduced in Tamil language by Lion Comics. Read more about them and the series as a whole, in our Iznogoud’s debut post on Comicology - Lion Comics #160 – Iznogoud.

Euro Books then launched a total of 12 Albums in India, in 2009. Read about them over at Euro Books and Iznogoud.  The series is now been followed up by the 5 classics from Cinebook.

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Thus ends our preview post on Cinebook’s latest offerings, and we will be back shortly with our second and concluding part of it soon at Comicology.  And just for info, these titles are all available in never before offers at Online sites like Indiaplaza, where discounts ranges up to 30% and beyond. Now is a chance to grab them if you haven’t done so, already.

By the way, before we close, here is wishing Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays for all the Comikers. May this festive season bring out the best of the world to your households. Here is a different take by an artist on a new visitor to Santa. Groovy isn’t it??

For a random list of Santa and Xmas themed Comics Cover’s refer to these wonderful posts on Once Upon a Geek.

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Lion Comics #208 – XIII Collector’s Special | Oct ‘10

Aren’t you surprised, to see a post at our blog, finally? Then you aren’t alone, as I for one is surprised on my own account. I was just finding a reason to be back, hoping to pit the blame on the usual suspect factors of day-job, and new found family commitments. But that option was used and re-used often, that they didn’t hold any credit, anymore. So, while having an inclination to be back, I was also trying to find an occasion for the same. And the occasions, there were plenty (more about it on a later posts), but the effort was equally demanding.

So, what brought me out of my cocoon to post only the 5th post ever at Comicology for this year (you read it right, and believe me, it’s the last thing I would like to boast about)?? Well, you can say from the title, as it is the Return of the Tamil Comics master themselves, Lion Comics, with the long awaited XIII Collector’s Special, finally reaching its subscribers, in the process making their first appearance for the year, 2010.

Do you remember that the last Lion Comics edition was released way back in Nov 2009, almost a whole year in between. So now you be your own judge, and tell me aren’t you surprised?

Lion Comics #208 – XIII Complete Collection | 18 Albums-in-One 860 Pgs | INR 200 | A4  | B/W | Laminated/Paperback

Jokes apart, this Collector’s edition was no doubt, one of the most anticipated edition ever in the history of Tamil Comics, the Southern Indian dialect, ever since it was announced a couple of years back (or was it in 2006?). Questions were raised, on how this project could be feasible, as Lion Comics, had only tread a path of 3 mega specials, which were duly priced for INR 100, in the recent past. Even though the sales were said to be encouraging, the fact remained that many of the editions were unsold, until the last Chennai Book Fair. And here, Editor was talking about bringing an edition, which was to be priced at INR 200, collecting the every possible albums released in a series, which spanned over 23 years for the finale (in its Original French run). Everyone, right from the occasional readers, to the serious collectors, knew that it was a herculean task, a kind of which has never been achieved in any comics series, in any languages, world over (for a single connected series).

But they were hopeful, pitting their trust against the indomitable spirit of the Editor, whom the readers knew of through his past adventurous initiatives. With time passing year by year, that confidence was shaken to its deepest bottom, and to compound the issues, Lion Comics, which only recently had started to have some regular issues, suddenly went out of circulation.

There was no news whatsoever, either about the fate of the XIII Collector’s Edition, let alone the fate of  the entire comics business of Prakash Publishers. Gossip-mongers, Critics, Opportunists, had their field day, and the niche crowd of Tamil Comics fandom, started to retreat, and was in danger of moving over to other hobbies (I see that some of them have already).

But, after much deliberation, delayed announcements, and multi-revised targets, XIII Collector’s Special – aptly titled “The Complete Collection” is here on our hands, at last.

It features two stunning covers at the front and the back, the originals of which were definitely an inspiration. But these versions looks to have built over on it, and has achieved a quite a reasonable perfection. Let your eyes be the jury.

No doubt, this would be the fattest comic series to have ever been released in India, collecting a single series. And no wonder, Editor, an often subdued proclaimer, making that clear on the cover itself, as India’s First.

As usual, the Editor’s and reader’s favorite Hotline, opens up the edition, and as expected it runs down to two full pages, detailing the adventures of publishing and editorial teams, to bring up this title into fruition.

Despite all differences over opinions pertaining to his step motherly treatment to the least earning comic business in his portfolio, I need to admit that, Mr.Vijayan has an uncanny knack of getting under the skin of an regular reader, on both counts.

He gets the pulse of the readers, their thought work, and their expectations (even though he often fails to fulfil them), andhe still manages to make a reader hook onto him, when he starts talking.

The humour laced words and writings in his editorial, gives us a warm feeling, and makes us feel proud of being a comic fan, for what he still has to offer. Even though, there would always be a man in us questioning his lack of interest, or his repeated failures to catch on a readership straits and patterns, you could still not help trace the amount of work which has gone through in bringing these mega-issue to us.

As a matter of fact, he explains how his Editorial piece, was the one which wasn’t completed in time, ultimately pushing the release dates further behind. As I gather from sources, not only that, even the Binding, which was previously not expected to be a huge task, seems to have a taken a toll resulting on further delay. As this heaviest book needed manual stitching and glue, something which wasn’t planned ahead.

Coupled with the financial restriction, of having to stick to the originally announced price of INR 200, even though it was made a handful of years earlier; and the inability to garner the expected amount of advance bookings, didn’t help to boost their sagging morals. But, they had themselves to blame for the non-interest of readers, as they failed to capitalise when the readership awareness was beaming and open-ended.

Despite all these shortcomings, much needs to be said that he considers himself as a comic fan, more than an editor, when he chooses a particular series for publishing. That’s exactly the one which keeps his niche readers still on his side, no matter what the shortcomings on the delivery.

I had made the booking for this collection, back when it was first announced. But, some accounting problems, led to my name being missed out from the original list. Hence, I wasn’t among the ones, who received the book first-up. After hearing that my good old friend, RT Murugan, had received his package, I ran helter-shelter to reach him and get one of his ordered copies for myself. The enthusiasm, I realized in doing so, which I long thought has seized as far as Tamil Comics was concerned, was the same as the one I had during it’s glorious run in the past.

	"The enthusiasm I realized, which I long thought was done for as much as Tamil Comics are concerned, was at the same level of good old days. Not Ego-Maniacs, Nor the Self-Proclaimed Star of Readers, can help achieve that. It needs Visionaries, and we are at good company in that count.”

I realized that the good-old-me, is still waiting somewhere in there, hoping to see a Tamil Comics Market, one in which he grew up and cherished, to attain somewhat a similar level, once again for good. Not Ego-maniacs, Nor the Self-proclaimed Star of readers, can help achieve that. It needs visionaries and those with the intent to remain in the market, and survive. Lion/Muthu Comics Editor is certainly, the one to count on that front.

Enough with my blabbering. Now that we are in the moment of rejoice, let’s look into our Man-of-the-hour, the XIII Special, more in detail.

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Creator’s Corner: Usually, it’s our style at Comicology, to write about the Creators of the series or comics in review, as a token of credit for their contribution to the comic series we celebrate.

But, this time I am excused from doing the honours, as Editor, has decided to dedicate a page, to show these behind the scenes personas, the creators of the series, who had captivated readers worldwide with their unblemished talents - Jean Van Hamme, the gifted writer, and William Vance, the talented artist of this legendary series.

Not one or two pages, can do justice to the works of these two gentleman in this series, so we would reserve it for a later blog post at our site.

But, along the way writing about the creator, Editor S.Vijayan, in his typical style, has thrown up another tantrum, by indicating that Van Hamme’s another famous comic series, detailing the adventures of fictional billionaire, Largo Winch, would soon be making its debut on Lion Comics.

He has just completed a series spanning 19 albums, and here he is referring to another legendary series, which has 17+ albums in its own account, and still counting?

Only time would tell, whether it was a comic fan in Vijayan, who spoke those words, or was he determined to pull it off, the same way like he did in the case of XIII (even though after two decades).

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XIII – Search for a Man’s Self: Now for the showdown, we all had been waiting for, of XIII, and his quest to trace his origin. Like you, I am more than interested, to know the final outcome. Even though the original French run was completed way back in 2007, I had never read the conclusion to this series. French always remain Green and Latin to me, and the only promising English editions, were only running until the 6th album, by various US based publishers.

With the wait of the Tamil translated ones looking superstitious, I had to rely on the unofficial Scanlations of XIII volumes, in order to quench the thirst. But, the fate had it saying there too, as after Volume 17, the scanlation project on the series were also left hanging, with 2 volumes yet to come out of the domesticated workshop.

Then came the announcement that Cinebook, were to launch the series under their line-up. I was confident that we have finally arrived at a publisher, who were intent to see the series to its completion, in English language.

But, the issues were scheduled to be released at a rate of on album, every two months. At a rate, by which we would have to wait for another 2 years, for the final two volumes to see the daylight. We would see about the Cinebook edition of XIII, later in another blog post, as it deserves a special mention.

But, here now we have all the 18 volumes (one volume has been given a miss on the Original 19, about which you can read at the end of the post), which speaks long and deal about the XIII’s saga, in our beloved Tamil language, finally in one go. Not only that Editor Vijayan has launched a re-compilation of the 11 volumes original published under various brands, owned by them in the past, this time around he has also gone extra mile to name each volume, with an aptly suited Tamil version of its original title.

Seeing the wonderfully drawn covers in black and white, doesn’t really do justice to the works spent on it, but that has been the case of Tamil Comics, ever since, reminding us on the concept of Opportunity Cost - Often giving up the quality, to make it affordable to one and all. Now, it’s a topic out on debate, for sure. But, let’s push that aside, sit back and enjoy the series waiting to be unravelled before our eyes, which played hide and seeks for two decades of our life (unless you turned Franco, or you have got an acquaintance, in there). We are at the winning side, any case.

Here are the sweetly titled album covers, in Tamil, which finds its place in the inner pages of this mega collection. On my part, I have added the English editions, wherever available, for you to work out the best from both worlds. To start with editor has missed printing the first cover, which I guess was by mistake, more than the intent. So, I have made it up with the second hotlines, stamp image, to get the run.

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Note that some of the covers have been used in reverse (negative side), which doesn’t make much difference, though it’s quite evident on XIII Red Alert, with the US President’s seal smiling at us, with an mirror-image. I guess this again, was a result of hurrying to see the edition on print, as pointed out by Editor himself.

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Also, not all the 18 volumes published in this collection, belongs to the duo of Van Hamme and William Vance. As Volume 17 (Volume 18 in the Original), alone was drawn by Jean Giraud, the man famous for Blueberry, aka Captain Tiger (as he is christened in Tamil). His style is visible enough, but I have my own reservations as whether it fits the overall bill of the XIII series.

I would leave that to be decided by the readers themselves. For the Tamil Comics fans, here is a write-up on this particular album, by the most talented blogger, Kanavukalin Kathalan (a nickname in Tamil, meaning Lover of Dreams), over at his blog. That post incidentally, was his first in a long journey of blog posts.

So, an series which was started way back in 1986, in Tamil Comics world has finally come to an end in the year 2010.
A span of 24 long years.

Almost mirroring it’s Original French editions run, which dates back to 1984 (as a serialized form, in the then Spirou magazine) to the recent past 2007 (with the release of the last albums, 18 and 19). The Only difference - while the original was continuously released on a periodic basis, it’s lesser known counterpart, in Tamil language, had its proven start and stop show, all these years. Often becoming the envy of its ardent followers.

Editor S.Vijayan, a man who never misses to refer comics moment such as this, decided to write another One-Page Hot-liner, highlighting the fact, and the struggle behind all those releases, culminating to the dreamt Collector’s edition, which decorates our hands at the moment.

At the end of the day, despite all the achievements and accolades, XIII the series, has received over the years around the globe, a true fan will admit that it was way past his selling date, by half way through the series. It was unnecessarily stretched, despite coming to a logical conclusion, pretty early, as much as for me to date it to the 12th Album, itself.

The remaining albums, which tried to confuse and divert the readers to newer mysteries, never quite leave the impact, the former ones were able to generate at the heart of the readers. The series often meagre into a man on the run, much like the typical Hollywood action movies. The personal touch of the XIII, with the readers, had long lost its charm.

	"At the end of the day, despite all the achievements, XIII has received all over the globe, a true fan will admit that it was selling way past its due date. By the time the series wrapped up with Vol.19, XIII, had lost its charm among the readers.”

A point even noted by Jean Van Hamme himself, in one of his interviews, where he cited that the reason he made a close to the series, was that it was getting monotonous, and they clearly had no direction to take the character further. More on the interview can be read here.

This observation is also shared by the Editor S.Vijayan, on his editorial writing as mentioned in the Second Hot-line.  As he rightly pointed out, when the cash-cow is milked by the owners, what would a meagre caretaker do on that account.

At the end of his Hot-line, Editor revisits the plan for the forthcoming issues, and his grand plan to make the 3 books subscription pattern, which he first made public, in the last Lion Comics issue #208. How would that turn-out, makes for an interesting wait.  Editor also mentions that the Lioncomics.com would be re-launched. It’s pending for at least 3 years now, and would help to make our comics reach more masses, acting as an official mascot in the internet world.

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Editor’s Flash-Back: Editor S.Vijayan, continues his recounting of the yester years of Lion and through its publication, in his Flash Back Series titled, Singathin Siruvayadhil (சிங்கத்தின் சிறுவயதில்!), loosely translated to Younger Ages: when a Lion was a Cub. You don’t need an intro for this series, which has become almost a second feature for our readers to turn-in-to, after the ever popular Hotline. It was missing out from the previous issues, but here it’s back again, in an issue which matters the most to the legacy of Lion Comics, spanning 25+ years.

On these episode, Vijayan, takes us through his first encounter with the stylist Bruno Brazil, and the evergreen Lucky Luke. But, as if as a co-incidence, or was purposefully drafted by the Editor himself, this episode of the Flash Back, also introduces his first encounter with the character, which is the one holding the hot-spot, in this out-of-world compilation. Yes, it indeed was XIII.

Enough, me talking about it, as you can find out those escapades, straight from the pen of Editor himself. (I hope he doesn’t mind me releasing the entire episode in one shot, as I couldn’t hold it off from the readers, who might not get this edition earlier, than others.)

 

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Forthcoming Attractions: And as discussed in the Hotline at the start of the book, the concluding papers of this Collector’s Edition, lists out the forthcoming titles in the line-up.

 

It has a wide variety of choices to make, with characters as vast as

• Johnny Hazard and Phil Corrigan (American Genre),
• Ric Hochet, Chick Bill and Lucky Luke (Franco-Belgian Genre),
• Steel Claw and Johny Nero (British Genre),
• Tex Willer (Italian Genre)

Now you decide, isn’t that an Around-the-World coverage by a single publication?

Seven of them are the the INR 10 editions, all of which, could be obtained by paying a lump-sum amount, by using the coupon here. But, only if you aren’t a subscriber.

Also, note that the 8th feature of Lucky Luke is advertised as INR 25 special, meaning that it will mark the start of the 3-books-subscription pattern, if all goes according to plans.

What would happen to the subscribers (including myself), who might still have some money reserves left, after the advertised Seven Rs.10 issues, is yet to be seen. I only hope that they would be accommodated in the next batch releases, as appropriate.

Apart from the forthcoming attractions, the usual backorder list finds its place again in this issue. I guess there are no major changes in it, as from the last one. But, for those who would like to keep it handy, for any backorders, here it is.

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19 vs. 18 ??: XIII Mystery: And finally, to point out about the one volume missing out from the 19 set original editions, in this Tamil Collection. It was XIII - Album 13, which doesn’t actually fit into the  overall storyline, at least to a greater extent. The XIII Mystery, as it was titled, was a getaway from the Traditional comic style, with illustration based story-telling, of two reporters who go around digging the dirt on the Mysterious XIII, and the people behind the conspiracy.

As expected, Editor has given a miss on this title, which makes the 14 to 19 on the original albums, being numbered as 13 to 18, to complete our collection. While, the Collector’s Special talk was being flown around the comic enthusiasts, many of them often debated, as what would be the album which will miss out from the Tamil collection.

Editor had long made it clear, through various advertisements, and hints on his editorials, that the collection would comprise only of 18 volumes. Many who have read the series, at least in various forms, guessed that Volume 13, would be the one missing out on the cut. And they were all right.

But, talk about our Editor not missing out from utilising the fame of XIII, even he has finally come good on promise to complete the series, he now projects the missed out XIII: Mystery volume as a possible INR 25 issue feature, in the forthcoming releases.

If carried out, it will be another first of its kind, in Tamil Comics, featuring illustrated art pages, and comics in between to talk about a serious plot, throughout an album. Let’s see how many takers are there for the concept.

So that concludes, our preview and you could say review, of the long awaited XIII: The Complete Collection. It’s a new beginning for Lion Comics, and one hopes that the promises to keep the flag afloat, is kept to its entirety at least, in this leg of our rebirth.

And just to sum up, the whole collector’s issue, here is a full blown cover which encompasses this fattest comic album series in India. If you haven’t thought about buying it so far, then this would no doubt make you to do so.

For sales and further queries, Contact: Prakash Publications @ 04562-272 649 / 04562-320 993
(or) send a Cheque (Payable at Par)/DD/Money-Order for INR 230 (Only for India), with a return address to
Prakash Publications, 89 Chairman PKS AAR Road, Ammankovil Patti Lane, Sivakasi 626 189

Enjoy your Read, Amigos. I am going to do that, myself. See you all, in the next post.

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