CineBook - Backlist Titles | 2008

Indian Comics/Graphic Novels industry has traditionally been dominated by Western genre of Super Hero Comics from the stable of US based Marvel & DC.  The Supermans, Batmans, Spidermans have generated such euphoria in the country over the years that many publishers attempted to bring these titles over the years, with varying degree of success. 

Gotham Comics, for instance, have tried at least thrice so far to have a continuous run, with mixed success.  Their experiment, highlights that the volume of releases, doesn’t guarantee good response among comics enthusiasts, or comikers, as we term them over here at Comicology.

But Graphic Novels aren't only limited to the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ages of Comics in US alone. There is much more to it, from the other side of the world. While the Superheroes dominated the Comics Biz in the US, a new kind of Comics and Story Art form originated from France & Belgium, starting the Franco-Belgian Comics revolution.  There were many famous characters which came out of this famed line-up, much famous of them and known to Indian Comic Fans with their direct publishing are: Tin-Tin, and Asterix.  But then again, they aren't the only ones available, as it is only a window to the wonderful world of Franco-Belgian Golden Era.

There are famous titles like: Lucky Luke, Biggles, Blueberry, etc. which by and large have been inaccessible to Indian Comic Fans.  Some Southern Indian Publishers like Lion Comics & Muthu Comics have published some of these titles, but they aren't regular and mainstream (as they are only in one southern Indian language).

Well, we finally have some publishing company who have set about to deliver these wonderful titles to English Speaking Countries.  CineBook, a UK based publishers, who call themselves as "The 9th Art Publishers", have come up with a vast array of titles from the Franco-Belgian Genre, translated into English.

Westland Distributors, a Subsidiary of Landmark Multi-Store Chains, partly owned by Tata Group, (read the media briefing about this venture here) have brought these titles at a bargain price to Indian Comic Fans.

The Surprising fact with the CineBook new releases, is that they contains releases dated as new as May 2008, and are available in India for a price as minimum as Rs.195 (an equivalent of little around $5, while they are originally priced as high as $12).  The company does seem to be going great guns with monthly releases (refer www.cinebook.com), and if the Low Pricing is the marketing strategy to spawn the English Speaking Countries, then it is a master strategy.

For any sales queries you may contact: Westland Books Pvt. Ltd., Tel: 044 42080417/18; Fax: 044 26642794; email: enq@westland-tata.com.  Thanks to Red for digging up the info, through CBO’s Terry Hooper.

Here is the complete list of CineBook comics available in India:
The Hyperlinks on the series title, will lead to the exclusive review pages for each of them at Comicology

Lucky Luke INR 195 | Morris & Goscinny | 8 Titles # 01: Billy the Kid # 02: Ghost Town # 03: Dalton City # 05: In the Shadow of Derricks # 07: Barbed Wire on the Praire # 08: Calamity Jane # 09: The Wagon Train # 10: Tortilla for the Daltons	The Rugger Boys INR 195 | Beka & Poupard | 2 Titles # 01: Why Are We Here Again # 02: A Spoonful of Style
	Biggles Recounts INR 195 | Various Artists | 2 Titles # 01: The Falklands War # 02: Battle of Britain
Clifton INR 195 | Groot & Macherot | 5 Titles # 01: My Dear Wilkinson # 02: The Laughing Thief # 03: 7 Days to Die # 04: Black Moon # 05: Jade	Yakari INR 195 | Job & Derib | 3 Titles # 03: Yakari and the Beavers # 04: Yakari and the Grizzly # 05: Yakari and the Stranger
Melusine INR 195 | Clarke & Gilson | 2 Titles   # 01: Hocus Pocus # 02: Halloween	Papyrus INR 195 | Gieter | 2 Titles # 01: The Ramases Revenge # 02: Imhotep's Transformation
Ducoboo INR 195 | Zidrou & Godi | 2 Titles # 01: King of the Dunces # 02: In the Corner	Yoko Tsuno INR 195 | Leloup | 2 Titles # 01: On the Edge of Life # 02: Time of Spiral
Green Manor INR 195 | Vehlmann & Bodart | 1 Title # 01: Assasins & Gentlemen	Scared to Death INR 195 | Mauricet & Vanholme | 1 Title # 01: The Vampire from the Marshes
Blake & Mortimer INR 250 | Jacobs | 3 Titles # 01: The Yellow M # 02: The Mystery of Great Pyramid Part 1 # 03: The Mystery of Great Pyramid Part 2	Thorgal INR 350 | Hamme & Rosinski | 3 Titles # 01: Child of the Stars # 02: Three Elders of Aran # 03: Beyond the Shadows
Largo Winch INR 350 | Hamme & Francq | 1 Title #01: The Heir	IR$ INR 350 | Desberg & Vrancken | 1 Title #01: Taxing Trails
Queen Margot INR 250 | Cadic & Derenne | 2 Titles # 01: The Age of Innocence # 02: The Bloody Wedding	Fascinating Madame Tussaud INR 350 | Duchâteau & Follet | One Shot Title

By referring to the CineBook website, it looks that only one series is not released by CineBook as part of their Backlist issues.  That was a series named The Wind in the Willows, which seems to have been published in UK with a limited run.

And what’s more, they seem to be going great guns with the following series scheduled for 2008 & beyond.

Iznogoud by Tabari & Goscinny	Bluecoats by Cauvin & Lambil	Cedric by Cauvin & Laudec
Aldebran by Leo	Alpha by Renard & Jigounov	The Scorpion by Desberg & Marini

Lady S by Hamme & Aymond

Biggles by F.Bergése  Much of the Biggles series by Bergese and others have been published by Euro Books India in 2007. Read more about them here.

So, we are in for a lot more of Franco-Belgian Era, then we ever hoped for. I am much more interested in Iznogoud and Van Hamme titles, but won’t say NO for the others.

As it turns out that our old friend Terry Hooper has been covering the CineBook titles right from their inception on his ComicBitsOnline blog.  And he has some wonderful blog posts on the same with his reviews.  Here are some:

• A Great Weekend For Cinebook -The 9th Art!
• Cinebook -Lucky Luke,Margot & Ducoboo
• Cinebook Take India By Storm!
• CINEBOOK Reviews part 1
• Cinebook Part 2 

Enjoy those articles, and be back with Comicology, as we are going to go down reviewing each of these wonderful titles one by one here, in the months to come. Strap On, as we zoom past though the Wonderful world filled with Comics.

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Muthu Comics #308 - John Steel | Apr '08

Prakash Publishers | Price: INR 10 | Pages: 108 | B/W | Size: B6 | Tamil | Laminated/HardCover Prakash Publishers shook me out of my own imposed hibernation, and surprised me (and I believe everyone) with the next release of Muthu Comics #308, featuring John Steel in a mystery filled two stories titled "Kathai Sollum Kolaigal" (கதை சொல்லும் கொலைகள்) and "Karuppu Vattam" (கருப்பு வட்டம்).  It's been a long time I read two quality detective comics, and what more when you get classics from 1960's.  The Cover Art seems to have been shooed away from a Johny Nero story, I wonder aren't there any Original Cover arts for John Steel, which could have been more suitable for a first issue devoted completely to him?  But, the cover art is real stunning, so the oddity is acceptable.

Muthu #308 Cover

Comics Time (Editors Column)

This edition marks a come back for Muthu, with the last issue (#307) releasing way back in September last year.  Editor easily didn't even mention about the delay this time, as it seem to have become a tradition with the publication, and he seems to take pride in continuing the saga.  This time around, there are announcements for more than 5 detective stories in the line-up this year, but I am not hopeful enough for Mr. Vijayan keeping up the promise. I am trying not to post any spoilers for this detective stories, so you could enjoy reading them at your leisure.  As always, here are the Comics-Time, and some Teasers for the forthcoming Muthu Comics issues.

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Lion Comics #202 - Lucky Luke | Jan '08

Prakash Publishers | Price: INR 10 | Pages: 68 | Color | Size: B6 | Tamil | Laminated/HardCover

Merke Oru Maamannar (மேற்கே ஒரு மாமன்னர்)

Lion Comics, another flagship brand of Prakash Publishers, makes it return with Issue #202 this month.  Featuring our favorite cowboy Lucky Luke in "Merke Oru Maamannar" (மேற்கே ஒரு மாமன்னர்), Multi-color saga promises to be another classic Lucky Luke stories, where Lucky tries to save an American city from a puppet millionaire, calling himself as the King of USA. A hilarious tale for which the Man who shoots faster than his own Shadow, is known for. Release of Lion Comics and Comics Classics from Prakash Publishers at the same month, shows a promising start to the new year for the legendary publishing house from South India. The paper quality though is a worrying factor.  I don't remember a Lucky Luke issue being printed in a sub-standard paper for a long time.  That has discredited the usually stunning artwork in color.  Seems, editor has used the same paper which is used for printing the black and white stories.

After witnessing the high quality Lucky Luke series released by Tara Press recently, this brings us back to the sub-standard at which Tamil Comics Industry still lingers at.  Hope it changes for better.

The Hotline of this edition touches upon the modern day threat to general media, the piracy. Editor Vijayan, has expressed his concerns over a reader who has found a way to make some big money by scanning and illegally selling our vintage Lion-Muthu issues.  Editor ends his hotline by requesting the other readers not to support these piracy, and reveals his plans to launch a legal action against the mischief-maker.

Piracy has been a hotly debated topic up recently, with publishers all over the world concerned about the industry as a whole affected by what's called as digital preservation and Free Internet, by those who are involved with scanning and distributing Comics through Internet.

But, rather than pin-pointing who is wrong, what matters is to find why do these problems arise.  For instance, what has caused this habit to spread over to the unfamiliar territory of Tamil Comics? where Comics reading habit is cherished and the select few who run business are considered to be scarce.

To that extent, Prakash Publishers and Mr. Vijayan have themselves to blame for this predicament.  Eventhough, time and again Editor reiterates that regional comics business is not that profitable one to continue uninterrupted, but the fact remains that it isn't a loss making business either.

By what I hear from the reliable sources, every comics issue printed by Prakash Publishers are made in a sizeable number, much bigger than the 10k which editor claims. Then what makes him not produce titles more regularly, when there is a clear fan-following for their comics and a wide spread interest towards seeing the new releases from the publication?

The fact remains, that much of it is due to the Editors interest towards his other businesses, like Printing and publishing newsprint's and textbooks, coupled with him being involved in importing and selling the Print machines in South India.  Obviously, the bucks made there are far superior and instant, then what's made of Comics publishing.  So Editor only releases a comic when he finds time to lighten up his old hobby, and the readers are left with uncertainty over the period releases.  This is what has resulted in the situation Prakash Publishers find themselves in.

Let's hope the moment of reality would make Mr. Vijayan to think of being more regular, thus avoiding the die-hard fans from diverting into other modes to keep alive their passion.

To bring us back to the current happenings, as per the norm, we get to see a preview of upcoming 3 part Tex Willer Saga, which promises to be a sure hit.  Seeing the color advertisement, I wonder how it would be to see Tex Willer in full color. It may never happen, but no harm in living in a fantasy world :). 

The next big special featuring XIII is the other advertisement taking its share in the back cover.

As always would be eager to see your views about this post, and the Lion Comics edition we have received in it, through the comment section below. Adios Amigos!!

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Comics Classics #22 - Steel Claw | The Spider | Jan '08

Prakash Publishers | Price: INR 10 | Total Pages: 244 (122+122) |B/W | Size: Pocket | Tamil | SoftCover

Hope, everyone had a fun-filled start to the new year.  2007 was one of the better years to the Indian Comics Industry, with seasoned campaigners like Gotham Comics reasserting their supremacy, and new entrants like Euro Books and Tara Press making their presence felt with some series of Graphic Novels never published before in India.  The New Year 2008 promises to live up to the expectations generated by these players.

The South Indian comics giant, Prakash Publishers seems to have taken a note from the other comics publishers, and have started the new year with a bang by releasing two of there own comics brands (Click here, for the Other).  The first is the Comics Classics #22, featuring the Irumbukkai Maayavi (இரும்புக்கை மாயாவி) aka Steel Claw starring "Naasa Alaigal", and The Spider starring "Ethanukku Etthan".  Two vintage stories from the past, republished in a pocket size format.

Naasa Alaigal (நாச அலைகள்)

Ethanuku Etthan (எத்தனுக்கு எத்தன்)

I recollect reading both of these stories when they were reprinted in the same format earlier.  Nevertheless, its good to see the Fleetway Publications erstwhile flagship heroes back in action.  Hope the old time readers would be able to share their first look experience of these stories from their childhood days.  For those who are new to these two European comic heroes, they could check their history through Wikipedia's, Spider & Steel Claw pages.

But, the latest edition doesn't seem to be the one which was advertised as Comics Classics #22 back in August '07.  If you had missed the post, here it is.  Don't know what was the reason for the change, but it certainly showcases that, contrary to general perception, Editor Mr.S Vijayan seem to have a repository of releases - at least partially ready, but only reluctant to complete and release them on time.  I hope the new year gets them the expected results to be more regular with their prints.

While “googling” to collect few facts about this post, I stumbled upon an info that the majority of Spider titles were written by Jerry Siegel, the co-creator of Superman.  This was news to me, maybe our senior comics pals might know them already.

And before I close, as BN pointed out in his comment, with this release, Comics Classics makes it return after nearly two years. With my records it indicates that the last Comics Classics (#21) should have got published in mid of 2006, a correction from my earlier fact in the preview.

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Euro Books - Spirou and Fantasio | 12 Albums | 2007

Well, when it rains - it pours, and that seems to be the order of the day in Comics or Graphic Novels Biz in India at present.  Euro Books, the new-bies in the Biz, have come up with its next venture after Biggles, by introducing the not so famous Spirou and Fantasio characters to Indian Comics Fans.  By the outset, it looked pretty impressive line-up containing 12 titles in the series, at a price of INR 199/- each.

Spirou and Fantasio characters may be new to Indian comic fans, but by far they aren't to the Franco-Belgian or European Comics Genre.  In fact, the history of Spirou dates back to 1938, which is much before the more well-known characters to Indian Comic Fans like Lucky Luke (1946), and Asterix (1959), only overshadowed by the legacy of TinTin (which dates back to 1929).

The series was originally created by Robert Velter (1909-1991).  Spirou, an investigative journalist, was the main character, and later was teamed with his co-adventurer and fellow reporter Fantasio. The series was later brought into mainstream by André Franquin (1924-1997), who took over the reins in 1946 and revolutionized the comic form for the characters, and went on to add another famous character "Marsupilami", to the Spirou series.  In fact the Marsupilami character was so famous that it had its own spin-off series created, and by far was instrumental in many mimic characters created all over the world. 

Indian comic fans cannot forget Kabish (a monkey with an ability to grow its tail) stories published in many children magazines across languages, which was a character influenced by Franquin's Marsupilami.  Coming back to Spirou, it shares much of its characteristics with it cousins Asterix, Tin-Tin, etc. in terms of humorous storytelling and plot creation.

The unique attire of Spirou, red bellboy uniform, was initially conceived because he was introduced as a lift operator.  But, he has retained the attire, even though the characterizations were re-written over the time, but has since become a trademark of Spirou series.

Franquin was known as a member of the elite club known as Gang of 4, along with Will, Jije, and Morris (Lucky Luke fame).  Together they laid the foundation for what is came to be known as Marcilleni School, which often is considered in parallel with Ligne Claire (which has been discussed in detail on our Blake & Mortimer series review at Comicology) art-form spearheaded by the rival creator-artists from TinTin magazine.

Basically, they both are more common in nature, with the major difference being the representation.  Marcilleni School tries to convey the impression of movement, while ligne claire tends to be more schematic, often relying on traditional way of picture arts with still images and scenes.

At one time Spirou series was so popular that Lucky Luke himself made his appearance as a Guest in 1946, in Spirou magazine.  So, it could be safely said that it was the trend-setter for all the Franco-Belgian comics released later. It could be further said that Spirou and Fantasio are the only Comic series which is still in publication (with different writers, and artists), wherein Tin-Tin, Asterix, and Lucky Luke have been reduced to only reprints. A detailed bio of Spirou series could be read in the Wiki link.

While goggling for this blog facts, I came to know that Euro Books, is indeed a subsidiary of Egmont, who are known to Indian Comic Fans with their other publications, notably Phantom series.  This explains how a relative newcomer could suddenly appear into the scene with big releases featuring famous comic characters. 

So, it's good to see Egmont, under their new brand-name, Euro Books, bringing the Spirou and Fantasio to Indian comic fans.  I have just started reading them and found them pretty interesting and humorous so far.  Enjoy Reading !!!

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