Kiran Comics-Laurel & Hardy No.78

Presenting another cover from Kiran Comics Publications. This time its Laurel & Hardy No.78

Star Comics-Superman Vol.2 No.3

Presenting another epic cover from Star Comics featuring Superman and the Microwave -Man!!

Chandamama-November 1972

And So They Followed! Presenting another captivating Chandamama cover.This time depicting the iconic scene from Robert Brownings 'The Pied Piper Of Hamelin'. While most images which I have glimpsed of this scene capture the piper as an young man, here the piper is depicted almost like an old witch,which is unique in a way.

The rear cover features an animal called Mormoset.Looks like its a hybrid of a monkey and a lion.Hence aptly nicknamed the Golden Lion Mormoset. Never heard of this before.I guess it just highlights the knowledge & educational value that magazines like Chandamama brought to Indian households during a period devoid of Cable Television and the Internet

Spectrum Comics-Modesty Blaise-The Prophets Of Doom

Presenting A suave Modestly Blaise cover from Spectrum Comics.Published in January 1986, this is issue No.6. This is also the first Modesty Blaise post in this blog.

 

Madhu Muskaan No.35

Presenting another rare gem from yesteryear's, Madhu Muskaan. This is the first time that a Madhu Muskaan cover has been posted on this blog and this is Issue No.35 from the early 80's.The publishers had a weird way of chronicling the issues wherein only the date & month of publication was mentioned and not the year.The date on this comic is 1 December -15 December, indicating its fortnightly avatar.

To be honest with you guys,I had read just one Madhu Muskaan during my childhood which I stumbled upon in an old bookshop.Since then, I had been scouring and hoping to find more English copies but it was not until recently that I could find some. 

What drove me to post this particular comic cover was the cover itself! Onions,Onions, precious onions! With the prices of onions jetscellerating to stratopheric levels of Rs.80 just a couple of days back in many parts of the country, cant help but wonder whether this cover art was created today or in the early 1980's. Guess it reflects the volatile nature of onion as a commodity and how intensely important onion prices are, to everyday life in India.

Tinkle No.22

Presenting Tinkle No.22 cover published in September,1982

Tinkle No.21

Presenting a Tinkle comic cover after a gap of almost two years on this blog.I have already posted the first 20 Tinkle covers and this is issue No.21 published in August,1982.

Old Tinkle covers have got to be my all time favorite covers,mainly because one never knew what to expect in the next issue.Although they had their roster of characters like Tantri the Mantri,Suppandi,Shikari Shambu.etc, there were still many unique folktales and Reader contributed stories each week.Infact,I think Tinkle pioneered the concept of user generated content in India, decades before the advent of the Internet.Anyways, unique blend of stories and folktales each week meant that the cover was gonna be unique each week as well, with new set of characters and colors each week to quench the visual cravings of a die hard fan.

Although a big fan of Tinkle covers from the 1980's & 1990's,I somehow feel that the current Tinkle covers do not possess the same charm as their predecessors. Maybe it is because of the glossy finish as opposed to the matte finish of the earlier covers.Maybe its because some of the legendary illustrators of yesteryear are no longer with Tinkle or maybe its just pure unadulterated nostalgia which adds to the charm of old Tinkle covers!
What do you think guys?