TPH #057 Phantom Sunday Strip #S160 (The Viking Fortress Mystery) Year 2004 and its Hindi Translated version by TPH

[Update: 15 December, 2008 10:15 AM] There was some problem with the download link of the Hindi Translated version of this strip. It has been corrected now. You can download it and enjoy the story in Hindi also. Sorry for the trouble.

Too much of talking about the sub-standard level of post Falkian era stories has already taken place. Here I am presenting another of Graham Nolan Phantom Sunday strip (#S160) The Viking Fortress Mystery.

Did you know, Guran is actually a science graduate from one of the finest universities of the world with state of the art equipments and apparatus. Did you ever imagined Phantom is actually dependent on Guran when it comes to take advice on scientific matters, and to supplement it all, Mr. Guran is actually capable of making a mockery of Phantom's lack of knowledge and understandings on few puzzling mysteries. What an absurd stuff.

Though the story has its fine points also but too few and too far apart to fully bind the reader. The graceful and courageous course of action adopted by the Ghost Who Walks with a cool head in the hour of life threatening underwater crisis is definitely inspiring and interesting. The essential idea of the virus attack establishing the ancestry of Phantom is also interesting.

But the high point for me in this post is that I myself have not only translated the complete strip from English into Hindi, but also filled the dialogue balloons in Hindi using Photoshop. This was a tiring effort but challenging and interesting enough to be tried.

As we have talked earlier, the level of hindi translation of Indrajal Comics was superb. On the other hand Diamond Comics was below par in this field. I have tried to retain the style of Indrajal but it is also fully realised that it is really not easy to match those standards. But practice makes a person perfect and hopefully, I'll be doing better next time, if again any.

So, enjoy this one now. Both Hindi and English versions link have been provided. I have improved and also compressed the English version also. So this file only occupies 4.5 MB on your hard-disk while the pages are more bright and colourful.

Phantom Sunday Strip #S160The Viking Fortress MysteryWriter: Tony De Paul                   Illustrator: Graham Nolan 

Download English Version (#S160)

(27 pages, 1024 px wide, 4.4 MB)

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Or
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Download Hindi Version (#S160) 

(Translated and Lettered in panels by The Phantom Head)

(27 pages, 1024 px wide, 4.5 MB)

TPH #056 Phantom Sunday Strip #154 The Lion's Head Tamarine (year 2001)

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Now, talking of comics, I read a new phantom story (first time reading of a story) after quite a long time, and must admit I somehow liked it. It is sunday strip #154 from post Falk era, written by Claes Reimerthi, experienced Swedish writer of Phantom stories from team fantomen, and drawn by Graham Nolan, a fine comic book artist. The good thing about Nolan is that he doesn't try to copy the style of any of his predecessors like McCoy or Barry. Instead of this he sticks to his own way of drawing the scenes. It gives the pictures a fresh and energetic look.

The story resembles some of the stories created by Falk against a similar backdrop of conspiracy for power and it's associated cruelty. It begins with the same old words that we have read a number of times about the new generation being slowly developing along the coast of Bangalla and the usual not much changed wild jungle spreading for miles. It talks about the still mysterious misty mountains, their spoiled princes and kings and immediately grabs the attention of old lovers of Phantom.

Then story reminds the reader the origin of Rex, how Phantom found him and eventually succeeded in handing over his rightful place as the prince of Baronkhan, the largest, richest and mightiest kingdom in the misty mountains. In this way we are stuck to the original idea developed by Falk and Barry. A visit from old pal Tom-Tom makes us remember all the beautiful moments they shared in the jungle and then a conspiracy in the nearby state Dharmistan, a peculiar kingdom with strange but fascinating customs. Finally, all it needs the efforts of Phantom in his own familiar way to resolve the crisis.

Those who have missed this one for not being from Lee Falk's own pen (or for not having access to this one so far) may consider reading it. They won't be disappointed.

Download TPH #056  
Phantom Sunday Strip #154 The Lion's Head Tamarine

(31 Pages, 1024 px wide, 9.2 MB)

The strip ran for 31 weeks from 11 March 2001 to 07 October 2001.