TPH #051 Jungle Ka Ojha - Phantom (Indrajal Comics V25N52)

A lot many unanswerd comments to begin with. Friends, I am sorry for not being formal enough. But that's excusable, I hope. Many of you have extended your support towards the revival of this blog and welcomed me in kind words. I sincerely thank them all, Saif, Deb, Sir, Ruchi and Aditya.Thank you buddies. Thanks are also due towards my fellow comic bloggers TCP, Prabhat, CW, ICC, Sagnik who are doing wonderfully well. Some special thanks are due for Dr. Ravi Gokhle from England for his long and nostalgic comment. As usual his love for the indrajals is admirable and I appreciate his gentle but solid way of putting his own thoughts and ideas. Thank you Dr. Saheb.

Meanwhile, TCP commented for the first time here. That's a very happy and encouraging moment. I discovered the comics blogs only in August, 2007, at a time when TCP had stopped postings. For nearly a month I visited daily only to be welcomed by the "Phantom's noble lineage". Never really got an opportunity to leave any comment there. Will open my account there and hopefully continue.

Chandu has asked a very relevent question, but I leave it to his imagination only. The only thing I wan't to say here now is that I am sorry for not sending you the comic I promised uptill now. Will definitely be mailing it on Monday. No one can compete me when it comes to laziness.

All credits to Prabhat for maintaining the ACK blog so well and keeping it alive. I am inclined to post a few ACKs there as well in near future.

Now some announcement. I have started a new comic blog, namely "indrajal comics ka svapnlok",

"इंद्रजाल कॉमिक्स का स्वप्नलोक"

As the name suggests, its a hindi blog dedicated to Indrajal Comics only. Infact it is the first hindi comic blog to hit the screens. You are all invited to visit it.

I didn't want to post comics at that blog and just wanted to keep it for information and discussion only, but requests have poured in and I was forced to post the present comic at that blog also. The download link has been provided there.

Another first for me personally, clickable thumbnails of the imgaes are provided here for the first time.

An indrajal comiics from the later part of its long journey, from 1988. A very short (only 10 pages) and simple story, seems like a filler only but as usual the Sy Barry artwork is pretty impressive.


     
     
 

Contemplating a blog revival

It's been a long time since I published my last post, 23rd March to be precise. No, I am not on any voyage, especially to any far off destination like Munich or Amsterdam (been to capital for a couple of days only). Not burdened by any super heavy-weight work load bending my back like a spring and not returning from any long needed and awaited holiday from home town. Do not have any slightest of idea of changing the job either. Then why this long gap? Well, whatever be the reason it seems to be over now. The inactivity period is bidding goodbye and I am feeling some freshness in ideas that are circling in and around my head. Am seriously thinking over starting it once again. Much has been published on blogs from Indrajals but still a lot from the later era (1980 to 1990) remains to be posted. One can say that most of the Phantom and Mandrake published during this period were republications of older works only but that doesn't make them unworthy of posting at all. Largely because of improvements incorporated in printing technology made these republished works a lot more slick and gay in appearance, (stories were undoubtedly great, we all know) and there is a relatively younger generation which came in contact with Indrajal Magic only during this period and hence they continue to search this era for their most cherished memory as far as comics are concerned. But the real beauty/importance of these issues lies in the fact that they are an integral part of the Golden Indrajal Journey, the last phase of this saga which started in 1964 and for 26 years continued to entertain millions of indians through its lively pages. Some new ideas are also approachig and I am giving them some serious weightage. Let's see how soon and at what pace I can start it. Much remains to be said. Will make another post soon. The image used in this post is scanned by CW on my special request. Thanks go to him.

TPH #050 Shikhar Gatha (Diamond Phantom - 6) and its English Indrajal Comics Version IJC #V25N01 and #V25N02 Journey to the Emrald Island.

This is the 50th comic post on this blog. Using this opportunity I am to unfold my story. So here it comes. It all began on a sunny afternoon of september, 1967 when indrajal comics fans across the country saw a glimpse of a mountain peak which looked like a human skull. That was me in my earliest appearance. The shape was different but name still the same, 'Phantom Head'. A group of bank robbers using me as a memory mark for hiding their loot. (IJC #049, Sep 1967)

After four years, I made another appearance, this time in more human like form. People were amazed to see the similarity between me and the ghost who walks. (IJC #143, 1971)

More and more people discovered me in almost the same fashion and returned to their homeland only to tell some strange stories, which generally nobody believed. (IJC #244, 1975)

Untill then I had become one of the prominent figure in the mystical world of Phantom and his native country. Many stories started like this...(IJC #313, 1978) When our beloved ghost finally decided to marry lady diana, I had the priviledge to host the wedding party. Oh what a day that was. Madam Lily were so amazed to see me. hahahaha. (IJC #317, 1979)

A visibly ecstatic Phantom told me the good news of continuation of phantom tradition, the 22nd phantom was conceived. Such a great news. I kept singing (would be dancing as well if possible) all day and night. (IJC #359, 1980) But soon I also witnessed some horrific time Diana had to experience while waiting for his love. That was really scary for her and me too. Thankfully everything went fine as Phantom reached there just in time. A lovely good bye from lady Diana made me fresh as ever. (IJC #360, 1980)

The outsiders kept coming in hope to get some or the other item from Phantom's treasure. Many came and were aptly dispatched bare handed with a vow, not to return back to this country again. hohohohohoho. (IJC #V20N13, 1983)

A very familiar scene, the family going for some picnic etc. Everytime somebody queried about the origin of Phantom Head (that's me), the same answer was heard, "Nature's miracle". I was also almost convinced of this. (IJC #V20N24, 1983) But one day two men namely Lee Falk and Sy Barry came with a very surprising tale about my actual origin. At first I couldn't believe them as the story was quite unbelievable and completely different from what I have been told millions of times. After so many years of my existence how could I be able to accept such a weird thing as this one. But then, since Baba Mozz was telling the story, I had to believe it. Today I am going to present it to you. Read it and then decide is it really believable?

Download TPH #050 (68 Pages, 900px wide, 16.5 MB) And here is the English Indrajal version of this story in two parts. Scans are by Mr Ajay Mishra.

Download Part 1 Download Part 2

(note: the indrajal version covers three sunday strips #S125, #S126 and #S127 while diamond version has only first two, so indrajal has edited but longer story and diamond has short but more complete story)

Song from first James Bond movie Dr. No

A melodious song from Dr. No - the first bond movie. Bond girl Ursula Andress (playing Honey Ryder) enters the screen singing this song and literally sets the standards for all future bond girls. Listen to this. Lryics: Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me can watch for the moon Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me make boolooloop soon Underneath the moonlit sky Me honey and I can sit hand in hand Underneath the moonlit sky Me honey and I can make fairyland Mango, banana and tangerine Sugar and ackee and cocoa bean When we get marry we make them grow And nine little chil' in a row Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me can watch for the moon Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me we plan marry soon Mango, banana and tangerine Sugar and ackee and cocoa bean When we get marry we make them grow And nine little chil' in a row Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me can watch for the moon Underneath the mango tree Me honey and me we plan marry soon Underneath the mango tree Underneath the mango tree Underneath the mango tree Underneath the mango tree

TPH #049 The Tiger Girl - Phantom (Indrajal Comics #097)

Listen to another of my favorite song from my favorite group ABBA. This was a Swedish group which was quite on top during seventies. Many of Hindi super hit songs are copied from their work.Among many others, the most surprising inspiration taker is R D Burman, yes Pancham Da made some of his brilliant numbers based on ABBA's scores. I'll give both English and Hindi versions in future posts. Enjoy this one now.

	ABBA - Dancing Queen
	Presented By The Phantom Head

Lyrics: (oooo ya) You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life ohh yaa Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen ahhh ahhh Friday night and the lights are low Looking out for the place to go Where they play the right music, getting in the swing You come in to look for a king Anybody could be that guy Night is young and the music's high With a bit of rock music, everything is fine You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine ohh yaaa You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen You're a teaser, you turn 'em on Leave 'em burning and then you're gone Looking out for another, anyone will do You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine ohh yaaa You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen Dig in the Dancing Queen ---------------------------------------------------------- A classic phantom story this time. This is 1951 strip of the same title as Indrajal. Another Ajay Mishra scan. Kudos to this great man.

Download TPH #49 (28 pages, 6.94 MB)

Boney M song - Brown Girl in the Ring

------------------------------------------------------------ [Update, 18 March 2008, 9:45 PM] CW has pointed out mistake in the collection of mandrake covers which do not show him in formal dress. There is one more indrajal where he does not wear his usual magician dress. So in all there are 11 mandrake ijc of such type. Honour of reaching to the correct answer is shared between Dara and CW. Congratulations. ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- [Update, 18 March 2008, 9:30 PM] Dara has answered correctly for the question posed in the previous post. Mandrake is not wearing his characteristic magician dress on all those ten covers. there is one more mandrake indrajal which is absolutely unique in the sense that it does not show mandrake at all on the cover. Here is the cover of that one. ------------------------------------------------------------- No corrct answer yet for the question in the previous post. Keep trying. Here is one of my favourite song. (you'll need flash player plug-in enabled to listen to it.) Lyric: Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la Theres a brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la la Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum Show me your motion Tra la la la la Come on show me your motion Tra la la la la la Show me your motion Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths I remember one saturday night We had fried fish and johnny-cakes I remember one saturday night We had fried fish and johnny-cakes Beng-a-deng Beng-a-deng Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la Theres a brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la la Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum Show me your motion Tra la la la la Come on show me your motion Tra la la la la la Show me your motion Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths I remember one saturday night We had fried fish and johnny-cakes I remember one saturday night We had fried fish and johnny-cakes Beng-a-deng Beng-a-deng Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la See, brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la la Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths All had water run dry Got nowhere to wash my cloths Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la Look that brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la la Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la She looks like a sugar in a plum Plum plum

TPH #048 The Deadly Queen Mesala - Flash (Indrajal Comics #V25N51)

I never tried to create any quiz for this blog. This time I'm going to do that. So friends, here comes few covers of Mandrake comics from Indrajal. Almost all of these comics have already been posted on some blog or the other. All these have something strikingly common. Can you find what it is? Lets see who can find the answer first. Start turning the pages, or rather clicking the folders. Only these ten have that common feature out of all 150+ Mandrake Indrajals.
mandrake covers are taken from CW/ICC/MTM posts of covers. Most of them are Ajay's scans.

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A Flash Gordon comic this time. I haven't read this myself. should be interesting. Its an Ajay Mishra scan once again.
Download TPH #048 (20 pages, 5.7 MB)