# 6th Anniversary Post

Friends today is 6th anniversary of the this blog which was created in 2007 to cherish and revive the love for comics and specially Indrajal comics which later on diverted towards multiple fields such as writing about movies,reviewing novels/films and discussion over magazines and comics in general.

I was thinking of to post something befitting to the occasion but it couldn't happened due to some unavoidable adverse and compelling conditions because of which i am away from my work place and away from net also due to which at the moment i am unable to post something of the likes of which was being expected from comic world.

Hence for the sake of continuation the tradition of anniversary post this time i am able to post a comic only which is contributed by Vishal bhai for which tons of thanks to him,and also i promise to post something big and befitting once i am at peace and in situation to do so.

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# Vidyarthi Mithram & Chitra Bharti Kathamala

Friends,Tarzan has been published by mostly Kiran Comics in India,but there was another Indian publication which perhaps was the first to publish Tarzan in India,and that was Vidyarthi Mithram(Student friend) comics from Kottayam(Kerala).






















Few weeks from today i was totally unaware about this publication until i got hold of some of VM Tarzan comics very recently.From the ad at the back page of their comics its seems that VM were mainly dealer of scientific and laboratory equipments for schools/colleges,its amazing to notice that they also use to publish comics.
In one of their ad its mentioned that they also use to publish Phantom and Mandrake,though Phantom was published in Malayalam and Tamil,Mandrake in Malayalam and Tarzan in English,Hindi and Tamil.


























Going by this its totally new information about Phantom and Mandrake Indian publications,as far as my information is concerned VM has never been mentioned anywhere among Phantom/Mandrake Indian publications,even in Bryan Shedden site over Phantom which is considered as best complete reference guide for Phantom publications of all over the world,VM has not been mentioned there also in Indian Phantom publication list.
Perhaps Rafiq or Col.Worobu can throw more light on VM Phantom/Mandrake editions.

VM started publishing Tarzan in early 70's,hence going by this VM becomes the first Indian Tarzan publication as Kiran Comics was started in 80's.Early issues of VM Tarzan were in monochrome color and later issues in 4 color format.






















These are mostly illustrated by John Celardo and others,Col.Worobu can you tell more about this Tarzan illustrator!!.










































Chitra Bharati Kathamala

In early 80's reading culture was at its peak and comic business was a highly profitable business as already proved by super success of Indrajal comics,Amar Chitra Katha,Manoj Chitra Katha,Dalton Comics and many other publications at that time.
Sensing the business opportunity in comic industry a already well established name in school/college books publication house,S.Chand & Company of Delhi thought of trying its hand in comic publication and started Chitra Bharati Kathamala,which use to publish comics based on Historical stories,science fiction,comedy series and on well known historical persons life story.









































Though comics from this publication were of sub-standard except few series such as those written-illustrated by Anupam Sinha such as Kapil,Space Star,Mahamaya and other.









































Junior James Bond by Sukhwant was also one of the popular characters of Chitra Bharati.






















In late 80's and early 90's reading culture took a back seat with the advent of T.V/Video and comic business no longer remained a profitable venture.Comic publication houses shutters start dropping down due to cold business and in one such year S.Chand and Company also bid adieu to Comic publication and Chitra Bharati Kathamala became a history in readers mind.
Though not of very high quality but still CBK will be remembered by avid comic readers because of Anupam Sinha creations in it.

Today's Comic
Comic of this post is contributed by Navdeep,hence all credit to him only.This is a Fauladi Singh comic,hope will be liked by FS lovers.

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# Tarzan with Strip

Friends here is another Tarzan comic along with its strip version for comparison purpose contributed by a dear friend,ardent comic lover and collector Mister Alf for which all credit and thanks to him only.

























Download Comic


You can also download its strip version for reference/comparison purpose from here.
Download Strip

Mister Alf has a considerable collection of these Tarzan comics and strips,let him know if you like these and wish for more from his collection.

Friends do you remember vinyl Long Play audio records!!!A long disc like records which were played(rotated) on gramophone by stylus arrangement.Many childhood memories are associated with these vinyl rotating discs.We will be discussing more and in detail about them in coming posts.


































Can anyone tell about the format of these Diamond Comics and did anyone of you read them!If yes then can you throw some light on these type of Diamond Comics.


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# C.M.Vitankar & Vichitra Anguthi

If both Amar Chitra Katha and Manoj Chitra Katha are talked of then then name of C.M.Vitankar for best cover designs can be taken unarguably.
Though C.M.Vitankar designed covers for both ACK and MCK but the cover designed by him for MCK were far superior than those for ACKs.The reason behind this was the liberty of colors which MCK allowed to give a paint like look on thick paper whereas ACK used limited colors and thin paper for covers.
Information about C.M.Vitankar is very limited and hard to find as he left this world 10 years from now,only available information about him is that he was from Ahmadnagar and later settled his base in Mumbai.
Cover designed by him for MCKs were very impressive and imparted a attractive painted look on beautifully drawn images.Many of times a comic felt more attractive due to the cover page by C.M.Vitankar rather than its story content.
Have a look at some of the covers by C.M.Vitankar for MCKs.








































































(Cover courtesy:Ajay Misra,Sajid and Comic World)
(Information courtesy:Alok)

Have a detailed look at the cover page of 'Murkh Kumhaar',the single page narrates itself the whole story of the comic,notice the expressions of teacher,pottery maker and donkey..how beautifully each face has been rightly decorated with its expressions,simply unmatched!
Also notice the scary and amused look at the lion's face in 'Teesmarkhan',isn't it superb!! C.M.Vitankar's covers were best suited for folk and fairy tales as his style of drawing,
selection of colors and the design of character's clothes were most effective and attractive for such plots.
I am very much eager to know more about him,if anyone is having more information about him then please do share with all of us.
Presenting herewith another comic having superb cover by C.M.Vitankar,enjoy it and can anyone tell who is the illustrator of this comic!!







Presenting another comic,a Fauladi Singh,from the treasure of Deep.





























Any takers of this Tarzan comic from Kiran comics!!One funny ancedote associated with Tarzan comics,at the tender age of around 5 or 6 years when i first read Tarzan comics and the name of his creator 'Edgar Rice Burroughs' somehow i was confused by such a long and different name and interpreted it as 'Edgar' who borrows Rice,thus combining it to form 'Edgar Rice Burroughs',for a long time i kept this interpretation in mind and now laughs at myself whenever read this name "Edgar Rice Burroughs".

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