The Kimberly Diamonds is another among one of my favorite Phantom story which was published as Daily Strip No.154 spanning from 28th May to 9th Sept.1984.
It was also published by Indrajal comics in two parts subsequently titled as 'Curse Of The Kimberly Diamonds' in Vol.22 No.43 & 44.(1985)
This is one of those rare stories in which adventure passes from father to son and the left out job of 20th Phantom was eventually completed by his son,21st Phantom.
The tale begins in 20th Phantom time when four bandits robs Kimberly Diamonds and hide in Dr.Axel's Hospital.Phantom reaches to site and crashes out the hijack drama in hospital,out of four bandits three were sentenced to death and fourth one gets a lifer.Mysteriously there was no trace out of the stolen diamonds.
After 20 years fourth bandit gets released and is quite desperate to square terms with Phantom as well as to take hold of the diamonds hidden by him somewhere 20 years back.He has waited long enough for this booty and he is in no mood to let his hunt go slip anyway.
How 21st Phantom comes into this two generation spanned adventure and how he finishes off the incomplete job forms the rest crunch of the tale.
The story starts with 20th Phantom giving shooting lessons to his son and emphasizing on quick and accurate aim,a quality which our Phantom possesses,rightly explained here.
Indrajal version chopping of the 1st 4 panels as usual.....
20th Phantom got the news of bandits hiding in hospital,rushes to site and the fight begins....
While reading this indrajal version i was wondering that why Phantom attacked in open and in such hurry because Phantoms are known to create terror in enemy mind by using guerrilla technique and handling enemies one by one rather than making such open bold attacks.The answer i found when i read this tale in its original strip format which justifies Phantom hurried attack whereas those panels were cropped off by TOI as in those panels a bandit was forcefully asking for a kiss from a staff nurse which,understandably,in no mean could have been allowed by TOI editors to get read(watched) by kids.
The best shot of this fight scene is indeed where Phantom having guns in his hand crashes through the glass paneled door reminding me fight scenes of the Hindi movies where the Hero and Villain fights crashing through glass panes,windows breaking doors,furniture and all cardboard stuffs which falls in the way of their punches.
This particular shot has been impressively selected and designed by late Shehaab for cover of this Indrajal issue.
The next highlight scene of the story is formed by the part where Phantom, overpowered by 'friends' of Davo,has been tied to the trunk of tree by fishing line strong enough to hold 1000 pound of shark.
Phantom has been tied to tree and Davo,convinced enough till now to believe that Phantom is a ghost,a immortal man and immune to bullets,pleads and begs Phantom to save him by snapping the rope.He bows down and fell on Phantoms feet literally begging for his life.
A villain having such a strong conviction for Phantoms legend and up to a extent that he begs and pleads Phantom for his life has been never before witnessed in any of the Phantom's tale.
Phantom,helplessly tied to trunk,has been left by Davo's friend along with his horse and wolf to become prey of jungle predators.A panther,resting on nearby tress,senses the opportunity and attacks Hero but founds the hunt not so simple as Devil also joins the resistance along with Hero.A 100 pound wolf is no match against deadly claws of a 250 pound panther,which is also being realized by tied Phantom,who tries to become free with the help of a small knife left cleverly behind stucking in the trunk of tree by Davo..but the process is taking time which could prove fatal for his pets,he tries and tries hard......such uncommon expressions of anger,frustration and helplessness mixed are very clear on his sweating face behind the mask.
Such type of extreme expressions have been rarely witnessed by Phantom readers in Falk's stories.
After getting freed Phantom charges toward panther but being reluctant to kill any jungle animal,as usual,he drives away the animal by using his kick efficiently and effectively.Phantom kicking away panthers,cheetahs,lions in order to save killing unfolds the admirable animal lover aspect of Phantom's character.
This particular panel of B/W strip has been omitted in color indrajal version,and whats bemusing here is that Indrajal translating 'Panther' as 'Cheetah'(????)...was the translator not knowing that Panther is called 'तेंदुआ' in Hindi!
It was also published by Indrajal comics in two parts subsequently titled as 'Curse Of The Kimberly Diamonds' in Vol.22 No.43 & 44.(1985)
This is one of those rare stories in which adventure passes from father to son and the left out job of 20th Phantom was eventually completed by his son,21st Phantom.
The tale begins in 20th Phantom time when four bandits robs Kimberly Diamonds and hide in Dr.Axel's Hospital.Phantom reaches to site and crashes out the hijack drama in hospital,out of four bandits three were sentenced to death and fourth one gets a lifer.Mysteriously there was no trace out of the stolen diamonds.
After 20 years fourth bandit gets released and is quite desperate to square terms with Phantom as well as to take hold of the diamonds hidden by him somewhere 20 years back.He has waited long enough for this booty and he is in no mood to let his hunt go slip anyway.
How 21st Phantom comes into this two generation spanned adventure and how he finishes off the incomplete job forms the rest crunch of the tale.
The story starts with 20th Phantom giving shooting lessons to his son and emphasizing on quick and accurate aim,a quality which our Phantom possesses,rightly explained here.
Indrajal version chopping of the 1st 4 panels as usual.....
20th Phantom got the news of bandits hiding in hospital,rushes to site and the fight begins....
While reading this indrajal version i was wondering that why Phantom attacked in open and in such hurry because Phantoms are known to create terror in enemy mind by using guerrilla technique and handling enemies one by one rather than making such open bold attacks.The answer i found when i read this tale in its original strip format which justifies Phantom hurried attack whereas those panels were cropped off by TOI as in those panels a bandit was forcefully asking for a kiss from a staff nurse which,understandably,in no mean could have been allowed by TOI editors to get read(watched) by kids.
The best shot of this fight scene is indeed where Phantom having guns in his hand crashes through the glass paneled door reminding me fight scenes of the Hindi movies where the Hero and Villain fights crashing through glass panes,windows breaking doors,furniture and all cardboard stuffs which falls in the way of their punches.
This particular shot has been impressively selected and designed by late Shehaab for cover of this Indrajal issue.
The next highlight scene of the story is formed by the part where Phantom, overpowered by 'friends' of Davo,has been tied to the trunk of tree by fishing line strong enough to hold 1000 pound of shark.
Phantom has been tied to tree and Davo,convinced enough till now to believe that Phantom is a ghost,a immortal man and immune to bullets,pleads and begs Phantom to save him by snapping the rope.He bows down and fell on Phantoms feet literally begging for his life.
A villain having such a strong conviction for Phantoms legend and up to a extent that he begs and pleads Phantom for his life has been never before witnessed in any of the Phantom's tale.
Phantom,helplessly tied to trunk,has been left by Davo's friend along with his horse and wolf to become prey of jungle predators.A panther,resting on nearby tress,senses the opportunity and attacks Hero but founds the hunt not so simple as Devil also joins the resistance along with Hero.A 100 pound wolf is no match against deadly claws of a 250 pound panther,which is also being realized by tied Phantom,who tries to become free with the help of a small knife left cleverly behind stucking in the trunk of tree by Davo..but the process is taking time which could prove fatal for his pets,he tries and tries hard......such uncommon expressions of anger,frustration and helplessness mixed are very clear on his sweating face behind the mask.
Such type of extreme expressions have been rarely witnessed by Phantom readers in Falk's stories.
After getting freed Phantom charges toward panther but being reluctant to kill any jungle animal,as usual,he drives away the animal by using his kick efficiently and effectively.Phantom kicking away panthers,cheetahs,lions in order to save killing unfolds the admirable animal lover aspect of Phantom's character.
This particular panel of B/W strip has been omitted in color indrajal version,and whats bemusing here is that Indrajal translating 'Panther' as 'Cheetah'(????)...was the translator not knowing that Panther is called 'तेंदुआ' in Hindi!
Another happening in the story which seems quite illogical is that Davo after being released from prison inquires about Phantom and reaches Dr.Axel's hospital.
The same Dr.Axel's hospital where 20 years back he had hidden stolen diamonds.Now,when he visits hospital then why didn't he recovered those hidden diamonds in his very first visit rather then waiting,searching and trying to avenge with Phantom first and then thinking to recover diamond's by going back again to hospital after killing a man(Phantom),a risk big enough to take and a plan which seems quite illogical as a bandit who has waited 20 years for those diamonds will quite naturally grab the very first opportunity which he gets to get a hold of his looted booty apart from anything else.
Well,here are the links of of this story in it original strip format as well as in its Indrajal version(Hindi) too.
So friends this is all about for this recent comiconalysis of another Phantom's tale.If you liked it then pl drop few words as your reaction which will certainly encourage me to improve and prepare such posts further.
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10 comments:
Excellent analysis and a nice write up!
Maverick: Thanks and welcome.
AKF: शुक्रिया आनंद भाई.वैसे तो इसमें कोई शक नहीं की इंद्रजाल कॉमिक्स अपने-आप में बेजोड़ है लेकिन इनकी सबसे बड़ी कमी यह है की इनमे वेताल/मैन्ड्रेक की कहानियां भारी रूप से सम्पादित(आम भाषा में 'कांट-छांट') कर प्रकाशित की गयी हैं.अब जब इंद्रजाल कॉमिक्स पढ़ने में इस कद्र मज़ा आता था तो सोचिये मूल स्ट्रिप्स पढ़ने में कितना मज़ा आता होगा!बस यही चीज़ है जो इन B/W स्ट्रिप्स को सर्वोपरि बनाती है.
यह होती है एक आला दर्जे की मुकम्मल पोस्ट पिता पुत्र के भावनात्मक रिश्ते को दर्शाती और ऊपर से पात्रों के जबरदस्त मौखिक अंदाज ऐ बयाँ , क्या कहने , जब आज यह कहानी पड़ी तो पहले मुझे भी ताज्हुब हुआ जब वेताल नें हॉस्पिटल में पहुँचते ही लात घूंसे चलने शुरू कर दिए , जब स्ट्रिप को देखा तो समझ में आया की इससे पहले एक लिपटा चिपटी का दृश्य था जिसमें एक नर्स से जबरदस्ती की जा रही है इस पर तो TOI की कैंची चलनी बिलकुल मुनासिब ही थी मगर जरा छटपटाहट और हताशा वश नर्स के चेहरे पर उभरे कुदरती हाव भावों को क्या जीवंत तरीके से दर्शाया है चित्रकार नें , जान ही डाल दी इस दृश्य में
(जैसे नर्स हताशा में 'नहीं' कह रही है अगर इस नर्स की भूमिका बॉलीवुड की एक मशहूर अभिनेत्री अभिनीत करती तो वो अपने खासम खास अंदाज में कहती 'नहींहींहींहीं' ' अब जैसे नर्स कह रही है 'छोड़ो' तो यह अभिनेत्री कहती 'छोड़ोओ..मुझेऐ.. कॉमिक बिरादर आपको बस इस अभिनेत्री का नाम बताना है जो अपने हर वाक्य की आखिरी लाइन को थोडा रूमानी अंदाज में लम्बा सा खींचती थी अब बताओओओ नाहह)
अपनी दो ही पोस्ट में आपने तिलिसिमाते इंद्रजाल को रौशनी से नहला डाला क्या बात है ,
चर्चा अभी बाकि है मेरे दोस्त
यह क्या कॉमिक भाई ! आपकी शुद्ध हिंदी और धमाकेदार उर्दू कहाँ गयी ? और लगता है फिर से जल्दबाजी में इस कहानी में सम्मिलित दूसरी कथा को स्कैन करना ही भूल गए
बहरहाल पेशकश आपकी जानलेवा है कॉमिक भाई 20 वें वेताल की पतनी का नाम क्या है जिसे पहले पन्ने में बड़े ही दिलकश अंदाज में किताब पड़ते हुए दर्शाया गया है मुझे इसके बारे में यां पता नहीं है यां फिर दिमाग में नहीं आ रहा है कृपया बतलाने का कष्ट कीजिये
पन्ना न: 9 का एक जोरदार दृश्य , वेताल एकदम से प्रेत के जैसे ही एकदम से हरकत में आता है और यह आया डेवो का मरियल हाथ वेताल के शेर जैसे पंजे में और अगले पृष्ठ पर शेरा का अपनी जीभ लटकाते हुए डेवो के पीछे सरपट भागना
15 पन्ने पर वेताल का शेरा को यह कहना की "मेरी कलाई नहीं रस्सी शेरा हा हा हा "
वेताल का शेरा को मुसीबत में देख जबड़े बींचते हुए पसीना बहाने का एक मनोहारी दृश्य वाह वाह , तेंदुए का अपने तेजधार पंजे खोलते हुए वेताल की और लपकना अति खुन्खारमय तरीके से और फिर वेताल की एक जोरदार लात
मैंने पहले कभी भी वेताल को अपने पैरों के बल बेठे हुए नहीं देखा जैसे वो पन्ना न : 24 में शेरा का मुंह अपने हाथ में लेकर उसके पास अपने पैरों के बल बेठा है बिलकुल किसी साधारण मनुष्य की तरह
वेताल के घूंसे भी गुंडों को किसी लोहे और पत्थर के जैसे ही लगे
वेताल महिमा अपरम्पार है
कॉमिक भाई आपने अपने अथाह खजाने में से यह दो आसाधारण हीरे हम सब को तोहफे में दिए आपका धन्यवाद
Kala Pret: शुक्रिया प्रेत भाई,जी हाँ ली फ़ाल्क और बैरी के हुनुर के मेल से पैदा हुई सभी कहानियां अपने आप में बेजोड़ हैं और मौजूदा कहानी भी कोई अपवाद नहीं है.यदि इन कहानियों का मुक़म्मल लुत्फ़ लेना है तो आपको अस्ल स्ट्रिप्स पढ़नी ही पड़ेंगी जो की सभी अंग्रेज़ी में हैं,हिंदी भाषी पाठकों की इसी परेशानी को मद्देनज़र रखकर ख्याल आया था की सभी स्ट्रिप्स को हिंदी में अनुवाद कर पेश किया जाये,बाकायदा एक स्ट्रिप पर काम भी हुआ और उसे आधे से ज़्यादा पूरा भी कर लिया गया लेकिन फिर ज़िन्दगी की गाडी खींचने की व्यस्तता के चलते काम अधुरा रह गया.यदि आप पाठक चाहेंगे और आव्यशक प्रोत्साहन मुहैय्या कराएँगे तो यह काम भी पूरा किया जा सकता है.
रही बात आपके सवाल की तो जैसा की आनंद भाई जवाब दे ही चुके हैं की वो अभिनेत्री निस्संदेह 'हेमा मालिनी' ही होतीं.
Vishal: शुक्रिया विशाल भाई,पिछली और दूसरी हिंदी पोस्ट्स के बाद बहुत से अंग्रेज़ी भाषी मित्रों की शिकायत और इल्तिजा थी की मैं इस किस्म की पोस्ट्स अंग्रेज़ी में भी लिखा करूँ ताकि वो सब भी ऐसी पोस्ट्स का लुत्फ़ ले सकें,बस इसी बात को ध्यान में रखते हुए मौजूदा पोस्ट अंग्रेज़ी में लिखी,हालाँकि अन्दर के लेखक को पूरी संतुष्टि नहीं हुई क्योंकि जो मज़ा उर्दू/हिंदी में पोस्ट लिखने में आता है वो भला अंग्रेज़ी में कहाँ.
इस कॉमिक की दूसरी कहानी जानबूझ कर स्कैन नहीं की गयी वक़्त की कमी की वजह से क्योंकि अगर दूसरी कहानी भी स्कैन/पोस्ट की जाती तो शायद यह पोस्ट फिर से आगे टल जाती.बहरहाल,२०वे वेताल की पत्नी का नाम Maude था
Thanks for both the versions
The Devil: Welcome buddy.
शुक्रिया शुक्रिया शुक्रिया :)
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