As suggested by Saleem, I'll take one issue at a time and write about it, the story, background information, release date and any other related info. Also my opinion, when I have read it, what I feel about it etc. Hope this is OK with you guys. Drop a line as to what you feel about this new approach.
First in this series is the 72nd issue of Muthu. Title is Aaviyin Geetham. See the cover scan below.
This issue was released in April 1978, which can be seen in the page 3 scan of this issue.
I have read this issue sometime in early 80s, when I was in Mettur. This must be the fourth or fifth Muthu issue I have read in my life. This is the first ever Cisco Kid I have read, and my first double color issue as well. The name Cisco impressed me very much, Panjo as well. I thought I'll change my name to Cisco, when I have read this book. :-) Couldn't tolerate when I saw the name of the character changed to Disco in Rani comics. Funny guys!!!
The story goes like this. Some one is trying to murder Randy, a popular singer in a small American town. Cisco, friend of Randy, thwarts the first attempt just in time. Even Randy does not know who the enemy is, as he is such a simpleton. One more indirect attempt was made to kill Randy, by spreading the rumour that Randy carries all his money in the Guitar he carries. And this time Cisco manages to trace the culprit. The originator of the rumour turns out to be Mr Alex, a local banker, who wants to marry Randy's wealthy sweetheart Lisa. Alex is more interested in wealth, which he can inherit by marrying Lisa, that any love for Lisa.As Alex knows that Lisa will never agree to marry him, as long as Randy is alive, he tries to remove Randy from the equation. However Cisco manages to terrorise Alex with Randy's music and songs, who Alex believes was killed for the money in the guitar. He was caught when he tries to escape the supposedly dead Randy, after looting his own bank(of course the money belongs to the public).
The scene I have enjoyed very much is in 29, where Alex runs scared to death, thinking that Randy's ghost is after him.
Very interesting story line. For a long time I was under the impression that this was the only Cisco story in Muthu, as Cisco stories were no longer published in 80s, the time when I have started reading comics seriously. Old issues were rare to come by, even in those times in the town of Mettur, because this was the only entertainment for the kids, when TV transmission was unheard of. You have to go to "Pattanam" (Chennai) to see the idiot box, in those days. Cricket coverage was only through, Akashvani, which will alternate between English and Indhi(as pronounced), except for the test matches in Madras. The copies I have bought from the news stand were mostly the repints of early Muthu issues featuring Mayavi, Johnny Nero, Lawrence & David (issue numbers 140+). I felt very happy when I got some issues of Muthu Comics and Malai Mathi Comics featuring Cisco Kid recently. Luis Jose Salinas, who drew Cisco Kid from 1952 to 1968, remains my favorite strip artist. So I never pass an oppurtuniy to acquire Salinas art work. Few years back I have bought some Dell Cisco Kid issues from Milehigh comics at exhorbitant prices, thinking that they were drawn by Salinas. However I was disappointed, as they turned out to be pre-Salinas issues, with very average artwork.
Take a look at the other non-story pages from this issue.
Front cover inner
Back cover
Back cover inner
This story was reprinted in Rani comics under the title "Pei Manithan" in issue number 125 dated Sep 1-15, 1989. Translation stadard is nowhere near Muthu, apart from Cisco being called Disco. Grrrrrrrr!. Take a look at the cover page and first page of this Rani comics reprint. Compare the translation of Rani with its corresponding Muthu page. I would love to see the original of this issue in English to check, why the translation varies so different between Muthu and Rani.
Rani Cover
Rani Title Page
Compare the translations:
A very big thanks to Dr Sathish(Kovai) for his valuable scans. All the Muthu scans in this post are provided by him.
Hope you have enjoyed this posting. Drop me a line, if you like this approach and for any feedback.
See you soon guys.
MF
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