I knew nothing about comics until my 7th standard. In my 7th standard I joined a new school in Chennai and I was introduced to Comics by my friends who used to read them on the under desk while bending their heads, pretending to write. They would not lend them to me to take to the hostel. I could borrow only in the school hours. So I could read bits and pieces here and there. Whatever little I could read was a great feast and I swooned into the colorful world of the comics. I remember starting with Tarzan and Phantom. Then there was Mandrake the magician, Super Man, Richie Rich the poor little Rich kid, Tin Tin and Asterix and Obelix. There were also Black and White comics on the World War which detailed the exploits of the Allied American soldiers. Comics gave me a new footing for my budding English language skills. The action filled pages with onomatopoeic sounds like Bang! Thud! Whoosh! Vroom, took my imagination to another world. Comics present a world of make belief and the super heroes who can make the impossible possible because of their strength or skills are nothing less than Demi —Gods. Mandrake was a special favorite because he could throw his illusions at will. With the help of Lothar who packs a real punch he could outwit any villain. Phantom was another mighty man. He would land his punches with panache imprinting his special seal on the aggressors.
In Asterix and Obelix, poor Obelix is always denied his portion of the magic potion because he fell into Getafix’s cauldron when he was a child. Asterix is the more observant of the two and when they go to meet Queen Cleopatra he cannot stop exclaiming “Her nose, her nose” The exploits of Tin and Tin and his dog snowy along with Captain Haddock who is always cursing “Thousands of Blue blistering barnacles” made me think of what were barnacles. My obvious sympathies were always with Richie Rich the poor little Rich kid who could have anything he wanted but was tired of his riches. Archie and Veronica make a funny pair. In one of the strips while riding a ram shackled car which makes noise from all parts, Veronica asks Archie if there is any part in the car that does not make noise. With his wry and ironic expression Archie says it is the “Horn” The humor in comic strips like Beetle -Bailey or Hagar the Horrible is more sophisticated. In a cartoon featuring Mutt and Jeff, they are talking about a fish with them. A customer buys it and says he will take it for dinner. Mutt says “Take it to the opera, He has already had his dinner!
In the railway book stalls which we used to frequent while going home, I used to ask my Dad for Comics and got issues of Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle or Panchatantra tales. Reading Comics reminds me of a time when I had no cares or worries. Even today I would love to get away with a bundle of Comics to a quiet place to enjoy the spectacular thrills and bursts of the strips.