Malayalam comics and Publications.......

Malayalam Comics and Publications.......


Apart from the illustrious publications like Vidyarthi mithram and Regal publications, there were many lesser known publications which flourished in kerala from 1980s to around early 2000. ACK malayalam(Balarama Amar Chithra katha), which is still publishing and STR publications which published more than a hundred titles in malayalam are the more famous ones(they published in Tamil also with very few titles in English) Paico first published their classics from 1987 for couple of years with 40 odd titles. Their second stint came in 1998 and their 3rd outing in 2018 which was limited to a couple of issues.....
Here are some malayalam publications which churned out some fine comics during the period including Poonthen, Poombatta Amruth, STR, Paico, Tom's Chithra katha, Balamela Chithra Katha, Poomala 
etc......


Poomala Chithra Katha

Tom's Chithra Katha #2 and #8





















Poonthen Chithra Katha

Assisi Chithra Katha

STR Chithra Katha

Puduma Chithra Katha

ChithraManjusha Chithra Katha

Regal Publications

Vidyarthimithram Publications

Shogun Plus Chithra Katha #3 and #4

Royal Chithra Katha #2 and #3

Tamil comics

 Some Tamil  comics with such sterling characters as Inspector Azad, Agent John,Bruce lee, Modesty blaise, James bond etc......

Irumbu kai mayavi or Steel claws

Irumbu kai mayavi or Steel claws



                   Regal comics has published quite a lot of phantom and Mandrake issues. But in between they have published issues of Modesty Blaise, James bond etc in between. Apart from Phantom and mandrake the most sought after issues involves Steel claw or Irumbu kai mayavi .some five or six of these titles were published by Regal. Here are a couple of these.......

Vidyarthi mithram comics

Vidyarthi mithram comics in various languages found recently. Seems 5 issues of tamil VM was published. Four are featured here.....

Chandamama from 1955......

Chandamamas from 1955. This publication first appeared in Telugu in 1947. In Kannada it was published in 1949 whereas in English in 1955. Malayalam editions came earlier than English in 1952. But it is really hard to find an issue Of Ambiliamavan as it called in Malayalam prior to 1970. Received four beautiful kannada copies. The gorgeous art of Sankar and Chitra which one enjoyed in later edition can be seen in these early ones too. But the Iconic Vikram ,Vetala Art by Sankar came to be much idolized in the 1970s . A lovely art by the Fabled Chitra is included here......

Binaca Again......

Collectors in 1970s used to put these little Beauties in Horlicks bottles: This is not an Horlicks one but it will do!! Very happy to get 100 plus of these Binaca Toys. Doubly happy to see the green transparent Leapord which was my favorite as a kid......

 Some uncommon figures from Binaca. Not the usually seen ones. I wonder how many Figures were actually given off by Binaca Company. One knows that a figure came in multiple colors. I should think around 60 to 70 different figures are given out. Later to stay in the competition Binaca changed the name to Cibaca and gave off these little figures, but could not stand against the might of Colgate and other Global Giants......