ComicBitsOnline.com

 Rafiq Raja over at Comicology reports on Biggles books in India.  You can check Rafiq’s site at:

http://comicology.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

Most of the European Comic Book Heroes known to South Indians, are basically the ones introduced by Lion / Muthu Comics from Prakash Publishers.  I am no exception to the list.  What we have instore for this article is one of those unsung heroes of the Golden Age of European Comics.

There used to be times, when the Comic Hunger was burning hot inside, and the occasional releases of Muthu/Lion and Rani Comics were turning to be pretty less then what was required.  I used to visit all the pavement book shops and second hand book stalls almost every day, trying my luck to find out the old editions with few rupees in my hand.  But even then, I was little selective about choosing only Lion, Muthu, Thigil, Rani, and occasionally Poonthalir and Ratnabala.  So, the world outside was almost unknown.

When Gotham Comics was launched, that gave a chance to explore something out of this box.  But, again it was limited only to American based comic heroes, and the European Golden Period still remained a treasure unrevealed to all.

Recently, I chanced upon a new initiative by a global company called EuroKids International, who has forayed in the Graphic Novels in India, by introducing few books under the Euro Books brandname.  They have two limited series editions, the first being Agastha Christies Novels in Comic form, which is not of international standards, mostly for kids.  But, the other one was real surprise, a 14 title series of Biggles, starring one of the famous European Comic heroes, Bigglesworth.

Biggles is an impressive character developed by W.E. JOHNS, who himself has served in Air Force, and has created the character set with experiences he had in battlefield.  It adds all the more value to the plots later developed by Francis Bergese, a comic creator who has unique skills of bringing the air combat of planes in comic form with all realistic details.

The storylines are full of history, with plots developed pre and post World War scenarios, with some dealing with the treasures which went missing during the wars, which adds all the more delight to the comic fans.

Pierre Clostermann says this in one of his prefaces of Biggles titles:

“In England, for more than half a century, Biggles has delighted the young and old alike.  Having become the national symbol for courage, initiative, selfishness and gallantry, he travels through history and time true to himself.  Noble in his acts and motivations, Biggles can be twenty years old in 1916 in the Royal Flying Corps and twenty five years old in 1940 in the Royal Air Force.  There’s nothing unusual about this - creative license is allowed in comic strips.

Francis Bergese’s Scenarios, Illustration and Colours means we get to see the all the forms of flying objects you could only read on books.”

Pierre also adds this this about Francis Bergese:

“The episodes experienced by Biggles and the members of the squadron are perfectly creditable.  This authenticity is reinforced by the exceptional quality of the drawings, the precision of the planes, the combat maneuvers and the perfect reconstitution of the scenes.  With Francis Bergese’s Buck Danny, we were used to drawings of airplanes, which “fly” - and the artists capable of doing this are few and far between in the world.  With the Spitfire Parade, I am more than ever a diehard fan of Francis Bergese.”