I discovered Laurel & Hardy Featured in Comics too!

I had seen several Laurel & Hardy Short Films.Doordarshan used to air these on some lucky Saturday evenings. I would always look forward to as to when it would be scheduled again.
As it happened, one film (I remember it was BLOTTO) was scheduled on one such Saturday when I had to go to Thane for a house warming ceremony. I was adamant that I won't go - I did not want to miss the L&H short film. Somehow I was coaxed by my Mom to come along by promising me a comic.
I had rushed out of my house - 50p with me - delighted that I would get my hands on yet another earlier Indrajal.
When I got to the same footpath vendor opp Jagadamba Stores - a few minutes walk from my home - among Indrajals was this comic - Laurel & Hardy Gold Key No. 2.

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070 Specter From Space - First Mandrake comic that I bought.

I bought it from a footpath vendor - just across Jagdamba General Stores, Daulatnagar, Borivli (East). It was not in very good condition. In a few years it had shredded to pieces. I no longer have that issue with me - I have self printed a copy for my collection.

Sharing with you a very clean scan.

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The Five Find Outers and Dog

Some time within the same year 1979 - I think it was 7th Std. mid-terms - my brother-in-law PM Shenoy got me a book - yet another Enid Blyton children's series - 'The Mystery of the Missing Man' - a story about The Five Find Outers and Dog - Frederick A. Trotteville (Fatty) moves to the village of Peterswood and befriends Larry, Daisy, Philip (Pip) and Elizabeth (Bets). The five along with the dog Buster, decide to form a detective club in the first book (The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage) and from then on start the hilarious escapades.

I managed to collect the other 14 books too within 2 years - all bought second hand for Rs.1 - 1.50 each.

All books are very good but the ones marked in purple are better - The Mystery of the Missing Man and The Mystery of Vanishing Prince - perhaps the best of the lot!

The 15 books in the series are:
The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage (1943)
The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat (1944)
The Mystery of the Secret Room (1945)
The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters (1946)
The Mystery of the Missing Necklace (1947)
The Mystery of the Hidden House (1948)
The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat (1949)
The Mystery of the Invisible Thief (1950)
The Mystery of the Vanished Prince (1951)
The Mystery of the Strange Bundle (1952)
The Mystery of Holly Lane (1953)
The Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage (1954)
The Mystery of the Missing Man (1956)
The Mystery of the Strange Messages (1957)
The Mystery of Banshee Towers (1961)

Download all 15 books here

Enid Blyton a part of your growing up!? Kindly leave your comments.

The time I started collecting older Indrajal issues

As I had remarked earlier that I had lost Indrajal 320 and had to buy it again some time later. It was from a 'raddiwalla' shop in Dahisar (East) - on the Station Road. It had on display - hung with clips - a huge number of comics - Indrajals, Amar Chitra Katha. My eyes quickly spotted the one I had lost and beside it were Indrajal Comics 272 and 278. I got these. Thus I began to add older issues to the Indrajals which were coming out every 15 days.
This raddiwala shop would become one of my favourite haunts in later years - when I would be allowed  to wander alone afar - Dahisar was about 3 kms from my home. I used to walk it out and buy comics from the amount saved on the bus fare. But that is for later.
Though I still have the original No. 320 bought 40 years ago - I have lost both 272 and 278 - I don't remember whom I lent to!
Now I have both the issues as self printed hard copies - yet the imprinted memories connected with them make these more nostalgic.