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Comic relief
PACESETTER Utsav
Lal
Piece de resistance
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Comic relief Children of the 1960s and 1970s would remember Mandrake, the Magician. He and his burly friend, Lothar, formed a lethal combination of brains and brawns. Like Mandrake, the vintage comics of superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Tintin and comic characters like Archies, Dennis, the Menace, Tom and Jerry, Asterix are today in demand by avid collectors, who pay megabucks for popular comics of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, which have been preserved in mint condition.
Social relevance The social relevance of a comic character, too, is paramount. Writers, who change with the times, enjoy a bigger fan following then those stuck in a time warp. In one of his last interview, the late Hank Ketcham, creator of Dennis, the Menace, said that in the 1960s he realised that while Dennis had not changed over the decades, the world around him had changed. He knew that he had to change him with the times or he would become irrelevant in a fast changing world. So
how did Ketcham change Dennis? In the 1960s he replaced the family’s radio
with a television, in the 1970s he brought in the skateboard instead of the
hoopla. In the 1980s Ketcham introduced Dennis to computers and in the 1990s
came the Palm top and the digital diary. Said Ketcham in the interview, “I
made sure that only the gizmos changed. Everything else remained constant.
Dennis’ mother and father were the same, so were his neighbours, the Wilsons
and his friends, Joey and Margaret.” Ketcham had brought about the changes
as he understood that it is only classic toons that have a lasting appeal. Take the case of Garfield, the cat with an attitude, who was born at the back of a paper tissue in an Italian restaurant in 1978. He seemingly understands technology, watches television and passes sarcastic and rude comments. Today, Garfield has grown into a worldwide celebrity. His antics with his clueless owner, Jon Arbuckle, his drooling doggy pal, Odie, bring laughter to millions daily.
Most expensive comic
However, the record for the most expensive comic was established a year ago in June 2012 at a Paris auction when a rare 1932 copy of Tintin in America with the original cover drawn by Belgian Georges Remi — who created the Tintin series under the pseudonym Herge —was snapped up by an anonymous bidder for a mind boggling $1.61 million (around Rs 8.85 crore). So, what is it that separates a great comic from an ordinary one? How do some characters become favourites of collectors while others fade away? According to experts, the appeal of a comic is similar to that of a book or a movie. What is most important is a believable and entertaining storyline that leaves a lasting impression on the impressionable mind of a young reader. If that’s in place everything else will take care of itself and the charm will be instant. One of the other secrets that separates a fleeting hit from that of a comic whose appeal lasts generation is the credibility of the character and his/her environment. Take, for example, Dennis the Menace — his popularity and that of his parents and his neighbours is the stuff of legends. Their aspirations, problems, their joys and sorrows are the same as that of any normal family. That’s why they are loved generation after generation.”
On January 10, 2013, Tintin became an aging reporter at 84. Popeye, too, turned 84 on January 17, 2013. Fred Flintstone turned 50 in 2012. However, Garfield is still a baby. He turns 35 in June 2013. In this age of interactive gadgets and instant gratification, would children be interested in Tintin or Popeye? The truth is they do and they will. Every year, birthdays of these cartoon characters become occasions for a new marketing thrust resulting in a veritable fortune for all concerned. Who would have expected Dennis the Menace, Tom & Jerry and Donald Duck to appear on schoolbags and lunchboxes ? What is the secret of a successful cartoon that will transcend generations? “It’s the family environment,” says sociologist Dr Ashish Parnami. “Family ties are an evergreen and a renewable one. The relationship between couples and their children and friends is timeless,” he says. The most common denominator of a cartoon’s success is a sense of fun. The gags in these comics are understood by all age groups. This in a way explains the enduring appeal of characters like Asterix, Superman, Tin Tin and others whose popularity cuts across all ages.
The fame of Tom & Jerry and other Disney characters has transcended generations. Parents, who have spent childhood reading these comics, introduce these to their kids. In a way, the parents revisit their childhood making the comic a classic over generations. Those with big bucks go a step further and buy rare comics. There are just around a 100 copies of the 1938 action comic where Superman made his first appearance. “Because these are the last 100 that you’ll ever see of these, I don’t think the price will ever really go down. These are almost like Rembrandts or Picassos,” says Michael Zapcic, an American vintage comic book evaluator, underlining the reason why cult comic books of yesteryears are being treated like works of art!
Collector’s Items
The 1938 comic book where Superman first made his appearance recently fetched $4,40,000 in an auction and the first Batman comic of 1939 fetched $3,75,000 (around Rs 2.42 crore and Rs 2.06 crore respectively). In fact, many of these comics are a collector’s item. The auctions of vintage comics routinely attract avid connoisseurs from around the world. Despite the rising popularity of television, e-books and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, the comic book has retained its passionate appeal. There are countless websites devoted to comics. Reams of newsprint are used to publish cartoon strips. There are dedicated TV channels that air animated series of popular comic characters. In the UK, USA and Japan there are libraries solely dedicated to comics only. Many websites offer auction space for vintage comics. Each major comic character has a committed fan following.
Timeless appeal
Comic festivals are organised worldwide. The timeless appeal of Disney comics and its characters like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto has never diminished. They have an obsessive fan following not just among kids but among adults as well. Disneylands and Disney Parks attract thousands of visitors every year. The lure of other popular comic characters, too, has been growing. Take the case of Asterix. Four years ago in 2009 when the popular Gaul turned 50, there were global celebrations. Back in 1959, two Frenchmen René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo — one a struggling writer the other a penniless artist— could have little imagined that the comic characters they were about to create would become a sensation in the world. Asterix le Gaulois, as he is known in France, appeared in 1959 in the Pilote magazine. Since then the comic has travelled to 107 countries and has sold upwards of 325 million copies. Collectors and aficionados still hanker after the earliest editions of Asterix comics, which sometimes attract bids that could rival any work of art.
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PACESETTER Utsav
Lal
When 21-year-old Utsav Lal started his performance at this year’s Harvallabh Music Festival in Jalandhar, not many in the audience were sure about what this young musician had up his sleeve, or on the tips of his fingers. But as his nimble fingers spun a musical magic on the piano for the next hour-and-a-half, everyone listened to the unique brand of his music with rapt attention. The gentle melodies wafting through the air melted the mindsets that try to confine music within the boundaries of a particular syntax and instrument. What makes him stand apart is the unique amalgamation of the musical ethos of East and West that he brings about by playing the Indian raagas on a piano. While playing the alaap, jod and jhala this “raaga pianist” also, gently and expertly, explores the vast potential of piano. Raaga pianist, a child prodigy, winner of several awards and a veteran of countless concerts — there is a lot that defines this young performer. His long list of achievements includes the distinction of being recognised as a Young Steinway Artist on the global pianists’ roster, an ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London) International scholar in Scotland and mention in the Limca Book of records, besides being the youngest winner of Ireland’s MAMA Award for championing multi-culturalism through music. The journey of this young wizard began at the age of seven when he started training in Indian classical music but by the time he was 11 he had found his “instrument” in a piano. Playing old Bollywood numbers on piano provided the basic training in playing Indian raagas on a western instrument. Through this journey he has introduced a global audience to Indian music. He recounts how his unique feat was always looked upon with scepticism by purists doubtful about this combination of totally different sounds. “It has been challenging as several times before a concert people have come up to me and said that they don’t think it can work but after I play the opinion changes and they are able to connect to the kind of music that I am playing for them,” says Utsav, while adding that he's made it a routine to explain his ‘genre’ to the western audience for at least five minutes before starting a concert as ears trained to absorb western classical sounds may find Indian raagas a bit slow on their musical palate. “But the vast potential of piano is my inspiration”, says Utsav who is currently doing a fellowship in Glasgow where he's carved a niche for himself as a jazz pianist. Ask him about the connection between Jazz and Indian raagas, and he explains that the two actually complement each other. “My training in jazz is, in fact, helping in this as jazz basically involves training the ear for any form of music”. There is a lot of respect for Indian classical music especially in the jazz world, he adds. Though Utsav loves the cello and string instruments, he wants to get into composing and focusing on Indian classical music. He has been associated with several philanthropic organisations such as the National Association of the blind, Spastics Society, Make-a-wish foundation, World Mercy fund, JOSH and Smile Foundation. He has also been holding workshops and “breaking boundaries” for musicians wanting to try new and different things .
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Piece de resistance How would you like your chair to give you the experience of riding on the back of an elephant or a walrus or your tabletop to be held up by a grizzly bear or sitting on a dining table suspended in air? No, this is not fiction. All this is being dreamed up by designers and turned into reality. There’s an absolute furniture revolution going on out there. If you have deep pockets and an avant garde style, it may be time to give your pad a whole new look by chucking out those couches and cabinets and indulging in some fantasy stuff. Time was when furniture shopping was need-based. People generally preferred practical, useful and heavy pieces that would last them a lifetime. However, nowadays like all things beautiful, furniture has moved out of the realm of the mundane. No longer a boring or functional buy, furniture today makes a personal statement. Today, trends and ideas tend to reflect a person’s myriad moods. There is no one individual style. Modern furniture blends the traditional Indian with the contemporary, and sometimes, quirky Western. It is simply a synthesis of kitsch and elegance creating a range of products that echo the owner’s persona.
Classy and stunning
Such classy furniture is no longer cheap and inexpensive. With the entry of global designers like Casa Armani, Hulsta, Lava East, Visionaire and others, the designs have gone international, and so have the prices. For example, the French luxury brand Lalique Maison offers a classy and stunning bedroom revamp at its showroom in Emporio Mall in Delhi for Rs 55 lakh, which includes a bed, console, mirror, lamp and cigar box. Despite the costs, the business of modern furniture is booming. At the same venue as Lalique, the Casa Paradox interiors and furniture stores owned by Raseel Gujral and Naveen Ansal specialises in distinctive decoratives that instantly catch the eye. The pieces are a connoisseur’s delight and the store retails some of the most exclusive collection of furniture and art décor. All the pieces are handpicked and have a distinctive style of their own. Furniture styles are changing like clouds before the wind. Heavy and bulky pieces are out. Today’s furniture is noticeably light and airy, with sleek metallic touches. A delicate decoration like a glass-topped centre table with carved wooden peacocks for bases can add pizzaz to any room in the house.
Daring trends
Designing experts say that traditional wood is out, as it tends to give furniture a weighty look. Pastels and dull colours, too, have given way to daring reds, blues, yellows and pinks. Today, trendy means simple lines that are sleek and extremely chic. The forms are aimed at providing sophisticated yet functional and trendy furniture for the design conscious. Elegance and a touch of quirkiness are the keywords of modern furnishings. Wildlife and nature-inspired themes, bold colours and wacky shapes are in vogue. A Delhi-based design house Idus, for example, imports a lot of exotica that showcases the changing preferences of high-end consumers. It recently got special chairs designed by celebrated Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue. These were no ordinary chairs. Some of these were made of microfibre stitched over a resin top with a steel base, others had poly-cotton and sunbrella fabrics twisted and wrapped around a frame. Yet another set of chairs were made of natural and stained rattan vines woven on a frame of mild steel in a design. Needless to say, the price of each chairs ranged between
Rs 46,000 and Rs 1.25 lakh.
Customised designs
Gautam Dhawan, who launched his flagship store of customised Interior designs in Delhi called the Exhibit D, has collaborated with Singapore’s furniture and interior accessories company Lava East known for using everything that nature has to offer for its creations, including such wood species as suar, myrtle, acacia, satinwood, and the rare kengklang and exotic cocobolo. According to designer Niharika Das, “Exclusivity, individuality and uniqueness are the buzzwords when it comes to designer furniture. Fusion and style are all about a unique class. The idea is to let your imagination roll, and let nature help you fuse some oomph into your interiors.” Furniture today, adds Niharika, should be light and durable but with an element of fun. People should give up sticking to the tried and tested because it is all about exploring the beauty of art and nature within your four walls.
DUFFY’S TABLE WITH SHADOW CHAIRS
Price:
Rs 6,80,000 (£8,165)
GRIZZLY BEAR TABLE
ANIMAL COLLECTION
Spanish furniture designer Maximo Riera has stunned the design world with his Animal Chair collection. It has a diverse range of intricately moulded pieces ranging from mammals to reptiles, and even insects. The designer believes the collection helps connect with wildlife. Price: Ranging from Rs 30,80,000 to Rs 57,20,000 per piece ($56,000 to $1,04,000)
LAVA EAST CONFERENCE TABLE
Price: Rs 700,000 (Made to Order only)
PORTSIDE CAFE BALLIMARAN BED
Price:
Rs 3,94,000
UBER CHIC COLLECTION FROM VISIONNAIRE
I Price on request
WOODCRAFT IN GEOMETRIC DESIGNS
Price on request
CREATIVE CHAIRS FROM IDUS
Price: Bloom Easy chair Rs 1,20,000 & Yoda side chair-Rs 46,000
Price:
Rs 22 lakh $40,000
COFFEE TABLE BY BOCONCEPT
Price:
Rs 49,750
Basic styles of furniture
Though furniture-making dates back to the Stone Age and the Neolithic Period, it has evolved over the ages and is today divided into several distinct styles which are clearly defined and have been going in and out of fashion intermittently. The five basic designs are: The 19th century Empire style of furniture marked a sudden shift from the earlier Baroque style and survived centuries and generations. It originated in France and had motifs and symbols of the archaeological treasures of the Egyptian and Roman empires — two countries that Napoleon conquered. Classical This solid hard-wood furniture is usually hand-crafted in cherry, maple or oak wood. It is usually heavily upholstered and lends a certain warmth to the interiors. Very popular in the first half of the 20th century, it does not find favour with modern designers as the trends have changed to ‘lighter’ pieces. Antique This is a style that has never lost its lure and appeals to people who have a predilection for retro pieces. Though fakes abound in plenty, much of the genuine antiques in India have been salvaged from rundown havelis and palaces of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and other states. Art Deco This style was prevalent in the 1920s through the 1960s and was heavily inspired by three styles. It got its perfect proportions from the Greco-Roman architecture, its two-dimensional appearance from Egyptian art and its shimmering and lustrous finish from Asian artifacts. It was, thus, highly ornamental and preferred by the rich gentry. Contemporary The trends prevalent today are a complete departure from the earlier manner of furniture. Pieces are Spartan and there is simplicity, sometimes bordering on the quirky side. This clutter-free and non-chaotic style is what separates a modern classy home from a messy one. Where less is more and not a bore!
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Bling it on
TAKE HOME
A MADONNA price: T-shirts $445 to $1,660
(Rs 24,475 to 91,300);
Sweatshirts $885 to $985 (Rs 48,675 to 54,175) & Bomber Jacket $3210 (Rs
72,050) FORTUNE ON
4 WHEELS Price: Expected to sell for around $50 million (Rs
275 crore)
A STARRY
COLLECTION
Prices: Upon request
BULLET BRUSH Price: $150
(Rs 8,250)
ALL-DIAMOND RING
Price: Expected to sell for $70 million
(Rs 385 crore) THUMB-SIZED PC Price in
india: Rs 4000 CUTTING EDGE
KNIFE Price: $1,400 (Rs 77,000) SMOKE YOUR
BOOZE Price: $35
(Rs 1,925) GAMES PRADA
PLAYS Price: Ranging between $2,500 and $3,200 (Between Rs 1,37,500 and Rs
1,76,000)
LAPTOP FOR
UBER RICH GAMERS
Prices: Between $5,000 and $8,000 depending on the features (Between
Rs 2.75 lakh and Rs 4.40 lakh) MAGICAL
MUSIC Price: $4,600 (Rs 2.53 lakh) COSMIC
PENS Price:
LE99—$31,500 (Rs 7.32 lakh) & LE3000—$3,750 (Rs 2.06 lakh) LACOSTE GETS
SPORTY Price: Ranging from $100 to $565 (From Rs 5,500 to Rs 31,075)
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Age no bar for famous toons
Transcending generations
A dining table from London design house Duffy uses its runners as its structure. The runners run the length of the table falling off the edge to become the legs. At first glance, the chairs seem to defy gravity by standing upright with only two front legs but on closer inspection, the shadow is part of the chair. 
This bed with a headboard measuring 7 ft x 7 ft by Portside Café is a tribute to the artisans of Balli Maran area of Delhi who beat silver and gold to make warqs, which are used on Indian sweets. Psychedelic colours come together to form a tree with gold and silver warq-like leaves. 
talian luxury brand Visionnaire has introduced a new collection of uber chic furniture in India showcased at its flagship store in Delhi. The furniture blends classic Baroque sculptural curves and refined finishes together with minimalism to create a new interpretation of luxury.
If you spend eight to 10 hours a day on the computer, you know how uncomfortable it can get. Enter the Emperor 1510 workstation, a piece of futuristic office furniture. This stunning chair is close to floating around weightless in outer space as you’re going to get here on Earth.
A leading global brand of contemporary furniture, Boconcept is known for its imaginative pieces like the Occa Coffee Table, which has separate compartments that allow you to stash remotes and magazines, besides the raised top that lets you work on a laptop or eat without hunching over. 
Empire style
Most of her fans have seen Madonna in her favourite bespoke Givenchy haute couture. Now Givenchy is giving a chance to her fans to take home the Material Girl. Wait, before guys get any ideas, the fact is that the high-end French fashion and accessories house has launched a special line featuring renaissance Madonna representing Mother Mary in its Spring/Summer 2013 Collection.
There are oversized t-shirts, sweat shirts and nylon bomber jackets with Madonna’s picture printed on them presented in a series of colours, versions and styles. So here’s your chance of picking up a wearable Madonna.
It is the planet’s rarest of the rare cars not in terms of numbers, but in terms of value. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the brand’s most desirable cars sought by the world’s top collectors as it was exclusively built for legendary Britain’s racing driver Sir Sterling Moss. The apple-green automotive marvel was auctioned for a staggering $35 million in 2011. Reports are it is going under the hammer once again. Interested? Wait for the announcement and then reach the auction site with lots of millions in your pocket.
It’s breathtaking and stunning. The Cométe Collection by Chanel will make every woman feel heavenly. Inspired by a collection from the 1930s created by none other than Gabrielle Chanel, it is an ode to the starry sky of a Parisian night. When she had created the masterpieces she famously said, “I wanted to cover women with constellations! With stars! Stars of all sizes!” Crafted from platinum, white gold and diamonds, it comprises bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings…an out of the world collection! 
It is guaranteed to blow away even the toughest of stubbles. The Six Shooter Shave Brush by American company Six Shooter Shaving has a handle that is in the shape of a revolver cylinder with six diffused nickel bullets in the casing. The Cowboyish brush is hand-crafted from high-grade aluminium and the removable 20mm bristles are composed of fine badger hair. It is available in a variety of different finishes with the coolest being in a .38 calibre shape for the man who likes to make a smooth kill every morning.
They say that diamonds are forever. And when a man slips this ring in the finger of a very, very lucky lady, he can also be assured of her love being forever. That’s because this is no ordinary ring. It is the world’s first all-diamond ring carved out from a huge single diamond. The 150-carat ring was created by Swiss jewellery company Shawish by using lasers along with traditional diamond cutting and polishing techniques. It took a year to finish. A spokesperson says when the company first hit upon the idea, most experts said it seemed impossible. “So we decided to embark on the adventure of creating the impossible ---a perfect diamond ring that is the epitome of art.” The result: Pure fantasy!
While our very own Akash may take a while to reach the common man, here’s a low-priced substitute that will gladden the hearts of computer geeks. The MK802 Android Mini PC made by a Chinese company Rickmagic is equipped with a single-core 1.5GHz A10 processor, supported by 512MB of memory. The 200-gram device—which looks like a pen drive---plugs directly into a TV which acts as a monitor. With an external keyboard it can be made to function like a computer, media player, internet browser and a video gamer for hours of big screen fun.
When it was first launched in 1890, the Swiss Army Knife had a knife, a screwdriver and a can opener. Look how times change. Today it has metamorphosed into a multi-functional device that contains practically every tool in the lexicon of people like the electrician, car mechanic, carpenter, gardener, plumber and beautician. The latest model, Wenger 6999 has—hold your breath--87 tools capable of performing 141 different tasks. Apart from the serrated blade, there is a nail cutter, nail file, nail cleaner, corkscrew, pliers, wrench, scissors, can opener, cigar cutter, keyring, magnifying glass, compass, flashlight, toothpick, a dozen-odd screwdrivers, (Whew!) and any other tool you can possibly dream of. And just think, it is still called a
knife.
This one’s for people who love their spirits but hate the empty calories and the effect it has on the liver. Vaportini is a glass globe-and-funnel contraption that gassifies alcohol into a breathable cloud. All that one has to do is to allow the spirit to heat for around five minutes till a clear vapour appears and then sniff it. So instead of drinking you are smoking the booze. Which is why some are hailing it as the best creation for booze lovers, while others are dubbing it as the worst. It depends which side of the spectrum you are on—whether you love your liver or your lungs. 
Celebrated Italian fashion label Prada is playing games this season. No, the company has not set up a sports team, but it is launching a range of luxury board games for the uber rich. From checkers to chess sets and backgammon, the games get a touch of the famous Prada glamour as they come in white, black, and red leather with gaming pieces carved in high- grade fine metal. And not to forget the famous silver Prada symbol on each
game.
Not many people may have heard of Voodoo Envy H-171. But those who have know that it is one of the world’s most high-performing laptops. If you are fond of fancy gizmos this is this laptop for you. With a 17-inch screen and a heady resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels its amazing picture quality makes it ideal for movies and video games. It has a 600 GB Hard Drive and twin Nvidia Quadro FX Go 2500M graphics chipsets. It is usually custom-build and you can have a choice of colours. The company will also put a tattoo on its cover to remind you it is a
Voodoo.
This is music to the ears of true connoisseurs. Bang and Olufsen, the leaders in sound technology who develop high-end speakers for top models of Mercedes Benz and BMW have launched Beoplay A-9 speakers designed and crafted like beautiful pieces of furniture. A result of innovative engineering, these speakers fill up a room with lilting music. They can also be directed to a specific area by tilting them in any direction. And you don’t have to look for a volume dial or buttons, just swipe your hand gently sideways along the top and the volume will increase or decrease. It’s magic all the
way.
Many aficionados claim that when it comes to pens, those crafted by Montblanc are out of the world. In a way they are right. The German company’s new collection is truly cosmic as it is dedicated to Albert Einstein. The pen is available in two editions—LE99 limited to 99 pieces and LE3000 limited to 3,000 pieces. The first is in 18-carat white gold with a 1.3ct sapphire on the clip with a diagram of an atom imprinted on the nib. The grid on the cap and barrel of both the editions represents the space-time continuum. On the barrel of both pens are engravings of some of Einstein’s most famous formulas. Little wonder then that those buying the exclusive pens say they feel it is out of the universe.
It’s a lab that does some amazingly fun things. The Lacoste Lab has become renowned for its stunning collections that it unveils at the start of every new
year.Its 2013 line has the young in mind and embodies the combination of Lacoste’s technological and sartorial skills and comprises sporty stuff like snowboards, skateboards, snow glasses, helmets, soccer and rugby balls. Edgy and graphic, each of these creations reflects the sporty side of René Lacoste, professional tennis player and founder of
Lacoste.