...and what else are up for rent?

Dennis can tell you this.....

Those days in the 50's and 60's, you can rent almost anything, not just bicycles.

You can rent for comfort - a room, a sleeping area, books, records, cable radio (that's Redifusion), an old fridge; a trishaw or a hand-cart with outrageous 2 x 6 feet diameter wheels, a hawker stall selling Hu (Fish) Uan (Ball) Th'ng (Soup) together with the ingredients, or an ice-cream cart on 3 wheels to eke out a living. The list goes on, though motor-bike & car rentals are hard to come by.

...and what is life without comics?....absolutely dull, drab and mundane! Are they up for rent? Yes, of course.

I was lucky to enjoy all the comics a kid would need in his growing up years.

Like this one, Dandy. Outside, there's Korky the Cat (yes, Korky!), who's real corky! Look at him up close,

Ain't Korky, cocky?...

The next page would be about Roger the Dodger. He's best at avoiding household chores, and therefore he always get into disastrous situations with his dad. He has his own "Dodge Book" which he uses to get out of tight spots. I like him. Such a great kid with so many "escape" moves.

Recently, I read that Roger's comic strip is still running, and yes, he still is 12 years old! But times have changed, so instead of his Dodge Book, he's got a Dodge-Pod now. And today, Dad sometimes asks Roger for help to dodge himself out of tight spots! The world is surely fast changing!

....and Roger now has a Dodge Clinic where readers & fans write in with their problem and Roger would find a way for the readers to dodge it (which would usually go wrong!). Roger then gives prizes to readers for best dodge moves!

Then on the third page, there's Desperate Dan - a legend of sorts. Man, he is so huge and strong!

There are also busts & statues of this comic book desperado in Europe today!..would you believe it!!!

Following pages would be about Beryl the Peril, yeah, the name says it all.

Some of the other characters are also fun, but I need to rewind, retro my mind. I may have forgotten some, but not that 2-Big front teethed Jonah - the sailor man who through his blunders on board, sink every ship he's on but can never be drowned!... He's always hopping on to another ship after sinking one, sometimes 5 or 6 at the same time! He's not quite like Popeye the sailor man and his lovey-dovey tales with twiggy Olive, or spinachy love-hate relationship with Brutus.

Then there's Dennis the Menace, forever having bad hair days, and mischievous in his trade mark black and red checkered jumper. You see this guy at the top! He's got movies of him, but the screen's Dennis sucks! Nothing like the original Dennis and his menacing pranks.

Man, I was lucky. My Ji-kor (2nd auntie) stays in Canon Street just a stone's throw from "Tua-kor" Lane, and she's got quite a big family. Lots of grand-kids (my distant cousins) there who liked comics. They never missed an issue of Beano & Dandy and it's excellent that they sometimes indulge in Beezers (another comic book) too.

That is only too convenient for me, for I can read them free of charge. Rent-free comics, like a rent-free motorbike or a rent-free car is almost a rarity in those days.

So thanks, Ji-kor. You helped a great deal to mould a kind of Roger here....I hate household chores!