We are thrilled to have the newly appointed Chairman of the Burroughs Bibliophiles post to our blog. Jimmie gives an interesting overview of the DC comics Tarzan Family Giants. Tarzan Family was an anthology series that focused on characters and settings created by Burroughs. The series was composed mostly of the vignettes featured in reprints of Korak as well as the Tarzan, Lord of the Apes series. It's a great read - Enjoy/
The Tarzan Family Giants by Jimmie Goodwin
It's interesting to know that Gold Key published the "Korak, Son of Tarzan" comic series for eight years before DC took over with issue number 46. DC then continued the series for another three years re-titling it in December 1975 with issue number 60 as "Tarzan Family Giant." I have had all seven of these issues for several years but have never looked at them closely. Surprising content.
Issue 60 starts with a Korak story, "Forbidden Tomb". It is about Korak rescuing a young man from his label as a jinx. Next is "Escape from Pellucidar". It is about Tarzan searching for Korak, who is a prisoner in Pellucidar. They have a helicopter in it!??? Next is Tarzan's Jungle Album, showing a picture from the movie "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure". After this is "Mars or Bust!" based on Pirates of Venus. Then, there are several old comic strip issues of Tarzan. Next, is the story "Amazon of Barsoom" It is about a young lady called Thorjah. Interesting story.
Issue 61 has "Slave Ship", a Korak adventure. Following this is "Beyond the Farthest Star". Next is Tarzan's "The Stone Pharaoh" Part 2 (I don't know where part one is.) Then Tarzan's Jungle Album, featuring Glenn Morris from "Tarzan's Revenge". Then Carson of Venus in "The Girl in the Garden" continues the Pirates of Venus storyline.
In issue 62, we have Korak in "Island of Lost Heads" The name doesn't fit the story. Following that is John Carter of Mars rescuing "The Girl in the Emerald". Next is a Tarzan adventure, "The Peaceful Mist" A utopian tale. Carson of Venus offers up a fighting man's "Battle Cry" as he steps in to save a beautiful woman. Tarzan's Jungle album has a picture from "Tarzan Escapes" with Weissmuller. and O'Sullivan. Lastly, there are some Tarzan comic strip reprints.
For issue 63, the lineup includes Korak in "Song of the Dolphin", which should be re-titled "Anyone for lobster, for a very long time?" John Carter of Mars faces a three-headed vulture in "Death Has Three Heads" Included in this edition is a letter to the editor section called - "The Ape Vine." This is followed by a Carson of Venus story "Gathering Tarel." That artwork has Kamlot looking very much like Tarzan. Reprinted Tarzan strips by Hal Foster are from 1931.
Issue 64 starts with part one of a Korak adventure titled "The Gigantics," an ode to Gulliver's travels. Then John Carter of Mars in "Lights of Doom," an untitled Tarzan story, and lastly the continuation of the Carson of Venus story.
Issue 65 continues with Korak in a land of giants, started in issue 64, but now titled "Deadlier than the Male!" Next is John Carter of Mars in "Arrival" about the first part of Princess of Mars. A highlight of this edition is three pages of Fantastic Creatures of Edgar Rice Burroughs done by Neal MacDonald. Filling out this issue are two stories about Carson Napier, "Mutiny at Sea" and "Duare, Princess of Venus"
Issue 66 starts with "A Gift Most Deadly", a Tarzan and Korak story. The most interesting element in this story is a diamond-tusked elephant. John Carter continues his adventure from the previous issue titled "Prisoner of the Tharks." Once more we are rewarded with a Fantastic Creatures poster by Neal McDonald. The world of Pellucidar makes an appearance in "The Amulet, the Power, and the Hero," the further adventures of David Innes. The he end of the issue, in "The Ape Vine" the editors explain that this is the last issue. They state "Also, the executors of the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate felt they would like to produce and publish new stories of the Burroughs creatures themselves."
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