Korak is the Honorable Jack Clayton, son of English Lord John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke, also known as Tarzan, lord of the jungle. He is the hero of a 1915/6 magazine serial and 1917 novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs and a 1920 silent movie serial, as well as a character in several other Tarzan stories from 1914 to 1924. He experienced a revival in 1964 as the star of his own comic book series and as a major character in various Tarzan comic books, pages, and strips from 1966 to 1978.
As depicted in the comic books, pages, and strips, Korak has a lean, athletic physique, broad shoulders and thin waist, almost no clothing, a cute, boyish face, and full, thick hair. He is also an intelligent, enthusiastic teen-aged boy with excellent natural instincts and a good heart.
Korak strives to emulate his legendary father but lacks his strength, maturity and experience. Therefore, he is both more likely to enter into dangerous situations and more vulnerable to being defeated.
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| Sunday Tarzan, 9/8/1968 |
As the star of his own comic book series in 1964, Korak is a capable, young hero. His adventures were somewhat similar to those of his father Tarzan, but independent from them.
In 1966, ABC released the TV series Batman, featuring the frequently imperiled youthful sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder. As a fan of seeing cute, young sidekicks in trouble, I watched every episode.
Russ Manning took over the Sunday Tarzan pages in 1968. His Korak tended to have a tall, lean, swimmer's build. While the son of Tarzan continued to have somewhat autonomous adventures, the slender, handsome youth seemed to be getting into trouble more frequently and more easily. Moreover, in the Sunday Tarzan pages, Korak tended to suffer from more frequent comparisons to his legendary father.
In 1966, ABC released the TV series Batman, featuring the frequently imperiled youthful sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder. As a fan of seeing cute, young sidekicks in trouble, I watched every episode.
Russ Manning took over the Sunday Tarzan pages in 1968. His Korak tended to have a tall, lean, swimmer's build. While the son of Tarzan continued to have somewhat autonomous adventures, the slender, handsome youth seemed to be getting into trouble more frequently and more easily. Moreover, in the Sunday Tarzan pages, Korak tended to suffer from more frequent comparisons to his legendary father.
Previous to this week's adventures, Tarzan and his companions are rescued from a pack of hyenas by the timely intervention of Korak and the Waziri warrior Mugambi. Tarzan decides to follow the hyenas, led by a strange man with the face of a hyena, while Korak is assigned the task of returning his companions to civilization and bringing reinforcements. Tarzan saves a troop of apes from a bask of crocodiles and kills a strange man with the face of a crocodile. However, the jungle lord is captured covering the escape of an injured Mugambi and the ape troop and is assigned to merge his mind and body with those of a crocodile.
Korak has the hero role this Sunday. Bringing reinforcements to rescue Tarzan, he exhibits good sense and sound leadership by sending a scouting party to find his father first. In choosing Joiper the ant man and an ape, he is combining stealth and intelligence with speed and excellent tracking abilities.
Manning's artwork is wonderful. There are a couple closeups of Korak's boyish face (panels B & G) and a good view of his V-shaped back (panel E).
Favorite scene: Panel A
Previous page: Korak in Sunday Tarzan (6/23/1968)
Previous blog: Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/2/1968-9/7/1968)
Next blog: Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/9/1968-9/14/1968)
Next page: Korak in Sunday Tarzan (9/29/1968)
This blog is intended to raise interest in and appreciation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs character Korak. To see this story in context, you may find it in Hillman's ERBzine at the following link:
This week's adventures can also be found at the following link(s):
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