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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| Korak in Sunday Tarzan (2/9/1969) |
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, while searching for his father at the edge of the jungle, Korak follows a herd of elephants into a hidden cleft where he discovers a mystery involving a glowing, red wig. While investigating the mysterious wig, Korak carelessly falls from the cliff, landing on his head, and rendering himself helpless before the owner of the red wig. Fortunately, she is attracted to the son of Tarzan and decides to spare the boy hero.
This week, Korak encounters a tribe of ivory poachers and a trapped elephant. Korak quickly resolves to rescue the animal despite being badly outnumbered. However, the glowing, red wig mysteriously reappears.
Korak continues his hero role this week. Once again, he demonstrates a noble concern for the animals of the jungle, bravely resolving to rescue a trapped elephant despite being badly outnumbered by the elephant poachers. Considering that our hero's youthful eagerness had recently resulted in his suffering a fall on the head, rendering him unconscious and helpless before a mysterious stranger who had earlier tried to stampede the boy to death, the reader can reasonably look forward to the son of Tarzan's getting into a difficult situation in the near future.
Fortunately, due to Manning's wonderful artwork, the reader can also look forward to Korak's looking good as he struggles through the troubles he encounters. This week, our young hero's lean, athletic, shirtless body is beautifully depicted as he regains consciousness and then his senses. There are also a couple of nice profiles and a splendid rear shot.
Favorite scene: Panel B
Previous page: Korak in Sunday Tarzan (2/2/1969)
Next page: Korak in Sunday Tarzan (2/16/1969)
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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