Korak in Sunday Tarzans (6/7/1970)

 

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.

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. 

Previous to this week's adventures, after helping his father defeat an ivory poacher and discover the secret of the red wig, Korak joins the girls returning to their hidden city of Tembo Haven.  He returns as an old man in a loincloth.  Tarzan returns to Tembo Haven with the old man in the loincloth where they are led to the "River of Time".   Tarzan defeats an old man holding a sickle, a youthful Korak emerges from the "River of Time", and their escape from Tembo Haven is aided by Tantor the elephant and a fortuitous rebellion.

Tarzan returns a youthful Korak to his mother Jane.

This story concludes with a cheerful reunion between a youthful Korak and his mother Jane.

Manning's artwork is wonderful.  However, the young, athletic, shirtless Korak's best scenes consist of only his face and shoulders.

Favorite scene:  panel e

Previous page:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (5/31/1970)

Previous blog:  Korak in Daily Tarzans (6/1/1970-6/6/1970)

Next blog:  Korak in Daily Tarzans (6/8/1970-6/13/1970)

Next page:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (4/9/1972)

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:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2138.html

This week's adventures can also be found at the following link(s):

https://www.erbzine.com/manning/tz2048.jpg