Korak in Sunday Tarzans (8/6/1972)

 

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.

Korak in Sunday Tarzans (8/6/1972)

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, Korak find that the Waziri are threatened by a young, idealistic family who wish to find a place to farm.  Agreeing to find another place, the family are helped by Korak and his friend Muviro the Waziri.  Camping next to the Dismal Gorges, Korak, Muviro, and the young family are attacked by a pride of lions, who take the daughter with them.  Korak follows the attacking lions and their prize into the Dismal Gorges, where he encounters a hidden fortress, which he infiltrates.  However, finding that Muviro and the young parents have been captured, Korak is exposed as an outsider in his attempt to rescue them.  Korak, Muviro, and the young father are thrown into a hole with a den of lions, where they encounter an old man who has survived by claiming and defending his position on a ledge beyond their reach.  While the lions are still full from their previous feeding, the old man tells Korak, Muviro, and the young father of how the inhabitants of the fortress were driven mad by the threat of war by the evil ones and how they sacrifice women and children to a bloodthirsty idol.

This week, Korak escape the den of lions by standing on each other's shoulders and reaching the door through which they were thrown into the den.

Korak remains in the leading role in his own adventure.  Thrown into a den of lions, which are still full from their previous feeding, he learns more about the strange city from an old man and successfully executes a plan of escape.

Manning's artwork is wonderful.  However, Korak is still dressed as one of the citizens of the fortress, depriving viewers of a good view of his young, athletic, usually shirtless body.

Previous blog:  

Korak in Sunday Tarzans (7/30/1972)

Next blog:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (8/13/1972)

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/mag17/1790.html

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

https://www.erbzine.com/manning/720806.jpg