Korak in Sunday Tarzans (4/6/1975)

 

 

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 (4/6/1975)

 

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 is introduced to a new adventure by a couple in a balloon who reveal that they found the legendary elephants' graveyard.  Finding that his ankle is caught in the anchor rope, Korak quickly climbs up and into the balloon with the couple, who show the son of Tarzan a photograph of the site.  Joining the couple to their destination, Korak finds that the girl's father does not appreciate her taste in boys.  During the night, somebody kidnaps the girl and steals one of the balloons.  Korak finds the other balloon and joins the boyfriend in the chase.  Unfortunately, they encounter a storm.

This week, the balloon is forced to land near the spot which the couple photographed.  Korak does not seem to believe that this is the elephants' graveyard.  However, the boyfriend's enthusiasm leads him to running towards it, causing Korak to follow and resulting in their both encountering apparent trouble.

Korak remains in the leading role in this new adventure.  As the balloon encounters a storm, the son of Tarzan uses his keen survival instincts to facilitate a safe landing for himself and his companion.  However, his enthusiastic friend ignores Korak's advice to proceed cautiously, and the young hero's savior instincts causes him to follow his companion into danger.

Manning's artwork is wonderful.  Fortunately, he has Korak in a variety of poses this week.  There is a nice action shot in panel b and a beautiful back shot in panel g.  However, Korak's lean, athletic physique can best be seen in panel h.  There is also a good shot of his cute, boyish face in panel i.

Favorite scene:  panel h

Previous blog:  

Korak in Sunday Tarzans (3/30/1975)

Next blog:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (4/13/1975)

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/mag21/2132.html

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

https://www.erbzine.com/manning/tz2300.jpg