Korak in British Tarzans (9/17/1977) - conclusion

 

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.

 

The British Tarzan weekly started in 1977.  This week's artist is the wonderful Dan Spiegle.  

 

Korak continues to have a lean, athletic physique, broad shoulders and thin waist, almost no clothing except for a leather loincloth over his mid-section, a cute, boyish face, and full, thick, dark hair.  However, under Spiegle, Korak tended to have a shorter, more compact, gymnast's build.

 

He continues to be a strong, athletic, teen-aged jungle boy.  However, his smaller size makes him even more vulnerable to defeat to larger, more mature opponents.

He continues to be an intelligent, enthusiastic teen-aged boy with good natural instincts and a good heart. His youthful inexperience makes him vulnerable to dirty fighting techniques or seduction. His youthful enthusiasm may also lead him into trouble over good but dangerous causes or to otherwise confront dangerous opponents to prove himself.

Last week, somebody posing as Tarzan was extorting the shop owners of a nearby village for protection.  While investigating the situation, Korak was chased by the villagers.  Avoiding capture, Korak pretended to extort money from a shop owner in order to lead the fake Tarzan into a trap.

This week, the fake Tarzan meets Korak, reveals that he was a former circus strongman, and attempts to overpower the young hero.  Failing, the fake Tarzan pretends to agree to partner with Korak, reveals his hidden money, and pushes the young hero into a deep pit with a hungry tiger.  Korak escapes and restores the extorted funds to the villagers, while the fake Tarzan falls into the deep pit with the hungry tiger.

Korak again demonstrates his speed, strength, and resourcefulness by luring the fake Tarzan into a meeting, defeating the former circus strongman, and convincing him to reveal his hidden money.  He suffers a  brief lapse in judgment when he allows himself to be pushed into a deep pit with a hungry tiger.  However, he redeems himself by escaping and restoring the extorted funds to the villagers.

Spiegle's artwork is excellent.  Again, viewers get good views of Korak's lean, athletic physique and cute, boyish face.  My favorite scenes are when Korak is attacked by the fake Tarzan, a former circus strongman.

Favorite scene: page 2, panel d

 

Previous British Tarzan blog:  

Korak in British Tarzans (9/10/1977) - conclusion

Previous blog:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (9/11/1977)

Next blog:  Korak in Sunday Tarzans (9/18/1977)

Next British Tarzan blog:  

Korak in British Tarzans (9/24/1977) - bonus

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 my Korak in British Tarzans blog at the following link:

https://britishtarzanskorak.blogspot.com/

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