Korak Reviews

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/6/1969-10/11/1969)

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 Daily Tarzan (10/6/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/7/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/8/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/9/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/10/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/11/1969)

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 Daily Tarzan strips in 1967. 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 Daily Tarzan strips, Korak tended to suffer from more frequent comparisons to his legendary father.

Previous to this week's adventures, Tarzan left Korak in Pal-ul-Don to recuperate from his leg wound and to assist his friend Ab in the Ho-don city of Ta-lur. Meanwhile, the lord of the jungle returns home, foils a jungle revolution, returns to Pal-ul-Don with Jane to search for their son, and are captured by the savage, ape-like Tor-o-dons. Coincidentally, Korak was discovered among the slaves of the same Tor-o-don tribe. They are also joined by Auric, a failed revolutionary who had been ruling the Tor-o-don tribe until recently, when they stole his rifle from him, and Chulai, a stocky former ally of Auric who now follows Tarzan.

Tarzan returns with Korak to the hut where Jane, Auric, and Chulai remain, still being watched by the Tor-o-dons. The jungle lord devises an escape plan involving some gunpowder.

Korak is in a supporting role this week. However, he helps Tarzan pull the bullets out of the casings and pour the powder on the floor.

Manning's artwork is wonderful. Korak has a cute, youthful face and handsome, athletic body. Jane is certainly happy to see her boy again.

Favorite scene: 10/7/1969, panel c.

Previous blog: Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/30/1969-10/5/1969)

Next blog: Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/13/1969-10/18/1969)

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:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2600.html

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

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2665.html

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2666.html

Dorno in Sarko the Arkman (9/9/1967)

Dorno is the son of Zandor, leader of the Herculoids, and his wife Tara, a family of three humans and their five very powerful pet creatures defending their jungle planet. The Herculoids were the subjects of an American animated television series, which debuted in 1967 and was revived in 1981 on CBS and produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Dorno has a cute, boyish face, long, blond hair, and a slender, athletic physique. His shirtless Herculoids outfit consists of a pair of brown boots, a light, blue skirt and neck collar, and a gold belt and wrist bands. At his age, he is growing taller and more attractive and gaining better muscle definition and athletic ability. He is also developing more self-esteem and self-confidence and taking more risks.

Due to his youth and his lack of special powers, Dorno is certainly one of the most vulnerable members of the Herculoids and is frequently a weak link which their opponents seek to target.

In this episode, the scientist Sarko lands on the planet Amzot in order to capture some of the animals in order to conduct experiments on them. Along with Tundro and Igoo, Dorno is captured and taken to another planet. Fortunately, Zandor, Zok, and Gloop defeat Sarko and rescue Dorno, Igoo, and Tundro.

This is a favorite episode of mine due to both its plot and artistry.

Dorno is captured by Sarko with Igoo and Tundro. Charging in to rescue Igoo, Dorno, Tundro, and Gleep are dropped down a trap hole and find themselves inside a giant, transparent capsule. Gleep manages to escape. Transported to Sarko's planet, Dorno is placed inside a cage beside a cliff far above the ground. The villain taunts his young captive, telling him that, unlike the animals upon which he can conduct his experiments, he is useless to him, except as a hostage. The cage has a trap bottom, which can be released remotely, to plunge the boy down to the ground far below him. Dorno's stated uselessness suggests his ultimate fate if the Herculoids fail to rescue him.

The portrayal of the cute and slender Dorno is beauteous. Dorno has several wonderful scenes both inside Sarko's cage and falling to the ground when the bottom is released.

Action shots:

Favorite shot:

Previous blog: Dorno in the Pirates (9/9/1967):

Next blog: Dorno in the Pod Creatures (9/16/1967)

This blog is intended to raise interest in the Herculoids and Dorno. To view the entire episode, you may purchase the DVD at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Herculoids-Complete-2-Disc/dp/B00553KAK2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=A864MLT2E86B&dchild=1&keywords=herculoids+cartoon&qid=1612274032&sprefix=herculoids%2Cinstant-video%2C187&sr=8-2

This episode inspired the following fan art on DeviantArt:

https://www.deviantart.com/korakclayton/art/Sarko-the-Arkman-and-Dorno-2-by-Bowen12a-510549790

They can also be found in Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/521432463104545758/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/521432463104545768/

It also inspired the following blogs:

https://korak225.blogspot.com/2018/12/dorno-and-sarko-arkman.html

Saturday, February 6, 2021

Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/29/1969-10/4/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/29/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/30/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/1/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/2/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/3/1969)

Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/4/1969)

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.

Previous to this week's adventures, Tarzan leaves Korak in Pal-ul-Don to recuperate from his leg wound and to assist his friend Ab in the Ho-don city of Ta-lur. Meanwhile, the lord of the jungle returns home, foils a jungle revolution, returns to Pal-ul-Don with Jane to search for their son, and are captured by the savage, ape-like Tor-o-dons. They are also joined by Auric, a failed revolutionary who had been ruling the Tor-o-don tribe until recently, when they stole his rifle from him, and Chulai, a stocky former ally of Auric who now follows Tarzan.

Finding the Tor-o-dons' slave quarters for the purpose of fomenting a rebellion in order to help their escape, Tarzan discovers his son among the enslaved.

Korak is reintroduced in the final panel of the last day of the week.

Manning's artwork is wonderful. With his smiling, handsome, youthful face, and after almost a year's hiatus from the daily strips, Korak is happy to be reunited with his father.

Favorite scene: 10/4/1969, panel c.

Previous strip: Korak in Daily Tarzan (9/30/1968-10/5/1968)

Previous blog: Korak in Sunday Tarzan (5/11/1969)

Next blog: Korak in Daily Tarzan (10/6/1969-10/11/1969)

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:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2600.html

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

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2664.html

https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2665.html

Dorno in The Pirates (9/9/1967)

Due to his youth and his lack of special powers, Dorno is certainly one of the most vulnerable members of the Herculoids and is frequently a weak link which their opponents seek to target.

In this episode, space pirates plunder a treasure ship and seek to bury their loot on Zandor's planet. Observing the pirates, Dorno, Igoo, and Tundro are attacked. Forced to retreat due to Zandor and Zok's arrival, the pirates find Dorno riding Tundro and capture the boy. Fortunately, the Herculoids rescue Dorno and defeat the space pirates.

This is a favorite episode of mine due to both its plot and artistry.

Dorno is captured by two Space Pirates. The boy is observed riding Tundro, chased, and shot with a levitation beam, which is used to carry him into the Space Pirates' ship. The pirate leader gloats over their prize, whom he characterizes as a hostage to help ensure their escape. The boy's intended fate is suggested at the beginning of the episode, when the pirates placed their captives into orbit capsules and shot them into space for recovery.

The portrayal of the cute and slender Dorno is beauteous. He has several wonderful scenes, being spotted on Tundro by the Space Pirates, being shot and lifted by the levitation beams, being held before the pirate leader, and being used as a hostage at gunpoint.

Action shots: