Description

Tarzan of the Apes                                   Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket
Featuring an introduction by comics historian Maurice Horn discussing old Black & White Tarzan comic strips by Burne Hogarth.  Awesome!!
Writer: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Artist: Burne Hogarth
Cover by: Burne Hogarth

Tarzan is probably one of the most famous characters of 20th century literature, the star of a series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, numerous movies and television shows, and a beautifully drawn comic strip that ran in Sunday newspapers for nearly 50 years. Burne Hogarth stands out even among such notables as Hal Foster, Russ Manning and Joe Kubert as the classic Tarzan comic artist. His run on the strip during the 1940’s was a visual cornucopia of perfectly drawn figures in motion, densely foliated jungles and architecturally-rich lost cities.

After his tenure on Tarzan, Hogarth authored a series of how-to books for artists and taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York. In 1972, he made a triumphant return to the character in a tour-de-force adaptation of Burroughs’ first Tarzan novel, Tarzan of the Apes. The 160-page book also includes a long introduction by comics historian Maurice Horn with samples of Hogarth’s art from the newspapers and his art books.

And now, a masterpiece by Burne Hogarth and Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”. Beginning with the sea voyage of Lord and Lady Greystoke on a secret mission to Africa. Set ashore in the wilds by a mutinous crew, the resourceful but doomed couple survive just long enough for Lady Greystoke to bear a son – the future Lord of the Jungle. Adopted and reared by a tribe of giant anthropoid apes, the infant Tarzan grows from a vulnerable baby to a slayer of savage beasts and becomes leader of his tribe. The violent and suspenseful chronicle of Tarzan’s growth to manhood among the terrors of the jungle makes a vivid pictorial story for all who love the art of the comic strip.

Stories/Spoilers
John and Alice (Rutherford) Clayton, Viscount and Lady Greystoke from England are marooned in the western coastal jungles of equatorial Africa in 1888. They spend a long time surviving in the jungle using their superior intelligence and survival skills. Sometime later, their son John Clayton II is born. He is born to the safety and security of a fortified log cabin. When he is one year old his mother mysteriously dies in her sleep. This causes John to slip into a catatonic state of shock. With his guard dropped, he is ambushed and killed by the savage king ape Kerchak. The infant is then adopted by the she-ape Kala. Clayton is named “Tarzan” (“White Skin” in the ape language) and raised in ignorance of his human heritage. As a boy, feeling alienated from his peers due to their physical differences, he discovers his true parents’ cabin, where he first learns of others like himself in their books. Using basic primers with pictures, over many years he teaches himself to read English, but having never heard it, cannot speak it. Upon his return from one visit to the cabin, he is attacked by a huge gorilla which he manages to kill with his father’s knife, although he is terribly wounded in the struggle. Kala finds him and nurses him back to health. As he grows up, Tarzan becomes a skilled hunter, exciting the jealousy of Kerchak, the ape leader. Later on in Tarzan’s young adulthood, a tribe of Africans settle in the area, and Tarzan’s adopted mother, Kala, is killed by one of its hunters. Tarzan hunts down the hunger and avenges his ape mother by brutally killing him. Thus, Tarzan begins an antagonistic relationship with the tribe, raiding its village for weapons and practicing cruel pranks on them. They, in turn, regard him as an evil spirit and attempt to placate him. Seeing Tarzan grow stronger with his newfound weapons, ape king Kerchak’s jealousy reaches a boiling point, and he goes on a rampage, murdering many apes. He challenges Tarzan to a fight and Tarzan kills Kerchak, taking his place as “king” of the apes.

Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Watson-Guptil Publications
Publication Date: 1972
Format: FC, 160 pages, HC, 11.10″ x 8.65″
ISBN-10: 0823050602
ISBN-13: 9780823050604

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover is in Very Fine condition.  Dust Jacket is in Very Good condition (front top left corner of dust jacket has tear & back top left corner of dust jacket has tear ) Otherwise… Very Nice!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Tarzan collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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