9b. Tarzan Comics - 1970s

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Despite his long run in the Fifties, Tarzan faded from British mainstream comics in the Sixties, reduced to a backup feature in weekly magazines like TV Tornado and TV Comics, which continued into the early Seventies. TV Tornado itself ran from 1967 to 1968, before merging with TV Century 21, which itself was later rebooted to #1 and retitled as TV 21 and Joe 90. The interesting thing about TV Tornado is that they were the first original Tarzan stories made for the British market. TV Tornado did continue as four unnumbered hardcover annuals, also featuring original Tarzan stories.

In 1970 the apeman began actively swinging across the British comics scene once again, courtesy of Williams Publishing.

This new batch, being marketed in multiple languages and contained many Dell and Gold Key reprints, along with liberal swipes of Russ Manning art mixed with new material. Of special note is issue #21 which features Manning's first Tarzan art from Dell #63, and issue #22 which reprints 'Descent into the Past,' the story that started Manning's run as the regular Tarzan artist for Gold Key. Later issues in the series were all original material.

http://thewildstars.com/TarzansBritishHeritage.html

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Also in 1970, 'Top Sellers' publishers began their Tarzan series that were also reprinted from their Gold Key counterparts. Issue #1 (priced 1/- [one shilling]) The major story within is: Captives of Kavuru, based on the novel Tarzan's Quest.

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Top Sellers #2 (1971 series) apparently offered a bonus mask (thanks Michael Tierney for that information) with a label stating as much, placed halfway down the cover. This was later removed but all new copies showed damage of the original sticker. The feature story inside is: Tarzan Defends the Walls of Cathne, taken from Tarzan's Jungle Annual #4 by Dell in 1955.

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After publishing their first seven Tarzan issues priced at 1/- (one shilling) the previous year, Top Sellers started again in 1971 by reprinting the original #7, only this time they added a sticky label with #1 Fortnightly on it. At this time the UK were changing their currency from the old pounds, shillings and pence to the new decimal system and accordingly was priced at 5p alongside the old money (and equivalent) of 1/-. According to Michael Tierney's ERB 100 year art chronology, the sticky label showing the new number was meant to have been placed over the original #7. However, often the label had been placed below the T in Tarzan, with the original number still clearly seen. The main feature story of this issue was Jungle Gladiator based on the novel Tarzan and the Lost Empire.

In 1971, Williams Publishing / Top Sellers, began publishing the Korak comic in the UK. As with the Tarzan series, they were reprints of their Gold Key cousins in the US. Issue #1 (which was issue #37 for Gold Key) began life as a monthly publication but later went to fortnightly with issue #37. The series continued until issue #71.

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I would like to thank the British ERB Society for the above information

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In June of 1977, Tarzan was back in a weekly comic from the Finish publisher, Byblos. These magazine-sized books featured new material by the Manning studios that have never been seen in America. Despite many foreign editions, these 20 issues remain the only English language editions of these Russ Manning strips. The first issue had as a free gift, a one sheet survival kit bag which is actually a list of things that you should put together. (see below) I'm not at all to sure about their ethics as the first thing they suggest is to raid your mum's larder for salt. Interesting page inside; 'Legendary Firsts' that shows a picture of a Goulden Allen edition with a James McConnell cover that was based on a St John drawing in the Metropolitan edition of Tarzan at the Earth's Core (info from Michael Tierney). (British ERB Society). When the weekly Tarzan series ended in October 1977, it was immediately followed by 5 monthly comics featuring stories by Mark Evanier and more art from the Russ Manning studio.

The series was a successor title to Tarzan Weekly, and contained a mix of reprinted stories seemingly from several different sources, mostly starring Tarzan, although stories starring his son Korak (by American writer Mark Evanier and artist Dan Spiegle) also appeared.

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