Number 2152: Tarzan bugged

Three things I like about this story from Dell Giant #25, Tarzan’s Jungle World (1959):  First, Tarzan’s wife, Jane, shows how capable she is, taking their son, “Boy,” along with her to rescue her husband. She also shows why Tarzan keeps coming home to her.  She is resourceful and beautiful. Second, I like that African scientists are shown working on projects. As the wise one says, “Our purpose is to help mankind! In the hundred years that we of Uru have searched for knowledge we have learned much that white men only dream of...but it’s not enough.” I find it admirable for its time. I wonder how many African-American readers saw this portrayal of black people.

And third:  As a youthful reader of Dell’s Tarzan I really loved that giant eagle, Argus. I still do.

Credits for “Wings in the Morning” go to Gaylord Dubois for the script, and Jesse Marsh for the artwork.

Number 1654: Tarzan and the too-tall Vikings

Tarzan and his friend Raoul end up with yet another lost civilization in Africa. A Viking colony, whose members have grown to an incredible 8 feet tall, lives in a part of Africa where it snows. Tarzan originally met these Vikings in a story in Tarzan’s Jungle Annual #5 (1956), but this story of a search for the missing Paul D’Arnot is from Dell Giant Tarzan King of the Jungle #37 (1960), written by Gaylord Dubois and drawn by Jesse Marsh.

When I encountered the phrase used by Yarl Hrolf a couple of times, “black skirlings,” I reached for my dictionary. “Skirling” is the sound that bagpipes make, so either the Vikings’ neighbors are of Scottish origin or they are Africans who make a ululating vocal sound. I opt for the latter.