The Return of Tarzan is my favorite ERB novel. I recently read Tom Yeates adaptation of the story for Dark Horse. Now I've gotten around to the 70's adaptation by Joe Kubert, and I can state unequivocably that this is my favorite adaptation of any novel to comics form. Kubert at this time was the ideal talent to bring this story to comics, and these five issues are masterpieces.
The story of Tarzan is really the second half of his "origin". In it the man who came from the jungle and got himself "civilized" is taken by degrees steadily back to his jungle and to the savage heritage that defines him. We first meet Tarzan on the streets of Paris where he's drawn into the affairs of the Count and Countess De Coude and her villainous brother Nicholas Rokoff. Tarzan is a man of unflinching integrity and brave beyond reason. So he stands up to Rokoff repeatedly defeating his schemes to extort money from the couple. We see the veneer of Tarzan the civilized man shed away when he fights ferociously.
In the second installment Tarzan has a duel with Count De Coude but refuses to fire and finally the Count sees what a friend he has in Tarzan. He then makes him an agent of the French government and Tarzan goes to Algiers where he finds Rokoff again this time operating a spy ring. And again Tarzan stands up and fights for the French cause, but not before being sent to the desert to be murdered. He ends up with friendly Arab nomads and his trek back to a more savage state continues after a fight with a lion.
Tarzan finds himself aboard ship headed to southern Africa when he's knocked out by Rokoff and thrown overboard. Conincidentally he swims ashore at his old cabin and soon finds himself deep in jungle danger but soon finds himself celebrated by the Waziri. After killing a mad bull elephant which killed the Waziri chief , Tarzan is made chief of the Waziri himself. Meanwhile Jane Porter and her family and friends find themselves marooned on the same strip of land, but their suffering is great indeed because the treacherous Rokoff is among them.
Finally Tarzan as chief of the Warziri finds the City of Opar and the lovely La. She falls for him and hides him from the brutal men of Opar, but Tarzan escapes. He returns when he discovers that Jane has been captured by the Beast Men of Opar who were looking for him.
In the finale Tarzan saves Jane from Opar, finds spectacular treasure, and the truth about his heritage as Lord Greystoke is revealed and confirmed by a dying William Clayton. The story ends with Tarzan and Jane getting married and Rokoff being delivered into the hands of the authorities.
Finally Tarzan as chief of the Warziri finds the City of Opar and the lovely La. She falls for him and hides him from the brutal men of Opar, but Tarzan escapes. He returns when he discovers that Jane has been captured by the Beast Men of Opar who were looking for him.
In the finale Tarzan saves Jane from Opar, finds spectacular treasure, and the truth about his heritage as Lord Greystoke is revealed and confirmed by a dying William Clayton. The story ends with Tarzan and Jane getting married and Rokoff being delivered into the hands of the authorities.
This is a pretty good rendition of the classic novel. Most of it is here, and especially the land of Opar is perfectly rendered. What I most admire about Kubert's adaptation is the way each issue seems to have its own tone as Tarzan moves deeper and deeper into his old way. Only the penultimate chapter ends on a real cliffhanger, but at that point in the story it's totally appropriate. These comics read well in one sitting or as individual installments, something most important to tales of this nature and sadly something missing from many modern comics.
Kubert's version of ERB's classic is the best I've seen.
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