KORAK, SON OF TARZAN
DC Issue #46, May-June 1972

by David Bruce Bozarth

Copyright © 2004

Cover: Joe Kubert

Story: The Treasure Vaults of Opar
Position: 1
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Frank Thorne
Pages: 18
Characters: Korak, Nat Broderick, Clay Wendell, Joyce Kingston, Miller

Synopsis: Korak, after an encounter with Gorgo (buffalo) saves four people from a crashed autogyro. Joyce Kingston reveals they are a rescue party for her father, held prisoner in Opar. Korak decides to lead them to Opar. Gorgo returns to attack the party. Korak's arrow is deflected. He brings the creature down with a double fisted blow. Later, at a night camp, Wendell cares for Miller, the pilot with a broken leg. It becomes obvious the gold of Opar is why they are in the jungle. During a night attack by Oparian beast men, the men are rendered unconscious and Joyce Kingston is abducted. In the morning Korak discovers Miller is dead. They bury the pilot and push on to Opar. Inside the city they find Joyce surrounded by Oparians. A sudden attack by the three men lets Korak whisk Joyce to safety, but when his back is turned she knocks him unconscious. Korak awakes in a cell with Nat and Clay. Joyce arrives to free them, explaining the Oparians believe she is a goddess. Descending into the lower levels they find the treasure vault and the truth comes out to Clay Wendell's disappointment: his fiancee knew her father was dead, and was after the wealth of Opar. Broderick is her stooge. Broderick is killed by an Oparian dagger before he can shoot Korak and Wendell. Korak battles the beast men while Clay and Joyce enter a tunnel. Joyce discovers she has lost her stolen jewels and returns to the treasure room. A stack of gold bars falls on the girl, sealing the tunnel. Korak and Clay emerge well outside of Opar. Wendell refuses to go with Korak, believing Joyce survived. He is still in love with her. Korak turns to leave, then changes his mind. Knocking Wendell unconscious, Korak carries the man away from Opar.

Remarks: Well drawn, well scripted. Nice 1st issue for DC. The overall story, however, is one we have seen and read too many times before in comics or on TV.

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Artist: Alan Weiss
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