KORAK, SON OF TARZAN
DC Issue #50, February 1973

Cover: Joe Kubert

1. Korak: Underworld
Writer: Bob Kanigher
Artist: Frank Thorne
Pages: 16
Characters: Korak, Meriem, Agoora, Professor Drood

Synopsis: Korak descends into the underworld to find Meriem and enters a strange cavern of crystals that reflects Meriem's image like a house of mirrors. Korak smashes a large crystal which causes the whole chamber to collapse upon him. He is dug from the rubble by a female of the underworld, Agoora, a pale blue albino with no eyes. The men of her race are called the Hunters, and they have taken Meriem onto an underground Vernian sea. As Korak tries to launch a giant seashell into the water, a party of the Hunters attack him but he manages to escape in the shell with Agoora. As they row along, Korak flashes back to Meriem's abduction and the beginning of his quest. Suddenly they are attacked by a stupendous octopoid, and Korak barely manages to escape by stabbing his knife into its head-sac. Carrying the girl, he swims to shore, where an eccentric explorer greets him. While they are talking Korak spots the Hunters leading Meriem across a nearby dune, and he races to her rescue. However, as they are fighting, an earth tremor causes the ground to split, and all the Hunters fall into the fiery chasm with Meriem. Korak's forefinger manages to catch hold of Meriem's forefinger, but they cannot hold and she falls. The ground then closes together again. While Korak vainly scratches at the earth, a large flying ray of some sort zooms out of the water and carries off Agoora. Afterward, Professor Drood invites Korak to return to the surface with him to show the world a rare healing plant he has found, but Korak doggedly vows to search for Meriem to the ends of earth and time.

Remarks: DC's horrendous version of Korak's origin continues, as the strip is given a kind of melancholy and episodic "Quest" style reminiscent of Kubert's Viking Prince.

2. Carson of Venus
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: M. W. Kaluta
Pages: 7
Characters: Carson, Kamlot

Synopsis: As Carson prepares to bury the body of Kamlot, Kamlot awakens from the spider's paralysis. A basto approaches and Kamlot slays it for their supper. Suddenly they are set upon by the flying Klangan, who, after a great struggle, manage to lasso them and carry the pair off to sea.

Remarks: This episode is adapted from chapter 7 and the first few pages of chapter 8 in Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. For some reason the basto is depicted as about twice as large as described by Burroughs. The final panel of the Amtorian ocean is one of the most beautiful panoramas I have ever seen in a comic book.

3. The Ape Vine (letters page with Krenkel logo art)

Inside back cover: The Insult that Made a Man Out of Mac