KORAK, SON OF TARZAN
DC Issue #54, November 1973

Cover: Joe Kubert

1. Korak: Blood Brothers
Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artist: Murphy Anderson
Pages: 14
Characters: Korak, Mnumbo, Salamma

Synopsis: Continuing his endless quest for Meriem, Korak finds a piece of a red dress with her scent on it hanging on a tree limb. Encouraged, he enters a strange realm of fiery geysers. Suddenly a hydra-headed stegosaurus bursts from the ground and he is wrapped by its snaky necks. A black warrior sees him in danger and leaps from a nearby cliff to aid Korak. Between the two of them, they slay the beast in short order, and Korak tells Mnumbo of his lost Meriem. They go to Mnumbo's village and runners are sent out to all the nearby tribes to seek word of a captive girl. Over the next several days Korak and Mnumbo become true brothers of the spear, going out daily to hunt and routinely rescuing each other from death. Finally the runners return with no news, and Korak decides to depart. Mnumbo holds a farewell feast for Korak, and the black warrior's sister, who has fallen for Korak, dances in his honor. But medicine men of the tribe determine from the roll of the bones that Korak and Mnumbo must fight it out to the death, with the winner becoming the chief and, if Korak, marrying Salamma. The first contest is where the two have to throw spears at each other and whoever flinches in the least will lose and be put to death. The second contest is for the two to dive into the depths of the "Dark Pool," with only the victor allowed to surface. But under the water the two descend to the deep bottom where they are attacked by a giant lurking octopoid, and Korak again saves Mnumbo, hauling him back up to the air. Since they both emerge alive, against the rules, the medicine men banish Korak from the tribe. Salamma passionately kisses the son of Tarzan goodby, and he heads out to find Meriem.

Remarks: This story is typical of the dream-like and whimsical plots of this DC series run. All realism is sacrificed for the sake of outlandish fantasy. Why do the medicine men go to the trouble to force Mnumbo and Korak to fight it out, since Korak was planning to leave the next day in any case? Korak would surely have refused the chieftainship, as they well knew. But it cannot be denied that as pure escapist fare this series succeeds in reaching a unique level of dream-stage unusual for Tarzan comics.

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

3. Carson of Venus: Into the Land of Noobol
Writer: MW Kaluta
Artist: MW Kaluta
Pages: 5
Characters: Carson, Duare, Moosko

Synopsis: Attacked by a band of Thorist warriors, Korak sends Duare back to the ship by way of the lone surviving Klangan, after which the earthman is overwhelmed and captured. Moosko takes him to the nearby city of Kapdor where he is put into the torture room of seven doors, six of which lead to death but only one of which leads to freedom. To speed things along, poisonous snakes are released into the room, so Carson carefully opens a door from which leaps aTharban. While the Tharban is locked in mortal combat with a giant serpent, Carson climbs the hangman's noose (placed there in case he should wish to commit suicide) and gains the rafters. Climbing to the ceiling, he discovers a trap door that leads out on the roof.

Remarks: The series has now moved into the second of the Venus series, Lost on Venus, and this episode is based fairly closely on the first chapter and half of the second. It also starts with the final scene from Pirates of Venus, not included in the previous episode.