KORAK, SON OF TARZAN
DC Issue #56, March 1974

Cover: Joe Kubert

1. Korak: The Mound of Skulls
Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artist: Murphy Anderson
Pages: 14
Characters: Korak, Meriem, Iagho, Fghang, Lotus

Synopsis: On the way to visit the throne of Fghang, Korak is attacked by Iagho, brother of a man he slew in the previous issue. Korak overcomes him and spares his life. When Korak goes before Fghang's throne atop a large mound of skulls, he sees that the girl beside him is Meriem, and she sees Korak as well. Korak does not address her because he believes that she may be marrying Fghang of her own will. Fghang takes a liking to Korak because the boy refuses to kneel before him, and so he invites the son of Tarzan to a pre-marital ritual hunt the next day. That night, Lotus, Korak's slave girl, tries her best to seduce Korak in their tent. The next day a large hunting party goes to an amphitheater deep in the jungle, where Fghang confronts the giant beetle that lives there in order to impress Meriem, his fiance. When the beetle almost kills him, Korak leaps to his rescue and kills the monstrous insect with his sword. Iagho tells Fghang that Korak and Meriem had an affair the previous night, and so Fghang challenges Korak to a duel. Korak grasps one end of a long silk wrap that Meriem is wearing, swiftly spins her about to unravel it, and then winds it with blinding speed around Fghang and his mace-arm. Mortified with shame, Fghang bites his own poison serpent ring to end it all. Meanwhile Iagho has kidnapped Meriem and fled from the field, so Korak takes his leave of Lotus to pursue them.

Remarks: This issue marks the first actual appearance of Meriem since issue # 50 (issue #51 was revealed to be a dream), making her total appearances a trilogy of three issues: #s 49, 50, and 56. There is no explanation of how Meriem escaped from the fiery abyss with the eyeless albino hunters, and ended up in this situation. In some respects, this issue marked the end of the "golden" DC Korak period, since this is the last issue for both Murphy Anderson and M. W. Kaluta.

2. Tarzan's Animal Encyclopedia (1 page)

3. Carson of Venus: Babes in the Woods
Writer: MW Kaluta
Artist: MW Kaluta
Pages: 5
Characters: Carson, Duare

Synopsis: Lost on Venus, Carson and Duare are captured by Noobargan beastmen and about to be roasted for dinner when a pack of Tharbans attack the village. Carson and Duare manage to slip their bonds and flee into the dark jungle. The next few days are spent trying to learn basic survival techniques like starting a fire.

Remarks: This final episode (Kaluta had departed to draw The Shadow) is adapted from chapters three and four of Burroughs' Lost on Venus. The Noobargan beastmen look somewhat like comical versions of Tarzan's mangani.

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