KORAK, SON OF TARZAN
Issue #10, Sep 1965

Steve "Korak" Allsup

Copyright © 2004

Cover: George Wilson

Inside front cover: African Dog and Wolf Family

Story: When the Rhino Charged
Position: 1
Writer: Gaylord Dubois
Artist: Russ Manning
Inker: Russ Manning
Pages: 15

Characters: Korak, Pahkut, Shenzi, Dr. Ward, Susan Ward, N’goma

Synopsis: Korak and Pahkut stumble upon a hidden valley containing a village of marble igloos. The valley only has one passable entrance. But before they go in, Pahkut is shot in the head by the outlaw Shenzi, and Korak attacks his band, puts them to flight, and breaks Shenzi’s arm. He then carries the ape down into the valley, where a mysterious “Memsahib” is the tribal leader. A small white girl meets him and leads him to her mother, who is actually a doctoress. Three years before, Shenzi had killed her husband while they were on a scientific expedition, and she and her little girl were adopted by the valley tribe. She determines that Pahkut’s skull deflected the bullet, but he has a severe concussion. At Korak’s request, she sends a squad of warriors to reinforce the valley entrance. Korak decides to go out and do some scouting on his own, and meets the wild black rhino of the valley, from which he escapes into the trees. When the outlaws attack the village, Susan shows movies of a wild rhino against the rock wall of the ravine, and the enemy think it is magic. They flee. Then they run headlong into the real black rhino of the valley, and decide to abandon their attack after Shenzi is impaled on its horn.

Remarks: Korak is armed only with his belt knife for the bulk of this story, but picks up a spear during the finale.

2. King of the Beasts

3. South African Headdresses

4. Text page: Two-horned Fury

Story: The Pit
Position: 5
Writer: Gaylord Dubois
Artist: Russ Manning
Inker: Russ Manning
Pages: 9

Characters: Korak, Pahkut, King Karega, Copperi

Synopsis: Korak and Pahkut observe a girl being man-handled by some warriors, and swing down to her rescue. The men are defeated and flee. Korak learns that the girl’s father, King Bindoro, has died, and all of his wives and daughters are to be buried alive with him, according to an old custom newly revived by her brother Karega. Korak hides the girl away and then goes to spy on the burial activities. He sends Pahkut into the jungle to bring the whole tribe of apes. After dark, he slips into the village and, attacking Karega in a hut, binds him, gags him and puts on his royal attire. He goes to the burial pit where the women are captive, waiting to be buried at dawn, and overpowers the guards, who at first glance believe him to be Karega in the dark. Korak quietly frees the women and sends them to a neighboring village. The apes arrive, and Korak places them in the pit in place of the women. When dawn comes, the men approach the pit and think that the women have changed into animals. When provoked, the great apes attack and run the men out of the village. Korak rewards them by letting them have their fill in the village fruit gardens.

Remarks: Korak starts the adventure with just a knife, but after he rescues Copperi, uses one of the warriors’ spears for the rest of the story.

6. Jon of the Kalahari: Hunter’s Risk. 4 pages. Gaylord Dubois, writer; Jesse Marsh, art.

7. Animal Tree Homes

Inside back cover: Elephant Capers

Back cover: pin-up of cover painting