Tarzan (comics)

Tarzan (comics)
Character name	Tarzan
Publisher	Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics
Debut	Comic strip (1929)
Creators	Edgar Rice Burroughs (writer), Hal Foster (artist)
Alter ego	John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke
Powers	Peak human strength and agility, ability to communicate with animals, wilderness survival expert

Tarzan (comics). The comic book adventures of Tarzan, the fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, constitute one of the longest-running and most successful licensed properties in the medium. Beginning with a pioneering newspaper comic strip in 1929, the character has been published by nearly every major American comics company, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Dark Horse Comics, adapting Burroughs' original novels and generating new stories. These comics have played a crucial role in popularizing the Lord of the Jungle across generations, featuring iconic artistic interpretations and influencing the broader sword and sorcery and adventure comic genres.

Publication history

The first and most famous iteration was the comic strip, launched in 1929 with illustrations by Hal Foster and later continued by artists like Burne Hogarth and Russ Manning. In the 1940s, Dell Comics began publishing comic book adaptations through its Four Color series, which evolved into a long-running title. Gold Key Comics took over the license in the 1960s, followed by DC Comics in 1972, which published the series under its comics banner. Marvel Comics acquired the rights in 1977, producing stories by creators like John Buscema. After a lapse, Malibu Comics published new material in the early 1990s before Dark Horse Comics secured the license, publishing acclaimed series and reprints throughout the 1990s and 2000s, often in collaboration with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc..

Characters

The central figure is Tarzan himself, also known as John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke, an English nobleman raised by the Mangani great apes in the African jungle. His primary companion is Jane Porter, an American woman who becomes his wife. Other key allies include his adoptive mother, the ape Kala, and his loyal animal friends like the Mangani Terk and the elephant Tantor. Recurring antagonists include the ruthless hunter Nikolas Rokoff, the savage native chief Mbonga, and various lost civilizations such as the ancient city of Opar, ruled by the high priestess La. Figures from Burroughs' wider literary universe, like John Carter of Mars, have also made crossover appearances.

Storylines and adaptations

Early comic strips and books faithfully adapted Burroughs' novels, such as Tarzan of the Apes and The Return of Tarzan, establishing the core mythos. Later series, particularly at DC Comics and Marvel Comics, created original adventures that expanded the setting, sending Tarzan to hidden valleys, underground worlds, and even on time travel quests. Notable storylines include battles with the immortal Queen Nemone of Cathne and explorations of the prehistoric land of Pellucidar. The comics have also served as direct adaptations of various Tarzan films, including the classic Johnny Weissmuller movies and the 1999 Disney animated feature.

Creative teams

The strip's first artist, Hal Foster, set a high standard for dynamic illustration and realistic anatomy, profoundly influencing adventure comics. His successor, Burne Hogarth, brought a dramatic, almost Baroque intensity to the artwork, making the strip a showcase for figure drawing. Writer Don Kraar and artist Joe Kubert defined the DC Comics run, with Kubert's gritty, powerful style receiving critical acclaim. At Marvel Comics, artist John Buscema provided robust, action-oriented pencils, while writers like Roy Thomas wove complex narratives. Dark Horse Comics employed talents like Thomas Yeates and Bret Blevins for its series, often under the editorial guidance of Brendan Wright.

Reception and legacy

The Tarzan comics, particularly the classic newspaper strips by Foster and Hogarth, are celebrated as masterpieces of sequential art and are studied for their artistic innovation. The character's sustained popularity in comics helped maintain his status as a cultural icon throughout the 20th century. The Dark Horse Comics series of the 1990s was praised for returning to the darker, more literary roots of Burroughs' original stories. The comics have exerted a clear influence on other jungle heroes like Ka-Zar and on the visual storytelling of sword and sorcery titles such as Conan the Barbarian.

Collected editions

Numerous archival projects have collected the classic strips. The Library of American Comics and IDW Publishing have released extensive volumes of Tarzan: The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips. Dark Horse Comics has published omnibus editions collecting its 1990s series, such as Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. has also authorized various graphic novel compilations of specific story arcs from the DC Comics and Marvel Comics eras. Foreign editions, particularly from Franco-Belgian comics publishers like Glenat, have collected European-drawn Tarzan adventures.

Category:Comics characters Category:Comics based on novels Category:Adventure comics