Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years: Volume 2

This book reprints the middle of Kurbert's DC run on Tarzan. Dark Horse does an excellent job on the reproductions of these classic comics. They do not use glossy paper, but a paper akin to that used in the DC archives, which gives a much closer look to the original comics, and avoids that awful sheen that does a disservice to the original art. The reprint colorist also does a very good job. This collection includes a story that Kubert did with Hal Foster, and it is interesting to compare the two masters, tho stylistically they are different, but who cares, it's a rare thing to see Foster and Kubert side-by-side. The collection includes Kubert's adaptation of "The Return of Tarzan," which he did an excellent job on. I almost like it better than the novel. Kubert's work on Tarzan is good solid adventure story telling, not to deep thematically, but more literate than most action comics, and his plots avoid illogical turns. His stories are well paced, well structured, have no gaping holes, balance action and idyllic nature scenes, are peppered with beautiful women, and are full of realistically drawn exotic animals. Kubert writes an informative introduction to this volume. Kubert reveals that while he was working on Tarzan he was taking figure drawing classes, so he could sharpen his skills. The figure work on Tarzan was a highlight of the comic, especially the way he used hatch marks to shape musculature. And no one can draw a jungle as lush as Kubert. The scenery is almost magical - the trees are living behemoths. Kubert made it seem completely plausible that Tarzan could travel in the trees much faster than a person could walk on the ground, and yet never lost the flavor of realism that the strip needed to stay vibrant. The upper story of the forest that Kubert illustrates is a complex world with a strong latticework of massive tree trunks and limbs. Kubert's use of blacks is impressive, and adds to the lushness of the design. His trees seem alive because of the use of blacks. Dark Horse realizes the importance of having a deep, rich black tone for Joe's work, and they provide in their reproductions by using a rich black ink. Kubert also is highly imaginative in his design of the lost city of Opar, and in fact, in all the lost cities that come up in the Tarzan comics, with a good mix of classic ancient austerity and ornate details. All three of Dark Horse's volumes feature good reproductions and informative Introductions, containing incredible work by Kubert, some fine yeoman work by Frank Thorne, and interesting guests like Hal Foster and Burne Hogarth. I highly recommend all of these volumes.

The second volume collecting the Tarzan comics of Joe Kubert reprints issues 215 - 224 of the run originally published by National Periodical Publications AKA DC Comics. Although DC comics is never named and even the DC logo has been removed off the cover reprints. The legendary Joe Kubert not only drew the books, but he wrote, edited, and even lettered most of them himself...talk about a one man band! Kubert was born to draw Tarzan. Clearly his earlier work on Hawkman in the golden age showed be had the technique to handle high adventure and action and he doesn't disappoint. His distinctive, fluid style lends itself to Tarzan's power and grace. As mentioned, Kubert illustrated all of the stories in this collection with the exception of issue number 216 that was handled by Frank Thorne, best known for his work on Marvel's Red Sonja. The highlight of this book is the five part adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' story, "The Return of Tarzan." This was Burroughs' second Tarzan novel that first saw print way back in 1915 in the pages of New Story Magazine. This global-spanning adventure stretches from Paris, to Algeria and back to Africa where Tarzan has to rescue Jane from the primitives of the Lost City of Opar. Kubert's adaptation was very faithful to the original story. Other stories in this volume include: "The Mine", where Tarzan encounters a group of slavers who are forcing the natives to work in mines against their will. Tarzan demands the slaves be freed but soon he's overwhelmed and finds himself trapped in the mines with the rest of the slaves and has to lead them on a harrowing escape. In "The Renegades" a group of white men disguise themselves as African natives to stage a brutal attack on a missionary hospital to steal supplies. The men are treasure hunters out to loot the tomb of a lost city and Tarzan is out for revenge. "Renegades" contains some Indiana Jones type elements in a story that was written many years before "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was release. "The Trophy" finds a wealthy big game hunter who journeys to Africa to appease his boredom. He recklessly hunts and kills several animals and then sets his sights on Tarzan's black lion companion Numa. But Tarzan soon turns the tables and the hunter becomes the hunted. Kubert provides an introduction to the book and gives the reader some valuable insight into the development of the stories. The book also provides a brief biography of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Outstanding work! This is the essence of pure adventurism and one of literature's most beloved characters. Many thanks go to Dark Horse Comics for keeping this material in print for a new generation of fans to enjoy. Reviewed by Tim Janson