Random Happenstance

Today's book belonged to Harry A. Owen, who wrote his name on the cover. I'm not giving it back, I just thought he should know. Nyah! From 1975, Tarzan #237, story and art by Russ Manning, except cover and page 2 by Joe Kubert.

This was reprinted from Tarzan daily comics, because I think at this point there were so many Tarzan comics that they probably figured they could just cycle them around as most readers aged out anyway. Lost in a sandstorm, Tarzan takes cover under what turns out to be an Egyptian-style statue. Seemed like a lot of sand to him, though, and more Egyptian soldiers than usual--hey! They chase Tarzan quite a ways, but of course their queen wants him captured alive. That's interrupted by a stone pharaoh, who goes for the queen, but then takes Tarzan away when he knocks him out.

The queen had wanted Tarzan, perhaps not for the usual prurient reasons, but as a fighter under her banner, as she was having palace intrigue problems with her half-brother, who wanted the throne. Meanwhile, Tarzan finds himself trapped in a pyramid, and has to puzzle his way out in the dark. He then follows the stone pharaoh, but doesn't wrap it up this issue, sadly.

Per the letters page, this was the return of regular-sized issues after 100-pagers, but I think the previous issue had been regular-sized as well. There was also a Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation; with tiny, tiny print for my old eyes! Actual number of copies sold nearest to filing date: 159,567. Or thereabouts, take a gander for yourself!