We saw the previous issue
some time back, but I'm mostly just randomly grabbing these to see Big John Buscema go to town. From 1977,
Tarzan #5, "La Seeks Vengeance!" From the original story "Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, adapted and edited by Roy Thomas, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Tony DeZuniga.
This was part 5 of the "Jewels of Opar" adaptation, which seems long but wasn't done here, either. At this point, deserter and murderer Albert Werper was just about to stab the unconscious--and amnesiac and savage--Tarzan, before he starts to fret that if he doesn't one-shot the ape man, he'd get torn to shreds. Werper decides to skip out with the jewels: later, Tarzan notices the "white man" took his "pretty stones," and plans to find and murder him; right after a little nap. Werper continues weaseling through the plot: he meets up with the slavers that had captured Jane, but then has to flee when the slavers realize he had the jewels.
The injured Mugambi finally catches up to try and rescue Jane, but she was already gone: the head slaver thinks Werper had taken her, but she might have just escaped herself. You'll have to wait for the next issue...which I don't have. Meanwhile, Tarzan gets into a standoff with a pride of lions, that is broken up by a rhino: I don't know if this is a Burroughs line or Thomas's, but the narration points out that fight was super-cool and most people would rattle on about it the rest of their lives, while Tarzan's already about forgotten it. But, Tarzan is then jumped by the Sacred Apes, who bring him before the steamingly furious La of Opal, who wants the sacrificial dagger back: even if he had his memory, Tarzan might not have even known about that being gone, Werper might have stolen the dagger behind his back. Tarzan does maybe get the gist from the tone of her voice, though.
Ok, so how about instead of stabbing him you just slit his throat instead? Seems simple enough or stab him REPEATEDLY really hard in the throat? Just saying…..
ReplyDeleteImagine if he’d actually gone through with stabbing Tarzan & actually killed him, then what, besides the end to the story. I’m guessing the beast men of Opar find him, see he has the sacrificial dagger, find out he killed Tarzan & Jungle Justice ensues.
Speaking of Opar, if she’s the only woman, does that mean she has to eventually pick a suitor from the best of the beast men to keep the power in the realm? Interesting question.
I think Werper's fear is that even knifed in the neck, Tarzan could probably still kill him before dying--with his teeth, if need be.
ReplyDeleteI don't know all of La's deal, but that would explain why she was pretty into Tarzan. And not getting anywhere; mostly because of Jane, but also because he was pretty psycho...