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Tarzan
Tarzan All Story

Real Name

John Clayton, Lord Greystoke

First Appearance

The All‐Story vol. 24, no. 2 (Oct. 1912)

Created by

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Origin[]

When John and Alice Clayton, Lord and Lady Greystoke are marooned on a jungle shore, they make a treehouse wherein to live while awaiting rescue. There, they have a son. Around the time of the child's first birthday, the Claytons are killed by Kerchak, leader of the Mangani (great apes). The baby survives and is adopted by an ape named Kala. Kala names him Tarzan ("white skin"), and he eventually kills Kerchak in a fight.

At around the age of 20, Tarzan meets an American woman named Jane Porter, and her father. He travels to the United States to find Jane, but soon returns to Africa, becoming the chief of the Waziri tribe, and leading his men to find the lost city of Opar. After learning that he is actually Lord Greystoke, Tarzan marries Jane and returns to his ancestral home in London. Tarzan and Jane have a son named Jack who takes the ape name, Korak ("killer"), Son of Tarzan. Eventually, Tarzan becomes unhappy with civilization, and the family returns to Africa.

Tarzan possessed nearly superhuman strength and agility, and fought in the ferocious style of the apes. He was an expert climber, diver, swimmer, and was proficient swinging on vines. He often carried a knife, spear or bow. He was able to speak to apes and some other animals using the Mangani dialect, but he also learned to speak fluent English and at least some Waziri, French, Swahili, and Arabic.

Public Domain Appearances[]

  • Tarzan of the Apes (1912)
  • The Return of Tarzan (1913)
  • The Beasts of Tarzan (1914)
  • Eternal Lover (1914)
  • The Son of Tarzan (1914)
  • Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar (1916)
  • Jungle Tales of Tarzan (1916)
  • Tarzan the Untamed (1919)
  • Tarzan the Terrible (1921)
  • Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1922)
  • Tarzan and the Ant Men (1924)
  • The Tarzan Twins (1927)
  • Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle (1927)


Public Domain Film Appearances[]

  • Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
  • The Romance of Tarzan (1918)
  • The Revenge of Tarzan (1920)
  • The Son of Tarzan (1920)
  • Adventures of Tarzan (1921)
  • Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)
  • Tarzan the Mighty (1928) (lost film)
  • Tarzan the Tiger (1929 - 15 episodes)
  • Tarzan the Fearless (1933)
  • New Adventures of Tarzan (1935 - 12 episodes)
  • Tarzan's Revenge (1938)
  • Tarzan and the Trappers (1958)

Public Domain Comic Appearances[]

  • Tip Top Comics #1-188
  • Popular Comics #41-43
  • Tarzan #1-131
  • Tarzan's Jungle Annual #1-7
  • Crackajack Funnies #15-36
  • Comics on Parade vol. 2 #12
    • vol. 3 #5
  • Dell Giant #25, 37, 51
  • Four Color #161
  • Four-Most Boys Comics #38
  • Sparkler Comics #
  • Comics on Parade #1-29
  • Jungle Tales of Tarzan #1-4

Notes[]

  • Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. currently owns the trademark on the name. For info on dealing with trademarks, see our FAQ.

See Also[]

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