Korak
Encyclopedia
Korak [long "O"] is the ape name of John 'Jack' Clayton, the son of Tarzan
and Jane.
. He was introduced as an infant in the non-Tarzan novel The Eternal Lover
(later retitled The Eternal Savage), in which the Ape Man and his family played supporting roles. His next appearance (still as an infant) was in The Beasts of Tarzan
, the third Tarzan novel, in which he was kidnapped and taken to Africa. The story of his youth and growth to manhood was told in the fourth novel, The Son of Tarzan
, in which he returned to Africa and lived in the jungle, taking for the first time the name Korak ("Killer" in the language of the Great Apes). Most references to him were as "Korak the Killer."
Half of the book relates to Meriem
, the Arab girl he rescues from a beating. The two of then run wild in the forest for years before being separated. After many adventures they are re-united and eventually marry. The story of the boy's sadness at losing her and her emerging character is conveyed very vividly.
Korak was later used as a supporting character in the eighth through the tenth entries in the series, Tarzan the Terrible
, Tarzan and the Golden Lion
, and Tarzan and the Ant Men
. The last of those three also briefly mentions Korak and Meriem's young son 'Jackie'. The Bunduki
series by J.T. Edson
—and authorized by the Greystoke estate—includes Korak and Meriem's granddaughter Dawn as one of two main characters.
, the Tarzan comic strip
, in which he was a major character for many years; and the Tarzan, Korak, Son of Tarzan, and Tarzan Family comic books.
In the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan films, Korak was replaced by an adopted son called Boy (played by Johnny Sheffield
). Tarzan and Jane never married in these films (they do in the books), and the substitution was made to avoid censorship. In the Dell
comic books of the fifties, which combine material from the books and the films, Tarzan's son was also called Boy. When the Tarzan comics returned to a more faithful portrayal of Burroughs' characters in the early 1960s, Boy disappeared and Tarzan's son was called Korak, who went on to be featured in his own comic book.
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and Jane.
History
Jack first appeared in the original Tarzan novels by Edgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
. He was introduced as an infant in the non-Tarzan novel The Eternal Lover
The Eternal Lover
The Eternal Lover is an Edgar Rice Burroughs fantasy-adventure novel. The story was begun in November 1913 under the working title Nu of the Niocene. It was first run serially in two parts by All-Story Weekly...
(later retitled The Eternal Savage), in which the Ape Man and his family played supporting roles. His next appearance (still as an infant) was in The Beasts of Tarzan
The Beasts of Tarzan
The Beasts of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. Originally serialized in All-Story Cavalier magazine in 1914, the novel was first published in book form by A. C...
, the third Tarzan novel, in which he was kidnapped and taken to Africa. The story of his youth and growth to manhood was told in the fourth novel, The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial from December 4, 1915-January 8, 1916. It...
, in which he returned to Africa and lived in the jungle, taking for the first time the name Korak ("Killer" in the language of the Great Apes). Most references to him were as "Korak the Killer."
Half of the book relates to Meriem
Meriem, wife of Korak
Meriem is a minor character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and the heroine of the fourth, The Son of Tarzan. Born Jeanne Jacot, the daughter of French general Armand Jacot, she is taken captive by Arabs as a child who give her the name Meriem. She is later rescued from her...
, the Arab girl he rescues from a beating. The two of then run wild in the forest for years before being separated. After many adventures they are re-united and eventually marry. The story of the boy's sadness at losing her and her emerging character is conveyed very vividly.
Korak was later used as a supporting character in the eighth through the tenth entries in the series, Tarzan the Terrible
Tarzan the Terrible
Tarzan the Terrible is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the eighth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published as a serial in the pulp magazine Argosy All-Story Weekly in the issues for February 12, 19, and 26 and March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 1921; the first...
, Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Tarzan and the Golden Lion is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the ninth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published as a seven part serial in Argosy All-Story Weekly beginning in December 1922; and then as a complete novel by A.C. McClurg & Co...
, and Tarzan and the Ant Men
Tarzan and the Ant Men
Tarzan and the Ant Men is the tenth book in Edgar Rice Burroughs' series of novels about the jungle hero Tarzan. It was first published as a seven-part serial in the magazine Argosy All-Story Weekly for February 2, 9, 16, and 23 and March 1, 8, and 15, 1924. It was first published in book form in...
. The last of those three also briefly mentions Korak and Meriem's young son 'Jackie'. The Bunduki
Bunduki
James Allenvale 'Bunduki' Gunn is the title character in J. T. Edson's novel Bunduki and the series of novels and short stories that followed. He was adopted by Tarzan and Jane Porter at the age of two, after his parents were murdered by rebels during the Mau Mau Uprising...
series by J.T. Edson
J.T. Edson
John Thomas Edson is an English writer of Westerns.-Biography:He was born in 1928 near the border of the County of Derbyshire, England, in a small mining village, Whitwell, where his relatives still live. He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had...
—and authorized by the Greystoke estate—includes Korak and Meriem's granddaughter Dawn as one of two main characters.
In other media
Besides the Burroughs novels, Korak also appeared in the 1920 movie serial The Son of TarzanThe Son of Tarzan (film)
The Son of Tarzan is a 15 chapter film serial which focuses on the coming of age of Jack Clayton, also known as Korak, the son of Tarzan and Jane. The serial was produced by David P. Howells, written by Roy Somerville , and directed by Arthur J. Flaven and Harry Revier...
, the Tarzan comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
, in which he was a major character for many years; and the Tarzan, Korak, Son of Tarzan, and Tarzan Family comic books.
In the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan films, Korak was replaced by an adopted son called Boy (played by Johnny Sheffield
Johnny Sheffield
Johnny Sheffield was an American child actor.-Early life:He was born as John Matthew Sheffield Cassan in Pasadena, California, the second child of actor Reginald Sheffield and Louise Van Loon...
). Tarzan and Jane never married in these films (they do in the books), and the substitution was made to avoid censorship. In the Dell
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
comic books of the fifties, which combine material from the books and the films, Tarzan's son was also called Boy. When the Tarzan comics returned to a more faithful portrayal of Burroughs' characters in the early 1960s, Boy disappeared and Tarzan's son was called Korak, who went on to be featured in his own comic book.
Comic Books
- Gold Key ComicsGold Key ComicsGold Key Comics was an imprint of Western Publishing created for comic books distributed to newsstands. Also known as Whitman Comics, Gold Key operated from 1962 to 1984.-History:...
published Korak, Son of Tarzan #1-45 from January, 1964 to January, 1972. It featured work by Russ ManningRuss ManningRussell Manning was an American comic book artist who created the series Magnus, Robot Fighter and illustrated such newspaper comic strips as Tarzan and Star Wars...
, Warren TuftsWarren TuftsWarren Tufts , born Chester Tufts, was an American comic strip and comic book artist-writer best known for his syndicated Western adventure strip Casey Ruggles which ran from 1949 to 1954....
, Dan SpiegleDan SpiegleDan Spiegle is an American comic book and cartoon artist and illustrator . He has had a long career in drawing comics based on movie and television characters, and has worked for companies including Dell Comics, DC Comics and Marvel Comics.-Life and career:In his second year of high school,...
, and others.
- DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
acquired the series in 1972, continuing the numbering from #46-59 (June 1972 to Sept-Oct, 1974), when it was renamed Tarzan Family. Both series also included other Burroughs' characters.