Passage to Pellucidar!

TARZAN, LORD OF THE JUNGLE — Issue no. 17, July 1978

/ Complaints about movie and TV sequels and spin-offs are common these days. But both have been around for more than a century at this point. The first Tarzan novel, published in 1912, had many sequels. And Tarzan eventually visited Pellucidar, the lost world at the center of the earth that was the invention of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. Pellucidar was the setting for three Burroughs books before Tarzan visited, so Burroughs TARZAN AT THE EARTH’S CORE was a crossover inside what you might call the Burroughs literary universe. (Burroughs actually had two lost worlds — Pellucidar at the center of the earth, and Caspak near Antarctica. But as far as I know, Tarzan never visited Caspak in any Burroughs books.)

Book: Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle

Issue No.: 17

Published: July 25, 1978

Title: “Passage to Pellucidar!”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Original paper copy

Complaints about movie and TV sequels and spin-offs are common these days. But both have been around for more than a century at this point. The first Tarzan novel, published in 1912, had many sequels. And Tarzan eventually visited Pellucidar, the lost world at the center of the earth that was the invention of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. Pellucidar was the setting for three Burroughs books before Tarzan visited, so Burroughs Tarzan at the Earth’s Core was a crossover inside what you might call the Burroughs literary universe.

(Burroughs actually had two lost worlds — Pellucidar at the center of the earth, and Caspak near Antarctica. But as far as I know, Tarzan never visited Caspak in any Burroughs books.)

Tarzan arrives in Pellucidar in this issue of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle thanks to a mystical portal and the machinations of Abdul Alhazred (AKA the “Mad Arab”). I forget the specifics, but Alhazred, his goons, Tarzan, and an African princess named Ayesha have all dropped in on Pellucidar at the same time. But they’re separated, which leads to multiple adventures. Ayesha is attacked by Pellucidar’s version of wild dogs and crocodiles and is rescued by a young local. (Just guessing here, but the local might be the Tanar character from Burroughs’ later Pellucidar books). I’m honestly a little disappointed that Ayesha had to deal with dogs and crocs and not something more exotic — Pellucidar is one of those dinosaurs-never-went-extinct lost worlds, so she could have at least been chased by a T. Rex or something.

Meanwhile, Tarzan barely escapes from some local Pellucidar savages only to find himself at the mercy of some English-speaking guys. From the looks of them, maybe they’re pirates? I mention they’re English speakers because, in a realistic touch, the natives of Pellucidar don’t magically speak or understand English.

There’s a lot going on here, but this fantasy/adventure angle is a lot more fun than the last few jungle-set issues of Tarzan I’ve read. I’m looking forward to the next issue.

Next time — Jack of Hearts goes solo in Marvel Premiere!

Meta: Marvel Time Warp no. 282