Through his creations, Edgar Rice Burroughs brought excitement and adventure to American fiction. Tarzan, John Carter of Mars and his other characters have had a lasting influence in their original book form, and their adaptation to film, comics, animation and numerous collectibles.
I’m primarily focussed on the different book series released over the years, and the various comics.
Filmation Tarzan Lord of the Jungle Season 1 DVD Cover
In 1976, Filmation had the license to produce Tarzan cartoons for Saturday mornings. Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle debuted with 16 episodes that first season, and it was different than many previous portrayals of Edgar Rice Burroughs' signature character. Tarzan was shown as an intelligent and civilised character who had fantastic adventures with his animal friends in lost cities and strange civilisations, just as he was in the original novels. A lot of kids like me loved it.
John Carter of Mars: 1958 Sun Comic Strip
From 1958, this A Princess of Mars adaptation by DR Morton & Robert Forest was published in The Sun from the UK. It has never been shown in colour.
Five years ago, when this was first posted, the tools were what they were, and my skills weren't what they are now. Improvements in scaling algorithms have allowed me to up-res the low res scans without loss in quality, which really helps Forest's ink hatching to maintain its clarity.
It didn't make much sense to try to enlarge lettering which had already been rendered rough by being a scan of an old newspaper, so the art was cleaned up with panel borders redrawn and lettering redone for clarity.
And, of course, new colour to finish the job.
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Tarzan Sunday Comic Strips by Goodwin & Kane
Tarzan has been a mainstay of the Sunday comics page since the 1930s and the work of Hal Foster. Notable artists over the following decades include Burne Hogarth and Russ Manning. I came along in the late 70s, enjoying the work of Gil Kane and later Mike Grell and Gray Morrow, artists I was familiar with from comic books.
John Carter of Mars by Francesco Francavilla
Francesco Francavilla makes great comic book art. He did this one back in 2010 for his Pulp Sunday blog. His subtle colour palette brings out the gritty pulp feel he was going for. He'd been inspired by Gold Key's Korak, Son of Tarzan comics of the late 60s. So here it is with those elements reconstructed and some more of my comic colouring.
Pellucidar Covers by David B. Mattingly
In 1990, David B. Mattingly was commissioned by Del Rey/Ballantine Books to paint the covers for Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar series. Mattingly delivered some very nice pieces that were unfortunately paired with some pretty overbearing typography. The age of coverlines had finally taken over.
John Carter of Mars 2: The Gods of Mars Poster
A set of teaser posters for John Carter of Mars II: The Gods of Mars. With Disney having let their option lapse after acquiring the Star Wars franchise, perhaps Warner Bros. will explore the world of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
John Carter of Mars Covers by Robert K. Abbett
In 1963, Robert K. Abbett was commissioned by Ballantine Books to paint the covers for Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series. 1965 saw the addition of John Carter of Mars as the 11th book, and Thuvia received a new cover in 1969. Abbett would also paint a Tarzan series of covers.
John Carter of Mars: Disney’s Mars and Beyond
Long before Andrew Stanton got the green light to make John Carter (of Mars) for Disney, Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars was included in Mars and Beyond, aired as a Tomorrow Land episode of Disneyland on December 4, 1957.
eBook: A Princess of Mars Cover by Frank E. Schoonover
One of the classic editions of Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars is the first printing, published by A.C. McClurg & Co. in 1917. Frank E. Schoonover, a top illustrator of the day, painted the cover and interior plates. Schoonover was a student of the master Howard Pyle – as was NC Wyeth – and there are definite similarities between the artists.
John Carter of Mars Covers by Gino D’Achille
As I have said elsewhere, my first encounter with Edgar Rice Burroughs was in the elementary school library in 1974. I was nine and I saw The Chessmen of Mars with a cover painted in 1973 by Gino D'Achille.
Tarzan Covers by Neal Adams and Boris Vallejo
I have to credit Neal Adams for getting me to read my first Edgar Rice Burroughs' book – Tarzan of the Apes – in 1977. Having read his DC Comics work, Neal Adams was the epitome of what comics could be to a 12-year-old boy. That he did some of his best painting work on these covers for Ballantine in 1976 is what drew me to buy the book.
John Carter of Mars Covers by Michael Whelan
In 1979, Del Rey/Ballantine Books commissioned Michael Whelan to paint new covers for Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars novels, succeeding Gino D'Achille's 1973 series.
eBook: John Carter of Mars · Return to Barsoom
I'm happy to announce the release of my first novel, Return to Barsoom, a modern look at Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars. Burroughs began his series of 11 books with A Princess of Mars in 1912, and ended with The Skeleton Men of Jupiter in 1942.