The first thing that I can remember actually collecting was Tarzan comic books. I started collecting the Tree Swingers mags in 1963 at the age of nine. Jesse Marsh was the artist then. Unfortunately, my first collection of Dells got stolen in a break-in. Although keenly disappointed I did not give up. Starting all over I rebuilt my collection.
I then reached the age where I thought I had outgrown comics. By now Jesse Marsh and Dell had given way to Russ Manning and Gold Key. Reluctantly I dispatched collection number two. It did not take long for me to realize that was a big mistake. As best I could I salvaged as many of my Tarzan comics as possible.
I then proceeded with collection number three which has outlived the comic producers. Who would have ever thought that DC and Marvel would have such a short run? At least other Edgar Rice Burroughs characters were introduced into the comic scene.
It was during the DC era that I became intrigued with the letter columns. My friend Joe Eller, who was with me at Tarzana, CA during the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain Of Friendship in 1989, also collected comics. He told me he had written dozens of letters to his favorite comic companies and none had ever been published. He didn't believe the letters were written by real fans. What happens? I write one to Tarzan and one to Korak. Both get published. There went the no-fans theory.
Dear Joe
Your cover for Tarzan #230 was great! The panels from the other stories added excitement, and I hope the TARZAN head in the yellow circle stays on future covers.
I'd always thought Murphy Anderson's KORAK was perfection, and I was happy to see that the combination of Kanigher, Kubert, and Heath makes for the same beautiful finished product.
As always, Mike Kaluta's, "Carson On Venus" was a welcome (though short) treat. I would like to see this feature lengthened, along with a revival of "Beyond The Farthest Star" drawn by Murphy Anderson.
May the TARZAN Super-Spectacular appear forever and ever.
Mike Moody
Elk Park, NC
Dear Joe:
I just got the second DC issue of KORAK, and I want to congratulate you on your excellent work. I enjoyed this issue very much even though I am not a war hawk. The art and story were great! You couldn't ask for better.
I only have one disappointment with the way you are handling KORAK. It should be published monthly.
Please keep up the good work.
Mike Moody
Elk Park
North Carolina
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edger Rice Burroughs. Over the past forty-five years, Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There, the researcher chronologies the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory) instead of the more accepted date, May 1888.
James Michael Moody also authorizes the action-packed Sci-Fi fantasy adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, published December 31, 2019, Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022, and Swordsman On Unium, published on July 15, 2024.
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