Making Jane American seems like a weak move, but Nelson makes up for it with Tarzan learning French. There’s something awesome about the scene with Tarzan speaking French at the end of the issue. It just seems so contradictory yet perfect–like Tarzan is the French idea of noble savage, not the British one. The issue…

Nelson introduces D’Arnot this issue, brings in the hollow Earth ape men, turns Clayton into a bad guy and has a lame interlude with Tarzan and Jane. The interlude’s lame because Nelson hasn’t done the groundwork for Jane to immediately fall for Tarzan. He could have–Tarzan bringing her gifts, saving her multiple times–but he didn’t…

Nelson continues to impress. Even though his characterizations are definitely too late–Jane’s father is a classic buffoon character but not 1909 classic–but he does come up with some interesting developments. He also doesn’t shy away from the time period’s realities. Jack Clayton isn’t reminding the Porters of his (higher) station and Professor Porter isn’t above…

My Tarzan is a little sketchy, but I’m pretty sure Tarzan’s dashing cousin doesn’t come looking for him. His royal dashing cousin. I’m equally sure said royal dashing cousin isn’t courting Jane. I’m positive, however, there wasn’t a fetching black maid accompanying Jane. Nelson and Castro are sexing Lord of the Jungle up a bit,…

Besides moving way too fast, Lord of the Jungle’s not bad at all. Arvid Nelson puts the Tarzan origin in the political context of what’s happening in the Congo contemporaneously. I’ve never seen a Tarzan story make that effort. It’ll be interesting to see if Nelson maintains it. Otherwise, it’s a summary of Tarzan’s parents’…