With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Number of Issues: 4
First Issue: January 1996 ($2.50)
Last Issue: June 1996 ($2.50)
Writer: Walter Simonson
Artist: Lee Weeks
Tarzan, Jane and some of their native friends return to Pellucidar (picture the X-Men’s Savage Land … but, inside the Earth) to investigate the disappearance of their friend (and recent emperor of Pellucidar), David Innes. Inside this hidden land, Tarzan discovers that a band of Predators are using it as hunting grounds … and he’s the latest prey. Meanwhile, the Mahar (a sentient, pterodactyl-looking creature) is using his hypnotic powers to take control of Pellucidar now since it’s ruler has gone missing. Now, Tarzan has to escape from the Predators, dethrone the Mahar, and rally the troops to send the Predators packing. No problem … right?
The Bad: This was the first Tarzan story I’ve ever read and I felt quite a bit lost with all the characters being tossed around. I was also hoping for a bit more story-wise from the Predators but they almost seem to be thrown in as an afterthought.
The Good: Lots of action to be had here … and plenty of strange elements all thrown together: Tarzan. Predator. a lost world of dinosaurs and natives. pterodactyl-humanoids. And, Lee Weeks‘ style is able to handle all of it!
The Verdict: With the release of Predators today, I thought it’d be interesting to review a Predator comic. Unfortunately, even though they’re prominently feature in the series title, they’re less included in the actual storyline. If I were to break it down, I’d say this is 75% a Tarzan story and only 25% Predator, at the most. Getting beyond that disappointment, Walter Simonson sets up plenty of problems to throw at our hero. So, there’s a lot of story stuffed into these four issues. Almost too much, though … I was a bit lost with all the names and characters tossed into the mix. So, Tarzan newcomers beware!
On Ebay: Tarzan | Predator | Walter Simonson | Lee Weeks