Tarzan #222
Published and © by DC, August 1973
Title: “The City of Gold”
Synopsis: Tarzan, new chief of the Waziri, leads his tribe to the city of Opar, where Jane eventually ends up captive.
Writer: Joe Kubert
Artist: Kubert
Review: After a ludicrous string of coincidences moved the key players into position last issue (see review), Tarzan #222 takes its time reuniting the jungle lord and Jane. It’s the only place the story takes its time, though, as rushed pacing continues to mar this arc. There’s simply too much going on in “The Return of Tarzan,” and Joe Kubert can’t take time to develop any one moment. That’s too bad, because his art on this arc is excellent, with this issue being particularly well executed. Given a few more issues to breathe, “Return” could have been a masterpiece.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “4 out of 4 stars.” – Michael Tierney, Comics Buyer’s Guide #1609, October 2005 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Another great Joe Kubert cover.
Notable: Part four of the five-part “The Return of Tarzan” adaptation. … Also includes a text essay titled “Lights … Camera … Action on Safari.” … “The Dum-Dum” letters page includes an LoC from future DC Answer Man Bob Rozakis.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Do the brave Waziri fear the stories of old women? Do they shiver at the unknown … like children?” – Tarzan, king of the motivational speech
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Sept. 9, 2010.
