Tarzan Archives: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 1 (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Robert P. Thompson (Author), Gaylord DuBois (Author), Jesse Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2009

In 1947, artist Jesse Marsh left Walt Disney Studios-where he had worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, and various animated shorts-to work for Western Publishing full time. Tarzan was one of his first assignments, with the iconic character's first original comic-book appearance in Dell Four-Color Comics #134. Tarzan #2 would begin Marsh's long-term collaboration with writer Gaylord DuBois. Their terrific work drew admiration and respect from readers and peers-Russ Manning among them - and Marsh's art inspired future comics creators from Richard Corben to Los Bros. Hernandez!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595822380
• ISBN-13: 978-1595822383
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning compilation!, March 17, 2009

By 

Tim Lasiuta "Comic Fan 42" (Red Deer, Alberta) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan Archives: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 1 (v. 1) (Hardcover)

Of all the Dell comic book series, Tarzan is one of the classic series that begged to be reprinted. Fondly remembered for the scores of photo cover from Gordon Scott to Ron Ely, the first appearance of Tarzan in Four Color #134 introduced comic book readers to the King of the Jungle.
Jesse Marsh was a constant in the pages of Tarzan, while writer Robert P Thompson turned his talents from radio to comic books for "Tarzan and the Devil Ogre" and "Tarzan and the Fires of Tor and Black Panther". Comic book legend, Gaylord DuBois contributed to the regular series (#1-4) with "Savages of Vari", "Captives of Thunder Valley", "Dwarfs of Didona", and "Lone Hunter". Each of these stories resonated strongly with the 1940's audience for Tarzan, and still do today for modern readers. Contemporary readers are familiar with the Kubert/DC Tarzan, but not the first appearances.

Like all Dark Horse books, this is a gem. As an art afficienado, I truly appreciate the uncluttered covers by Marsh for the books, and can only imagine what a child of 10 discovering these books for the first time would have thought.

"Mommy, can you buy me that Tarzan comic, please? I'll mow the lawn and clean my room. Please? I promise I won't ask you to take me to the movies this week."

That would have been me. It was probably my father. Today, it can be you. Swing over to your local comic store and grab the Jesse Marsh years. You will not be disappointed.

www.darkhorse.com
Tim Lasiuta

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesse Marshs Tarzan, April 20, 2009

By 

Mik breuning "mik" (denmark, europe) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan Archives: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 1 (v. 1) (Hardcover)

This reprint of the first issues of Dell Comics Tarzan with art by Jesse Marsh is a must for comics fans and historians. The art is rather primitive, Marsh reached his peak a couple of years later, yet there is much atmosphere and wonderfull fantasy and adventure in the pictures. Volume two of this book is already on it's way. It is a very, very fine initiative by Dark Horse Comics. Thank you.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reborn Appreciation, July 4, 2009

By 

J. Martin "Bridge" (Centralia WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan Archives: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 1 (v. 1) (Hardcover)

My youthful introduction to Tarzan came from Lex Barker movies and the Dell comic books, but my comic books went the way of most comic books, read to pieces and disappearing over the years for one reason or another. After the Edgar Rice Burroughs paperback boom of the early 60s, I became a big fan of collecting the original books but still picked up some Dell comics here and there when I could find them. When Dark Horse published the Jesse Marsh Tarzan archives, I wasn't too sure I wanted to start buying them, but Amazon.com's special free-shipping offer enticed me and I went ahead and ordered Vol. 1. As soon as it came in the mail, I realized I had made the right decision. I immediately placed an order for Vol. 2 and now, since that has arrived, I've advance-ordered Vol. 3.
I love these old comics far more than I remember, especially since they have stories that are actually pretty much in line with the original books by ERB. They feature some of the same characters -- Tarzan's friend, D'Arnot, for example, as well as Jane -- and the stories are tied in with the strange lost cities and tribe's of Tarzan's Africa, as originally penned by Burroughs. So, it's almost like having new Tarzan stories! True, there are differences between the comics and the original books: One is the annoying inclusion of a young lad called "Boy" when those old comics could just as easily have referred to him as "Korak," the name Burroughs gave to Tarzan's actual son. However, these Archives are so well done, with slick, full-color pages and reproductions of the original covers, that one tends to be forgiving of such things. I'm enjoying these books and highly recommend them to fans of Tarzan, fans of Jesse Marsh, fans of Gaylord DuBois who wrote the stories, and fans of old comic books. If you're none of the above, it's entirely possible you'll find another reason to like them!