Monday, July 2, 2018

Carson of Venus by Michael Wm. Kaluta



Hey, this is the 21st fucking century. So when I find out that Michael Wm. Kaluta did a Carson of Venus series in the back of DC's Korak, Son of Tarzan (continued in DC's Tarzan Family title), why can't I go online and download that motherfucker before you can say, " I wont thet"? I don't know. But at least there's MyComicsShop, which has all of the issues I wont / need in stock at pretty modest prices (most of them $1.70 a pop, which is cheaper than a typical Comixology download...but of course shipping will even that out).

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Well, that was then.



I was just about to pop that order button when I stumbled upon some details on the issues under consideration (Korak, Son of Tarzan #46 through #56, Tarzan Family #60 through #65, and Tarzan #230) that indicated  that the Tarzan Family stories were not continuations of the Korak stories, but reprints. To wit:



1 Issue #46: "Mars - or Bust!" script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta; Carson

Napier takes off for Mars, but ends up on Venus instead; When he parachutes to the surface, he pincher-clawed beast attacks him; Three Venusians rescue him, but take him as their captive. (9 pages). Tarzan Family issue #60 reprints this.

2 Issue #47: “The Girl in the Garden," script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta;
Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus (6 pages). Tarzan Family issue #61 reprints this (and identifies it as Pirates of Venus Part 2).

3 Issue #48: "Battle Cry!", script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta; During a jog,
Carson comes upon some thieves; He realizes that the thieves mean to harm a beautiful woman in the garden; He leaps into action believing he will startle the intruders, instead they turn to fight, with weapons in hand; Though out-numbered five-to-one, Carson battles them, but then retreats when he notices several Venusian warriors coming after the intruders too; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (6 pages)  Tarzan Family issue #62 reprints this.

4 Issue #49: "Gathering Tarel," script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta; While
jogging, Carson comes upon thieves and battles them; When Venusian warriors enter the scene, Carson retreats; Carson hunts for "Tarel" in the lush Venusian forest with Duran's son, Kamlotad; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (7 pages)   Tarzan Family issue #63 reprints this.

5 Issue #50: "By Kamlot's Grave," script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta; While
searching for "Tarel" (cobwebs), Karson and Kamlot climb up a tree only to find a giant spider ready to protect its web; While going home through the forest, they get attacked by flying furies (Klangan) Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (7 pages)   Tarzan Family issue #64 reprints this.

6 Issue #51: "Mutiny at Sea," script by Len Wein, art by Mike Kaluta; After Carson
and Kamlot hunt for "Tarel" (cobwebs), the two go home through the vast Venusian forest and get attacked by flying furies (Klangan); While a prisoner on a Thorist's warship, Carson begins to organize a group of "Soldiers of Liberty" and awaits for their chance to strike; Days later, a sea-monster attacks the boat; Carson's and his Soldiers of Liberty attack the ship's captain and his men; After the mutiny, Carson is hailed as the new captain; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (7 pages)   Tarzan Family issue #65 reprints this.

7 Issue #52: "Duare... Princess of Venus," script and art by Mike Kaluta; Carson’s
crew of liberated prisoners, now pirates, set sail to the enemy's land to fight the Thoras; Another Thora warship confronts them; The ship's captain has captured Duare, the Princess of Venus; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (5 pages)

8 Issue #53: “Catastrophe," script and art by Mike Kaluta; Its been several months
since Carson of Venus rescued Princess Duare; Now they sail together on his ship, arguing about love; Winged furies (Klangans) burst into the room and kidnap the princess; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pirates of Venus. (5 pages)

9 Issue #54: "Into the Land of Noobol," script and art by Mike Kaluta; A winged
fury (Klangan) grabs Princess Duare; A band of Thorist warriors, lead by the evil Moosko, attack Carson and take him down; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Lost On Venus. (5 pages)

10 Issue #55:"Lost on Venus," script and art by Mike Kaluta; Carson, after escaping
Thorist's death chamber, hears the screams of a woman; He finds the princess being stuck by a dagger by the evil Moosko; Carson chokes him to death; Carson and the princess put on cloaks; Carson slips the ring of Moosko on his own finger; They exit the castle, but are stopped at the main gates by a guard; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Lost On Venus. (5 pages)

11 Issue #56: "Babes in the Woods," script and art by Mike Kaluta; After escaping
Thorists castle, Carson and the Princess realize they are lost many miles inland from the sea; Beast-Men surround them and prepare them for their cooking pit; Tharbans (sabretooth tigers) enter the scene; Adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Lost On Venus. (5 pages)

&
From Tarzan:

12 Issue #230: "Into the Noobolian Valley" script and art by Michael Kaluta with Phil
Trumbo. (5 pages)


And investigating that led me to... http://diversionsofthegroovykind.blogspot.com, wherein I found, seemingly in no particular order, lots of parts of the Carson of Venus story. I started figuring it all out, and damned if I wasn't able to locate most of the 72 pages I was looking for. And then, in looking for the last pages--the "Lost on Venus" segment from Korak, Son of Tarzan Issue #55--you'll never guess what I found. Nope, try again. Yep. All twelve parts, in order, posted on http://www.erbzine.com/mag41/4151.html. And not only did I find that last chapter...I also found some (6/7th) of Kaluta's uninked pencils for one of the chapters! So I'm guessing that Kaluta must have been okay with the ERB folks putting this up...unless they snuck into his house to steal those pages or something. 

And that brings this package up to a very respectable 78 pages, by the way. Which I intend on reading any minute now. More news as it happens.

ANYway...I just saved $40. But hey, DC...I'd STILL pay a fair number of dollars for a nice, hardbound Smyth-sewn, archival paper edition of this thing. You listening? Probably not. But hey, IDW...this thing is right up your alley, isn't it? Come on, guys. We can count on you, right?

Is this mic on?




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