...so we're presenting the never-reprinted "Secret Diaries" mini-series that ran in DC Comics' Tarzan Family in 1976!
This all-new tale from
Tarzan Family #64 (1976) was written by Bob Kanigher, penciled by Noly Zamora and inked by Vic Catan with several panels modifed/redrawn by editor Joe Kubert.
Unfortunately, the story ends on a cliffhanger as the remaining two issues of
Tarzan Family featured a reprint of
Carter's first
DC Comics appearances in
Tarzan #207-208...
DC then cancelled both of their Burroughs-related titles as
ERB.Inc announced plans to publish their own line of comic books which, unfortunately didn't work out, as seen
HERE.
In 1977,
Marvel Comics was granted the license for ERB characters, doing both
Tarzan and
John Carter as stand-alone titles ignoring any storylines
DC had produced (including adaptations).
When
Marvel's Burroughs titles were cancelled in 1979, unused artwork for both of them was adapted (ironically) into
other licensed-property titles!
The unused
Tarzan story became, with rescripting and additional art, a two-part
BattleStar Galactica tale .
John Carter's unpublished tale was modified into a two-part
Star Wars story (#53-54) with
John Carter becoming
Aron Peacebringer,
Dejah Thoris relabeled
Alisande,
and
Tars Tarkas losing a couple of arms, turning orange, and renamed
Keral Longknife!
As we mentioned earlier, the "Secret Diaries" mini-series has never been reprinted since it's publication in 1976, even in the recent Dark Horse trade paperback that presented all the other John Carter stories that appeared in DC Comics!
There is one more never-reprinted Barsoom tale (without John Carter or any established characters) from DC which you'll see next week!
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