Sunday, 12 July 2020

Routsos and the Second Tarzanid Age: So Bad It's Good Part 5

In contrast, Gaur presented himself as a fearless, law-abiding, full of kindness (reaching the limits of stupidity). He was still a fanatical patriot: He loved Greece to the highest degree, a homeland he had never met.

The purpose of his life was to be able to be there one day. He planned it for issue 113 and last of the second period ("Gaur in Greece"). He had hoisted our blue and white flag at the top of a "rocky mountain", outside a cave where he had his house. Other characteristics of Gaur: He was terribly strong, even more so than Tarzan. He was ambitious, proud and smart. He could never lie. He loved people and animals.

Next to Tarzan was his companion, the well-known English blue-eyed Jane, but here Routsos presented her as a raunchy person, with a promiscuous soul. 

She was constantly typing, and was secretly in love with Gaur. Jane brought a lot to the queen of the jungle, Sina, who at that time was unknown to the Greek reading public. But he was given to Tatabu, his beautiful dark-skinned companion. Also of Greek descent, who was the exact opposite of Jane: She was kind, brave, and generally had all the qualities that Gaur valued…

And too much beauty, which the readers appreciated and the bad ones of the reading fervently wanted, because, bad lies: "Gaur Tarzan", although a national patriotic publication, although intended for children, was unusually bold for its time in matters of sex. In addition to these two pairs of heroes who were the main protagonists of the reading, there was another couple with a different but important role in the stories.

It was Pokopoko and Houhous, two Pygmy natives, who were the light touch: That is, these two with funny faces, constant blunders and clever teasing that mouthed for everyone and entertained the readers for everything, making them calm and to escape a little from the great intensity caused by the relentless action and the continuous transitions of the adventures.

There are many who claim that the two (especially Pokopoko) were the real protagonists, the most important and beloved people of all the other heroes. She was a funny black man with an inflatable belly and huge feet, who had a rusty and broken jaw as a weapon.

He was riding on a scaly tripod donkey, the Purebred.
How many had not really laughed at the laughter from the clever idiots who kept muttering what he called himself "wild rabbit hunter" and "graduate butcher", "snake and woman charmer", "protector of boxes and the weak "(And because Tarzan and Gaur were not only weak, he protected them for the other reason, as he often said). 

And he was an improvised lyricist who introduced himself emphatically: "I'm the Pokopokaros of the jungle lad, I pull my hatzara and the grace of whoever gets it!" 

And the "mamzel Houhous", the "bee-milking vendetta", the "charmer who stole the hearts of all men", as she said about herself, answering Pokopoko’s self-introduced: "I am also Houhous, the most beautiful of all, with graces and tricks, forgive me all!” We will mention most of the heroes whose -common or occasional appearance gave special touches to the reading.
  
The gorilla man Dabuh, half human and half gorilla. He used to speak with "trilects", that is, with phrases that contained only three words. This quirky hero was deeply kind. But once the winged god of love marked his heart: He fell madly in love with the wide Tatabu (and he!), With a desperate love without a tomorrow.
 
He often abducted her, and took her to the huge tree in which he lived. He raised her to the branches, while he sat on the ground, like a watchful guard, a guarantor of her safety.

So the unfortunate Dabuh, victim of the charm of Gaur's witty companion, could not bear it. He shook his mind. Thus he became the "crazy gorilla man" who was constantly wandering in the jungle, constantly shouting the name of his beloved…

Another hero who was also struck by the arrows of love was Max Arlan, an American adventurer. He once came to the jungle to hunt wild animals and eventually became a permanent resident. But he had fallen in love with both charmers, in turn… The giant Yahaba, an Arab awful in appearance and soul.

Together with his gang, a group of black criminals, they caused a lot of trouble in the jungle and trouble to our "good" heroes. He also occasionally tried to enslave Jane and Tatabu, but Tarzan and Gaur always ruined his plans.

He was still the monster-shaped Bohar, a scary creature in appearance. Tall as about two giant-bodied men together, with a huge head completely disproportionate to the rest of his body. His power was unreal and he often panicked the innocent natives.

Of course, Gaur and Tarzan could not face him in a "melee" battle, but they always managed to emerge victorious thanks to their experience and intelligence. Another hero with an important role was Nachra-Doo, a monstrous one-eyed magician with unlimited supernatural abilities. He lived in an underground cave with scorpions and snakes.

He had a strange character: Sometimes he fought our heroes and sometimes he helped them to face the great calamities that at times threatened the jungle.

The representative of the good was the missionary Johanna, a beautiful white girl who traveled the jungle teaching the natives the word of the "true God", so that they would stop believing in the jungle god Kraumba, as they had done until then… The good old doctor Houhla, who with her miraculous herbs and her vast knowledge was always willing to heal any sick or injured person who asked for her help ..

Sporadic appearances in the jungle were made by Dr. Juke, a stocky and funny-looking scientist who was looking for rare butterflies he was studying, while completing his vast collection. Pokopiko had given him the nickname Count Tzoutzoukos. At this point we must mention Tarzan's son, the successor to the jungle that everyone called "Baby". He was a troubled kid, in comical ways, laughing in a very funny way (hi-hi-hi)… Baby was another attempt to diminish Tarzan's prestige that Routsos was trying to pass on to his readers as part of Gaur's exaltation. But it seems that the "Tarzan" readers were not happy with all this. They saw that Tarzan did not have a son worthy of him and many had expressed their dissatisfaction.

So the otherwise prudent writer once received the message. And he transformed the funny Baby into a handsome, smart, brave and kind-hearted young man. But how was such a subversive change justified? Baby had a terrifying experience when he was young that shocked him. And his body had reacted in a way that made him look stupid and retarded. At some point, however, a new equally frightening experience happened to him. And after this new shock finally came together.

The healed young man has changed radically. He threw away his useless glasses, changed his uniform (ie swimsuit) and the reading acquired another dynamic hero. Of course, he also changed his name: From Baby to Krajabu, as his godfather decided. Who was he? But the awesome Pokopiko of course! It should be noted that Krajabu was a name particularly liked by Rutso. He had used it again in many fairy tales that he wrote from time to time, as well as in a fairy tale that was given in sequels in some issues of the same edition. 

The transformed Krajabu therefore actively participated in the various adventures, with a very good performance. In the continuation of the issues of the 3rd period, we learn that at some point he also found his match in the face of a beautiful fourteen-year-old mix, Vanda, who thus became the youngest member of our company.


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