I wonder if there’s going to be a slippery slope for Disney’s Tarzan reboots?

Other than anniversaries, not many young casual consumers have seen a lot of officially recognised Disney’s Tarzan content in the past five years. Fair enough, the Disney’s Tarzan franchise is recently gaining considerably more attention from web consumers as they know it. If the Terra Mater show + both Sony’s and Disney’s live action Tarzan reboots do flop in both critical and commercial ways, an animated reboot will have to be webcasted on Disney Plus but can still be coproduced by ERB Inc. and Rough Draft, as it may as well become the former’s first fully digitally animated work. 

While the first Disney attempt, consisting of 3 films, a show and a musical, plus a couple of video games and plays, surely got stale pretty fast. Nonetheless, it thankfully didn’t stale so badly as to become sludge like the hundreds of fellow, otherwise wildly different Tarzan plays, video games, shows, comics and films, whatever official or not. The literary books are, increasingly, mainly an in between of these ridiculous extremes. 

A heavily updated Sony Pictures film series centring around Tarzan and his gang of fellow misfits is in the works and will have a high chance of becoming sludge as well. Even if the three Disney’s Tarzan films can and do get a live action-CGI mix reboot, it sadly will still have a higher chance of being filled with so much boring, sludgy badness too. Another Disney’s Tarzan reboot, this time being a cyberpunk anthology animated entirely in 3d CGI, can begin life as a webcomic storyboard instead. 

In almost all European Union nations, some African ones, and a couple of Asian states, many of their consumers are only recently starting to see more newfound Tarzan content coming into the shelves than ever before! Even funnier and more heartwarming is that said overload has long been there, but it only began to creak out on New Years Week 2021. Said New Years Week, seventy years (and about nine to ten months) after Edgar Rice Burroughs passed away, was when all the fully written Tarzan books made by him had to enter the public domain canons of most nations, excluding a few like the USA.

Disney’s Tarzan: Body Chart

My own Disney’s Tarzan reboot universe has a large and well detailed body chart. 

The Dark Horse, Gold Key and DC design roster 

Russ Manning’s smoothly flowing Tarzan design portfolio was influenced mostly by fellow artists John Celardo, Dan and Sy Barry, Jesse Marsh, Burne Hogarth, Hal Foster, Rex Maxon and (more likely) Ruben Moreira. Bodybuilder turned actor Gordon Scott, his friend Steve Reeves, Lex Barker, Thomas Meighan, Robert Ridgely, Horst Buchholz and Ron Ely were amongst the actors who influenced it as well. Whereas Louise Lorraine, Virginia Grey, Brenda Joyce and Goldie Hawn inspired his Jane Porter design portfolio, Manilla Martan, Chelo Alonso and Barbara Brylska were the main inspirations for his La of Opar design. His Korak design portfolio was influenced by teen idols Rickie Sorensen and Paul Anka, while his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design portfolio was influenced primarily by Olivia Hussey, Karla Schramm and Dany Carrel. Vanessa Brown and Joyce Mackenzie inspired his Alice Clayton design, whereas Kirk Douglas and Jerry Colonna inspired his John Clayton Senior design. 

Neal Adams’ Tarzan design portfolio was inspired by Rex Maxon, Dan and Sy Barry, John and Sal Buscema, Reed Crandall, Joe Kubert and Gray Morrow. Actors Harrison Ford and Jock Mahoney, former footballer Mike Henry and the late action star Peter Duel were its live action influences. His Jane Porter Portfolio was influenced by Joyce Mackenzie and Mia Farrow, while his La of Opar design was influenced by Vanessa Brown and Lauren Hutton. His Korak design was inspired by Michael Keaton and Peter Reckell, while his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design was influenced by Olivia Hussey, Susan Dey, Dany Carrel and Pam Grier. 

Joe Kubert’s moody and somber Tarzan design portfolio was inspired largely by fellow artists Ruben Moreira, Burne Hogarth, Hal Foster, the artist himself, Russ Manning and (more likely) Reed Crandall. Also influencing the design were the artist himself and fellow actors Robert Ridgely, Harrison Ford, Ron Ely, Lance Henriksen, Frank Merrill, Herman Brix and Lex Barker. Actresses Natalie Kingston, Goldie Hawn and Enid Markey once again made an impact on his lovely Jane Porter design portfolio, whereas Beata Tyszkiewicz and Diahann Carroll inspired his well mannered and surprisingly sympathetic La of Opar design portfolio. His, James Sherman, Rudy Florese, Frank Thorne and Joe Orlando’s strong willed Korak design portfolio was influenced primarily by teen idols Bobby Sherman, Michael Keaton and Dirk Benedict, while their moody but lovely Jeanne Meriem Jacot design portfolio was inspired by Olivia Hussey, Susan Dey and Karla Schramm once more. His Alice Clayton design was inspired by Jennifer Howard and Claudia Cardinale, while his John Clayton Senior design was inspired by actors Gordon Pinsent, Donald Sutherland and Kirk Douglas once again. 

Alex Niño’s Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by Chiaki Fuji, Akio Sugino, Francisco V. Coching, Burne Hogarth and Hal Foster. Actors Peter Duel and Ron Ely were amongst its live action influences. His Korak design was influenced by Hideki Saijo and Michael Keaton.

Jeff Jones’ Tarzan design portfolio was influenced by Roy Krenkel and James Allen St John. Actors Steve Bond, Hideki Saijo and Tom Forman have all made an impact on it. 

Mike Grell’s equally moody, but more colourful Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by artists Joe Kubert, Jesse Marsh, Russ Manning, John Celardo, Burne Hogarth and Harry Habblitz. Lance Henriksen and Harrison Ford were the models for it. Also influencing the design were the infamous actor Jock Mahoney and his spiritual successor Joe Lara. Veronica Castro, Diahann Carroll and Olga Breeskin have influenced his mysterious La of Opar design. His Jane Porter design however, is influenced in turn by actresses Mirtha Legrand, Jennifer Beals and Andie McDowell. His grownup Korak design is inspired by Robby Benson, Eric Stoltz and Michael Keaton, while Lena Horne and Andie McDowell once again made an impact on his gorgeous Jeanne Meriem Jacot design. 

Gray Morrow’s closely related Tarzan design portfolio was influenced in turn by artists Jesse Marsh, Gil Kane, Hal Foster, Burne Hogarth, Rex Maxon and the Buscema brothers themselves. The footballers turned actors Mike Henry and Miles O’Keeffe, along with bodybuilder turned actor Gordon Scott, were indirect live action influences once again, this time on something considered a different beast from its older Marvel comics cousins and comic strip relatives. His Jane Porter design portfolio was influenced by actresses Ornella Muti and Barbara Brylska, whereas his La of Opar design portfolio was inspired by actresses Dona Drake, Irene Bedard and Pam Grier. Michael Keaton and Matt Dillon have made an impact on his Korak design, while Libuše Šafránková, Barbara Brylska and Ornella Muti once again are his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design’s live action influences. 

Thomas Yeates’ Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by artists Joe Kubert, Hal Foster, Burne Hogarth, Russ Manning, John Celardo and Bob Lubbers. Christopher Lambert, Horst Buchholz, Joe Lara, Herman Brix and the infamous Jock Mahoney were amongst the actors who made an impact on it as well. His La of Opar design portfolio is influenced by actress Shuko Akune and singer-songwriter Taylor Dayne, whereas his Jane Porter design is inspired primarily by actresses Lydie Denier, Khrystyne Haje, Brenda Joyce and Joanna Barnes. His Korak design is influenced by model Markus Schenkenberg and actor James Marsters, while his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design is inspired by actresses Susan Dey and Joyce Mackenzie.

Dan Panosian’s Tarzan design portfolio is influenced predominantly by artists Erno Zorad, Neal Adams, Sam Glanzman, Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert, Nestor Redondo and Alex Niño. Actors Lance Henriksen, Giles Panton and Wolf Larson are amongst the live action influences on this stunning design portfolio. 

The Dynamite, Marvel and Disney design roster 

Greg Guler, Glen Keane and John Ripa’s Tarzan design portfolio is inspired mostly by actors Matt Cedeño and Tony Goldwyn, plus sports icon Tony Hawk. 

Boris Vallejo’s Tarzan design portfolio is influenced by the artist himself and Rex Maxon. Claudia Cardinale, Thelma Tixou and Goldie Hawn have made an impact on his Jane Porter design, while his La of Opar design is inspired by Julie Bell and Pam Grier. 

John and Sal Buscema’s Tarzan design portfolio was primarily inspired by artists Burne Hogarth, Rex Maxon, Ernie Chan, Bill Montes, Ernie Bache, Bob Lubbers, Jesse Marsh, Hal Foster and (more likely) Gray Morrow. Also influencing the design were Lance Henriksen, Charles Bronson and fellow action stars Calvin Lockhart and Steve Bond, the artist and his brother themselves, actors Steve Hawkes and Richard Yesteran, actor-producers Tony Goldwyn and Harrison Ford, and footballers turned actors Miles O’Keeffe and Mike Henry. Eve Brent, Sofia Loren and Bo Derek made a splash on Tony DeZuniga’s and their Jane Porter design portfolio, whereas Bollywood heartthrob Zeenat Aman and filmmaker Jane Musky inspired the iconic La of Opar design portfolio by all three. John and Sal’s Korak design portfolio is influenced by actors Peter Reckell, Tony Goldwyn and Charles Bronson, whereas Sal’s Jeanne Meriem Jacot design was influenced by actresses Virginia Huston and Dorothy Hart. The older Buscema’s John Clayton Senior design was based on John Hurt, while Dorothy Hart once again inspired his Alice Clayton design. 

Tony DeZuniga’s pretty Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by Chiaki Fuji, Nestor Redondo and Burne Hogarth. Also inspiring the design are idol Bobby Sherman and former actor Wolf Larson. 

Pablo Marcos’ rough and manic Tarzan design portfolio is amongst the first to diverge from those of the Buscema Brothers, as it is inspired in turn more by Rex Maxon, Bill Montes, Gray Morrow, Paul Norris, Russ Manning, Joe Kubert, Burne Hogarth and Frank Frazetta than by John and Sal Buscema themselves. Peter Reckell and Wolf Larson were live action influences on this Tarzan design. His Jane Porter design portfolio is inspired by actresses Christie Brinkley, Lauren Hutton and Barbara Brylska. His John Clayton Senior design is inspired by Peter Reckell and Horst Buchholz, while Khrystyne Haje and Angel Coulby have made an impact his Alice Clayton design. 

Bob McLeod’s Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by Frank Frazetta, Neal Adams and the Buscema brothers. Rosanna DeSoto influenced his La of Opar design portfolio.   

Gil Kane’s rough and tough Tarzan design was influenced in turn by Burne Hogarth, Gray Morrow, Rex Maxon, Hal Foster, Jesse Marsh and the Buscema brothers. Ron Ely, Miles O’Keeffe and Tony Goldwyn are amongst the actors who have made an impact on the design, as it is the oldest of three comic strip design relatives in both rosters.

Dave Hoover’s Tarzan design portfolio was inspired by Joe Kubert, Russ Manning, Neal Adams and the Buscema brothers. Also influencing the design were actors Jock Mahoney, Michael Keaton, Ron Ely, Wolf Larson, Tom Meighan and Gordon Scott. Lydie Denier, Connie Sellecca, Kristy Swanson and Jane March inspired his Jane Porter design, while Lynda Carter, Peggy Lipton and Shuko Akune inspired his La of Opar design. Actors Michael Keaton, Christian Slater and Matt Dillon have made an impact on his Korak design portfolio, whereas Peggy Lipton and Shuko Akune once again inspired his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design portfolio. 

Joe Jusko’s Tarzan design portfolio is influenced by Frank Frazetta, Gray Morrow, Gil Kane and the Buscema Brothers. Sportsmen turned actors Mike Henry, Miles O’Keeffe and Richard Yesteran, plus Matt Cedeño, Tony Goldwyn, Steve Hawkes and sports icon Tony Hawk, have all made an impact on it. Burlesque star Dita Von Teese, Voice Actress Rebecca Shoichet, Actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar and Olivia D’Abo, supermodel Christie Brinkley and filmmaker Jane Musky have influenced his Jane Porter design portfolio, while Zeenat Aman and Pam Grier influenced his La of Opar design. Sports icon Tony Hawk, plus teen idols Robby Benson and Peter Reckell, have all inspired his Korak design portfolio, while Susan Dey and Lena Horne were live action influences for his Jeanne Meriem Jacot design portfolio. 

Eric Battle’s Tarzan design is inspired primarily by Dave Hoover, Jeff Jones, Russ Manning and the Buscema brothers. Actors Christopher Lambert, Adam Beach, Casper Van Diem, Wolf Larson and Joe Lara were live action influences, on a design related more closely to that of Jeff Jones than to those of the Buscema brothers. 

Roberto Castro’s ghetto fabulous Tarzan design portfolio is predominantly influenced by Joe Kubert, Glen Keane, Alex Niño, Rudy Florese, Jeff Jones, Frank Frazetta, Eric Battle and the Buscema brothers. Alexander Skarsgard, Keanu Reeves, Alex D. Linz, Markus Schenkenberg, Christopher Lambert, Herman Brix, Matt Cedeño, Giles Panton, Adam Beach, Miles O’Keefe, Ron Ely, Jesse Williams, Adam Driver, Gary Dourdan, Casper Can Dien, Travis Fimmel, Tokala Clifford, Tony Goldwyn and James Marsters are amongst the actors and models who have made an impact on it. Margot Robbie, Rebecca Shoichet, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Valeria Mazza have inspired his Jane Porter design, whereas Amerie Rogers, Taylor Dayne, Cindy Crawford, Jane March, Brenda Schad and Christie Brinkley have made a splash on his and Wagner Reis’ La of Opar design portfolio. 

Rick Leonardi’s Korak design is influenced by Roberto Castro, Eric Battle and Frank Frazetta. Markus Schenkenberg, Travis Fimmel and Tokala Clifford have made an impact on it. His Jeanne Meriem Jacot design is inspired by actresses Jane March, Jessica Szohr and Libuše Šafránková.

Benito Gallego’s rough and somber Tarzan design portfolio is partly inspired by Sergio Cariello, Eric Battle, Joe Kubert, Gray Morrow, Russ Manning, Jack Kirby, Joe Jusko and the Buscema brothers. Along with Harrison Chad, Alex D. Linz, Brandon Routh, Matt Cedeño, Adam Driver and Tony Goldwyn, Tokala Clifford, Jesse Williams, Miles O’Keeffe, Mike Henry, Steve Hawkes and Richard Yesteran were used as indirect live action influences once again on a design related distantly to Eric Battle’s and Roberto Castro’s own. Also influencing his Jane Porter design are Margot Robbie, Rebecca Shoichet, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Dita Von Teese. 

Stevan Subic’s Tarzan design portfolio is heavily inspired by Roberto Castro, Glen Keane, Erno Zorad, John Ripa, Alex Niño, Eric Battle and the Buscema brothers John and Sal themselves. Alexander Skarsgard, Tony Goldwyn, Matt Cedeño, Miles O’Keeffe, Christopher Lambert, Tokala Clifford, Jesse Williams, Steve Hawkes and Richard Yesteran are amongst the live action influences on this design portfolio. His Jane Porter design is influenced by Olivia D’Abo, Margot Robbie, Spencer Locke, Rebecca Shoichet, Sophie Simnett, Dita Von Teese and Christie Brinkley. 

Roy Allan Martinez’s Tarzan design portfolio is inspired by Joe Kubert, Glen Keane, John Ripa, Greg Guler and Roberto Castro. James Marsters, Christopher Lambert, Giles Panton, Tony Goldwyn and Daniel Frogson have an impact on it. Also influencing his Jane Porter design are Sophie Simnett, Spencer Locke, Dita Von Teese, Rebecca Shoichet, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ava Marilyn. 

Afterword

Vu-D, a little known DeviantArt veteran, has proposed a Tarzan design that would make Glen Keane, John Ripa, Greg Guler, Eric Battle, Roberto Castro, Benito Gallego, Stevan Subic and Roy Allan Martinez proud. Also helping is that, despite their questionable views, I respect both Stevan Subic and Benito Gallego’s magnificent works and I know how to separate them from the artists themselves.

But I wonder if illustrators like them will update and multiply their own Tarzan designs for a whole new era? They can and will do it, but for now, it’s very unlikely. Not only do I have a motley of iconic Tarzan designs to mess with, I can turn them all into different characters in their own right when it’s necessary to do so. 

The Big P Productions Timeline

While P Productions has a rather prominent tokusatsu catalog, it is a stockholder primarily known outside of Japan for its UltraMan competitor SpectreMan. 

1964

Its first animated show was the anime adaptation of Kyoto prefecture native Naoki Tsuji’s (controversial and downright values dissonant) second best known manga, 0 Sen Hayato. Naoki Tsuji went on to create the famed art of the original Tiger Mask mangas by the infamous late Ikki Kajiwara. 

It was a subcontractor for a few episodes of the first animated Astro Boy show in 1964. 

1965

Its only adaptation of a Mitsuteru Yokoyama manga was the pilot of a scrapped anime based on Spaceship Red Shark. 

1966

Its first live action success on international airwaves was the tokusatsu adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s own battle giant manga Ambassador Magma, itself the first major colour Toku in world history other than the first show under the UltraMan name.

1967

Its only anime adaptation of a Shotaro Ishinomori manga was that of Don Kikko. 

Its first original animated tv show was the anime Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon (aka Little Monster Yadamon).

Its first live action tv work was the Jidaigeki tv Dorama Kaze. 

Its first original tokusatsu tv show was the Monster Prince, which succeeded in a couple of Asian nations but flopped hard in Japan. 

1971 

Its biggest international original success by far, SpectreMan, began that year. 

1972

The Lion Maru Trilogy began with Kaiketsu Lion Maru, one of its biggest international original successes by far. 

1973 

Kaiketsu Lion Maru ended up with a much less popular (although still good, but not great) sequel, Fuun Lion Maru. The trilogy would remain only two thirds complete until 2006. 

The Lion Maru Trilogy begat an honorary Kamen Rider style spin-off, Iron Man Tiger Seven. 

1983

Its last subcontracted animated movie and tv show were from a Mainland Chinese-Japanese-German coproduced franchise, TaoTao, which heroically remains partly responsible, in an ironic twist, for the fall of Communism in Albania. 

2006 

The Lion Maru trilogy + Iron Man Tiger Seven formally ended with the darker and edgier Lion Maru G. 

Forgotten Pulp Heroes that deserve adaptations

It’s fair to say that, although American pulp is a contentious topic, it does have its defenders and fellow fans. 

A few Anime and Manga industry notes

Here are some notes from the greatest anime and manga industry talents. 

Most constant super couples and love teams 

Go Nagai and Junko Higo.

Leiji Matsumoto and Miyako Maki (ups and downs).

Yoshihiro Togashi and Naoko Takeuchi (ups and downs).

Kōji Morimoto and Atsuko Fukushima. 

Hideaki Anno and Moyoco Anno (ups and downs). 

Hayao Miyazaki and Akemi Ota (ups and downs).

Yoichi Kotabe and Reiko Okuyama (1963-2007). 

Mamoru Nagano and Maria Kawamura (disappointingly screwed up, isn’t it).

Azure Konno and Ayami Kazama.

Most constant siblings

Noboru, Tetsuji and Satsuko Okamoto (the former two died in 2021): do note that these siblings are just three out of painter Toki Okamoto's slightly under a dozen offspring. 

Masashi and Seishi Kishimoto. 

Yasutaka and Go Nagai: do note that these guys are just two out of five brothers, as their two older brothers and younger brother are much lesser known. 

Jenny Dolls

Licca, Jenny and Chabel Dolls 

Ellie (1987) 

Starlight Jenny (1989) 

18 Summer Resort Jenny (1989) 

Princess Jenny (1990)

Chabel’s Mama and Papa (1990) 

Romani Chabel and Danny (1990) 

Melli and Zos (1990) 

Idol Jennies (1991 and 2002)

Tom (1992) 

Ellie’s Club Raph (1992) 

Rainbow Jenny (1993) 

Juliana (1994) 

Nanny Licca (1996) 

Super Action Skateboarding Jenny (1996) 

Kindergarten Licca (1997) 

Calendar Girl Rasta Jenny (2000) 

Calendar Girl Folk Jenny (2000) 

Photogenic Jennies (2000): note that the Platinum, Gold and Chocolate Photogenic Jennies are different variants.  

15 Age Jenny (2000) 

Mama (2001)

Tomoki (2001) 

Shiny Brilliant Jenny (2004) 

Takumi (2005) 

The future that not even George Orwell could tell you about

Imagine a practically dystopian world where addiction to digital equipment is only just the beginning? Definitely. 

I'm so hypocritical to a considerable extent about this possibility. Not only is that mostly true, I'm actually a chronic phone addict who wrote this article. 

A few members from the majority of future minority world children, if they're born to their future parents at all, will unpredictably have hereditary addiction-related disorders; perhaps because most of said future parents will have spent much of their lives being hyper-addicted to a corporatized variant of the net, (gasp) even when they're kids already. It's quite a worry, even as the majority of the world's future humans are starting to get addicted (to a growing extent) to the net.

Understandably, the most screwed up humans are unfortunately winning far too much in terms of net addiction, which gets more harrowing, due to factors such as varying levels dysfunction and a parent’s relative inability to constantly remind children of actual threats.