Concluding the run of Joe Kubert Tarzan Artist’s Edition is Tarzan and the Lion Man, from IDW.

Like other Artist’s Editions from IDW, it is a hardcover, larger sized volume of artwork (12″ x 17″), assembled from high-resolution scans of the original artwork pages. And like other Artist’s Editions, this one is glorious to look at.

What a treat to view the original artwork from several complete issues of Joe Kubert’s 1970’s run on Tarzan. As the foreword from sons Adam and Andy Kubert mention, this volume is from a time in the late Kubert’s life when he was working at the top of his game, but also working very very hard. So the pages were drawn rapidly, almost ‘from the gut’. This seems to show in the intensity of the panels. There are no wasted movements of the characters, no frills or embroidery. When this pared-down story flows so easily, it is clearly a result of Kubert’s practiced approach to storytelling.

The volume contains issues 224, 227, 228. 229, 231, 232, 233, and 234. Included is the full illustrated story of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ third Tarzan novel, Tarzan and The Lion Man.

IDW, Joe Kubert Tarzan Artist’s Edition: Tarzan and the Lion Man, $125.00, 180 pages of content.

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!