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Terry Hooper-Scharf

Monday 18 March 2024

Cinebook Ltd: BEFORE BLAKE & MORTIMER - THE FIERY ARROW



 Author: Jean Van Hamme; Illustrated by Christian Cailleaux and Etienne Schréder

Age: 10 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages

£10.99 incl VAT

 ISBN: 9781800440951

Publication: November 2023

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/before-blake-mortimer-the-fiery-arrow-p-4535.html

The Marduk expedition has returned victorious to Norlandia, bearing a precious sample of Uradium. Now the professor can test his revolutionary U Ray’s potency when combined with the miracle ore. But Austradia, the old enemy, won’t take this lying down. So the dastardly Captain Dagon didn’t succeed in stopping Marduk from finding the Uradium deposit? No matter! The Imperial Austradian Army will simply take possession of it in a military operation – and who cares if that’s where Prince Nazca’s people live?  

Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear I am told. This is pure space opera and the kind that preceded Star Wars by decades and influenced it in so many ways.  This new sequel to Jacobs' book is crisp and clean and the colour artwork is as good as you can get it. 

If the artist did not have fun drawing the costumes, scenery and action then it does not show. The twists, turns and discoveries are fun and that is what this book is; fun. No super heroes. No extreme graphic violence. It was rather like watching one of the old lost civilisation movies that were so popular in the late 1950s to 1960s -but those usually ended with a giant volcano blowing the island civilisation apart.

Fun and escapism is what we all need even if only for an hour and this book offers that.

The Tarzan Toys Mega Post -update

 


I have posted on UK Tarzan comics, Tarzan UK hardback annuals and a lot of other Tarzan stuff but not the toys. So here is some eye candy and I KNOW there are probably more toys out there I do not know about but...why don't you let me know?



The above I believe came from a blog called Stad's Stuff so (c)2024 Stad's Stuff

c 1960s/early 1970s?
Blue Box Tarzan, kneeling, firing bow and White Hunter, standing, firing rifle (Marx “Daktari” Jungle Playset copy) – bases marked “Blue-Box” Made in Hong Kong

A 1960s Lone Star Tarzan figure and also something often sold as a Tarzan figure but it comes from a water-skiing set so be warned.

The other figure (below) is a later Hong Kong one and it is the one found in the Fleetwood playset.

Located in Barcelona, Spain, Comansi is a toy manufacturer and distributor since 1962. Our core business is the plastic figurine category. We are focused on the licensed Figurines. Our figures are not-articulated, and are about 6 to 11 cm, depending on the character and license. The Comansi age target group are children from 3 to 10 years old..

The complete set can set you back 220 Euros and I believe it was made in the 1970s?

Looking at it any capable crafter or hobbyist could make a similar set easily.







Tarzan plastic figures DDR (that's East Germany) 80mm 1960 Germany
Elastolin, Germany, circa 1960. Do I own this one? No. Would I like to? YES.
Spotty pants is a 2inch Tarzan made by Gulliver in Brasil who also produced Marvel super heroes in that scale.


The other fella that looks like he is flying is another Gulliver Tarzan from 1973.


The playset was produced by Fleetwood of New York City in 1976. Oddly I have that Tarzan and the black leopard.

Pair of soft plastic premium figures of TARZAN & JANE by Ferrero from the Kinder Egg Surprise series, circa 1977, with green color variation matched bases. Measures approximately 2 and 1/4 inches tall (54mm scale), 
Tarzan from Boss Fight Studio
Tarzan and Jane Boss Fight Studios

Airfix 1/72nd scale Tarzan figures which came unpainted

Tarzan 'The Epic Aventures' Ideal 90s 


Press that square on his chest and he makes the famous call! I got this one unboxed and for about £3 ($3) "sound does not work" and when I got it I pressed the square...and out came the call!



And the Figures Toy Company This is an exact reproduction of the original figure that was produced by Mego. Comes with an authentic cloth outfit and black dagger. Oh, Jane, too.





Never seen the Disney animated film but it spawned Happy Meals Toys and more -some I do possess









The ERBZine site has other sets in its TARZAN ACTION FIGURES GALLERY OF DISNEY TOYS MATTEL (DISNEY) https://www.erbzine.com/mag13/1399.html

CLAIRET FRANCE FIGURES du ZOO vintage Tarzan et Cheeta


And some of my figures including the larger scale ones I bought from France before postage and import taxes made it something for the rich!


The elephant did not come with the Tarzan figure from France. I think that figure is just meant to be standing doing the ole Tarzan howl but I saw this elephant going for about £2 and -voila!

The 54mm (1/32nd scale) Tarzan is useful as a little Milliput to make a waistcoat and lengthen the hair and I got a Halcon Lord of the Crater Land. Seriously,I can't find anything really in 54mm for Tarzan and why some bright spark with a 3D printer has not started "Jungle Adventurer figures to sell beats me.


Update 19 03 24
These I bought from an Ebay seller who showed the set with a photo of the (I think) 1920s silent Tarzan film. He claimed this was a figure based on the movie. In fact it is a Jane figure from a playset with hair and dress painted brown (original hair was yellow and fur dress lighter)


I just found on my FB page some images from 2017 that are better.


Below is the Tarzan and black panther that came with him and I am assuming this was just a knock-off of the Herald Tarzan also used in the Fleetwood playset. The reason I write that is in the 2017 post I identified the figures below as being from Ludo a French company. Believe me knock-offs are nothing new -the old Airfix cowboys have been pirated over and over again.


Now that's it. It's 0100hrs so get to bed!