Tarzan Covers by Neal Adams and Boris Vallejo

I have to credit Neal Adams for getting me to read my first Edgar Rice Burroughs’ book – Tarzan of the Apes – in 1977. Having read his DC Comics work, Neal Adams was the epitome of what comics could be to a 12-year-old boy. That he did some of his best painting work on these covers for Ballantine in 1976 is what drew me to buy the book.

All the covers, except for the first one, were collected in a series of three portfolios published by SQ Productions (Sal Quartuccio). In addition, there are Tarzan and the Ant Men and Tarzan Lord of the Jungle paintings included that weren’t used on their books. In all, Adams had 12 of the 24 covers with his paintings.

The other 12 were done by Boris Vallejo and were quite different in emotion and execution. While Vallejo’s were painted with the lush techniques of the old masters, distancing Tarzan to some inaccessible romantic past, Adams’ work jumped off the page with the youthful American energy of the now. Adams’ Tarzan was alive, fierce and feral.

Adams sells prints, portfolios and other items through his website, and has a number of Tarzan pieces listed.


Neal Adams

Neal Adams 1 Tarzan Of The Apes Rough

Possible Tarzan of the Apes rough

Neal Adams 1 Tarzan Of The Apes Original

Tarzan of the Apes (scanned from book cover)

Neal Adams 2 The Return Of Tarzan Rough

The Return of Tarzan rough

Neal Adams 2 The Return Of Tarzan Original

The Return of Tarzan (Set A)

Neal Adams 3 The Beasts Of Tarzan Rough

The Beasts of Tarzan rough

Neal Adams 3 The Beasts Of Tarzan Original

The Beasts of Tarzan (Set A)

Neal Adams 4 The Son Of Tarzan Rough 1

The Son of Tarzan rough

Neal Adams 4 The Son Of Tarzan Rough 2

The Son of Tarzan rough

Neal Adams 4 The Son Of Tarzan Original

The Son of Tarzan (Set A)

Neal Adams 5 Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar Original

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar (Set B)

Neal Adams 6 Jungle Tales Of Tarzan Original

Jungle Tales of Tarzan (Set B)

Neal Adams 10 Tarzan And The Ant Men Original

Tarzan and the Ant Men (Set C) (available as a giant print from the Neal Adams store)

Neal Adams 11 Tarzan Lord Of The Jungle Original

Tarzan Lord of the Jungle (available as a giclee print from the Neal Adams store)

Neal Adams 13 Tarzan At The Earths Core Rough

Tarzan at the Earth’s Core rough

Neal Adams 13 Tarzan At The Earths Core Original

Tarzan at the Earth’s Core (Set C)

Neal Adams 14 Tarzan The Invincible Original

Tarzan the Invincible (Set A)

Neal Adams 15 Tarzan Triumphant Rough

Tarzan Triumphant rough

Neal Adams 15 Tarzan Triumphant Original

Tarzan Triumphant (Set C)

Neal Adams 16 Tarzan And The City Of Gold Original

Tarzan and the City of Gold (Set B)

Neal Adams 17 Tarzan And The Lion Man Rough

Tarzan and the Lion Man rough

Neal Adams 17 Tarzan And The Lion Man Original

Tarzan and the Lion Man (Set B)

Neal Adams 18 Tarzan And The Leopard Men Original

Tarzan and the Leopard Men (Set C)


Portfolio Covers and Prints

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio Cover Rough

Portfolio Cover rough

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio Cover

Portfolio Cover

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio A

Neal Adams Portfolio A

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio A LE Plate

Portfolio A Limited Edition Print (scan courtesy of Mike Angel)

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio B

Neal Adams Portfolio B

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio B LE Plate

Portfolio B Limited Edition Print

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio C

Neal Adams Portfolio C

Neal Adams Tarzan Portfolio C LE Plate

Portfolio C Limited Edition Print (scan courtesy of Mike Angel)


Boris Vallejo

Boris Vallejo 7 Tarzan The Untamed Original

Tarzan the Untamed

Boris Vallejo 19 Tarzans Quest Original

Tarzan’s Quest

Boris Vallejo 23 Tarzan And The Madman Original

Tarzan and the Madman

Boris Vallejo 24 Tarzan And The Castaways Original

Tarzan and the Castaways

Boris Vallejo Tarzan Calendar Original

1978 Tarzan Calendar

Boris Vallejo Tarzan Calendar

1978 Tarzan Calendar


The Published Covers

Neal Adams 1 Tarzan Of The Apes Cover

Tarzan of the Apes

Neal Adams 2 The Return Of Tarzan Cover

The Return of Tarzan

Neal Adams 3 The Beasts Of Tarzan Cover

The Beasts of Tarzan

Neal Adams 4 The Son Of Tarzan Cover

The Son of Tarzan

Neal Adams 5 Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar Cover

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar

Neal Adams 6 Jungle Tales Of Tarzan Cover

Jungle Tales of Tarzan

Boris Vallejo 7 Tarzan The Untamed Cover

Tarzan the Untamed

Boris Vallejo 8 Tarzan The Terrible Cover

Tarzan the Terrible

Boris Vallejo 9 Tarzan And The Golden Lion Cover

Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Boris Vallejo 10 Tarzan And The Ant Men Cover

Tarzan and the Ant Men

Boris Vallejo 11 Tarzan Lord Of The Jungle Cover

Tarzan Lord of the Jungle

Boris Vallejo 12 Tarzan And The Lost Empire Cover

Tarzan and the Lost Empire

Neal Adams 13 Tarzan At The Earths Core Cover

Tarzan at the Earth’s Core

Neal Adams 14 Tarzan The Invincible Cover

Tarzan the Invincible

Neal Adams 15 Tarzan Triumphant Cover

Tarzan Triumphant

Neal Adams 16 Tarzan And The City Of Gold Cover

Tarzan and the City of Gold

Neal Adams 17 Tarzan And The Lion Man Cover

Tarzan and the Lion Man

Neal Adams 18 Tarzan And The Leopard Men Cover

Tarzan and the Leopard Men

Boris Vallejo 19 Tarzans Quest Cover

Tarzan’s Quest

Boris Vallejo 20 Tarzan And The Forbidden City Cover

Tarzan and the Forbidden City

Boris Vallejo 21 Tarzan The Magnificent Cover

Tarzan the Magnificent

Boris Vallejo 22 Tarzan And The Foreign Legion Cover

Tarzan and the Foreign Legion

Boris Vallejo 23 Tarzan And The Madman Cover

Tarzan and the Madman

Boris Vallejo 24 Tarzan And The Castaways Cover

Tarzan and the Castaways


Marketing

Neal Adams Tarzan Ad

In-Store Sign

Neal Adams Tarzan Box Set

Neal Adams Box Set

Boris Vallejo Tarzan Box Set

Boris Vallejo Box Set


New eBooks

And here are a few with a new type scheme, one that puts more emphasis on the power of the image. I did the series up for personal ebooks.

Tarzan Ebook Covers 1

Tarzan of the Apes

Tarzan Ebook Covers 5

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar

Tarzan Ebook Covers 9

Tarzan the Invincible

Tarzan Ebook Covers 13 class=

Tarzan and the Leopard Men

Design © Scott Dutton 2011


Return to Barsoom Banner by Scott Dutton



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