ERBzine 8227a: Drabbles JUNE 16-30, 2026

June 16: On this day in 1937, Edgar Rice Burroughs created a book of poetry and illustrations for his stepdaughter, Caryl Lee, In 2007. Burroughs fan and historian, Frank Puncer published a facsimile edition limited to 100 copies.

The handwritten special edition was limited to one copy and contained the two poems, “The Ballad of the B’s” and “It’s Ants.” The book also contains uncredited illustrations, but they look remarkably similar to John Coleman Burroughs’ illustrations for Tarzan Jr. That’s a guess on my part.

Most of the book can be viewed at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6285.html

The drabble for today was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and it’s a few lines excerpted from the poetry, “The Balland of the B’s and It’s Ants.” The Ballad of the B’s takes place during an automobile trip through Arizona. The entire poem and reproductions of the illustrations are available at the link above.

THE BALLAD OF THE B'S AND IT'S ANTS
The wind she blew near Kingman town
She nearly blew the damn trees down
Where we were camped that night
And tortured souls came out of holes
And shrieked around the bending boles
And laughed as we took flight
We stalled and stopped upon a grad
While strong men fainted in the shade
You pooshed and grunted in the heat,
And fought for every inch you made.
There were no strong men nor shade
I wonder what is wrong with us
And why the dither and the fuss.
It seems there’s something in our pants

My diagnosis is: It’s ants.

YOU'RE NOBODY UNTIL YOU'RE IN MAD MAGAZINE

6/16/2026 2931 June 17: On this day on 1927, artist Wally Wood was born. Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, widely known for his work on EC Comics' titles such as Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, and MAD Magazine from its inception in 1952 until 1964, as well as for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and work for Warren Publishing's Creepy. He drew a few early issues of Marvel's Daredevil and established the title character's distinctive red costume. Wood created and owned the long-running characters Sally Forth and Cannon. EC publisher William Gaines once stated, "Wally may have been our most troubled artist ... I'm not suggesting any connection, but he may have been our most brilliant." In his long career, he pretty much illustrated every comic you can imagine.

Much of is Edgar Rice Burroughs’ themed work was humorous and done for Mad Magazine. A nice article about the artist is located at:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6234.html

The completely fictional drabble for today, “You’re Nobody Until You’re In Mad Magazine. is a tribute to Wallace Wood and his work.

YOU'RE NOBODY UNTIL YOU'RE IN MAD MAGAZINE

John Coleman Burroughs said, “Hulbert, have you seen the new Mad Magazine. It makes fun of Tarzan.”

“I did. I love that guy Wood’s artwork.”

“Should we write them a cease-and-desist letter.”

“Let’s not. The parody might help us sell a few books.”

“So you’re okay with it.”

“Sure. Public figures are fair game for parodies. Dad would have loved it.”

“You think?

“Wood parodied Peanuts and Superman. As long as nobly thinks Wood's story is part of the official cannon, I’m not going to sally forth and make trouble.”

“Hulbert, I know what you did there.”

“Proved my point.”

PREDATOR OR PREY

June 18: On this day in 1996, Dark Horse Comics published “Tarzan Versus Predator At the Earth’s Core, #4.” How’s that for a mash-up title and mixed universe crossover. The series ran for a total of four issues. A wonderful article about the series by Rill Ross is located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag11/1156.html

The final episode in this series was titled, THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE. It was written by Walter Simonson, illustrated by Lee Weeks, lettered by Vickie Willimas, and colored by Perry McNamee. Weeks also drew the cover. A very short summary of the limited series is that Tarzan goes to Pellucidar where he teams up with David Innes to stop the trophy-hunting aliens, who have teamed up with the Mahars. When Tarzan discovers that Jane’s scarf has been taken as a trophy, he goes mad with rage and works with the local humans to attack the evil Predator/Mahar alliance. In a final battle that owes a little to the film, Independence Day, he destroys the Predator mother ship.

The drabble for today is, “Predator or Prey, and it was inspired by the comic series, the Predator films, and of course, Tarzan of the Apes.

PREDATOR OR PREY

Tarzan confronted the Predator huntsman. “You have a mighty galactic spanning civilization. Why continue to hunt and fight other creatures?

The predator smiled. “The hunt and the fight are the only things that matters. You of all humans should understand that. The spoils of victory are the seasoning that makes life worth living. The food tastes sweeter, loving is more intense, and even the air reeks with the tang of renewed life.”

Tarzan bared his teeth. “Easy to say when you’re the lion, not the deer.”

“Human, you understand.”

Tarzan drew his knife. “Creature, you call me lion, not human.”

SHIPS THAT PASS

June 19: On this day in 1999, Dark Horse Comics published Russ Manning’s Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar as a graphic novel. This makes two consecutive days that my posts have been about Dark Horse Comics products. That wasn’t planned. In my quest to avoid repetition, today's and yesterday’s subjects were the next on my list for these dates.

Manning took over the Tarzan comic from the ailing Jesse Marsh in 1965 and used the opportunity to create faithful graphic adaptations of the first ten Burroughs Tarzan novels (assisted by writer Gaylord DuBois). Dark Horse has reprinted the first seven novels from this Gold Key series in three volumes of graphic novels: Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan and Jewels of Opar, and Tarzan the Untamed. Gaylord DuBois scripted “Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. Dark Horse has trade paperbacks of the comic available at: https://www.darkhorse.com/.../edgar-rice-burroughs.../

A wealth of information about Russ Manning and his work is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag8/0830.html and https://www.erbzine.com/manning/

The drabble for today, “Ships That Pass,” was inspired by Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar,” and the Gold Key Comics adaption of that story by Russ Manning. A little credit goes to Humphrey Bogart in the film, “Sirocco.”

SHIPS THAT PASS

La, the High Priestess of Opar, freed Tarzan from the sacrificial altar. She smothered the apeman with kisses. “Stay with me. We’ll rule Opar together.”

Tarzan pushed her away. “I have strong feelings for you, but I have a wife. Come with me and Jane and I will help you build a new life in civilization.”

La’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t leave my people. My duty is to protect them.”

Tarzan nodded and turned away. “Love and duty are hard to reconcile. I don’t know if I’m too good for you or if you’re too good for me.”

IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE

June 20: On this day in 1954, actor Actor Miles O’Keeffe, who starred with Bo Derek in TARZAN THE APE MAN (1982), was born in Ripley, Tennessee. O’ Keefe was a college football player at Mississippi State and the University of the South. After working in the Tennessee penal system, O’Keeffe moved to California to play semi-pro rugby. After appearing in the Tarzan film, he made another two dozen or so films, the best known of which are the three ATOR, THE FIGHTING EAGLE films.

A great deal of information and several photographs about the film are available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2150.html

The drabble for today, ‘It’s Only Make Believe,” is taken from an interview with Miles O’Keeffe, slightly edited to fit the 100-word drabble format. A tip of Bo’s pith helmet to the Conrad Twitty and Lorretta Lynn song of the name.

IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE

As actors, all we do is pretend. People can make acting into a science all they want, but it’s just make believe. It’s a silly way to make a living. I look at acting as a job. I figure that if I can just stay clear about who I am and keep working and have other things in my life that mean something to me like friends and family, I’ll maintain some sanity. I don’t like playing heroes who are good through and through, because nobody is. It’s more fun to play people who have had bad in their life.

IT'S YOUR FUNERAL

June 21: On this day in 1945, the Rex Maxon scripted and illustrated Tarzan daily comic story arc, “The Ivory Band,’ concluded after fifty-eight episodes. It was preceded by the story arc, “Bogdu the Ape,”and followed by the story arc, “The Sad Gorilla.” The Ivory Band, as you might expect, are poachers. Tarzan tells their leader, “The ivory belongs to the elephants. You must give up your adventure.” They don’t and capture Jane. Things never work at well for men who take Jane captive. The story ends with the poachers defeated and Tarzan promising to lead a native tribe to the elephants’ graveyard, which seemed out of character to me.

Read the entire story arc at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag54/5473.html

The drabble for today, ‘It’s Your Funeral,” was inspired by the comic arc, “The Ivory Band,” especially the ending – which I thought didn’t reflect Tarzan’s normal behavior.

IT'S YOUR FUNERAL

The tribal chieftain said, “Tarzan, it’s good you’ve led us to the elephants’ graveyard, but I don’t see any dead elephants.”

“The elephants will be here soon enough.”

“Living elephants? I thought we were here to take ivory from the dead. We won’t release your wife until we have the ivory.”

Tarzan smiled and gave out with a mighty cry. Hundreds of elephants stampeded through the jungle and trampled the greedy natives.

Tarzan patted the largest elephant. “Tantor, I told him this was the elephants’ graveyard, but I didn’t tell him that this was where ivory hunters go to die.”

INCA, DINCA, DO

June 22: On this day in 1951 Bob Lubbers illustrated and Dick Van Buren scripted Sunday story arc, Tarzan and the Incas, concluded after a run of seventeen weekly episodes. I don’t know much about the story arc, because, like almost all of the Bob Lubbers illustrated Tarzan newspaper comics, this one hasn’t been reproduced in print or on line. Lubbers illustrated the Tarzan Sunday comic for a little over three years.

I was able to find the original art for two installments for sale on line. It was a little too rich for my blood. See much more about Bob Lubbers and his strips as well as links to his Daily Tarzan strips at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag48/4855.html

I’d like to read the Lubbers’ Tarzan newspaper strips. This story arc won’t go into public domain until 2047. I’ll be 99 years old. Something to look forward to. Since I haven‘t read it, that means that the drabble for today will be based on the one page that is included with this article and the rest is pure conjecture.

So the drabble for today, “Inca, Dinca, Do,” was inspired by the title of the comic arc and Jimmy Durante, the great Schnarzan the Conqueror.

INCA, DINCA, DO

Tarzan confronted the strangely garbed and short warriors. “You don’t look like you’re from around here. New in this part of the jungle.”

<>“Bow before you speak, barbarian. I’m the direct descendant of the mighty Huayna Capac and the hereditary ruler of the Inca Empire.”

“Incas? This is the Congo, not Peru. Are you lost?”

“No, my ancestors established mighty cities on both continents. I’ve come to reclaim this one.”

“There might be millions of people living here who might object to that.”

“Who would dare?”

Tarzan growled at the short warriors wearing feathered headdresses. “Well, Dinky Inca, I do.”

PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY

June 23: On this day in 1967, the John Celardo written and illustrated daily newspaper comic story arc, “Creatures in the Mist,” concluded after 45 daily episodes. The story is excellent. The art is inked in a very heavy style, it certainly stands out. The creatures in the mist are dinosaurs and cavemen.

Read the entire story at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag46/4684.html

The drabble for today, “Put Me Out of My Misery,” was inspired by the title of the story arc. Read the word mystic as two word, mist tick.”

PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY

Tarzan rescued the native, Akumba, from a panther. As they journeyed to Akumba’s village, they encountered an area enshrouded in heavy mist.

Akumba said, “My people say monsters live here, but what kind is a mystery.”

“There are no monsters. You are mistaken.”

“Perhaps I was misinformed. Strange men also dwell here.”

“A missing race of misanthropes, no doubt ruled by their mischief.”

Tarzan fired an arrow into the mist. “By mischance, my aim was misaligned and I missed.”

“How ever misfortunate.”

“Some insect has bitten my foot.”

“A mystic, no doubt. Did it bite your mistletoe?”

“Perhaps. I’m mystified.”

TOO DANGEROUS TO READ

June 24: On this day in 1944, Edgar Rice Burroughs had dinner with Eleanor Pauline Jenkins from Shawnee, Oklahoma, my hometown. She signed his autograph book. See it at https://www.erbzine.com/mag27/2792.html. I don’t know much about Pauline. I went to school with Newt Jenkins, but I’m not sure if he was related or not. In any event, Pauline was from the Redbud City, the home of Oklahoma Baptist University.

Ed made a note. “Hulbert took Pauline and I to dinner.” No clue if they were dating or not. ERB was a single man at the time, so it’s possible.

Hundreds more pages from ERB’s autograph books have been reproduced, starting at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag27/2776.html

The drabble for today, “Too Dangerous To Read,” is a completely fictional account of a conversational exchange during that meal. I can’t say for sure that ERBs novels weren’t in the library before World War Two, but I have first hand knowledge that they weren’t there in the 1950s and 1960s. Just a thought, in all of history, the good guys were never the side that banned books.

TOO DANGEROUS TO READ

Eleanor said, “Hulbert, Ed says that you’re a military photographer. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?”

“I don’t think so, but I really don’t remember. Are Dad’s books popular in Oklahoma.”

“Not so much. We got a lot of Baptists, and Baptists aren’t big on half-naked folks running around in the jungle.”

“Are his books banned in your hometown?”

“Banned is such a strong word. Let’s just say that they’re unavailable in the library.”

“So, the good Christian folks in Shawnee don’t read Dad’s books.”

“On Saturday night, sure. But none who would ever admit it on a Sunday morning.

TARZAN AND BUFFALO BILL AGAINST THE WILD WEST MONSTER MEN

June 25: On is day in 1977, Tarzan Weekly #3, a British comic book, was published. If you’ve been following these posts, you may have wondered why they’re almost never about American comic books. After all, Tarzan comic books were published in America for several years. The problem is that traditional American comics, published by Marvel, DC, Gold Key, Dell, and their predecessors, only put a month on each issue and the month listed had little to do with the actual date the comic was published. Typically, American comic books hit the stands weeks before the month listed on the cover. Without being able to determine the actual date of release, I choose not to list American comics. It seems silly today, Sometime in 1961, Marvel Comics published THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1.

Tarzan Weekly #3 (published by Byblos Productions on June 25, 1977) is a highly sought-after collector's item. It featured early professional artwork by the legendary Dave Stevens and included stories like "Tarzan and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show" and "Tarzan and the Monster Men. I didn’t include the cover with this article. The issues are in storage, but I did include one page of Dave Stevens’ original artwork.

The drabble for today was inspired by mashing up the titles of the two Tarzan stories, the title is “Tarzan and Buffalo Bill Against the Wild West Monster Men.” If it has anything to do with the actual stories in the comic, it’s pure serendipity.

TARZAN AND BUFFALO BILL AGAINST THE WILD WEST MONSTER MEN

Tarzan said, “Buffalo Bill, Cheetah told me that a dozen monsters are sneaking into the tent.

“We’ll have to stop them. All men, be they monsters or not, have to pay full admission.”

“I don’t think they want free admission. I expect they’ll try to eat the horses. The might even attack the women.”

“The horses can take care of themselves. We’d best hurry before these monster men find the women.”

“Agreed. I’m worried about the ladies.”

“Tarzan, Annie Oakley is with the women. If we don’t hurry, she’ll shoot them all and leave me to clean up the mess.”

PAPER MONEY

June 26: On this day in 1912, the Frank A. Munsey Company bought the Tarzan of the Apes novel for The All-Story Magazine with check for $700.00 written and signed on that day, and neither Tarzan nor Edgar Rice Burroughs ever looked back. A 1912 dollar is worth $34.55 today, making the purchase price for the novel over $24,000 in 2026 money. Not bad, Mr. Burroughs, that’s about $0.25 per word. Most magazines don’t pay that.

Countless editions of the book have been published around the world. Bob Zeuschner lists 126 American versions in his “Edgar Rice Burroughs The Bibliography” and Jim Goodwin lists 52 versions in “Edgar Rice Burroughs The Descriptive Bibliography of the Ace and Ballantine Paperback Books.” No doubt there are more.

I have 27 foreign editions of the book, from 19 countries. This doesn’t even begin to address daily and Sunday newspaper comics, radio shows, comic books, movies, television shows, games, puzzles, toys, slot machines, costumes, and cartoons. The list is so extensive, that I’m sure I’ve left something out.

The fictional drabble for today, “Paper Money,’ was inspired by that payment. A paperhanger is a man who wrote or knowingly cashes bad checks.

PAPER MONEY

The teller inspected the check Edgar Rice Burrough presented. “What’s this? A check from New York City? I’ll call the manager.”

The bank manager came over. “Mr. Burroughs, this is more money than you’ve ever had in your account. I’ll have to wait until it clears before I release any funds. Probably by next Monday.”

Ed said, “Couldn’t you just send a telegraph and verify it.”

“New York costs fifty cents.”

Ed handed over a crumpled dollar bill.”

“That’s my bottom dollar.”

“The manager said, “Cash it. No man bets his last dollar just to prove that he’s not a paperhanger.”

STORY TIME

June 27, 2026 and if I did the math right, I just realized that my 3000 Edgar Rice Burroughs themed drabble will be posted on September 1, 2026, Edgar Rice Burroughs birthday. I planned that when I started these posts almost seven years ago. Sure, I did. One thing that I learned from other pilots is when things work better than you expected, act like you did it on purpose.

Anyway, June 27, 2026 and today, at nine AM, the dealer’s room at the ERBcon in Raleigh North Carolina opened. The first presentation began after lunch. The event was sponsored y the Carolina Calots, a chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles. The event was well planned, well managed, and a hell of a lot of fun. Roy Thomas received the Golden Lion Award. He wanted to buy a copy of my new fanzine, “Crime, Comets, and Wild Winged Women,’ which is a tribute to prolific writer Ray Cummings, who wrote over 750 novels and short stories for the pulps and at least that many golden age comic books.

The drabble for today is “Story Time,” inspired by the encounter with Roy Thomas, who years ago after he took over Marvel Comics from Stan Lee, awarded yours truly a rare and honored marvel ‘No Prize.”

STORY TIME
Roy Thomas asked, “Is this your magazine about Ray Cummings?”

“Yes, I’m the editor and publisher. I also wrote one of the articles.

“Yeah, when I was at Marvel, I was the editor, publisher, and still wrote some of the stories. You don’t get to blame anyone else. Cummings wrote a lot of comic books. How much is it?”

I answered, “Ten dollars. I enjoyed your presentation.”

“I’ll buy one, please?”

“You can’t, but I’ll give you one. Your work entertained me for hours when I was young. If this magazine entertains you for even an hour I’ll be thrilled

NIBY

June 28, 2026: Homeward Bound Day from the ERBCON in Raleigh, NC. The convention was fun, professional, informative, and ran on time, an important item not to be undervalued. The event included activities for all four days. Great job by the Carolina Calots. On this day in 1996, “Dark Horse Comics” published “Tarzan John Carter Warlords of Mars #4 - Farewell to Mars.” An excellent article by Bill Ross about the Dark Horse Comic ERB publications is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag14/1460.html

The issue was written by Bruce Jones, illustrated by Bret Blevins, and colored by Cary Porter. Some sites list June 1st as the publication date, but I believe that is the date assigned because American comics usually show only the month of publication. I’m going with June 28th for the actual date,

Carter and Tarzan are battling. Carter wants to keep Tarzan from returning to Earth, believing that the knowledge that Mars is habitable will lead to an invasion of Mars (Barsoom) by Earthmen. Tarzan wants to go home.

The drabble for today, NIBY, was inspired by the story, ‘Tarzan John Carter Warlords of Mars.”

NIBY

Tarzan said, “John, I just want to go home. I don’t want to fight.”

Carter said, “John, I don’t want to fight either, but you can’t return to Earth. Once Earthlings learn that Mars is habitable, they’ll invade the planet. I don’t want condominiums in Helium.”

‘Mars is safe. I’ll never say a word.”

“Nothing known to two people is a safe secret. You can’t leave.”

“It won’t be a problem.”

“That’s what the Hawaiians thought, but they killed Captain Cook anyway. Now there are hundreds of high-rise buildings on Oahu.”

“You don’t want multi-family housing.”

“Not in my backyard.”

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

June 29: On this day in 1968, the Russ Manning Tarzan daily story arc with the unwieldy title, “Tarzan Jad-Ben-Otho Chapter Three, Tarzan and the Blonde Waz-Don,” concluded. The entire story arc was in four parts and ran for 258 days. The story arc takes place in Pal-ul-don, and features Was-Dons, Ho-dons, Tarzan, Jane, Korak, La of Opar, and dinosaurs. What more could you ask for. The storyline follows the ape-man navigating the dangerous, prehistoric land of Pal-ul-don to protect a unique, fair-haired resident, the tailed blonde woman, Jar-za, she who was born with no fur, and a blonde head of hair.

You can read all 258 daily episodes at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag26/2601.html

The drabble for today, “Fear of the Unknown,” was inspired by the story arc and the observation that different doesn’t necessarily mean bad, a lesson that as yet remains mostly unlearned.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

The Was-don leader used his prehensile tail to point at a young blonde female. “Tarzan, that’s my daughter. She has no dark fur and her hair is golden. I’m so ashamed. My people hate her because she’s different.”

Tarzan smiled at the woman. “Do your people hate me because I have no tail.”

“They do.”

“I believe that what you call hatred is but fear disguised.”

“No matter what name you give it, my people mistrust those who look different.”

“Looking different doesn’t mean we aren’t the same.”

“That sounds reasonable, Tarzan. But reason is weakest where prejudice is strongest.”

FAIR VALUE

June 30: On this day in 1930, the Edgar Rice Burroughs written article, “Entertainment is Fiction’s Purpose,” was published by “Writer’s Digest.” The date on the cover was June, 1930, but it appears that unlike

American comic books, the magazine was released on the last day of June. The entire article is available for your reading pleasure at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag0/0057.html

The drabble, “Fair Value,” for today was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his article “Fiction is Entertainments purpose.

FAIR VALUE

I’ve always realized I knew nothing about writing, and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly. My first stories were the best stories that I could write, and every story that I’ve written since has been the very best story I could write. I’ve felt that it was a duty to those people who bought my books that I should give them the very best within me. I’ve no illusions as to the literary value of what I did give them, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that I gave them the best that my ability permitted.

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