ERBzine 8228: Drabbles JULY 1-15, 2026

WOLF IN WOLF'S CLOTHING

July 2: On this day in 1932, actor Brock Peters who portrayed M’Kone in S02E08, The Last of the Supermen, Ron Ely Tarzan TV series, was born in Harlem. I first learned about Brock when he voiced Darth Vader on the PBS radio production of STAR WARS. He was awesome. He appeared in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with Gregory Peck and in PORGY AND BESS. He played he reoccurring characters, Admiral Cartwright and Joseph Sisko, the father of the Commander Benjamin Sisko, Deep Space Nine, on Star Trek.

Read a review of the episode at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7431.html#39

In THE LAST OF THE SUPERMEN, M’Kone, played by Brock Peters, goes on a mission to kill the returned and unrepentant Nazis that killed his wife and young son. The episode is a wonderful parable about the dangers of letting toxic people back into your life people who could care less about your forgiveness because they can’t ever imagine that they’ve done anything wrong.

The drabble for today, “Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing,” was inspired by THE LAST OF THE SUPERMEN and a Georgian proverb, The message is clear, forgiveness is wasted on people who don’t acknowledge their bad behavior.

WOLF IN WOLF'S CLOTHING
Jai said, “Why don’t you forgive the Nazis?”

M’Kone replied, “They never apologized for killing my wife and child. Since they don’t believe they’ve done anything wrong, my forgiveness means nothing to them.”

“But, I was taught that we should try to mend fences.”

“The only fence to be mended is the fence that keeps them out of our village. If you don’t have clear boundaries, their bad behavior will escalate. Kindness requires wisdom. Blind forgiveness invites more exploitation ”

“Forgiveness won’t make them better people?“

“If you forgive the fox for killing your chickens, he will kill your sheep

MAKE ME AN OFFER

July 3: On this day in 1947, Edgar Rice Burroughs autographed “Tarzan and the Foreign Legion” to Jack (John Coleman Burroughs) and Jane (Jane Ralston Burroughs), adding a cartoon of Tarzan and a rhino. John Colmean did the cover painting and five interiors for the first edition. I consider this one of ERB’s best novels. It was published in two paperback editions by Ballantine and the reprinted by ERB Inc. as part of their wonderful Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library with a cover by Joe Juske and bonus information.

Details about the publishing history of TARZAN AND THE FOREIGN LEGION: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0732.html

The drabble for today, “Make Me An Offer,” is reproduced from the typewritten letter from ERB, Inc. secretary, Ralph Rothmund, to the “Managing Editor” of Argosy Magazine offering Argosy the ‘first magazine’ rights to the novel. Argosy didn’t accept and “Tarzan and the Foreign Legion” was never published in a magazine. On the bottom of the letter from Rothmund is a handwritten note, “Read by Norton Rejected.” Capitalizations and punctuations in the letter haven’t been changed from the original letter.

MAKE ME AN OFFER
Managing Editor

ARGOSY MAGAZINE

200 Broadway

New York, NY

Dr. Sir:

Mr. Edgar Rice Burroughs has written a full-length TARZAN novel which he has tentatively titled ‘TARZAN AND THE FOREIGN LEGION. We are taking the liberty of sending this manuscript to you, herewith, for your reading.

We are offering the American and Canadian Magazine Rights Only in this TARZAN: and if you like the story will you please make you best offer for the above rights.

Thanking you for your consideration of this, and with best wishes, we are,

Yours very truly.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

C. R. Rothmund, Secretary

GREATEST PATRIOTISM

July 4: The 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a day to celebrate the nation, our strengths and even our differences. In many ways our differences and our right to air them make us stronger. It’s hard sometimes, but I try to remember that everyone who disagrees with me aren’t my enemy and even more importantly, everyone who agrees with me isn’t my friend. It’s like the French say, “VIVA LA DIFFERENCE,” or something like that.

I won't remember to thank all of my friends and family who served, and if I left anyone out of this short list, it's not from lack of appreciation, but from lack of memory. Thanks for serving, Michael Wheeler, Doug Wise, Gloria Worthington, Brian Cooper, Henry Franke III, my brother. Lt. Col. George Lupton,, my uncles; Roy Norman, Donal, Bob, Sam, and Dan, and my cousins, Russell, Willian, Dan, and Mike Welch. And to some that I remember, but who are long gone,, Colonel Gus George, Sergeant Max Mayfield, Lieutenant Paul Cloar, and my classmate, Gary Farris.

According to ERBzine at https://www.erbzine.com/mag63/6335.html#JULY4, perhaps on this Independence Day in 1939, ERB supervised fireworks and radio bombs for the Los Angeles July 4TH celebration. On the other hand, he may have supervised fireworks at his home that morning. Los Angeles celebrated the Fourth of July on a massive scale, defined heavily by its booming entertainment industry, pre-World War II patriotism, and regional civic gatherings.

The largest event in the region was the annual American Legion Independence Day celebration held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Thousands of Angelenos packed the stadium for a grand synchronized fireworks display, with crews working throughout the afternoon setting up complex shells and lighting rigs across the field.

The 100-word drabble for today, Greatest Patriotism, is a combination of two quotations attributed to Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first about patriotism and the second about the 1939 Fourth of July celebration;

GREATEST PATRIOTISM
He who renders such service as he can is a true patriot, whether in the shipyards. the farm, a desk, or the trenches the best service he be fitted for, or able to give.

I superintended detonation of firecrackers and radio bombs for three hours in the morning and took them to the American Legion Circus and Fireworks Display at the Coliseum in the evening. There were more than 72,000 people there, but with my chauffeur dragging one of the kids by the wrist and I the other we managed to wriggle in and out without losing either of them."

OLD TIG

July 5: On this day in 2011, “The Life and Work of J. Allen St. John” by Darrell C. Richardson and Dennis McHaney published. It was identified as Volume One of a projected series of ten books, but the pair never published a Volume Two. There have been other works about St. John, “Grandmaster of Adventure—Drawings of J. Allen St. John: by David Spurlock to name one. Dennis Mchaney did publish one other book about St. John in 2006. “High Adventure features the ‘best” of St. John’s non-Burroughs work. It’s still available in paperback at: https://www.lulu.com/.../paperback/product-145mz56.html...

The drabble for today, “Old Tig,” is excerpted from an obituary written by James Dowd. The entire obituary is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/darrell/

OLD TIG

Dr. Darrell Coleman Richardson inhabited a world delightfully similar to the ones depicted in the pulp fiction novels he loved: bold, brilliant and bursting with adventure. Dr. Richardson's life included chapters as college athlete, Army chaplain, Baptist preacher, author, editor and Boy Scout leader. Along the way he amassed an extensive Edgar Rice Burroughs collection and became pals with onscreen Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller. "He was bigger than life," said longtime friend Greg Bridges. "Some people have too many irons in the fire because they don't know what to do with them. Not Dr. Richardson. He used every one he had."

WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME

July 6: On this day in 1939, ERB noted that it was almost impossible to find a first edition of “Tarzan of the Apes” and that it had taken him him two years to get one for himself. In 1939, a collector might happen upon one in a bookstore or be offered one by another collector. The only way to advertise that you wanted to obtain a copy would have been to write letters to others or run newspaper or radio ads. None of which would be particularly effective.

In today’s world, finding a copy isn’t difficult. A number of first editions are listed for sale on various online bookstores. The issue is paying for it. Copies without an original dust jacket, are priced over a thousand dollars for a “good copy,” Copies with a dust jacket occasionally appear and are almost always north of $25,000.00. Buying a first edition is a buyer beware situation. There are almost always dozens if not hundreds of misidentified copies for sale. If it doesn’t say A. C. McClurg on the spine AND title page, it’s not a first. A. L. Burt editions are not first editions. Grosset & Dunlap editions are not first editions. There are three states of the first edition having to deal with acorns on the spine and another issue, but if you want that information go to: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0483.html

The drabble for today is, “When It’s Your Time,” inspired by ERB search for a first edition of TARZAN OF THE APES, and my old friend from New Orleans, John Guidry’s, observation about book hunting.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME

Donnie said, “John, the only Tarzan book I don’t have is a McClurg edition of Tarzan of the Apes. I’ve been looking forever.”

“Well, Edgar Rice Burroughs finally found a first edition for himself in 1939. That’s twenty-five years after the book was published.”

<>“I sure don’t want to search for it another twenty-five years.”

John laughed, “I call your dilemma ‘Guidry’s Law. When it’s time for you to find a copy of the book, you will. But after you find it and buy it, you’ll find more copies all of which will be cheaper and be in better condition.”

YELL

July 7: Not much happened on this day that was related to Edgar Rice Burroughs. I’ve only identified seven events and I’ve posted about six of those over the years. On this day in 2016, “Baltimore's Rouse & Company” broadcast an eight-minute review the history of Tarzan films and yells. The self-indulgent program certainly amused the trio of hosts, if not the audience. The show included the “Elmo Lincoln” yell several times. Surprising since Lincoln was a silent film Tarzan. Lambert was a sound film Tarzan, but didn't. The program was available for a few years online, but it has been deleted by its creator. Perhaps they just got tired of laughing at their own jokes.

The trio either didn't know about or didn't bother with Frank Merrill's yell, but Bill Hillman has it, along with the Evolution of the Tarzan Yell at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag14/1482.html

The Tarzan yell was a multi-purpose cry. It was a victory cry, a warning cry, and a call to arms. Whether Tarzan had killed a lion or crocodile, was warning a group of evil-doers that the apeman was on his way, or calling for an elephant stampede, it sounded the same, a primal scream filled with the joy of life. The online advice about how to do that is: “Unleashing a true scream requires your whole body. First, take a deep breath into your belly. Next, tighten your stomach muscles. Finally, force the air out through an open, relaxed throat. Think of it like a heavy sigh but with intense power.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwHWbsvgQUE

The drabble for today, “Yell,” was inspired by The Tarzan yell. I thought Johnny Weissmullerr did it best, but Carol Burnett and Danton Burroughs did it well. Otis Day and the Knights deserve a mention, as do Henry Nicola Mancini / Ronald Isley / Louise Gold / Rudolph Bernard Isley / Michelle Elaine Charles / O'kelly Jr. Isley, the team credited with writing the song, ‘Shout.”

YELL

You know, you make me want to (scream).

Climb up a tree and (scream)
Throw my head back and (scream)
When I win a fight, I (scream)
To scare my enemies , I (scream)

I was king of the jungle when I was only 9,
Now I’m all grown up and I’m doing fine,

I want you to know
Said that I want you to know
Tarzan’s coming and if you don’t run away
This will be your last day.

You know, you make me want to (scream).

Climb up a tree and (scream)

Throw my head back and (scream

COME INTO MY PARLOR

July 8: On this day in 1968, actor Franik Lackteen, who appeared as Abdul in TARZAN THE FEARLESS and another two hundred films and movie serials died in Woodland Hills, California. Frank Mohammed Hassan Lackteen was an American film actor best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in nearly 200 films between 1915 and 1965, including several Three Stooges shorts.

Lackteen made his first American film in 1915 and was often seen as a villain in silent films. Many of his film appearances came in Westerns and serials.

Details about the film and film serial, TARZAN THE FEARLESS: https://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0595.html

Frank’s many appearances as a villain, in several of which he pretended to be a good guy or a reformed bad guy made me consider a current situation. An individual, who’s behavior had caused a number of us to break ties with him, invited us all to an event/party. What on Earth could be his motive. Then I remembered that this isn’t the first time this has ever happened. There’s the Mary Howlett cautionary poem, “The Spider and the Fly.” Game of Thrones had the infamous Red Wedding where the evildoer invited all his acquaintances to a wedding fesat and murdered them all during the meal. The Trojan Horse comes to mind as does the old, but ultimately true saying, “a leopard doesn’t change itss spots. There’s even a legend about the historical Vlad the Impaler. He invited his enemies to a feast at the church. He nailed the doors shut and burned them all.

The drabble for today, “Come Into My Parlor,’ was inspired by villains like those played by Frank Lackteen. You may never have known his name, but you knew his face and you know people in real life who behave like the characters he portrayed.

COME INTO MY PARLOR

Buck twirled his mustache and said, “I can’t find everyone I’m angry with, so I’ll let them find me. I’ll invite them all to a party.”

His partner in crime, a grifter named, Skeet, said, “I don’t believe that will work. They know what a scoundrel you are. They’re too smart to come to your party.”

“Those who believe I care their forgiveness rather than having my revenge will attend.”

“But everyone won’t be there.”

“I’ll pick the low hanging fruit first. It’s far easier to kill misguided people who believe they have a duty to forgive and redeem me.

A FURRY VEGETABLE

July 9: On this day in 1966, the John Celardo written and illustrated daily Tarzan newspaper story arc, THE RETURN OF I. B. POMPUS, concluded. The story featured I. B. Pompus, his daughter, Polly Pompus, and a movie Tarzan, Jingo. The story arc is fun, if somewhat predictable. The artwork was a bit irregular. The inking was too heavy for my taste, the frequently thick and dark strokes overwhelming the panels.

The entire story arc is available to read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag46/4601.html

The 100-word drabble for today, “A Furry Vegetable,” was inspired by the story arc and by those of us who are only condemn the behavior of others when such condemnation reinforces what we want to believe.

A FURRY VEGETABLE

Tarzan roasted a haunch of Bara, the deer, and offered it to I. B. Pompus and Jingo.

Pompus said, “I’m a vegetarian. No, thank you.”

Jingo tore off a chunk of venison and took a huge bite.

Pompus said, “I thought you were a vegetarian, as well.”

“My diet, like the diet and outrage of many people, is selective. I call it situational morality. Besides, everyone knows that deer is a vegetable.”

“How can deer possibly be a vegetable?”

“Easy,” said Jingo as he wiped grease from his chin. “Deer eat noting but plants, so deer are only concentrated vegetables.

DIFFERENT IS THE SAME WAY

July 10: On this day in 1914, Superman co-creator and artist, Joseph Shuster, who was perhaps inspired by John Carter’s ability to leap tall buildings, was born in Toronto, Canada. Shuster was involved in a number of legal battles over ownership of the Superman character. His comic book career after Superman was relatively unsuccessful, and by the mid-1970s, Shuster had left the field completely due to partial blindness.

He was inducted into both the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2005, the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association instituted the Joe Shuster Awards, named to honor the Canada-born artist.

Think about Superman and then think about John Carter. John Carter came to Mars from a planet with more gravity and had super strength, speed, and the ability to leap tall buildings. Same for Superman. John Carter had strong mental powers. So did Superman, especially if you are of the school of thought that Superman’s powers, unrelated to lower gravity, were actually mental powers. Superman and John Carter are both "strangers in a strange land" who gain god-like abilities due to a shift in gravity. Carter's 1912 adventures paved the way for the Man of Steel in 1938. Both are heroic outsiders who fight for justice on a world not their own. A quick note is that the 1938 incarnation of Superman was much closer to John Carter in his range of powers than is the Superman of today. Kal-El’s powers grew as the years went by.

The fictional drabble for today, “Different in the Same Way,” was inspired by the creation of Superman.

DIFFERENT IS THE SAME WAY

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster submitted Superman to National Allied Publications. The editor, Vin Sullivan, said, “I know this story. A man from one planet goes to another where he has super strength, can jump amazingly high, and is fast. It was A PRINCESS OF MARS.”

Shuster said, “Not the same. Earth, not Barsoom. Tights, not a fighting harness.”

“Both have alternate identities, Clark Kent and Dotar Sojat. One has a Princess and one has a beautiful reporter.”

“Lois Lane wears more clothes.”

“True. What else you got?”

“Superman doesn’t have a sword.”

“Curses, foiled again. Okay, I’ll buy it.”

UP A TREE WITHOUT A PADDLE

July 11: On this day in 1962, the film, TARZAN GOES TO INDIA, was released. The film starred Yancy Derringer, I mean, Jock Mahoney, as Tarzan. The film also stars Indian Bollywood actors Feroz Khan, Simi Garewal and Murad in pivotal roles. Over the years, an number of the actors who’d played Tarzan returned in cameo roles in subsequent Tarzan films or in one of the television series. Mahoney appeared as the villain in Tarzan the Magnificent, played Tarzan in two films, and then appeared three times on the Ron Ely Tarzan television series. He was the stunt coordinator on Bo Derek’s TARZAN, THE APE-MAN, for which he used an assumed name, Jack O'Mahoney.

Details about TARZAN GOES TO INDIA and several film images are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag19/1960.html

Tarzan Goes To India, the highest grossing Tarzan film at the time, was only one of the Tarzan films made in India. Bollywood produced several unauthorized Tarzan films over the years, many more than were produced in the United States. Articles about several of those films may be read at: https://www.erbzine.com/lupton/. You don’t want to miss ROCKET TARZAN or TARZAN AND HERCULES.

The 100-word drabble for today, “Up a Tree Without a Paddle,” is a quotation attributed to Jock Mahoney, he who played Tarzan in TARZAN GOES TO INDIA.

UP A TREE WITHOUT A PADDLE

I loved the role of Tarzan because it was such a distinct challenge. I remember being 40 feet up in a tree, sunburned as hell. And I thought to myself, "What is a 42-year-old man doing 40 feet up in a tree, getting ready to swing out over a bunch of thorn bushes that if you ever fell into you would be cut to ribbons and damned near killing myself to get up there?" So I laughed and thought, "Well now, who wouldn't want to play Tarzan? Neglect, carelessness and not clearing the stunt area are usually what causes accidents.

BEEP CALM, CARRY ON

July 12: On this day in 1942, Episode #32, Grim Experiment, John Carter of Mars Sunday comic was published in the four, that’s right, four, newspapers that carried the comic. The story goes that since the comic strip debuted on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack, it never got the attention it deserved. Also, war coverage limited newspaper resources at the time. UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE handled marketing and distribution. The flagship newspaper was THE CHICAGO SUN.

You can read every single installment at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag22/2284.html

In episode thirty-two, John Carter encountered a robotic swordsman named Oman. I must have slept through that encounter every time I read A Princess of Mars. Carter demanded that the robot take him to Dejah Thoris and the robot promised to comply. Carter said, “Oman, if this be trickery at your master's bidding," declared John Carter, "my sword will shape thy carcass into scrap metal!"

I’m sure I would have remembered that line. The word "robot" was first used in 1920 in the science fiction play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Czech author Karel Čapek, about ten years after the time when ERB was writing A Princess of Mars. Literary inaccuracies aside, the art is outstanding and the strip deserved to be in more than four newspapers.

<> The drabble for today, “Beep Calm, Carry On,” was inspired by “Grim Experiment,” and a little Shakespeare and just a touch of British resolve.

BEEP CALM, CARRY ON
John Carter drew his longsword and threatened the mechanical man. “My sword will shape thy carcass into scrap metal.”

“I will help you save Dejah Thoris. Don’t kill me.”

“Kill you? You don’t live. You’re only an oversized windup toy?”

“Not live, you say? If you prick me, do I not bleed. If you tickle me, do not scratches mar my shiny torso?”

“Bleed, no! Leak oil, yes. No tickling. Help me and live. Wait a second - are you crying? I didn’t think robots were emotional.”

“I’m not emotional. I’m just low on battery.”

“Get over it, robot. Beep happens.”

TRUTH IN FICTION

July 13: On this day in 1935, Ed began vacationed solo in the White Mountains, near Springerville, AZ. In SWORDS OF MARS, ERB revealed that the cave where John Carter lay in “suspended animation” was in the White Mountains of Arizona. Burroughs was stationed in southern Arizona at Fort Grant and it’s doubtful that his assignments every took him as far north as the White Mountains, but we don’t really know.

Details about the novel, SWORDS OF MARS, abound at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0736.html

The drabble for today, “Truth in Fiction,” was inspired by Ed’s trip to the White Mountains and in a small amount to an uncle of mine, who shall go unnamed, but who my father “the most successful liar who ever lived,” because after he told a story twice, he believed it himself.

TRUTH IN FICTION

Hulbert Burroughs helped his dad unpack. “How was your trip to Northern Arizona?”

“I enjoyed it. Most of Arizona hasn’t changed all that much in the last forty years.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

‘You remember I always told you that the cave where John Carter hid was near the little Colorado River in the White Mountains of Arizona.”

“I do.”

“I finally wrote it in Swords of Mars. I’ve told that story so many times that I’ve begun to believe it myself.”

“And?”

“I’ll be damned if that cave wasn’t exactly where I said it was.”

July 14: On this day in 1930, Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated moved into their new offices in Tarzana, offices that they still occupy to this day. To put that in perspective, ERB, Inc. is possibly the longest-lived continuous publishing company still in its original form in the United States. The ‘big’ publishers have undergone a merry-go- round of mergers, takeovers, sales, and closings. The only exception I can think of is John Wiley and Sons, established 1807, which is still surviving as a family-owned business. ERB, Inc. seems to continue to follow a simple, but effective, business policy, “Do one thing and do it well.” Promote and publish the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Thanks folks.

The FICTIONAL one hundred word drabble for today, “Do What You Do Best,” was inspired by ERB, Inc.’s successful business strategy. While the drabble is fictional, the message for success isn’t.

DO WHAT YOU DO BEST

Danton Burroughs addressed the board of directors. “We’ve been asked to begin publishing novels and stories unrelated to Grandpa’s works. I told them no.”

“Why would you do that. We’ve had Tarzan ice cream and Tarzan toys.”

“We didn’t invest in those. We got paid to let others use the name.”

“Why is this different?”

It’s outside of our core business. The bankruptcy courts are filled with companies that tried to be too many things to too many people. "We focus on our work, on what we know and we do it exceedingly well. Everything else is just distracting noise.”

July 15: On this day in 1982, a Japanese version of “The Son of Tarzan, was released by Hayakawa SF Books. The cover artist was Naoyuki Kato. Released on July 15, 1982, the Japanese title was “Tarzan no Gyakushu,” meaning “The Counterattack of Tarzan.”

Details about Japanese editions of ERB’s books, along with several covers, may be viewed at:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5842.html and https://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5843.html

A wealth of information about The Son of Tarzan, the book, the film, the newspaper comic strip, the Big Little Book, and the comic books, abound at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0487.html

The drabble for today doesn’t have anything to do with Japanese editions, instead it explores blame-shifters, people who actively blame others for problems that they themselves have created. In psychology, blaming is classified as a cognitive distortion in which a person assigns the responsibility for their own problems or feelings entirely to others. In simple terms, they be crazy.

BLAME SHIFTERS

Jane read the poster in Major Bouncingbutt’s Bookstore. It advertised the Major’s new magazine and a book convention to be held in the fall. “Major, you’re hosting the annual Publishers and Booksellers Convention?”

“Jane, don’t be a dumb-dumb. I’m hosting my own convention.”

“I see. You publish your own books, opened your own bookstore, and created your own magazine, because no one will publish or sell your books and articles. And now you’ll hold your own convention.”

“They hate my awesomeness. They’re jealous and conspire against me. Morons, liars, and fools, every one of them.”

“Well, I can’t imagine why.”

To Days 15-31 at ERBzine 8228a