Brothers of the Spear Archives Volume 2: v. 2

I loved the occasional stories I read from this series when I was kid in the '70s, and now these have given me the chance to enjoy the whole series from the start. Watching Russ Manning graduate from being assistant to Jesse Marsh to developing his own inimitable art style is a real thrill for a long-time fan.

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It's great that Dark Horse is reprinting this series done by Western Publishing (first as a backup series in the Tarzan comic they did for Dell Comics) and later graduated to their own title under the Gold Key Comics line (owned by Western).This is the second of several (how many? Not sure, maybe about 5 or so) archives and reprints the strips with artwork by a young Russ Manning (not as slick as his later work on this series, Tarzan, and Magnus). You can see his work improving. I had read his later Tarzan work and his later work on Brothers of the Spear (stuff we should see in the next volume).The strip was kind of forward for its time, showing two boys (one black and one white) as brothers in Africa. (was never certain of the time of the strip, but I think based on the guns shown, all muskets, that this is probably mid-19th century). The black youth (Natonga) is the son of a Zulu chief, his adopted brother Dan-el is really the lost son of the now dead ruler of a lost white kingdom in Africa called Aba-Zulu. So the boys are on an adventure and would soon be married and be kings. In this volume, Dan-el is now ruler of Aba-Zulu, betrothed to a princess. But his rule is not totally secure, as he still has enemies with the 'witch men'. In adventures, Dan-El and Natonga must continend with this until Dan-El is married and the witch men are finally defeated. Along the way, the make allies with another kingdom, and Natonga marries the new Queen of Tungelu.This backup series ran in Tarzan #25-156, along with new stories in #160, 161 (by Manning), and later in #202 and #203 (by Mike Royer). Then they moved to their own title when Western lost the Tarzan license, and that series ran for 17 issues, the first 12 with artwork by Jesse Santos and the rest by Dan Spiegle.This volume collects the backup strips from Tarzan #68-109. So I am thinking it will run about 5 volumes. Can't wait for the next volumes!!! I think the next volume should reprint the rest of the backup series strip. I do hope they go on and reprint the work in the 17 comic books (which would be 3 more volumes).

I gave up my collection of TARZAN in a move to California, when I was a kid.I always regretted that because of the back up feature BOTS done by RussManning. Now I have those wonderful stories again. Dark Horse archives areamong the best reprint books being published today. I just wish they wouldreprint more Russ Manning stories that he did at Dell. He did a diverse amoutof work at Dell---77 SUNSET STRIP, REX ALLEN, SEA HUNT, MAGNUS,WYATT EARP, TARZAN, BEN-HUR.

This volume is 2nd in a 3 volume series capturing the comic book serial that ran in Tarzan comics in the 1950s and 1960s. Comic book captions and stories have space limitations, but all things considering, this a a fun read, lots of adventure in old-fashioned deepest, darkest Africa. For me it's a nostalgia trip. I don't know how young people would view the stories.