The Apes Of Tarzan

One of the apes in Tarzan's life was a cub, which, if I remember right, the jungle man rescued once from a trap. Featured in one of the many adventures of Tarzan, this "balu" came to stay, at least for a while.

Within the space of a few frames of the comic book, the ape developed an attachment to the jungle man. This "baby" ape hung around for a while and got used to keeping watch over Tarzan.

He anxiously followed Tarzan around and watched his every move to ensure that no harm comes to him. He became the "guardian" of Tarzan of the apes, lord of the jungle ... al least for a while. The little monkey!

There was one scene in which the "baby" stretches his neck to the maximum while hanging on to a branch to get a view of what Tarzan was involved in. He spotted Tarzan perched dangerously on a rock.

The responsible "baby" calls out to Tarzan, "kreegah! tand umba," which when translated into English goes "take care, don't fall."

When hungry, the little ape approaches the jungle man and appeals "balu po," or "baby hungry!"

There were many other apes involved in Trazan's adventures too. Each of them make only one appearance, and their life span does not exceed the number of frames in that particular comic book.

However, if the story requires that an acquainted ape be present in some part of the plot in order to be part of the solution to a particular problem, that ape makes a guest appearance in that particular adventure.

Animals all around him somewhat gave Tarzan a homely feeling most of the time as what he was familiar with was what he was most comfortable with.

Sadly missing human company, the social life of the jungle king revolved only around the apes of the jungle and his daily dose of adventure.

During his leisure hours he used to hang out with those apes ... on the branches of trees of course!

Towards the end of his reign as King of the jungle, Tarzan had to leave the jungle and enter civilization as the idea of marriage had entered his mind.

A social compulsion of course. I wonder what influenced him!

Following him to the pier was one of his faithful ape friends, Akut. Akut sadly bids farewell to Tarzan, sees him board the ship, and watches until it is out of sight ... and even afterwards.

In fact, Akut hangs around in the vicinity for years and years hoping that Tarzan would one day come back.

In the meantime, Tarzan has assimilated well in his new life. Immaculately dressed in jacket and tie, Tarzan is now concerned about bringing up his son Jack McTarzan.

He is deeply concerned over the fact that Jack is most of the time up a tree, swinging from it's branches on to the balcony of his room, and his excessive inquisitiveness concerning the jungles and animals and deep interest in adventure stories that involve jungle life, apes, and the wilderness.

The jungle man desires not to let Jack acquire a taste for the life that Tarzan had led. However, Jack's DNA contains copies of the programs that Tarzan's DNA acquired while growing up in the jungle. The extraordinary talent that Jack displays makes this very evident.

As the story goes, Akut has now arrived at the city in which Tarzan dwells. This has been made possible by the kind courtesy of a gentleman returning from Africa.

Next, an animal trainer comes into the scene, and the result ... a public performance. Akut has been renamed Ajax and a performance in this city has been scheduled.

Jack hears a lot of this performing ape and expresses a desire to go to watch this show. Tarzan, not knowing anything about Ajax really being Akut does all he can to prevent Jack from visiting the show.

In the next frame we see Jack McTarzan seated in the balcony of the theater waiting for the performance to begin.

When Akut gets on stage he is alerted by a familiar scent! A scent resembling that of Tarzan of the apes, and former lord of the jungle.

It only takes one giant leap from the stage and one small step for Akut to face the source of the scent. The scent brought forward by Tarzan's direct descendant.

An excited Akut screams in joy, "Tarzan balu!" "Tarzan balu!"

Totally unaware of his father's acquaintance with this ape, Tarzan's "balu" Jack McTarzan is delighted by the attention he is getting from the star of the show. On the other hand, the reason for Akut's joy is that Tarzan has a "balu." And scents don't lie!

In the meantime Tarzan, looking for his balu, and knowing for sure where to find him, arrives at the scene. Until that very moment Tarzan did not expect the performing ape Ajax to be his long lost jungle buddy Akut.

The moment Tarzan enters the theatre, Akut's scent hits him strongly. Scents never lie and Tarzan reacts at once! Knowing for sure Akut is around, the jungle man screams out Akut! Akut!

Akut hears and like a bolt of lightening rushes in the direction of the voice. Tarzan rushes headlong in the direction of Akut's scent!

They meet!

Tarzan and Akut meet after several years. Tarzan cannot express his joy at seeing his long lost buddy, and Akut is delighted too, beyond description.

Sparks of joy kindled by the re-union of two long lost buddies created a tremendous impact all around as a hurried dialog took place between the two ... in ape language!

Meanwhile watching all this, Jack, Tarzan's "balu" was dumbstruck, totally confused, delighted, and amazed.

He continued to watch with his mouth wide open as his father and the star of the show hurriedly exchange information, trying to catch up on years and years of events ... of events from the past ... of their adventures in the jungles ... of this and that ... in a language that he had never heard before, in a language spoken only by the apes, in a language he never dreamt that his father knew, in a language knowing which, revealed and unfolded many a mystery of its human speaker.

Little would Jack McTarzan have ever dreamt that his father, who completely discouraged him from following his interests in wildlife, his interests in the jungle, was after all the one and only Tarzan Of The Apes, Lord Of The Jungle.

... concluded