By the end of World War II, it became apparent with the advances in Western technology and the arrival of the Atomic Age that Africa was no longer "the Dark Continent". Its lost cities and hidden realms were now in constant danger of exposure, corruption and exploitation. Even with European Imperialism on the decline, there were still dangers from foreign powers and the local governments were hardly better. Thus, necessity forced the gathering of several great leaders and tribes that were unknown to the rest of the world and often mere legends to each other.
However such a gathering still gained attention from the more observant entities of the world so mny others arrived in the nearly unreachable GORILLA CITY, the home of a small population of super-intelligent gorilla-like primates. The summit was hosted by its ruler BAZAMAR accompanied by his son, SOLOVAR and his council which included a young scientist named GRODD.
From the technologically advanced kingdom of WAKANDA came its monarch, T'CHAKA with his advisors, the giant ZURI and the warrior ZAWADI.
Also arriving were representatives of the WAZIRI, led by their benefactor LORD GREYSTOKE, the LADY JANE and their son, KORAK, the Killer of Beasts.
The diminutive BANTU were there as well with their champion, the Ghost Who Walks, THE PHANTOM.
Other pro-African whites were there such as:
- KA-ZAR the MIGHTY, a blond, intellectual "jungle man" who was the public face of Greystoke's and the Phantom's interests.
- NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL who was nothing like the stereotypical jungle girl.
- CAPTAIN AFRICA, a young man clearly inspired by the Phantom.
- Also there was a middle-aged jungle ranger who went only by JIM. By a weird coincidence, he too was raised by apes in a different region of Africa than Greystoke. As he became an adult, the natives saw him and began calling him "TARZAN". However he was more isolated and only learnt a few words of English. Amazingly he also met and married a woman named Jane, who was of British and Irish descent. Soon after they found a child, the lone survivor of a plane crash, whom "Tarzan" pragmatically dubbed BOY. However the jungle family was forced to go to New York City when the bureaucracy tried to take Boy away from them. This garnered them much unwanted publicity but it brought DOC SAVAGE to their cause He helped them ensure their custody and he gave Jane a special curriculum for both her husband and son. But their New York adventure sparked the public's interest and, to their horror, motion pictures based on them began appearing. Greystoke bore his double no ill will and helped them maintain their more innocent lifestyle. After Jane's untimely death, "Tarzan" soon enter society as Jim while Boy kept watch over a section of their jungle where he was referred to as BOMBA.
- Finally there was CONGO BILL, the great big game hunter and the only Westerner to find Gorilla City on his own.
To be continued:
Replies
What about "She Who Must Be Obeyed" and La of Opar?
There's also a zillion other jungle queens, from Sheena to Rulah to Fantomah, but maybe they were all the same chick.
Are you implying that pseudo-Tarzan becomes Jungle Jim?
"She" doesn't play well with others and La will be addressed.
I picked Nyota because she wasn't like the other jungle queens and it lets me add a Fawcett character.
I was trying to find a way to have both the literary and cinematic Ape Men exist. Besides wen Johnny Weismuller became too old to play Tarzan, he started the Jungle Jim series.
Here's a list of more jungle girls to play with, courtesy of Wikipedia. If I were to lobby for any, it would be Fantomah (her powers would expand possibilities), Rima ('cause her book was so gorgeous), Cave Girl (again, loved Bob Powell's work) and Dhalua Strong (she brings "science hero" possibilities from Tom Strong). Also, Cave Girl knew Thun'Da, so that might be useful.
Camilla, Wild Girl of the Congo (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s)
Cave Girl (comics), Magazine Enterprises' Africa, Thun'da, and Cave Girl (1950s)
Cavewoman Meriem Cooper (Basement Comics, 1993-2006)
Dhalua Strong and, in a more satirical manner, her daughter Tesla (America's Best Comics)
Fana The Jungle Girl (Incarna Comics, 1989)
Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle (Fiction House's Jungle Comics, 1940s)
Irish of the Jungle (1990s comic book based on Irish McCalla, TV's "Sheena")
Jane Porter (Tarzan) (numerous novels and films)
Jann of the Jungle (Marvel Comics, 1950s)
Jano, companion to Voodah (Crown Comics, 1947), later revived by AC Comics
Judy of the Jungle (Better/Nedor Comics' Exciting Comics, 1940s)
Jun-Gal (1940s comic)
Jungle Girl, aka Jana Sky-Born (2007) (Dynamite Entertainment comic)
Jungle Lil (1950s comic)
Jungle Queen/Julie Winters (comic/TV series The Maxx)
Kara Jungle Princess (1940s comic)
Kazanda (1940s comic)
Leopard Girl (Atlas Comics' Jungle Action, 1950s comic)
Lorna, the Jungle Queen/Lorna, the Jungle Girl (comic book, Atlas Comics, 1953)
Marga the Panther Woman (1940s comic)
Ann Mason (Fiction House's Jungle Comics) and later Kaanga, Jungle Lord (1949-1954)
Meriem, wife of Korak (from the novel The Son of Tarzan)
Nyoka (Fawcett's Jungle Girl/Nyoka the Jungle Girl and Master Comics), and the main character in the 1941 movie serial Jungle Girl.
Princess Pantha (Better/Nedor Comics' Thrilling Comics, 1940s)
Prymal: The Jungle Warrior, Maelstrom Comics (2014)
Ranee, Princess of the Jungle (1950s comic)
Rima, the Jungle Girl, featured in 1970s DC Comics publications
Rulah, Jungle Goddess (Fox Comics' Zoot Comics and Rulah, Jungle Goddess)
Saari, the Jungle Goddess (1950s comic)
Safari Cary (1940s comic)
Shanna the She-Devil (Marvel Comics, created 1972)
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (comic book, launched in 1937)
Taanda of White Princess of the Jungle (comic by Avon Periodicals, 1951-1952)
Tanee (formerly Gwenna) in 1940s comic Jo-Jo, Congo King
Tangi (1940s comic)
Tara Fremont (AC Comics' Femforce)
Taranga (1950s comic)
Tiger Girl (Fiction House Fight Comics
Tiger Girl from Kaanga, Jungle Lord (1940s-50s)
Tiger Girl (Gold Key Comics, 1960s)
Tygra of the Flame People (Better/Nedor's Startling Comics, 1940s
Vooda, Jungle Princess, originally El'nee (Ajax-Farrell comic) #20-22 (1955)
Wana from Zago, Jungle Prince (Fox Comics, 1948-1949)
Zara of the Jungle (1940s comic)
Zegra, Jungle Empress (originally Tegra) (Fox Comics, 1940s)
PART TWO:
Other dignitaries began arriving:
QUEEN HIPPLOYTA of Paradise Island appeared via a "magic sphere" along with MALA, her captain of the guards and second greatest athlete and her scientific advisor, PAULA.
Representing the Undersea Kingdoms was PRINCESS FEN along with her son, the war-hero who barely spoke and was morose and in mourning. He wore a black armband with two white stars on it. Also with them was a scientist from another aquatic city, VULKO.
From the domain of ATTILAN came their leaders and chief geneticists, AGON and RYNDA.
In a burst of light and speed came the being known as HURRICANE. He clamed to be the god Mercury but Hippolyta knew better. Then he said that he belonged to a superior race that has existed for millennia and that he had news to share. He also seemed intrigued by Princess Fen though the scowl of her son put a quick end to that.
Two American heroes flew in to the shock of many. One was said to be the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian prince, now the Nth metal wearing Winged Wonder known as HAWKMAN. The way the Africans deferred to him only reinforced that theory which even surprised his companion. He was tall, blond and barrel-chested, wearing a ridiculously garish outfit. But he was also the Champion of the Green Flame of Life, the GREEN LANTERN.
To be continued:
I already have Nyoka and Jane Porter-Clayton there.
Thought about Sheena but wasn't sure what her deal was. But if she's there we don't need the rest.
I have to doublecheck Tom Strong's origin and his timeline. But his "father" is coming with unexpected guests!
Rima is one of the oldest jungle queens; she's originally from William Henry Hudson's novel Green Mansions (1904). The novel ends tragically. DC's adaptation changed the ending.
Sheena predates the first appearance of Superman. She first appeared in a British/Australian comic called Wags in stories supplied by the Eisner-Eiger shop. Information here and here (I owe these links to the GCD). The latter page says she debuted in a 1937 issue.
In Jumbo Comics she didn't get her leopard skin outfit until #10. Actually, she already has it on the cover of #9 but not inside, although the cover is connected to the story. The #10 story may not have been a reprinted tale: in the issues at Comic Book Plus her feature has a logo at the top of each page up to #8 and not thereafter, so I figure the pages in #8 were likely the last ones prepared for Wags (where presumably it appeared one page per issue). According to the GCD Mort Meskin and Bob Powell both drew for the feature early on.
(corrected)
Bomba started as juvenile novel series character. According to Wikipedia his series was initially set in South America and then Africa. Wikipedia says the movies were all set in Africa, and the poster shown on its page on the character has lions and elephants. But the story from DC's Bomba the Jungle Boy #2, which I have in an Australian comic, is set in the Amazon.
Some of the movies were edited into a TV series called Zim Bomba in 1962, so DC's 1967 series billed him as "TV's teen jungle star!" My guess is DC was trying to imitate the success of Gold Key's Korak, Son of Tarzan.
PART THREE:
The delegates stay separate for the most part though both Hawkman and Green Lantern exchange pleasantries with Queen Hippolyta, Lord Greystoke and the Phantom.
But all eyes turn towards the entryway when the bronze form of DOC SAVAGE emerges. Five men accompany him but not the Five they are expecting. Doc explains that his men are helping SHEENA and the other numerous "jungle men and girls" guard the perimeters of Gorilla City though they cannot see it. But he brought others that he felt were necessary for these proceedings:
Doc states that since the Gorillas are natural telepaths, indeed only a handful actually speak, and far stronger than normal humans, he felt some precautions were prudent.
But he was a bit leery of leaving Ham and Monk with Sheena and the other barely-clad women though he knew the ladies could handle them! And he did fear that Monk would go "native"!
To be continued
And Bomba was played by doughy white guy Johnny Sheffield who was also Boy in the Tarzan films!
Luke Blanchard said:
PART FOUR:
Suddenly the chamber was plunged into total darkness momentarily and when it was lifted, the advocates of the various magical communities were there:
They had several concerns over the safety of their own hidden villages and the future of magic!
To be continued!
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