Dell’s Tarzan ran from Issue #13 to #54 with photographic covers featuring Lex Barker. Tarzan fans were used to the green backgrounds with the single figure on them. (Much less engaging than the Jungle Triangles Fiction House used at Jumbo Comics and Jungle Comics.) With Issue #55 (April 1954), artist Mo Gollub began a run of covers that went to #79 (April 1956). With Issue #80 the photos were back with the new Tarzan, Gordon Scott. But for two dozen covers we got the wonderful paintings of one of the most iconic cover artists at Western Publishing.
Mo Gollub, was a Jewish -American artist who got his start at Disney Studios as an animator and lay-out man. He worked on Bambi before doing animation for for other shows such as The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and The Smurfs. While doing animation he also worked for Dell/Gold Key, drawing comics for realistic titles like The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Robin Hood, Mowgli and Korak. He also did funny animals. Not surprising, he drew the comic adaptation for Bambi. Later he would become the cover artist for Turok, Son of Stone.
Mo painted traditional jungle scenes, usually with Tarzan and one animal. (Monkeys, impalas and leopards seemed the favorite but we also got lions, crocodiles and rhinos.) None of these covers feature a third person in peril, Jane or other ERB characters. In terms of composition they mimic the photo covers, also copying their background palate. Despite the limitations, Gollub was still able to make this a fun portfolio.
