The idea of Tarzan (or some other jungle lord) taking on the heavy weight champion of the world in a round of fisticuffs is a natural winner. Though Tarzan has no formal training, he is the supreme physical being. Can the results of such a match have any conclusion other than a KO for the king of the jungle?
The idea first showed up at the end of Tarzan’s literary career. Edgar Rice Burroughs, now 65 years old, should have been heading for retirement. Instead he was desperately writing novellas and other shorter pieces to pay for his exile in Hawaii. Having left a fortune and two ex-wives in the United States, ERB retreated to Honolulu, not for the beaches, but to avoid financial difficulties. One of these shorter pieces was “Tarzan and the Champion” (Blue Book, April 1940), one of three stories that would eventually be published as Tarzan and the Castaways (1965), the final ERB Tarzan volume.
One Punch Mullargan, the heavy-weight champion, has won again. And to celebrate he wants to go to Africa. His manager sees the opportunity for a big publicity stunt and off they go. While on safari, Mullargan and his pal Joey get separated from their local guides. The champ doesn’t care. He’s too busy shooting animals left and right with a tommy gun.
His trail of carnage soon brings Tarzan who knocks him down with two punches. The champ is mad now and the fight is on. The only problem is a hostile tribe known as the Bobangos captures all the white men, and takes them to their village to be put in the stewpot. While being tied to a stake, Mullargan begins to see the errors of his ways, realizing his wanton killing spree was pointless and cruel. Tarzan helps them to escape but Mullargan and Joey get recaptured.
The witch doctor is about to sacrifice them when a lion and his mate attack the Bobangos. When sabor goes for Joey it is One Punch who leads the animal away. Tarzan swings in and kills the lioness. When the three men get to safety Mullargen loses his cool and wants to beat the safari guide for his troubles. Tarzan intervenes and a real punch up follows. Tarzan knocks the champ out and Joey offers to make the jungle lord the “champeen of the world”. Tarzan walks away. The champ waits for Tarzan to leave before getting up, his nerve broken, his fighting days are over.
Burroughs sets the mold for all who will follow. Tropes include a cruel champion, animals attacking foolish visitors, the jungle lord besting the champ, and the champ leaving the jungle no longer a villain but changed for the better. DC’s Tarzan adapted the story in issues #248-249 ( April-May 1976). The two issue story was written and Joe Kubert and drawn by Rudy Florese.
“One Punch Mullargan” on Disney’s The Legend of Tarzan (airdate: October 4, 2001) follows the original plot, bringing the champ to the jungle as a publicity stunt. Tarzan accidentally knocks the champ out, incensing Mullargan’s wish to fight him. The match never happens but Tarzan saves the champ from himself and a herd of wild boar. The Mullargan of the cartoon is an “evil hunter” but not a tommy gun toting killer. The episode is narrated by the newspaper man covering the visit. In terms of essentials, it is a pretty close adaptation within the restrictive rules of children’s cartoons.
One comic was actually about a Jungle lord who was also a boxer: Oran of the Jungle. Featured in Fight Comics #1-15 (January 1940-October 1941), Oran had a childhood similar to Tarzan, growing up in the wilds. This heritage made him a strong opponent in the ring. The writer is given as Hugh Bartlett and the art was provided by Ed Ashe. Oran divided his time between jungle daring-do, taking on evil cults and winning prize fights. What makes this comic so ironic is the classic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight of 1974, when George Foreman and Muhammad Ali fought in Kinshasa, Zaire, echoed the essence of Oran’s comic run.
There were dozens of Tarzan clones in the comics but it was the relatively obscure Zago, Jungle Prince (Fox) who borrowed Burroughs’ idea in “Kansas Killer” (Zago Jungle Prince #4, March 1949) This comic was drawn by Jack Kamen.
