Greatest Adventure, The: Issues #1-5 (2017)
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Fiction Review by The Gravedigger
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03.25.21
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This ambitious cross-over series begins with Jason Gridley crash-landing a stolen spaceship near Tarzan's land in Africa. They rescue him and he tells them that Earth is in danger from an invasion. He recalls how he was invited to join the "International Academy for Higher Scientific Inquiry", and so agrees to go there. But while he's driving, there's a flash of light and he awakens in a hidden fortress far from home . It's there he's coerced into helping them-and but tries to wreck their work. However, he's stuck on the ship, which now is making another run back to Earth, where he manages to escape in a small craft. Tarzan and Jane believe him-and soon they are joined by an Earthman, Ulysses Paxton, who has been living in Barsoom (Mars). He has brought a flying ship. But they need more people to help, so Tarzan places notices in newspapers across the land for "Men of Adventure". And he tests each and everyone of them when they appear, such as "The Mucker". Of course, Tarzan's son, Korak the Killer, and his wife, Meriem, join them as well. There first adventure takes them to The Land That Time Forgot, Caspak, where they encounter the winged Wieros...and eventually run into La of Opar, who is still in love with Tarzan. She explains that there's an artifact of great power, the "Eye of Judgement", which was stolen by a Prince of Opar thousands of years ago and ended up on Caspak. She also tells him that she was working for Count Rostoff, who is the son of the one Tarzan was enemies with. Then, it's on to the inner world of Pellucidar and in the following issue to Barsoom, where Tarzan fights a group of the four-armed green Warhoons. He's captured and imprisoned in a room with another man-who turns out to be John Carter, Warlord of Mars. He informs him that he's there to rescue him..
When I first heard about this series I couldn't wait-the first time that Edgar Rice Burroughs created characters, from different books and series, would inter act with one another. Although the characters are consistent there are way too many people to keep track of, which isn't helped by the artwork in which all the men look the same. The story also jumps around quite a bit so you have to fill in some gaps while you're reading.
I liked the story but most other Burroughs influenced books I've been reading lately are much better, from the "Wild Adventures of Tarzan" to the new Poloda book. Which is a disappointment because Willingham's FABLES is one of the best graphic novel series I've ever read. Well, maybe this series will get better...
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Cezar Razek
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Rating: nan out of 10.0 - votes cast total
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