Before he submitted the first half of “Under the Moons of Mars” to the editors at Munsey, Edgar Rice Burroughs had largely proved a flop. He was 35 years old, without a job or money when he decided to give writing a go.
Beginning in the February 1912 issue of The All-Story, Burroughs’ first novel — set on the planet Barsoom — would be serialized in six parts. Tarzan of the Apes would appear later that same year, published complete in the October 1912 issue of The All-Story. Two years later, Burroughs’ novel about a man who had been raised by apes would become a bestseller for A. C. McClurg.
In 1918, Tarzan of the Apes was released as a film starring Elm Lincoln. Hal Foster adapted Burroughs’ story to the comic format in 1929. More movies, comic books, toys and games, kids’ books, statues, and other doodads would follow.
We hope you’ll join PulpFest 2025 on Thursday, August 7, at 9:25 pm for “Tarzan: Lord of the Merchandising Jungle,” a look at how Edgar Rice Burroughs’ enduring character has been marketed for nearly a century. Part of ERBFest 2025, our presentation will feature Ohio-based writer, editor, and publisher Jim Beard.
Jim Beard became a published author when he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. Since that time he’s written official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comic book stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history. His prose work includes the novellas Green Hornet: How Sweet the Sting and Kolchak: The Last Temptation; co-editing and contributing to Planet of the Apes: Tales from the Forbidden Zone; a story for X-Files: Secret Agendas; three books of essays on the 1966 Batman TV series and another on Star Trek comics; the Sgt. Janus occult detective series of novels; Monster Earth, a shared-world giant monster anthology series; Captain Action: Riddle of the Glowing Men, the first pulp prose novel based on the classic 1960s action figure; and more. Jim also provided regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, for over seventeen years. He is now the publisher at Becky Books and the co-publisher at Flinch Books with John C. Bruening. In recent years, Jim has presented at PulpFest on such topics as Fiction House Comics, The Shadow, and “Conan the Multimedia Barbarian.”
The general public is welcome to attend our evening programming events free of charge. To learn more about our programming, please click the 2025 Schedule button at the top of this page.
For those who also want to enjoy our dealers’ room, you can join PulpFest by clicking the register button at the top of this page. And don’t forget to book a room at the DoubleTree. They’re going fast!
Remember, in addition to your membership in PulpFest 2025, you’ll also be a member of Doc Con XXI, ERBFest 2025, and Farmercon XX. That’s four conventions for one price! You can’t beat that deal.
If you’re interested in selling at PulpFest, our dealers’ room is full. However, we are considering adding tables in the pre-function hallway outside of the dealers’ room. These tables will cost $125 each and will be guarded by security overnight. If you are interested, please write to Jack Cullers at jack@pulpfest.com to be added to our waiting list.
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Our featured image is excerpted from a theatrical poster for the 1918 silent film Tarzan of the Apes, released by the First National Exhibitors’ Circuit. Starring Elmo Lincoln in the title role and Enid Markey as Jane, the film is considered the most faithful adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ famous novel.
Our lead image was adapted by William Lampkin from Clinton Pettee’s cover for the October 1912 issue of The All-Story, illustrating Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel, “Tarzan of the Apes,” printed in its entirety.
Our final image is Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes Big Little Book #744, published by Whitman Publishing Company in 1933, and featuring cover art by Juanita C. Bennett, a noted children’s book illustrator from the early twentieth century.
Trademarks Tarzan®, Tarzan of the Apes®, Jane Porter®, John Carter®, Barsoom®, Edgar Rice Burroughs®, Master of Adventure™, and others owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Associated logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Used by Permission.
