The New Jungle King: Panel 11

Tarzan stopped in the open jungle valley to catch his breath.  He enjoyed the warm breeze that swept through the sun-beaten area and allowed it to cool his body.

The ape man looked again at the blue stone secured snugly in his fist.  He couldn't believe how fortunate he was to have retrieved it before its finders could bring it to their leaders.

"Maybe me keep jewel..." he wondered aloud, tempted to benefit from its blessings of strength and glory.  "If return to mountain, Mogu men just take again...

"Tarzan king of jungle!" he grunted, deciding to keep the stone for himself.  "Only Tarzan rule!"

The New Jungle King: Panel 10

As the three Mogu men, slumped in defeat, made their way back to the main hut, they never realized that one of their own had been watching the entire confrontation...

The hulking, black bull with muscle and power that rivaled Tarzan's growled and felt nothing but scorn and anger for the jungle king's name.

After months and months of training and waiting, this was the time he'd been waiting for.  This was Jabari's time.

Reality Render Test 3

Based on an idea requested by Barbaric Brawn visitor, Hercfetish, I had Ares apply a full nelson on Hercules.  I thought this would be a nice opportunity for some good-old-fashioned dirty fighting, so I put Sergios in to work Hercules over.

And at the last minute, I decided to make this another Reality test, so I took a bit of time making sure it looked right before I rendered them.  Normally, my renders take about 30-90 seconds each.  Both of these separately took two hours before they were processed enough to be presentable.

The New Jungle King: Panel 09

Without another word, the ape man strode victoriously from the North Mogu Settlement and took off in a sprint toward Mount Hatari.

Kondo, Zuberi, and Njau stood stunned by the sudden turn of events.  And as Tarzan faded from their eyes and ears, their shock turned to sorrow and then to resentment.  The most incredible find of their lives had been taken by their so-called protector, Tarzan!  But as no man dared to challenge the jungle king anymore, they knew that they must live by his rule.

The New Jungle King: Panel 08

Tarzan gazed at the beautiful blue rock with some skepticism.  He couldn't be sure if the legend of the jewels was true or not; the only thing he knew for certain was that if it was at all possible, he must not allow another man to possess it.

"Me bring jewel back to mountain shrine," the white muscle king spoke in a tone that greatly befit his title.  "Mogu tribe not upset jungle balance!"

The New Jungle King: Panel 07

Njau immediately snapped out of his fantasy and turned to his friend.  "Give Tarzan jewel, Kondo!" he implored, not wishing to invite the wrath of the jungle lord.

Njau still remembered the day that he stumbled upon Tarzan in the process of wrestling a behemoth of a crocodile into submission.  The green beast thrashed and struggled for freedom, but the human was stronger and smarter, and he was forced to relax and accept whatever fate this two-legged scaleless creature had awaiting him.  Luckily for the beast, Tarzan took pity and allowed him to escape.

Njau knew that a man like that could easily take down three men barely skilled in the ways of combat and make them pay with their bodies.

Kondo immediately ceded ownership of the beautiful stone.  He held it out to the white man and said, "Y-Yes, Tarzan!  It yours!"

Without hesitating, Tarzan snatched the jewel from Kondo's trembling hand and took a step back.  His efforts to frighten the three had worked, he was happy to see.  He now had the jewel safely out of their possession.

The New Jungle King: Panel 06

Tarzan stared angrily at Kondo of the Mogu and aimed an accusing finger his way.

"Me know Mogu have jewel from mountain!" he insisted with a raised voice.  When Kondo tried to hide the stone behind his back, the ape man bellowed, "GIVE OR FEEL MIGHT OF TARZAN MUSCLE!!"