One of the apes in Tarzan's life was a cub, which, if I remember right, the jungle man rescued from a trap.

Within the space of a few frames of the comic book, the ape developed an emotional attachment to the jungle man. This "baby" ape hung around for a while and got used to keeping watch over Tarzan.

He anxiously followed Tarzan around and watched his every move to ensure that no harm comes to him.

There was one scene in which the "baby" stretches his neck to the maximum while hanging on to a branch to get a view of what Tarzan was involved in. He spotted Tarzan perched dangerously on a rock.

The responsible "baby" calls out to Tarzan, "kreegah! tand umba," which when translated means "beware don't fall." When hungry, the little ape approaches Tarzan and appeals "balu po," or "baby hungry!"

There were many other apes in Tarzan's life too. Each of them make only one appearance, and their life span does not exceed the number of frames in that particular comic book.

However, if the story requires that an acquainted ape be present in some part of the plot in order to be part of the solution to a particular problem, that ape makes a guest appearance.

Animals all around him somewhat gave Tarzan a homely feeling most of the time as what he was familiar with was what he was most comfortable with.

Sadly missing human company, the social life of the jungle king revolves only around the apes of the jungle.

During his leisure hours he hangs out with those apes ... on the branches of trees of course!

Towards the end, Tarzan has to leave the jungle and enter civilization for the purpose of getting married to Jane.

Following him to the pier is one of his faithful ape friends, Akut. Akut sadly bids farewell to Tarzan, sees him board the ship, and watches until it is out of sight ... and even afterwards. In fact, Akut hangs around in the vicinity for years and years hoping that Tarzan would one day come back.

In the meantime, Tarzan has assimilated well in his new life. Immaculately dressed in jacket and tie, Tarzan is now concerned about bringing up his son Jack.

He is deeply concerned over the fact that Jack is most of the time up a tree, swinging from it's branches on to the balcony of his room, and his excessive inquisitiveness concerning the jungles and animals.

The jungle man desires not to let Jack acquire a taste for the life that Tarzan led. However, Jack's DNA contains copies of the programs that Tarzan's DNA acquired while growing up in the jungle. The extraordinary talent that Jack displays makes this evident.

As the story goes, Akut has now arrived at the city in which Tarzan dwells. This has been made possible by the kind courtesy of a gentleman returning from Africa.

Next, an animal trainer comes into the scene, and the result ... a public performance. Akut has been renamed Ajax and a performance in this city has been scheduled.

Jack hears a lot of this performing ape and expresses a desire to go to watch this show. Tarzan, unknowing that Ajax is really Akut tries his best to prevent Jack from visiting the show.

In the next frame we see Jack seated in the balcony of the theater waiting for the performance to begin. When Akut gets on stage he is alerted by a familiar scent! A scent resembling that of Tarzan of the apes, and former lord of the jungle.

It only takes one giant leap and one small step for Akut to face the source of the scent. The scent brought forward by Tarzan's direct descendant. An excited Akut screams in joy, "Tarzan balu!" "Tarzan balu!"

Totally unaware of his father's acquaintance with this ape, Tarzan's "balu" Jack is delighted by the attention he is getting from the star of the show. On the other hand, the reason for Akut's joy is that Tarzan has a "balu." And scents don't lie!

In the meantime Tarzan, looking for his balu, and knowing for sure where to find him, arrives at the scene. Until that very moment Tarzan did not expect the performing ape Ajax to be his long lost jungle buddy Akut.

Tarzan and Akut meet after several years. Tarzan cannot express his joy at seeing his long lost buddy, and Akut is delighted beyond description.

Sparks of joy kindled by the re-union of two long lost buddies created a tremendous impact all around as a hurried dialog took place between the two ... in ape language!

Jack, Tarzan's "balu" was dumbstruck, totally confused, delighted, and amazed, watched with his mouth wide open as these two hurriedly exchange information, trying to catch up on years and years of events ... in a language that he had never heard before, in a language spoken only by the apes, in a language he never dreamt that his father knew, in a language knowing which, revealed and unfolded many a mystery of its human speaker.

Little would he have ever dreamt that his father, who completely discouraged him from following his interests in wildlife, his interests in the jungle, was after all the one and only Tarzan of the apes, lord of the jungle.

... concluded