The creator of the immortal characters Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs is one of the world's most popular authors. His timeless tales of heroes and heroines transport readers from the jungles of Africa and the dead sea bottoms of Barsoom to the miles-high forests of Amtor and the savage inner world of Pellucidar, and even to alien civilizations beyond the farthest star. Mr. Burroughs' books are estimated to have sold hundreds of millions of copies, and they have spawned 60 films and 250 television episodes. Will Murray was first exposed to Tarzan of the Apes when his father took him to see Tarzan's Greatest Adventure in 1959. He was too young to read and, therefore, too young to comprehend what he was watching. But something must have stuck. He devoured a ton of Tarzan movies and comic books over the ensuing years. A decade later in 1968, Murray read A Princess of Mars, and became a lifelong fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs. While collecting the Mars books, he jumped into the Venus, Pellucidar and Tarzan series. He was hooked. In 2015, Murray inaugurated the Wild Adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels with Tarzan: Return to Pal-ul-don. This led to King Kong vs. Tarzan and his most recent epic, Tarzan, Conqueror of Mars, which finds the ape-man marooned on the Red Planet and at odds with the legendary Warlord of Barsoom, John Carter. Joe Jusko is among today's most acclaimed fantasy, pin-up, and comic artists. His work has been featured on book and comic posters, and on the much-praised 1992 Marvel Masterpieces trading cards. Jusko is a recipient of myriad industry honors, including a Certificate of Merit from the Society of Illustrators and a 2001 Chesley Award nomination. Fittingly, he was born on September 1, sharing his birthday with Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jusko's longtime love of Burroughs' work continues to inspire him in illustrating the Authorized Library and bringing the author's creative vision to life.
""Edgar Rice Burroughs was, and is, the most influential writer, bar none, of our century."" --Ray Bradbury