TANG

TANG

“Tang” is short for mustang. Appearing in Triumph Adventure Comics, from the first issue. “Tang” is said to have been conceived by Adrian Dingle. However, during the Hillborough Studio days the stories were written first by Frank Brookwood then by Herbert Ohert. René Kulbach who was a master at drawing animals illustrated them. When Bell Features took over the periodical’s publication René became the serial’s cartoonist.

Although the serial. is named after the horse, the central character is “Buddy” The episodes begin with a young “Buddy” and his sister “Juanita” kidnapped and adopted by the Sioux Chief “Spotted Eagle” who taught “Buddy” hunting. “Buddy” and “Juanita” escaped and fled to a valley where they found the white stallion “Hermit” who had been separated from the same wagon train that carried “Buddy” and “Juanita”. There was also a colt they named “Tang”. After several more adventures they finally came across a rancher and his wife who adopted them. The story then jumped five years. “Juanita” disappeared, and the serial settled into the various adventures of “Buddy” as a young man with his horse “Tang”. The stories were typical western adventure fare without any new insights, except, perhaps, that the hero wore a black hat. It is the superb art work in “Tang” that made it an outstanding feature in Triumph Comics.

At the end of the Second World War, F.E. Howard Publications took over a number of Bell Features characters for its title Super Duper Comics and “Tang” for the first time appeared in colour. René remained the visual artist for it as it transitioned to colour.

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content serial:

Triumph Adventure Comics, 1-1, Aug.1941: “Tang: The Story of a Colt.” Writ., Frank Brookwood. Illus., René Kulbach: 51-62. Hillborough Studio. Black & white.

Triumph Adventure Comics,…: “Tang: The Story of the Western Range.” Writ., Frank Brookwood. Illus., René Kulbach: ….Hillborough Studio. Black & white.
1-2, Sept. 1941: 42-53. 1-4, Nov.1941: 52-63.
Triumph Adventure Comics,…: “Tang: The Story of the Western Range.” Writ., Herbert Ohrt. Illus., René Kulbach: ….Hillborough Studio. Black & white.
1-5, Jan.1942: 54-63. 1-6, Feb. 1942: 54-63.

Triumph Comics, no number, no date: “Tang: A Story of the Western Range.” Car., René Kulbach. 37-48. Bell Features & Publishing Co.. Black & white.

Triumph Comics,… no date: “Tang: A Story of the Western Range …” Car. René Kulbach: …. Bell Features & Publishing. Black & white.
8: “…The Capture of ‘Grey Owl’’: 37-48. 9: “…The Capture of ‘Red”:37-48.
Triumph Comics, …no date: “Tang.” Car., René Kulbach: … Bell Features & Publishing.. Black & white.
10: 37-48.

11: 36-47.

12: 35-46.

13: 26-37.

14: 26-37.

15: 24-34.

16:26-35. 19: 10-13, 16,15,14*

20: 10-16.

23:34-38.

*Pages miscollated.

Super Duper Comics, 3, May/June 1947: “Tang.” Writ., J. H. Mason. Illus., René Kulbach: 24-29. F.E. Howard Publications. Colour.

Cover front:

Triumph Comics,… No date: Illus., René Kulbach. Bell Features & Publishing.
8. 11. 13. 19. 23.

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Now and Then Times, 1-2, Oct.1973: “A conversation with Adrian and Pat Dingle and Bill Thomas.” Interviewer, Dave Sim. 27+.

Article newspaper:

Globe and Mail, 23 Oct.1982: “Whatever Happened to …?” Writ., Peter Harris. Fanfare 7.

GALLERY:.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON T\TANG, Triumph, 1-5, Jan. 1942, 56.jpgTriumph Adventure Comics, 1-5, Jan. 1942: 56.

TANG, Triumph, 1-5, JanTriumph Adventure Comics, 1-5, Jan. 1942: 60.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON T\TANG, Super Duper Comics, 3, May 1947, 25.jpgSuper Duper Comics, 3, May/June 1947: 24-29.