Quotes from ERB correspondence 
expressing his concerns about Maxon's work on the Tarzan strips. 
Most of this correspondence was to the syndicate.

---

"[My son, Jack] is very much disappointed in the illustrations of The Return of Tarzan and called my particular attention to the drawing of Tarzan's face in the second picture of Strip No. 1 of The Return of Tarzan. From some of the other faces in the strips it occurs to both of us that Mr. Maxon could put more character into Tarzan's face than appears in these two drawings." (June 6, 1929)

". . . no definite restriction should be placed upon the artist or whoever it is that plans the strips, but that an attempt should be made to draw them out as far as it is possible to do so and maintain the interest and suspense. I see no reason why a strip from one of my books might not easily run a year or more when I look at some of the other strips and see the advantage that is taken of extremely minor incidents in the story."

Ed reported that the manager of J.W. Robinson's in Los Angeles: ". . . noticed that his clerks had noted a considerable increase in the demand for my books since the beginning of the strips in the Times. He also told me that he personally was very much interested in these strips and followed them every day; also that he likes Maxon's illustrations tremendously." (September 1929)

Ed reported the critique of Maxon's work that had been done by one of his artist friends: "In the present strips the artist runs too much to drawing his figures, etc. in outline (as could be done O.K. in a comic) and then throwing in a few blacks to balance up. This is of course considerably easier, especially when faking things without the use of a model, photographs or other assistance. Also his sense of composition is weak."

"I do think (my friend's) criticism of Maxon's work is correct. [I agree] that it would be foolish to make a change as long as every one is satisfied with Maxon's drawings and that I did not wish to suggest, but my principle criticism of Maxon's work is that his Tarzan is so damned homely, but he certainly has an eye for feminine beauty. I noticed that particularly his drawing of Meriem in The Son of Tarzan. I am glad that Maxon's work is considered so highly by the newspapers. This, of course, counts for a great deal."

". . . the skins worn by Korak, Tarzan and other Burroughs throwbacks are not supposed to be tailored. They should not me confused with step-ins, but are built more on the order of a primitive brassiere, with one shoulder strap missing. They should be worn in a careless sketchy sort of manner." (February 18, 1930)

"We have just received the daily Tarzan At the Earth's Core strip release for the week beginning August third numbered fifty-five to sixty inclusive, and we wish to call your attention particularly to the third and fourth pictures of Strip 57. The dinosaur (Stegosaurus) is a prehistoric reptile that hs been reconstructed and there are pictures of it with the reconstructions available for any artist who is sufficiently interested in looking them up in order to portray it correctly. These two pictures are absolutely wrong in every respect and tend to spoil the story, especially for one who is acquainted with the facts. The second picture in strip 58 is a mighty poor picture of a bear, and in the next picture it appears as f the bear is leaping instead of rolling on its back, as it should have been shown. We feel that Mr. Maxon is not depicting these stories as they should be and we are wondering how the newspapers and the readers feel about it. If a better artist can be employed and the strips made more interesting, it should be done immediately, for we feel that the strips might lose their popularity if Maxon is permitted to continue as the artist."  (mid-1931)

"Looking over the Tarzan the Terrible strips, numbered 70 to 84 inclusive, as well as some of the previous strips, it seems to us that Maxon's work is slipping a little again." (December 1931)

In early 1932 ERB passed along St. John's request to take over the strip. The syndicate rejected the application.
"[I have been] so anxious to see the continued success of these strips that I may be hypercritical as to Maxon's work. It is not my desire to embarrass him by what I consider shortcomings, but, rather, I wish to be helpful, which was my reason for writing you regarding St. John. I realize that there are certain difficulties to be overcome in changing artists, but I felt that if you have the same opinion of Maxon's work that I have my criticisms might fortify any intentions that you may have been harboring to make a change. I believe that with a little care and research work Maxon could correct some of the faults I have found with his work, especially in his drawing of animals. His antelopes, for instance, are not as graceful and beautiful as they should be, and if he would get pictures of them, as well as of the other animals, I am sure he could improve upon them." (Early 1932)