Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Silver Age iteration of Ka-Zar. For the Golden Age version, see Ka-Zar (David Rand).
Ka-Zar
Captain Britain Corps
Excalibur
PartnershipsZabu
Shanna the She-Devil
Notable aliasesKazar of the Savage Land
Lord of the Hidden Jungle
Abilities
  • Near-superhuman strength and endurance
  • Ability to communicate with some animals
  • Skilled hunter, trapper, fisherman, forager
  • Survival expert

Kevin Plunder, also known as Ka-Zar,[a] is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The X-Men #10 (March 1965).[3] Kevin Plunder is the second character to use the codename Ka-Zar.

Publication history

Cover to the X-Men #10 the first appearance of Ka-Zar and his sabretooth tiger, Zabu; art by Jack Kirby.

The second Ka-Zar started as a character similar to the first

Tor. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in The X-Men #10 (March 1965), he lives in the dinosaur-populated Savage Land, which was hidden beneath Antarctica by extraterrestrials. The character was based on his pulp magazine namesake only to the extent that he used the same name and rough "jungle lord" concept, and Lee later admitted that he had never even read any of the original Ka-Zar stories.[4]

Originally written as a primitive and belligerent savage who spoke in broken English, Ka-Zar later became more articulate and civilized, although he retained a certain degree of distrust toward civilization and was generally wary of outside visitors to the Savage Land. Kevin Plunder refers to himself as the "Lord of the Savage Land", a phrase others have adopted, but this is not a formal title.

Ka-Zar's first solo story was published in Marvel Super-Heroes #19 (1969), and the character had features in the black-and-white magazine Savage Tales and the color title Astonishing Tales. He has had five self-titled series, the first published in 1970–1971 (three issues, mostly reprints), the second, which continued the storyline from Astonishing Tales, in 1974-1977 (20 issues, subtitled Lord of the Hidden Jungle) by Mike Friedrich, Gerry Conway, and Doug Moench, the third in 1981-1984, Ka-Zar the Savage, (34 issues) by Bruce Jones and Mike Carlin, the fourth in 1997-1998 (20 issues) written by Mark Waid[5] and drawn by Andy Kubert, and the fifth in 2011 (5-issue miniseries) written by Paul Jenkins.

Fictional character biography

Ka-Zar is Kevin Reginald, Lord Plunder, born in Castle Plunder,

Maa-Gor in the Savage Land, Plunder was found and raised by the sabertooth tiger Zabu, who possesses near-human intelligence thanks to a mutation caused by radioactive mists.[6]
"Ka-Zar" means "Son of the Tiger" in the language of the Man-Apes. Ka-Zar and Zabu are constant partners. Ka-Zar became an expert hunter, trapper, and fisherman, living off the wild land.

In the Savage Land, some territories are populated by several human or humanoid tribes, and while most of them are on friendly terms with Ka-Zar, some of them consider him an outlander and an enemy. He acts more like an unofficial general protector, preventing outside commercial exploitation, such as poaching and mining, as well as enforcing peace between tribes and serving as goodwill ambassador to friendly visitors.

The original

Klaw and visited other dimensions.[18] He and his allies faded mysteriously from that other dimension,[19] then teamed with the X-Men to battle Zaladane and a reborn Garokk.[20]

Ka-Zar, during a search for the lost Zabu, later discovered Pangaea, an ancient refuge created by the Atlanteans.

Terminus, but while they rescued many natives, they were unable to prevent the destruction of the Savage Land. Ka-Zar was rescued by the Avengers, but left the Savage Land for the civilized world.[32] Together, he and Shanna had a son named Matthew. The territory was later reconstructed by the High Evolutionary using Garokk, and Ka-Zar and Shanna returned with their newborn and resumed their previous roles.[33] Ka-Zar and Shanna separated for a time,[34] but got back together before long. Ka-Zar fought and defeated Thanos in one of his many attempts to end life, and later sought the help of investigator Jessica Jones for assistance locating Zabu.[35]

Shanna and Ka-Zar find

Blade.[42]

During the "

Brother Voodoo to take Ka-Zar, Zabu, Black Knight, and Scarlet Witch with him to investigate. They arrive to find a slain Tyrannosaurus as Scarlet Witch senses they are surrounded. The group is attacked by the Cotati and they fight them until the Cotati Ventri unleash Man-Thing who they have under their control. As Ventri states that the Savage Land and the world will be theirs, Ka-Zar is shocked to find that the Cotati have gained control of Shanna.[43] Due to her connection with the Savage Land's lifeforce which the Cotati took advantage of, Shanna tries to get Ka-Zar to join them as Matthew states to Black Knight that they have to do something. Doctor Voodoo used a trick to do a mental trick. Scarlet Witch does the same as she tries to free Shanna from the Cotati's control. To assist her, Scarlet Witch brings Ka-Zar into Shanna's mind where he learns that some creatures in the Savage Land are dying and trees are falling. As Matthew and Black Knight fight the Cotati, a Doctor Voodoo-controlled Man-Thing fights the Cotati's control and defeats Ventri. When Ka-Zar frees Shanna from the Cotati's control, he is stabbed in the back by a Cotati using Black Knight's Ebony Blade.[44] Now back to her senses, the She-Devil aids the Avengers against the invaders. Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch and Doctor Voodoo work to extract Ka-Zar's soul from the Ebony Blade, to which Shanna then uses the same fluids of the Man-Thing which revived her to heal and resurrect Ka-Zar. It works as the Savage Lord helps turn the tide on the Cotati where dinosaurs show up to help.[45]

Ka-Zar would have trouble adjusting to his newly expanded senses while life in the Savage Land would come under threat by a precursor to its creation known as Domovoy the Flesh Weaver. He would work through this odd connection with the world Kevin calls home now shared between him & his wife in the time needed to save their son from the Polyscion's plans of global terraforming.[46]

In the meantime, between domestic concerns and globe trotting adventures, Ka-Zar would continue his work as an Agent of Wakanda. Working as a temporal explorer sent back to the distant past of the newly-formed Earth on an observation mission regarding its primordial defenders wellbeing on T'Challa's behalf. After an encounter with the ancient ancestors of Earth's Mightiest, during a battle with Kid Thanos of Titan, a rival time traveler, Ka-Zar's attempted return to his own time is waylaid by the

Iron Inquisitor on orders from Mephisto. Finding himself stranded in an alien timeline on a world soon to be consumed by its still living iteration of Galactus, Ka-Zar poises himself for the fight of his life. He soon becomes Galactus' new herald in exchange for maneuvering this new handler into getting back to his home reality to warn the Avengers of the threat posed to their universe. Now backed by the Power Cosmic, the Savage Herald seeks out viable and uninhabited planets for Galactus to feed upon whilst navigating time and space to make his way home.[47]

Ka-Zar is brought to the God Quarry by Avenger Prime and has brought along the alternate Galactus. When Galactus asks his Herald on a planet to feed off of, Ka-Zar directs him to the remains of Doom the Living Planet.[48]

Powers and abilities

Kevin Plunder is an athletic man with no superhuman powers.[49] He utilizes a unique style of hand-to-hand combat shaped by years of surviving in the Savage Land. He has developed great skills in hunting, trapping, fishing, foraging, and general survival in the wild. He carries a 12-inch (300 mm) Bowie knife, and occasionally uses a sling, bow and arrow, and other primitive weapons. He can also communicate with some animals. It was revealed in Astonishing Tales #11, scripted by Roy Thomas, that Ka-Zar's and Zabu's physical abilities had been enhanced by passing through some mysterious mist.[50] The mists later endowed other characters (Maa-Gor and El Tigre) with superhuman abilities.[51]

After being healed by the same waters used to resurrect Shanna the She-Devil, Ka-Zar is tied into the life force of the Savage Land. He now boasts an even greater extrasensory connection with the primeval realm he calls home, Ka-Zar's senses having been expanded to the point he can literally share sensations with the Savage Land and its faunal denizens.[45] He can even emit destructive energy pulses or mimic the strengths and abilities of the creature living within it.[52]

When left stranded on a parallel world in the distant past, Ka-Zar would become a herald of that realities iteration of the World Eater, being imbued with the space titan's Power Cosmic granted him all the myriad faculties that comes with such a position of power.[47]

Reception

Accolades

  • In 2011, IGN ranked Ka-Zar 84th in their "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" list.[53]
  • In 2022, Newsarama included Ka-Zar in their "Best Marvel characters left to adapt to the MCU" list.[54]
  • In 2022, Screen Rant included Ka-Zar in their "15 Best Black Panther Comics Characters Not In The MCU" list.[55]
  • In 2022,
    CBR.com ranked Ka-Zar 15th in their "Top 15 British Superheroes in the Marvel Universe" list.[56]

Other versions

Age of Ultron

In the Age of Ultron story, Ka-Zar was present in the Savage Land when the hero resistance against Ultron was relocated to the Savage Land. Ka-Zar leads them to a refuge area where they can formulate their next plan.[57]

Earth-8413

A version of Kevin Plunder, named Kavin Plundarr, is Gotowar Konanegg,

Captain Britain Corps
member who featured in The Mighty World of Marvel (vol. 2) #13 (1984).

Earth X

In the Earth X series, Ka-Zar (as well as Shanna) have been mutated by Plague X into humanoid saber-toothed tigers. They play an integral part in Universe X - leading Captain America and the reborn Mar-Vell to the gateway to Limbo, and helping the X-Men and Wakandan refugees escape the cannibalistic hordes of Wendigo.[volume & issue needed]

House of M

In the

asylum in the US and feature a picture of him alongside his faithful companion Zabu.[volume & issue needed
]

Marvel Zombies

It is briefly noted in Marvel Zombies that a zombified Quicksilver managed to spread the virus to the Savage Land, infecting Ka-Zar and Zabu.[volume & issue needed]

Spider-Geddon

During the "Spider-Geddon" storyline, there is a version of Ka-Zar who has traits that are amalgamated with Kraven the Hunter named Ka-Zar the Hunter. He is seen with Wilson Fisk when they are in the Savage Land poaching dinosaurs. It was mentioned by Ka-Zar that his father killed the last of the Man-Apes. He unknowingly sets off one of Savage Spider-Man's traps that nearly crushes Ka-Zar the Hunter who pushes Fisk out of the way.[59]

Ultimate Marvel

Ka-Zar appears in his

New Ultimates where they help to fight Loki.[61]

What If?

He appears in a What If story, where the Savage Land terraforming has taken over New York. He has a son, Matthew, but it appears that Zabu has been killed as his skull is seen on Ka-Zar's head and his pelt, a cape. Both he and Parnival sacrifice themselves to return New York to normal, with Shanna the only survivor of his "family".[62]

In other media

Television

Film

In 2009, Marvel Studios announced that Ka-Zar, among other Marvel properties, were being considered for development.[64]

Video games

Collected editions

Title Material collected Published date ISBN
Marvel Masterworks: Ka-Zar Volume 1 Marvel Super-Heroes #19, Astonishing Tales #1-16, Savage Tales #1 2013 978-0785159575
Marvel Masterworks: Ka-Zar Volume 2 Astonishing Tales #17-20, Ka-Zar (vol. 2) #1-5, Shanna the She-Devil #1-5, Daredevil (vol. 1) #110-112, material from Daredevil (vol. 1) #109, Marvel Two-in-One #3 2018 978-1302909666
Ka-Zar: Guns of the Savage Land Original Graphic Novel 1990 978-0871356413
Ka-Zar: Savage Dawn Ka-Zar The Savage #1-5 2017 978-1302905064
Ka-Zar the Savage Omnibus Ka-Zar The Savage #1-34 June 2021 978-1302926786
Ka-Zar by Mark Waid and Andy Kubert Vol. 1 Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #1-7, -1 2011 978-0785143536
Ka-Zar by Mark Waid and Andy Kubert Vol. 2 Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #8-14, Annual '97 2012 978-0785159926
Ka-Zar: The Burning Season Ka-Zar (vol. 4) #1-5 2012 978-0785155645
Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1-5 April 2022 978-1302927554

Notes

  1. ^ /ˈkeɪzɑːr/ KAY-zar, /ˈkeɪsɑːr/ KAY-sar[1][2]

References

  1. ^ X-Men #10 (March 1965), p. 1: "Pronounced: KAY-SAR"
  2. ^ "New Brevoort Formspring".
  3. ^ Markstein, Don. "Ka-Zar". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ Thomas, Roy (August 2011). "Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Interview!". Alter Ego (#104). TwoMorrows Publishing: 19–20.
  5. ^ Ka-Zar, 1997, Pipeline, Comic Book Resources, April 7, 2009
  6. ISBN 978-1465455505
    .
  7. ^ The X-Men #10. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Daredevil #12-14. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ The X-Men #61-63. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #109-111. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #57. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Astonishing Tales #1-2. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Astonishing Tales #3-5. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Astonishing Tales #8. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Astonishing Tales #12-13. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #103-104. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Ka-Zar #1. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Ka-Zar #14-20. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^ The Uncanny X-Men #115. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ The Uncanny X-Men #115-116. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #1. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #1-17. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #12. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #19. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #20. Marvel Comics.
  26. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #21-25. Marvel Comics.
  27. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #26. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #29. Marvel Comics.
  29. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #29-30. Marvel Comics.
  30. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #31-33. Marvel Comics.
  31. ^ Ka-Zar the Savage #34. Marvel Comics.
  32. ^ The Avengers #256-258. Marvel Comics.
  33. ^ The Uncanny X-Men Annual #12. Marvel Comics.
  34. ^ Ka-Zar Graphic Novel. Marvel Comics.
  35. ^ Alias #24 (Sept. 2003). Marvel Comics.
  36. ^ The New Avengers #42. Marvel Comics.
  37. ^ Secret Invasion #7. Marvel Comics.
  38. ^ Avengers: The Initiative Featuring Reptil. Marvel Comics.
  39. ^ Ka-Zar (vol. 5) #1-5. Marvel Comics.
  40. ^ Skaar: King of the Savage Land #1-5. Marvel Comics.
  41. ^ Avengers (vol. 8) #12. Marvel Comics.
  42. ^ Avengers (vol. 8) #19-20. Marvel Comics.
  43. ^ Empyre: Avengers #1. Marvel Comics.
  44. ^ Empyre: Avengers #2. Marvel Comics.
  45. ^ a b Empyre: Avengers #3. Marvel Comics.
  46. ^ Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1-4. Marvel Comics.
  47. ^ a b Avengers (vol. 8) #50. Marvel Comics.
  48. ^ Avengers Vol. 8 #66. Marvel Comics.
  49. ^ Myrick, Joe Anthony (2020-12-01). "13 Superheroes Without Powers Who Can Beat Batman". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  50. ^ Astonishing Tales #11
  51. ^ Ka-Zar (vol. 2) #3-5. Marvel Comics.
  52. ^ Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1. Marvel Comics.
  53. ^ "Ka-Zar - #84 Top Comic Book Heroes - IGN". www.ign.com. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  54. ^ Michael DoranContributions from George Marston (2022-11-01). "The best Marvel characters left to adapt to the MCU". gamesradar. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  55. ^ Harn, Darby (2022-04-23). "15 Best Black Panther Comics Characters Not In The MCU". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  56. ^ Troughton, James (2019-12-23). "Top 15 British Superheroes in the Marvel Universe". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  57. ^ Age of Ultron #4. Marvel Comics.
  58. ^ The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z vol. #2 (May 2008). Marvel Comics.
  59. ^ Vault of Spiders #1. Marvel Comics.
  60. ^ Ultimates 3 #1-5
  61. ^ Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates #1-5. Marvel Comics.
  62. ^ What If? vol. 2 #112 (Sept. 1998). Marvel Comics.
  63. ^ a b c d e "Ka-Zar Voice - X-Men franchise | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. December 19, 2019Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  64. ^ Farci, Devin (2010-04-22). "Exclusive: Marvel's Exciting Small Movie Plans". Chud.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  65. ^ Cipriano, Jason (16 February 2011). "Every 'Marvel VS. Capcom 3' Cameos - Worlds Truly Colliding". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  66. ^ "Marvel Heroes MMO Looks An Awful Lot Like Diablo". siliconera. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  67. ^ "Ka-Zar - Marvel Snap".

External links

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