Mar 29, 2026

I think whomever colored this forgot she was wearing a red dress, or she got naked on pg2....
Onwards and upwards!

Aug 10, 2025

The one thing I was expecting was a dose of good ol' Marvel amnesia to explain why K-Z didn't know his past and spoke like Tarzan early on, instead of the way he speaks here. It could have been induced by the shock of his father's death. The other odd thing about this flashback, is after 20 pages of establishing the Savage Land as K-Z's kingdom... he's leaving it on pg21? Due to editorial policy(!) no less, according to the letters page replies. Between this issue and last, Barbara has finally told him (but not us) whatever dire message she had back in AT 6, and they are off to England or...? Well, this issue K-Z fought the "ape-thing" (pg19p4), next time he'll fight the...ah, but why spoil it now?

Suggested listening: "Parn Evil 9" - with apologies to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. After the brothers separated on pg8p2, did Willis steer young Parnival into a life of crime? Maybe the butler did do it!

Aug 10, 2025

Now that Ka-Zar has Astonishing Tales all to himself, it's high time he had an origin story for any new readers who didn't catch his early appearances in DD. And because some of those new readers might have come here after reading K-Z's guest spot in ASM 103-104, let's get Gil Kane who drew that story to be the "artist of the month" here. Seriously I don't know what made this series such a hot potato, but it keeps getting passed from one drawing board to another. The letters page even says that Neal Adams (who was slated to do the next issue, according to the previous letters col) decided to pass, and so next month will be drawn by John Buscema. Not that I mind any of these artists, but a consistent look for K-Z is non-existent.

Roy expands on K-Z's backstory from DD 13 to explain how Kevin got stranded in the Savage Land, befriended Zabu, gained super-strength and how Maa-Gor became the "last of the man-apes" by K-Z's hand. We also learn how K-Z got the title "Lord of the Hidden Jungle" that appears on his cover logo, and what Boris Spassky was doing inbetween playing Bobby Fischer. And that "Ka-Zar" means "Son of the Tiger" - I wonder if he ever meets the Sons of the Tiger from the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu? On pg15p3 he looks tres chic with pink hair. But the "savage speak" of the Man-Apes reminded me of the similar vocabulary used in Hammer's "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth". Sadly, Victora Vetri doesn't show up here. Akita!

Jun 16, 2025

- Paul died his hair: I just noticed that Paul's hair has switched from brown to black since his first appearance in #8 ( as well as magically gotten longer). When did he have time to find a hair salon or drug store?

- Paul comes off as a bit of a jerk to his wife.

- Favorites: Considering Lord Plunder took Kazar with him to the savage lands, it's obvious which son was his favorite.

So want to know what Bobbi needed to tell Kazar. Hopefully, we find out in the next issue, as it seems they are leaving the savage lands. Otherwise, this is a decent origin. Does make me wonder why Kazar talks like a caveman when he knows proper English.

2 stars

Jun 13, 2025

So the Magic Fog(TM) made it so Zabu didn't age... but Ka-Zar did? Sure, okay.

Alternate Nuff Said: "I'm—- coming, Paul. But, I feel—- so strange.."

Jun 16, 2025

Maybe there's like a biological timer or something? You have to reach a certain age before immortality is granted.

Oct 15, 2024

The Bobbi I know wouldn't balk at eating snake. Must be a Skrull.

Sep 25, 2023

Challenged by Bobbi, Ka-Zar considers his time in The Savage Land. Pretty good origin story, pulled together by Roy from various other bits and pieces provided over the years. I don't think he missed any major beats. Most of this had been hinted at though, other than how Ka-Zar met Zabu. And how Maa-Gor came to be last of the man-apes, though I don't think people were crying for that information. Three stars.

Roy even pulled in the story from MSH #19, where The Plunderer tried to convince Ka-Zar that their father had some kind of evil plans for the anti-metal, and then erased the evidence saying the opposite. Here, their father dies just before telling young Ka-Zar his plans, explaining why Ka-Zar was uncertain about his father.

Kane's work is really good here. Bobbi knew she was going to the jungle. Why didn't she dress for the occasion? Paul has either given up his suit, or it's in tatters. I'd pass on roast snake too. How did Robert Plunder carry the anti-metal on the plane? Who'd name their kid Parnival? @Locust got me curious. Maa-Gor's earlier appearances had him with two eyes. He was a lot hairier then too. Zabu would be a pretty good guard. I liked Ka-Zar trying to broker peace, but then getting very bloodthirsty when that was the only option.

Feb 23, 2023

I didn't mind the backstory. It would have been even better with different art

Dec 13, 2022

This was a great origin honestly. We learn about the anti-metal, Kev-Kev's father and the ambiguity of what his goals were, the animosity between Kevin and Parnival, why Ka-Zar and Zabu have such a strong bond, why Ka-Zar is so strong, and the history Maa-Gor being the last man-ape. Plus we get some exciting action and a tease that maybe Ka-Zar is done with the Savage Land. 3/5

Jun 2, 2022

That fight was epic. I liked Kazar trying to avoid it until he had no choice.

Apr 1, 2022

Looks like there's just no way to avoid Kane, he's everywhere these days. This wasn't all bad though.

I noticed and was shocked by the actual blood as well, definitely makes the Savage Land more authentic. Not to mention Ka-Zar committing genocide...

Why does Ka-Zar call the snake at the beginning a long-neck? Miscommunication between writer and artist maybe?

Paul is a bit of a jerk isn't he...

Sep 30, 2021

This was all well and good, but I’ve had enough of Ka-Zar for awhile.

Jun 13, 2020

Ok origin story. Ok Kane art. Bobbi and paul took me by surprise after not noticing them in 10

Aug 24, 2019

Interesting story. Not a terrible origin. But certainly skippable.

Jun 8, 2019

A little clunkiness at the beginning of the flashback aside, I think this was an admirable attempt to give us a proper origin for Ka-Zar, who as a frequent guest star has dropped plenty of information in bits and pieces but never had a place to get it all out there in one go.

They're really making us wait to find out what the terrible premonition Barbara had was all about. It had best be important.

Feb 1, 2018

I suppose that is as plausible a backstory as any other. So there are savage humans in the Savage Lands, too, right? The "Lizard Men" were humans, so there must be some tribes. Is Ka-Zar mated to someone? Doesn't he have some sort of harem?

Dec 22, 2021

In Ka-zar story in Savage tales #1 we see that Ka-zar have some kind of harem of human women.

Mar 11, 2017

Leave it to Roy, Marvel's resident comic historian, to take the various threads of Ka-Zar's origin and past, and streamline them into a single coherent story. I thought he did a good job, although some of the narrations got a bit wordy. I'm not really a fan of Gil Kane's artwork, but he can draw a pretty mean-looking Zabu!

3 stars. What's the big deal about Ka-Zar enhancing his abilities with a mystic fog? Didn't the same thing happen to Cheech and Chong?

Feb 21, 2017

I think this is the first issue where they actually show blood. That seems like such an achievement.

Apr 16, 2016

3 stars for showing how Calvin and Hobbes first met!!!

Deep Thoughts - @MattDog37: I would say it is a flashback. Also, Ka-Zar is thinking about his past as Bobbi was sleeping!

Peek-A-Boo - Is Mamma Plunder in a casket with a window? (p6,p1)

Butle - I wonder if Willis is the same butler from AT #6-7? Also, I wonder where he was when the Plunderer had Feepers the Butler from DD #13??

Daddy Issues - I can see why the Plunderer had a chip on his shoulder!!

Grudge Match - I do like them showing how Papa Plunder was killed, and how it ties in with Maa-Gor being the last of the Man-Apes!! Also, I don't remember Maa-Gor having an bad eye before...

Distant Cousins - In AT #8, I mention how can there be Man-Apes, but looking back those Man-Apes were definitely more ape than man!

'Nuff Said - "Notar! Ka-Zar deg Zabu notokk!!"-Maa-Gor

Jan 3, 2016

Is this a true flashback? Ka-Zar is telling Bobbi about his past in the present.

Aug 19, 2019

No it is not, you're right, it has a framing sequence. But Ka-Zar is not telling his past to anybody, he is just reminiscenting.