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Ka-Zar
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Creation & Design

Ka-Zar was created as a homage to Tarzan, reflecting the themes of adventure and survival in a prehistoric setting.

Early Years

Ka-Zar first appeared in the 1960s, quickly becoming a staple character in Marvel's jungle-themed stories, often crossing paths with the X-Men and other heroes.

Character Development

Over the years, Ka-Zar has evolved from a simple jungle hero to a complex character with deep ties to the Marvel Universe, often grappling with his dual identity as a protector of the Savage Land and a hero in the broader world.

Cultural Reception

Ka-Zar has been well-received as a unique character within the Marvel Universe, often praised for his adventurous spirit and connection to nature.

Character Details

Real Name:
Kevin Plunder
Aliases:
Ka-Zar the Savage, Lord of the Savage Land
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
X-Men, Avengers, Savage Land Mutates
Abilities:
Enhanced strength, Agility, Animal empathy, Expert tracker
Equipment:
Spear, Various weapons from the Savage Land
Weight:
180lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
blonde

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Ka-Zar #1

Manvis ⋅ 1936

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Ka-Zar #1
 
Low
$100
Mid
$290
High
$1.1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Ryan, in a Pulp Magazine

Marvel Comics #1

Timely ⋅ 1939

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Marvel Comics #1
 
Low
$68k
Mid
$400k
High
$1.2M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond

2nd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner - 8 pages of the 12-page story reprinted from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

1st appearance of Dorma, Namor's cousin

1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Rand

1st appearance of Angel, Thomas Halloway, a private detective and vigilante

1st appearance of the Masked Raider, Jim Gardley

1st comic book published by Timely, later becomes Marvel

Retitled Marvel Mystery Comics after this issue

80,000 copies were produced of the first printing with an October 1939 date on the cover

The second printing could be identified by the October 1939 date blacked out, replaced with November 1939

The first printing sold out within a week and was quickly reprinted at a quantity of 800,000, the same as Superman #1

Although published in October, the cover date was changed to have a longer on-sale period at newsstands

💰 In March 2022, a 9.2 known as the Pay Copy due to publisher notations that tracked creator payouts sold for $2.42 million

Uncanny X-Men #10

Marvel ⋅ 1965

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Uncanny X-Men #10
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ka-Zar in the Silver Age

1st appearance of Zabu, Ka-Zar's saber-toothed tiger sidekick

Introduction of the Savage Land

[Feb 2021 - rumored that Disney is developing a Savage Land project]

Daredevil #13

Marvel ⋅ 1966

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Daredevil #13
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150

Key Facts

1st appearance of Anti-Metal, a variation of Vibranium

Origin of the Plunderer

Origin of Ka-Zar

Amazing Spider-Man #57

Marvel ⋅ 1968

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Amazing Spider-Man #57
 
Low
$25
Mid
$80
High
$225

Key Facts

First meeting of Spider-Man and Ka-Zar

Marvel Super-Heroes #19

Marvel ⋅ 1969

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Marvel Super-Heroes #19
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

Solo story featuring Ka-Zar

Ka-Zar #1

Marvel ⋅ 1970

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Ka-Zar #1
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$120

Key Facts

Curse word visible on the cover, above the backside of Zabu and to the right of the tree trunk

First standalone back-up story featuring Hercules, first solo story in Avengers #47

First reprint of Ka-Zar's first appearance from X-Men #10 (1965)

Astonishing Tales #1

Marvel ⋅ 1970

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Astonishing Tales #1
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$85

Key Facts

Double-feature concept with separate stories starring Ka-Zar and Doctor Doom

Astonishing Tales #11

Marvel ⋅ 1972

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Astonishing Tales #11
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

Origin of Ka-Zar and Zabu

Ka-Zar the Savage #11

Marvel ⋅ 1982

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Ka-Zar the Savage #11
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$5

Key Facts

1st appearance of Belasco, a powerful sorcerer who rules over the Limbo dimension

Origin of Zabu the saber-toothed tiger

Ka-Zar the Savage #29

Marvel ⋅ 1983

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Ka-Zar the Savage #29
 
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$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

Marriage of Ka-Zar and Shanna

X-Men Annual #12

Marvel ⋅ 1988

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X-Men Annual #12
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

1st official team appearance of the X-Babies, childlike clones created by Mojo

Previous appearance of the X-Babies were the actual X-Men de-aged by Mojo

Origin of the High Evolutionary

1st cameo appearance of Matthew Plunder as a baby, the son of Ka-Zar and Shanna the She-Devil

Avengers #12

Marvel ⋅ 2019

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Avengers #12
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Agents of Wakanda: Black Panther, American Eagle, Fat Cobra, Dr. Nemesis, Ka-Zar and Zabu, Gorilla Man, Odin, Wasp, Okoye and Rosalind Solomon

1st cameo appearance of Shadow Colonel, later revealed to be Xarus

Blade joins the Avengers

Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1

Marvel ⋅ 2021

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Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

Debut of Ka-Zar new powers

1st cameo appearance of Domovoy

Back-up story commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with Captain America and Spider-Man revisiting Ground Zero

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