Despite the introduction of Marvel stalwarts like Captain America or Namor, Marvel's Golden Age is an overlooked period, featuring many characters who've largely disappeared into the annals of Marvel history. However, one of Marvel's first heroes, Ka-Zar, found a circutuitous path back into the Marvel Universe.
In the Golden Age, Ka-Zar was a Bob Byrd-created jungle hero. However, a new Ka-Zar emerged in 1965's X-Men #10, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. During this issue, the X-Men were watching TV, when they saw a strange man emerge from the Arctic. This seemingly prehistoric individual and his sabretooth tiger, Zabu, defended their land from a group of scientific explorers. Curious to find out just who this mystery man was, Marvel's Mutants made their way to Antarctica.
Beneath the icy land, the X-Men found a hidden prehistoric world, known as the Savage Land. The area was filled with wildlife and dinosaurs, shocking the X-Men. After being attacked by a group of Man-Ape and Swamp Men, The Children of the Atom were saved by their mystery man: Ka-Zar and his sabretooth tiger, Zabu. After some initial hostility, Ka-Zar helped the X-Men make their way through the Savage Land to rescue Jean Grey and Angel.
When they reached the Swamp Men's fortress, Ka-Zar led a stampede, crushing this lair. Everything in the stampede's path was destroyed, while Ka-Zar and the X-Men fought to save their teammates. After the battle, Ka-Zar told the X-Men to return home, while he remained in the Savage Land.
Ka-Zar's revival is similar to that of Captain America, in Avengers #4, or Namor in Fantastic Four #4, by Lee and Kirby. All of these characters were Golden Age heroes who made a comeback during the 1960s. Each of these heroes also re-emerged in new comic book titles such as Avengers or X-Men.
The key difference between Ka-Zar and his Golden Age compatriots is that Ka-Zar emerged as a seemingly new character during the Silver Age. Captain America remained the same hero from World War II throughout his character history, while Ka-Zar transformed from David Rand to Kevin Plunder.
This version of Ka-Zar is quite similar to the Ka-Zar who was introduced in pulp magazine Ka-Zar #1, later serialized in Marvel Comics #1, by Bob Byrd and Ben Thompson. Originally, Ka-Zar was a young boy named David Rand, who was stranded in the jungles of the Congo with his parents. David learned to survive in the jungle until his mom died of a fever and his father was killed by a jewel hunter. Afterward, David was taken in by a lion named Zar, and he became Ka-Zar, protector of the jungle.
This new Ka-Zar was born Kevin Plunder. Kevin was the son of a nobleman named Robert Plunder, who was searching for anti-metal, later confirmed as Antarctic Vibranium. Kevin's father was also killed, albeit by the Savage Land's Man-Apes. Kevin was saved by Zabu, just as David was rescued by Zar. The Silver Age Ka-Zar had a villainous brother named Parnival, who fought him on several occasions. The details and locations may be different, but the essence of the character remains the same.
However, the Silver Age Ka-Zar moved beyond his Golden Age counterpart's roots. Ka-Zar worked with the X-Men many times, also meeting up with other heroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil. Kevin Plunder eventually met and married Shanna the She-Devil, having a son named Matthew. Ka-Zar didn't fight Nazis in World War II like his predecessor, but he played a role in big events such as Secret Invasion and Empyre. The Savage Land, in general, became a major point of interest in the Marvel Universe. While Ka-Zar was reintroduced as a new character, the idea of Ka-Zar has still persevered since 1939.
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