Ka-Zar

[crutey]

Hi

Here is my review of Kazar!

First off I love esoteric titles. The sort of titles you don't really see on other sites and the actual comic companies have trouble producing.

Kazar I've thought would always have the same problems as some people do with Exiles, Space titles, alternate reality titles and I've heard about Namor etc you can't relate to it well so it doesn't seem to matter much.

I disagree completely, most titles we can't relate to (even more from this side of the pond) and stuff like Sandman is more high concept than most...so I'm really looking forward to this run (anyway tangent there).

This title could really go anywhere, time travel, magic, aliens, all out war, pirates etc etc nothing is out of bounds given the long history of the Savage Land and all the races of 'people' in it...so it's nice you've started with a fairly down to Earth story about mining rights.

An issue told for the most part from the perspective of a cat is interesting (if a rather anthropomorphised cat) and entertaining.

I love the idea of Castle Plunder being in the middle of the Savage land with history filled rooms and stuff...even more room for stories there I'd think.

I have no idea what's going on at the end but I'm looking forward to next time.

[Derrick]

crutey,

First off, thanks for the review. I appreciate you taking the time to not only read KA-ZAR#1 but to let myself and others know what you think. And now if you'll indulge me for a few minutes, I'll address some of your points;

I like esoteric titles myself. I don't call 'em that. I usually refer to such characters as Ka-Zar as a B-Lister. But I know what you mean and I like writing characters like Ka-Zar who you just don't see much of in fan fiction. I have no interest in writing A-Listers Spider-Man or Daredevil but guys like Ka-Zar and The Prowler really turn my crank. I can do so much more with them and really get a chance to have fun.

I'm somewhat puzzled when somebody asks me how do I 'relate' to characters like Ka-Zar, The Hulk or Mon-El. Relate? I don't worry about relating. I just tell the best story I can. The rest will take care of itself.

The first part of the story being told from Zabu's POV is to establish that Zabu is just as much a character in the story as any of the humans and should be considered as such. Zabu is Ka-Zar's Bucky, his Robin. With the added advantage that he can rip a TRex to shreds in five minutes. And yeah, I took some license with anthropomorphasizing(?) Zabu but it's been established in the past that he has exceptional intelligence so I didn't feel I was too out there. And if you think an issue told from the perspective of Zabu is interesting, wait until you see the Lockjaw/Zabu team-up.

The image of an English medieval castle smack dab in the middle of a prehistoric wilderness was one I couldn't resist. Glad you got a kick out of it.

Thanks again and keep reading. I think you'll like where KA-ZAR is going.

[crutey]

by esoteric I meant more than B-List I meant not the usual Comic book style/story. Y'know Super-Hero, secret identity, support cast around them, they have problems in their home life, fighting supervillains.

Stuff like this, politics in the middle of the jungle or something like Marvel's Excalibur (Genoshan one) is something a littl unusual.

I do think relating to a character does help a story as people invest more in it. The thing is any sentient being we as people can really dream up must have some relatable feature, we just need to explore and explain it.

as for Zabu, he (or is Zabu female?) is more than a sidekick he raised Ka-Zar yes? He's his dad!

[Derrick]

Jun 14, 2009 16:38:21 GMT -5 crutey said:

Stuff like this, politics in the middle of the jungle or something like Marvel's Excalibur (Genoshan one) is something a little unusual.

Part of my reasons for wanting to write Ka-Zar is to up his status quo in The Marvel Universe. Sure, he's called "Lord Of The Savage Land" but that title has been more of an honorific than anything else. Ka-Zar should be regarded as much of a head of state as Black Bolt, Doctor Doom or Prince Namor. And in a world with rapidly dwindling resources, Lord Kevin Plunder is sitting on the most valuable resource: The Savage Land itself. But in order to properly protect it, he's going to have to take some serious steps and play on a global stage he's never played on before.

[Erik]

This is exactly why I jumped when I did when I saw MKG was closing its doors. To me this book was a perfect fit for the things I'd like to see done at MA and Derrick's direction was already pointed in the perfect direction. Ka-Zar is a guy who should be respected and The Savage Land is just too good of a setting for a story to pass up the sheer adventure you could tell in that jungle. It's like a Johnny Quest series all rolled up into one setting. Massive Dinosaurs, Robots, Time Travel and other fun stuff.

[scottenkainen]

Any plans for reviving this?

[Derrick]

Oct 22, 2010 9:54:59 GMT -5 scottenkainen said:

Any plans for reviving this?

KA-ZAR#4 is indeed on the way. It's through no fault of Erik's that it's been so late as he relentlessly prods me for a new issue every time we talk (thanks, Erik!) I can only plead that I've been working on a bunch of other stuff. I've got two projects for AIRSHIP 27 in the works as well as duties for ALL PULP. I have been working behind the scenes with Erik on MARVEL ANTHOLOGY stuff so it's not like I've turned my back on the site. I've got a lot invested in the site and I'm hoping to have a higher profile on the site in 2011.