Written by Zac Thompson
Art by German Garcia
Published by Marvel Comics
Sometimes killed characters should stay that way. At least that is the vibe one receives from Ka-Zar, Lord of the Savage Land.
As a Tarzan knock off, any writer would have a difficult time crafting a compelling tale about Ka-Zar and his Savage Land family. It’s very hard to take anything seriously when your companion is also known as Shanna the She-Devil. Luckily the She-Devil of Shanna’s moniker appears to be omitted. At least the writer of this series, Zac Thompson, seems to be more interested in bringing Ka-Zar into the modern era.
It is a welcomed update.
Thompson does his best to strike a balance between the dangers of The Savage Land and the dangers of being parents who desperately want to protect their reckless child. Do you shelter your child from a raging T-Rex, or do you help them learn how to fend for themself?
Sure, having them fend for themself might be the right choice if you were living in the suburbs of middle America, but this is The Savage Land. It’s a place where it probably is not a wise decision to give your kiddo too much alone time.
And, based on where this story is headed, Ka-Zar and Shanna might want to keep a closer eye on their son.
A lot of hype was given to Ka-Zar’s brand new powers. While this is only issue one of a five issue saga, the payoff on Ka-Zar’s abilities are a bit of a dud thus far. It’s apparent that Thompson wants Ka-Zar and his clan to have a deeper connection to The Savage Land, but what about the other human inhabitants? They are practically invisible, faded into the background of a land untouched by modern civilization.
The artwork Germáin García pulls together indeed matches the story’s atypical tone and landscapes. There is a dreamlike quality to his illustrations, and the colors used highlight more of the fantastical elements of this tale. Perhaps Ka-Zar, recently emerged from his chrysalis, is still trying to get his bearings. Ironically he was already an outsider prior to his resurrection. Now in this new state of existence has he become an extension of his environment? Has Lord Ka-Zar become one with The Savage Land?
As a place, The Savage Land can be a difficult place for a person like Ka-Zar to experience an identity crisis, exponentially hard when you have a partner in Shannon who’s connection to the environment is elegantly more advanced and a son who’s moral code is basely barbaric. And, here you have our wayward hero, Ka-Zar, stuck in the middle. What is a Lord of The Savage Land to do? It’s probably way too late to take up golf.
With dramatic elements clearly outlined, perhaps the Ka-Zar story team will win me over in future issues. Issue #1 has not done enough to reimagine the jungle genre. This tale is still stuck in neutral.
Hopefully it will find its gear soon.
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