Marvel Comics Vol 1 Issue 1

**Marvel Comics Vol 1 #1** is the debut issue of Marvel Mystery Comics and is the first comic released by Timely Comics, a precursor to Marvel Comics.

# The Human Torch

## Characters

### Supporting Characters

* Professor Phineas Horton (First Appearance)

### Antagonists

* Tony Sardo's Gang
	+ Tony Sardo (First Appearance; Death)
	+ Red (First Appearance; Death)
	+ Several unnamed criminals

### Other Characters

* Scientists Guild
	+ Carlo Zota (First Appearance; Unnamed; Retroactive)
	+ Jerome Hamilton (First Appearance; Unnamed; Retroactive)
	+ Maris Morlak (First Appearance; Unnamed; Retroactive)
* New York City Fire Department
	+ Fire Chief (First Appearance)
	+ Unnamed Fire Fighters
* Acmen Warehouses
	+ Mr. Harris (First Appearance)
* New York City Police Department
	+ Police Captain (First Appearance)

* Yahweh (Earth-616)

## Groups

### Other Groups

* Scientists Guild (First Appearance)
* New York City Fire Department (First Appearance)
* New York City Police Department (First Appearance)
* Acmen Warehouses, Inc. (First Appearance)

## Species

* Humans (First Appearance [Technically])
* Synthezoids (First Appearance)
* Deities (First Mention)

## Locations

### Universe

* Earth-616 (First Appearance [Technically])

### Galaxies

* Milky Way (First Appearance [Technically])

### Solar Systems

* Sol System (First Appearance [Technically])

### Countries

* United States of America (First Appearance)

### Cities and Towns

* New York City (First Appearance)
	+ Brooklyn (First Appearance)
		- Professor Horton's Home (First Appearance)
	+ Manhattan (First Appearance)
		- 240 Centre Street/Police Headquarters (First Appearance)
		- Spruce Street (First Appearance)
	+ Tony Sardo's Estate (First Appearance)
	+ Acmen Warehouses (First Appearance)
		- Acmen Steel Warehouse (First Appearance)

## Paraphernalia

* Horton Cells (First Appearance)
* Human Torch Containment Tube (First Appearance)

## Summary

It is 1939 in New York and Professor Phineas Horton has called the press to his lab to discuss his newest invention. He reveals said invention to be the world's first synthezoid which he names the Human Torch. Horton then explains that he gave the synthezoid the name because whenever it comes into contact with oxygen it bursts into flame. The press insist that Horton destroy the Human Torch before it falls into the hands of evildoers, but Horton refuses. The news of the Human Torch spreads through the paper and the Scientist Guild wants to see a demonstration of the Human Torch. Horton does so and the guild is shocked on how hot the Torch burns and that Horton truly has no control over it. The guild tells Horton to destroy the Torch, but Horton protests that he may be able to to create a device that would help him regulate the Torch. The guild then suggests burying the Torch underground until he can complete such a device. Horton agrees and places the Torch in a capsule and has it put into cement.

Time goes by and the Torch fades from attention of the world, but a gas leak in his capsule causes oxygen to seep in and causes a massive explosion which splits the cement open and allows the Torch to escape. The Torch, who seemingly has the mind of a child, runs down the streets who doesn't understand why he is on fire. The inferno causes the fire department to come on the scene and the Torch is attracted to the sound of the bells. The firefighters then attempt to put the Torch out, but all it does is tickle him and cause plumes of smoke to emit from his body. The Torch then accidentally steps on the fire hose which stops the water and he bolts down the street again. Torch, realizing that he causing untold amounts of damage, tries to find a way to put out his flame. He finds a large estate with a pool and burns through the iron fence to jump into the pool.

This catches the attention of the owners of the estate, Tony Sardo and his henchman Red. Sardo is a mobster comes up with a plan to use the Torch in his racketeering business. Sardo has Red place a glass cover over the pool and drain it of water and oxygen. Sardo explains that his plan is to use the Torch to burn down businesses that don't pay his protection fee. Sardo's first target is ACMEN Warehouses, Inc, a company that sells steel. Sardo sees the company's president, Mr. Harris, and tricks his secretary into letting him meet him by claiming to have a can't miss business proposal. Sardo tries to get Harris to pay the insurance fee, but Harris kicks Sardo out. Sardo and Red then return home and place the Torch, who believes that Sardo is helping him, into a glass tube and transport him to the steel warehouse. Sardo then breaks the tube with a weight and the Torch catches fire once more. The Torch contemplates why Sardo would do this and realizes that Sardo is criminal. The Torch decides that he needs to stop Sardo and tries to escape the collapsing warehouse. The Torch jumps out of the warehouse and discovers that he has the ability to fly due to him burning so hot that he is lighter than air. The Torch lands and gives chase on foot.

The Torch appears at Sardo's estate and Sardo attempts to hide in a bunker, while the Torch sets the house on fire. Sardo's mob abandons him and Red attempts to hide under the car. The Torch jumps and lands on the car and accidentally burns Red to death. The Torch also goes near the pool which causes it to become steam and scald the mobsters that are nearby. The Torch then runs back in the house and sees Sardo's bunker. The Torch burns his way through and Sardo attempts to kill the Torch with a gas bomb, but the heat causes the bomb to fizzle out. Sardo, having gone insane, grabs a tank and attempts to throw it at the Torch but stops when the Fire Department arrives. Horton also goes on the scene and sees a tank of nitro and, fearing an explosion, springs into action in order to take it out. The Torch also jumps into action and grabs the nitro, the gas of which puts out his flame. The fire chief attempts to shoot the Torch, but the fires melt the bullet before it can cause any harm to the Torch.

The Torch returns to the bunker and Sardo realizes that the nitro put out the Torch's flames as they start again. Sardo tries to bargain for his life with a canister of nitro but the Torch wrestles the canister out of Sardo's hands. The Torch, enraged that Sardo was using him for his mob, begins smashing Sardo's lab. Sardo then grabs a tank of sulfuric acid and tries to throw it the Torch, but the heat causes the tank to explode and kills Sardo. The Torch then grabs the canister of nitro and runs out of the house and greets Horton as the police arrive on the scene. The Torch goes back in the house and turns on the nitro and gains the ability to control his flames and shoot fireballs from his body. The Torch then wanders down the street and notices a police car trailing him. The Torch shoots down the street but is cornered by a blockade. Realizing that they are police, the Torch turns off his flames and lets the police take him in. The Torch explains everything at the police station and Horton convinces them to let him go under the condition that Torch be put under his command. On the way home, The Torch tells Horton about his new abilities and demonstrates it by lighting Horton's cigar. Horton believes that he can make a fortune with the Torch on his side, but the Torch doesn't agree and leaves Horton's home and soars through the sky while laughing.

## Review

### Story

The story is nothing to write home about. While the idea of a synthetic human is fascinating the idea is not explored at all. It makes sense why it isn't its a children's pulp story about superheroes; it's not meant to be a high brow analysis of the human being and what happens when a machine is created. In fact I have a little issue with how the Torch is portrayed. It makes sense that the Torch acts like a child, he was only recently created and it's understandable that he would act in that way, but then the Torch knows what racketeering is and acts like a hero despite being a walking inferno that was previously established to be childlike. Also why does Sardo have a secret underground lab, why on Earth would a mobster have the need for any kind of lab especially in 1939. Also I find it very unlikely that Horton or the Torch are not punished for the millions in damage that the Torch no doubt cost just by walking down the street.

### Dialogue

The dialogue is dated and some of the word bubbles are colored in ways that make it very hard to read. This is absolutely because the scans that I am using are of very low quality but at the same time it was written in 1939 and just does not gel with me in 2021 and I can not reconcile that fact.

### Art

I am not an artist I do not have much ground to argue this but I do not like a lot of the art of early comic books, especially comics from before the 2000s. I do not know why but I just do not enjoy the style and this comic book is no different. The colors and the older feel of the art don't work for me, not to mention the low quality scan that I am using which really worsened the art.

### Overall

This issue was a pretty alright for its age. The story is nothing fantastic and the writing is dated but for the first Marvel story it's pretty good. 6/10.

# The Angel

## Characters

### Antagonists

* Six Big Men
	+ Dr. Horace Lang/Big Boss (First Appearance)
	+ Gus Ronson (First Appearance)
	+ Mike Malone (First Appearance)
	+ John Dillon (First Appearance)
	+ Trigger Bolo (First Appearance)
	+ Steve Enkel (First Appearance)
	+ Dutch Hansen (First Appearance)
	+ Lil (First Appearance)
	+ Shorty (First Appearance)
	+ Rods (First Appearance)

### Other Characters

* Mayor's Office
	+ Mayor La Guardia (First Appearance)
* New York City Police Department
	+ Police Commissioner (First Appearance)

## Groups

### Other Groups

* New York City Police Department (First Appearance)

## Locations

### Cities and Towns

* New York City
* Paris

## Summary

The Six Big Men, a group of mobsters, are reeking terror throughout New York City. One of the members guns down a restaurant owner who didn't pay protection money, one threatens an official into rigging a jury, one is killing a man in a subway, one is extorting a night club so that they sell their liquor, one is taking over a gambling house, and one bombed a delivery truck. A group of citizens tired of the terror of the Six Big Men call on the mayor to do something. The police commissioner appears and explains that he has had no luck in stopping them, and the citizens led by Dr. Horace Lang demand to be sworn in as special investigators in order to hunt down the Six Big Men themselves. The Mayor relents, but Dr. Lang gets the idea to call on the Angel, a infamous vigilante, to help them take down the Six Big Men but the Police Commissioner doesn't agree due to the Angel's relentlessness. As the group is thinking about calling the Angel, a brick with note tied to it is thrown in the building. The note is from the Angel and contains all the information on the Six Big Men (Gus Ronson- Restaurant Protection, Mike Malone- Gambling Houses, John Dillon- Subway Protection, Trigger Bolo- Retail Delivery Protection, Steve Enkel- Political Fixer, and Dutch Hansen- Nightclub Protection) and their mysterious leader The Big Boss. The group is contented that the Angel is on the case, while Dr. Lang gloats in his mind that his plan is working as he is The Big Boss and is seeking to eliminate the other members of the gang to collect on the profits. A few days later Gus Ronson is freed from jail after the jury that Enkel had fixed acquitted him of the charges for the murder he committed in the restaurant. As Ronson is leaving the police commissioner informs him that the Angel is on his trail. Ronson scoffs at the idea, but the Angel appears. Ronson runs into his car and drives off, unaware that the Angel jumped into the back seat of the car. The Angel strangled Ronson to death before leaving a note behind for the police and searching for Mike Malone. News reaches Malone who dismisses the threat as he believes he could easily kill him. The Angel then reveals himself to be behind Malone who pulls a gun on the Angel but is too late and is beaten to death by the Angel. John Dillon, who was the one who told Malone about the Angel, attempts to escape from him through a fire escape but opened the wrong window in a panic and fell to his death. A mysterious woman then leaves a note for the Angel which reveals that Dillion was the man who jumped out the window and the location of Trigger Bolo, although Bolo is anticipating the Angel. The Angel sneaks into Bolo's hideout, while Bolo holds a meeting and orders his men to bring the Angel to him so he could kill him himself. The Angel strangles a henchman but makes noise which alerts the other mobsters. The mobsters teamed up and managed to overpower and capture him. Trigger prepares to execute the Angel with a tommy gun, but the woman stops him. Trigger does not want to listen to the woman who he identifies as Lil and as the mouthpiece of the Big Boss. Lil then pulls a gun on Trigger who gives up and follows Lil's orders which are that the two of them plus Steve Enkel will take the Angel to the woods and execute him there. The four travel there and the Angel is tied to a tree. Lil says that she is going to make sure that the ropes are tied properly, but secretly cuts the ropes and tells the Angel to ask Enkel for a cigarette before leaving for her car. The Angel does so and as Enkel lights the cigarette, the Angel grabs Enkel and Trigger grabs his gun and shoots but Enkel also grabs his gun and shoots at Trigger and both kill each other. The Angel tries to thank Lil but she jumps in her car and drives off. The Angel then finds Dutch Hansen who is in a bank overlooking books. Hansen spots the Angel and grabs his gun but the Angel throws a chair at Hansen who is knocked into the fire place and dies when his head smashes into the mantle. The Angel sees all the information which shows that the Big Boss will be making a deposit at the city bank at 10:00. The Angel arrives and waits to see Lil and Dr. Lang entering the bank. The Angel confronts the two and has them arrested before giving his testimony to the police before leaving to do more vigilantism.

## Review

### Story

The story is very violent, but otherwise has nothing special. The story is really there are bad guys, the Angel shows up and kills all of them and throws their boss in jail. The ending also seems extremely rushed with the second to last panel just being the Angel explaining everything before leaving.

### Dialogue

Like the story before it the dialogue is hard to read and dated.

### Art

I don't like the art and the coloring is awful cause of the scan.

### Overall

The story was alright but far more brutal than I thought it would be. The copy that I'm reading is not a very good scan but I won't let that weigh too heavily on my score. 6/10.

# The Submariner

### Primary Characters

* Namor (First Appearance [Technically])

### Supporting Characters

* Holy One (First Appearance [Technically])
* Fen (First Appearance [Technically])
* Dorma (First Appearance)

### Antagonists

* S.S. Recovery Crew
	+ Captain (First Appearance)
	+ Chief Mate (First Appearance)
	+ Rod Nelson (First Appearance; Dies)
	+ Ev Carley (First Appearance; Dies)
	+ Chip Anderson (First Appearance; Dies)
	+ Peters (First Appearance; Dies)

### Other Characters

* Oracle Crew
	+ Captain Leonard McKenzie (First Appearance)
* Atlanteans
	+ Karal (First Appearance)
* Olympians
	+ Neptune (First Appearance; Mentioned)
	+ Mother of Neptune (First Appearance; Mentioned)

## Groups

### Primary Groups

* S.S. Recovery Crew (First Appearance, destroyed)
* Atlantean Royal Family (First Appearance)
* Oracle Crew (First Appearance; Flashback)
* Guards of Cape Anna Lighthouse

### Other Groups

* Coast Guard (First Appearance; Mentioned)

## Species

* Humans (First Appearance)
* Atlanteans (First Appearance)
* Human Mutants (First Appearance; Retroactive)
* Human-Atlantean Hybrid (First Appearance)
* Robots (First Appearance; Mentioned)
* Olympians (First Appearance; Mentioned)

## Locations

### Universe

* Earth-616

### Galaxies

* Milky Way

### Solar Systems

* Sol System

### Planets

* Earth

### Oceans

* Southern Ocean
* Atlantic Ocean

### Cities

* Atlantis

## Paraphernalia

### Vehicles

* S.S. Recovery
* Oracle

## Summary

Somewhere in the Southern Ocean, the S.S. Recovery is salvaging a wreck. The primary diver, Rod Nelson has come up from investigating and reports that although he found the safe, it has been cleared out and the knife used to open it was still on the scene and hadn't rusted yet. The Captain states that incident is strange and decides to have Nelson go back down with Ev Carley in order to investigate the cause or culprit. Nelson and Carley investigate and notice that a hatch that had been closed was suddenly open. Nelson and Carley enter the hatch and see a man swimming and looting the wreck. The divers are shocked as the pressure should kill any man not wearing a diving suit. The divers then decide to follow the swimmer. The swimmer, in actuality Namor the Sub-Mariner, believes the men are robots and swims away from them. Namor then finds the cables hooked to the diving suit and cuts them. The divers sense the wires cut and move fast to conserve the air in their suits and attempt to contact the ship but are unable to. Namor then rushes in and uses his knife to stab one of the divers and then crushes the head of the other. The Captain and Chip Anderson see the bubbles from the fight, and Anderson dons a diving suit to help Nelson and Carley. When Anderson reaches the wreck he sees the dead bodies and hastily attempts to get back to the surface as Namor watches. Anderson reports and the ship decides to alert the Coast Guard but Namor uses his strength to grab hold of the rudder and stop the propeller. The crew starts panicking when the ship begins hurdling towards a coastal reef and large rocks. the S.S. Recovery splits in two.

Namor then dives toward the wreck collects the corpses of Nelson and Carley and swims to Atlantis where he presents his kills to the court. Namor unmasks the divers and is shocked to see that they are humans, however Namor's mother, Princess Fen, states that Namor did well and that it was the first step for the Atlantean's revenge against humanity. Fen then has the corpses brought to the royal chambers to show the rest of the Atlanteans the fate humans must face. Namor is still unsure of why humanity must die especially because he is half Human. Fen says that Namor's father was a good man, but the rest of humanity were cruel and nearly killed the Atlantean race. Fen explains that in 1920, a ship called the Oracle captained by Leonard McKenzie, Namor's father, sailed for the Antarctic to test bombs. Unbeknownst to the crew the spot they were on was the old city of Atlantis, and the city was being destroyed and its people killed. Fen was chosen to be a spy as she most resembled a human. Fen hid on the ship and was found by a crewman and taken to Captain McKenzie. McKenzie had given Fen clothes and food for Fen but these gifts were not fruitful as the clothes nearly suffocated her and the food made her sick. Over time Fen learned English, and fell in love with Captain McKenzie and the two married and Fen fell pregnant with Namor. During all this time Fen fed information to Atlantis and concluded the humans were too strong to fight against and their first counter attack was decimated during a round of bomb testing. In the present, Fen tells Namor that it is his duty to avenge Atlantis.

Namor meets his cousin Dorma in an adjoining room and explains his mission to her. Dorma insists on accompanying Namor, but Namor refuses but tells her that she could travel with him for part of the mission. The two swim to Cape Anna Lighthouse, which Namor decides to attack because it could endanger ships. Namor attacks a guard and destroys the controls for the ship, but Dorma was captured by a guard. Namor saved Dorma, and he proceeds to fight more guards and destroy the beacon of the lighthouse. Namor and Dorma then escape from the guards by jumping onto a nearby plane which Namor commandeers. Namor tells Dorma to take the plane back to Atlantis while he continues on his mission elsewhere.

## Review

### Story

The story was actually pretty captivating.

# The Masked Raider

## Characters

### Supporting Characters

* Sheriff Steve
* Lightning

### Antagonists

* Cal Brunder's Gang
	+ Cal Brunder
	+ Bends
	+ Slick
	+ Rowdy

### Other Characters

* Mr. Bleck
* Mrs. Bleck
* Lordin

## Groups

### Primary Groups

* Cal Brunder's Gang
* Sheriff's Office of Cactusville

## Species

* Humans
* Horses

## Locations

### Cities

* Cactusville
	+ Gardley Ranch
	+ Sheriff's Office
	+ Hotel Perez
	+ T. O'Kane's Saloon
	+ Bleck's Ranch
	+ Lordin's Ranch

## Paraphernalia

* Eternity Mask (First Appearance; Retroactive)

## Summary

Cal Brunder is a cattle baron in Cactusville, California and is attempting to force the smaller ranchers of the area to sell to him with his gang of armed thugs. Brunder sends his thugs after Jim Gardley. Gardley punches one of the thugs but another one, Slick, sneaks up on him and pulls his revolver on him and forces him to go with him to meet Brunder. Slick tries to convince Gardley to join the gang, but Gardley rebukes him. Gardley is then brought to Brunder who sends the thugs after other ranchers while he tries to work over Gardley. Brunder's threats do not work on Gardley and Brunder calls on Sheriff Steve and tells him that Gardley had tried rustling his castle and Steve puts Jim in jail. Jim decides to do something about Brunder and feigns being sick so that Steve will open his cell. Jim then knocks Steve unconscious, steals his gun, and puts him in the cell. Jim then steals a horse and leaves town before letting the horse go and going back home and spending weeks practicing shooting before deciding to find a horse. He finds a white stallion and tries to tame it but fails several times. One day the horse traps itself in a corral and he begins to break the horse, which he names Lightning, in. Jim then decides to put on a black mask and pledges to be a hero named the Masked Raider to bring justice and fight lawlessness. Meanwhile, Brunder orders Slick to burn down Bleck Ranch to show that he means business. Slick organizes the posse and they move on the ranch house, but Bleck sees them. Bleck tries to stand them down but he gets shot in the chest. The posse then burn down the ranch and Bleck's wife dies in the fire. News of the raid hits the town and the Sheriff admonishes Brunder who states that the Sheriff has no right to question him and is confident that people are going to begin selling to him. The rest of the ranchers in Cactusville meet up in Lordin's Barn to discuss their plan of action. Lordin decides to sell because he wants to stop all the killings and the rest of the ranchers reluctantly agree. Brunder hears of the decision and is pleased but he then hears from Slick that Rowdy, a member of his gang, was killed and a not was pinned to his corpse. The note is from the Masked Raider and says that he is coming to punish Brunder's game. The Raider meets with Sheriff Steve and wants him to help him oppose Brunder. Steve agrees but a thug outside hears them and prepares to kill them both. Another thug shows up and prepares to help the first thug kill the Masked Raider and Steve, but the Raider hears them and knocks them both out and leaves them to Steve for arrest while he hunts down Slick and attempts forces him to turn himself in. Slick's protests reach the rest of the gang and they move to rescue him but the rest of the townsfolk begin to fight the gang while Brunder attempts to escape via for horse. The Raider mounts Lightning and chases him down and lassos him off his horse. The Raider delivers Brunder to Steve and rides off, while Steve wonders if the Raider will try to take down bigger criminals.

## Review

### Story

The story is a by-the-numbers western story with not much really happening.

### Dialogue

Stereotypical western speech with spelling that is kind of annoying.

### Art

I don't like the art and the coloring is awful cause of the scan.

### Overall

Not much to talk about not that bad not that great either. 5.5/10

# Jungle Terror

## Characters

### Primary Characters

* Ken Masters
* Tim Roberts

### Antagonists

* Crafton's Men
	+ John Crafton
	+ Mike
	+ Slug
* Unnamed Amazonian Tribe
	+ Tribal Chief

## Locations

### Continents

* North America
* South America (First Appearance)

### Geographic Regions

* Caribbean
* Amazon

### Cities, Towns, and Homes

* Roberts Plantation
* Tribal Village
	+ Cave System

## Summary

In Florida, Ken Masters and Tim Roberts are discussing the disappearance of Professor John Roberts in his plantation home. Professor Roberts went on an expedition to the Amazon in search of a diamond with hypnotic powers, although he hasn't been heard from for three months. Ken and Tim decide to go rescue Professor Roberts and make plans to fly there. As the two converse a man listens in on their conversation before leaving for the adjacent plantation to report to his boss John Crafton who makes plans to follow the pair to the Amazon. Ken and Tim then take the plane and fly to the Amazon but notice they are being trailed by Crafton. As the pair fly over the jungle their plane encounters difficulties and they crash. Ken carries Tim out of the wreck but they are accosted by an Indigenous tribe who take them to their village. Nearby Crafton and his cronies touch down and make plans to follow Ken and Tim to the Professor, steal the diamond, and return home. As the group is traversing the jungle one of the cronies is attacked by a Native but another thug kills the Native with his rifle. The thug is suddenly hit by a poisoned arrow and collapses dead while the rest of the group is surrounded by Natives who force them to go to their village. Meanwhile Ken and Tim are taken to the chief who orders them to be imprisoned and executed later. In the prison Ken and Tim see Professor Roberts who alerts them to a hole in the corner of the hut. One by one they slip through the hole and traverse through the cavern and come into contact with a cave filled with diamonds. The three prepare to take some of the diamonds but are stopped by Crafton and his men who escaped imprisonment and found a cave in the jungle that led to the cavern. Crafton and him men prepare to take the diamonds but are killed by poisoned arrows. Ken then grabs Crafton's gun and begins firing at the Natives who begin shooting arrows and chasing after them. The three then attempt to escape and find Crafton's plane. The group then flee through the cave and run through the jungle before finding Crafton's plane. Professor Roberts and Tim start the plane while Ken fights off the approaching Natives before hopping in the plane and flying off. Ken remarks that despite finding thousands of diamonds they are going home empty handed, when Professor Roberts reveals he managed to snag one.

## Review

### Story

Very short and uneventful. Ultimately a waste of time with no connection to the greater Marvel Universe.

### Art

I don't like the art and the coloring is awful cause of the scan.

# Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great

## Characters

### Supporting Characters

* John Rand
* Constance Rand
* Zar, the Lion

### Antagonists

* N'Jaga, the Leopard
* Paul de Kraft's Organization
	+ Paul de Kraft
	+ Mubangi

### Other Characters

* Nyassa, the Fish
* Nono, the Monkey
* Quog the Wild Pig
* Wal-Lah, the Hippo
* Trajah, the Elephant
* Kru, the Buzzard
* Sha, the Lioness

## Locations

### Nations

* Kingdom of Belgium
* Union of South Africa
* Kingdom of Egypt

### Cities, Towns, Homes

* Johannesburg
* Cairo
* Rand Camp
* Paul de Kraft's Camp

## Summary

John Rand is a young South African diamond magnate and the owner of a field in the Transvaal. Rand is going on a business trip to Cairo along with his wife Constance and son David. As the plane is flying over the Congo jungle it begins to fail and crashes. John stumbles out of the wreck and pulls Constance and David out of the wreck. Constance has a broken leg so John searches the plane for medical supplies. As this is happening David begins playing with a monkey but is being watched by a lion named Zar and a leopard named N'Jaga. N'Jaga attempts to pounce on David, but Constance screams which alerts John who shoots at N'Jaga who in turn flees into the jungle. David is saddened about this as he wanted to be friends with N'Jaga which causes John to remark that David is unafraid of the beasts of the jungle. John late kills a snake that David was befriending which also causes David to get sad. David is unhappy at the prospect of leaving the jungle as he had become friends with the animals there. Days pass without rescue and in that time John creates a shelter from the plane. After a while a plane comes by the jungle and John tries to get its attention. The plane does not see the smoke and flies off. The same scenario repeats for days until the plane eventually stops coming. Constance later dies from a fever, and John nearly goes insane but snaps out of it because of David. John then comes up with a plan to travel to the nearest (white) outpost, meanwhile a storm occurs in the jungle. John takes David to escape to a cave for shelter, but a lightning bolt strikes a tree which falls on John. An unspecified amount of time later David is taking John back to the hut, and David asks if they still have to go to the outpost to go home. John, who got a brain injury from the tree, says that the jungle is their new home. As David grows older he learns archery and learns to swim like Nyassa the Fish, climb trees like Nono the monkey, learns to speak to animals and befriends Quog the Warthog and Wal-lah the hippo. David also learns why his father shot N'Jaga and the snake and says that he will only kill when necessary. David also lays eyes on Trajah the Elephant and hopes to one day to ride him and unbeknownst to him he is being followed by Zar who keeps pace with him whenever he races through the jungle. One day David sees Kru the Buzzard and rushes to see him. As David is speeding through the jungle he hears a blood-curdling roar as Zar was following David and fell into quicksand. David took pity on Zar and grabbed a bundle of sticks so that Zar could pull himself out of the quicksand. Zar then goes to the grass of the jungle with his mate Sha and he makes peace with David. A week later, David sees plumes of smoke and he and his father swing through the trees to investigate. They see a group of three native Africans and one white colonist at camp. John jumps down to the ground to confront the group and get them to leave, and as he walks back to the bush but the colonist, Paul de Kraft, pulls out his pistol and aims at John's back. David sees this and shoots an arrow at de Kraft and hits him in the arm which causes him to drop his pistol. John tells David that Constance thought that the jungle was sacred and as such they can't let anyone pollute it. Later that night, de Kraft reveals that he is hunting for emeralds and wants to kill the Rands for trying to get him to leave. He sends his servants to survey if the Rands have weapons. That mourning David goes to see if the group left and sees their camp deserted. David enters the camp to investigate and looks through the possessions of the group. David prepares to go home when he hears a loud gunshot and feels that something terrible has happened. He rushes home and hears another gunshot and sees his hut on fire. David believes that his father is in the hut but as he rushes toward it he sees his father on the riverbank. He asks John what happened, John only mutters. David then picks John up and tries to carry him away but a native sneaks behind him and points his spear in David's back. De Kraft and his minions then arrive and David threatens to kill de Kraft but de Kraft laughs it off and says that he will have his servants kill David. David attempts to grab his father's knife but de Kraft pulls out his pistol. Zar then arrives and springs into action to save David. De Kraft escapes but two of his servants are killed. John then succumbs to his injuries and David buries him. David then sulks in the ashes of his home. Zar then arrives and adopts David as his brother, David the adopts the name Ka-Zar and leaves with Zar.

## Review

### Story

Nothing super interesting happens. It's really just a retelling of Tarzan and is not super interesting.

### Art

I don't like the art and the coloring is awful cause of the scan.

### Overall

Not much to talk about not that great. 3/10