Issue(s): Ka-Zar: Sibling Rivalry #-1
Published Date: Jul 97
Title: "Life lessons and lies"
Credits:
Mark Waid & Todd DeZago - Plot
Andy Jozefowicz & Todd DeZago - Script
John Cassaday - Penciler
John Cassaday - Inker
Matt Idelson - Editor
Bob Harras - Editor-in-Chief

Review/plot:
Even though Ka-Zar had an ongoing series in 1997 during the Flashback event, this issue is a standalone one-shot tagged "Sibling Rivalry" that came out in addition to the July issue of the regular series (perhaps because the book was only on issue #3 by that time).

The issue contains a brief recap of Ka-Zar's origin (Father Plunder finds Vibranium in the Savage Land, splits a vault-key amulet between his two sons, and is then killed in the Savage Land by cavemen. Son Kevin is rescued by Zabu the sabre-toothed tiger and becomes Ka-Zar) then does a "tale of two brothers" story that shows both Kevin and Parnival growing up without their fathers.

Ka-Zar is semi-raised by some lizard people tribesmen and continuing to develop his bond with Zabu.

Parnival grows up in New York City with his family's deceitful manservent Willis.

Nothing too exciting here. I guess it kind of provides a motive for Parnival Plunder but not enough really for him to become a super-villain and hate his step-brother.

Nice early art by John Cassaday.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Ka-Zar is still an adolescent here so it should take place a little while before his first appearance in Uncanny X-Men #10. Since we know that Ka-Zar and Zabu have been exposed to mists that increase their longevity, this could potentially take place some time before that first published appearance. We also have Parnival's age to contend with but Parnival has generally been depicted as looking somewhat older than Ka-Zar whereas in this book they seem to be about the same age. I've dropped this into the Hero gap, giving Ka-Zar enough time to grow up before his meeting with the X-Men; it could easily take place a little later as well.

References: N/A

Cross-over: Flashback

Continuity Implant? Y

Reprinted In: N/A