Issue(s): Ka-Zar the Savage #32
Cover Date: Jun 84
Title: "He ain't heavy..."
Credits:
Mike Carlin - Writer
Paul Neary & Marie Severin - Penciler
Carlos Garzon - Inker
Bob DeNatale - Assistant Editor
Danny Fingeroth - Editor

Review/plot:
Marie Severin is credited with "special sequences". You'll see what that means in a minute.

First, it has got to be some kind of record that Ka-Zar's evil brother, Parnival Plunder, aka The Plunderer, didn't appear in this series until 32 issues in (after a tease at the end of last issue). This would be the equivalent of the Inhumans having a steady 30 appearances without Maximus the Mad attacking. It really says something about Bruce Jones' run that he managed to find so much to do with Ka-Zar without bringing in his brother yet again, and even Mike Carlin's use of the character in this issue and next is pretty subdued compared to the usual. No appearance of the luchadore costume, for example. This issue has Parnival making friends with some of the Savage Land natives so that he can gain access to the "anti-metal" (never called vibranium in this story), despite the disapproval of the tribal elder.

Meanwhile, Ka-Zar, Shanna, and Zabu are still traveling back to the Savage Land from Pangea. It's been three issues (and 6 months) since the wedding issue, but this is the first downtime they've had since then, so the majority of this issue is about exploring the implications of their marriage. These moments are the stuff that Bruce Jones' run was made for, but Carlin has a different, zanier approach, and that's where Marie Severin's special sequences come in.

I do like the idea that Shanna is making sure that theirs will be a relationship of equals...

...but she takes a hit in my book when Ka-Zar and Shanna finally make it back to the Savage Land and find Parnival. Parnival plays it smart, not doing his usual super-villain schtick.

And Shanna falls for his charm hook, line, and sinker.

There's nothing inherently wrong with that. Parnival is being smart, and Shanna never met him before and has to be the one that falls for it. I'd just like to see her have a little more trust in the guy that she's been a companion to for quite a while now. At least be watchful. But she's completely bought into the idea of Parnival's reform. The audience on the other hand is shown that it's a ruse right away.

We'll see the conclusion of the Parnival plot next issue, but for now he's biding his time.

One final sequence from Severin:

Here's the pin-up mentioned in the Comments.

Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 74,730. Single issue closest to filing date = 65,519.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Over a week passes during the course of this issue. We can allow some time to pass before the beginning of next issue despite Parnival being around, since he's playing a long game.

References:

• To get Zabu over the cliff separating Pangea from the Savage Land, Ka-Zar and Shanna have to repair a harness first used in Ka-Zar the Savage #16.
  
• Parnival thought Ka-Zar was dead due to the events of Ka-Zar the Savage #18 through Ka-Zar the Savage #27. It's said that Parnival was called in to identify Ka-Zar's body during that period.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A