Daredevil 12- Sightless in a Savage Land – Ka-Zar Lives Again
Daredevil 13- The Secret of Ka-Zar’s Origin
Daredevil 14- If This Be Justice
Writer: Stan Lee 12, 13, 14
Layouts: Jack Kirby 12, 13
Art: John Romita 12, 13, 14
Inks: Frankie Ray 14
Letters: Sam Rosen 12, 13
Letters: Artie Simek 14
Appearances: Matt/DD, Karen, Foggy, Ka-Zar, the Plunderrer
Recap- Matt Murdock decides to leave Hell’s Kitchen so that Karen and Foggy can be together. Before he leaves, thought balloons show that Matt and Karen secretly love each other- this is hard on both of them. Foggy gets frustrated with how they feel about each other, but always corrects himself when his thoughts turn bitter toward Matt. Matt reaches his ship in the nick of time and sets off. While traveling, the ship is attached by pirates led by the Plunderrer. Turns out that Plunder doesn’t really want anything from the ship. He kidnaps DD and takes him back on his ship, which turns out to be a technological marvel. Plunder is a genius and has bigger plans.
At the same time, Ka-Zar on Skull Island is fighting a T-Rex. He is strong, tough and determined. Ka-Zar’s last Marvel appearance was in X-Men 10, so heroes will not be uncommon to him. Ka-Zar notices the Swamp Men cruising up the river to kill him.
Plunder also has sights on Ka-Zar. He runs this ship to Skull Island. When they arrive, Ka-Zar and his tiger, Zabu, attack. DD is knocked out, losing his “sight.” Ka-Zar saves DD and takes him back to his cave. He goes to get a berry that will cure him. Maa Gor shows up and looms over DD in the cave.
Daredevil has no senses, but fights Maa Gor. He is about to lose when one of Plunder’s men shoots Maa Gor. Ka-Zar returns- he and Plunder each have half of a medal. They are brothers. At that point, Ka-Zar is caged. He throws the berries to Daredevil before he is taken away.
There is an interlude with Matt and Karen worried about Matt. He is presumed dead. Karen is explicit about her feelings for Matt. Foggy is jealous.
We return to England with Plunder. With the medal, he now has access to a power new weapon. Plunder pushes DD into a pit with Ka-Zar. The two fight, until Daredevil uses Ka-Zar to vault out of the pit and knock out Plunder. They escape. Plunder’s butler calls in some spies to hunt them down. They are blasted and knocked out.
Ka-Zar is taken back and DD left for dead. Daredevil fakes being unconscious and then follows them back to the castle. Plunder is on to his butler. A scrum ensues- Plunder wins and a henchmen is shot in the process. He blames the death on Daredevil and Ka-Zar, framing them.
Matt sends a message to Foggy and Karen. They are to come to England to defend Ka-Zar. without knowing much, they follow.
Plunder creates a weapon using his new magical stone he has; he has named it the Plunder Stone. With this gun, he can eliminate any metal weapon. This makes him and his men nearly unstoppable. Of course, DD infiltrates his ranks and takes him down. Plunder admits that his brother did not kill anyone and the charges are dropped. A trial was not needed after all.
Ka-Zar was sent back to his home on Skull Island and Daredevil returns to Hell’s Kitchen with Foggy and Karen.
Thoughts: It’s interesting that after an issue that seemed to plant Daredevil firmly in big city crime drama, the Marvel gang takes Matt on a trip into the wild. Pirates off the coast of New York- who would have thought? No matter how crazy the issues, a few of Daredevil traits are front and center. Daredevil shows his fighting prowess, even when his powers fail him. Daredevil shows his affinity for those who need defending. Here Ka-Zar may be a warrior in the wild, but he is totally out of his element in a court room. The issue also shows how important the relationship with Foggy and Karen is. When the chips are down, he can always count on them. And, Daredevil shows his intelligence as he figures out how Plunder’s weapon works, just by listening to how it sounds when it fires. Plastic is the key.
This is the first time that Karen openly admits her feelings about Matt. Foggy becomes deeply jealous even getting angry with Matt. He has to reel himself in because Matt is his closest friend.
Quick note- this is the first issue completely drawn by the legend, John Romita. No breakdowns by Kirby.
I’m glad to see that Matt is returning to Hell’s Kitchen. I don’t mind him on the road, or in San Francisco, but he is truly at home in the Kitchen. For my money, his best stories are told there. Plus, the stories are a little more grounded here. Matt is an attorney. Daredevil is a blind hero who likes to use the rooftops as his playground. He fights criminals and protects the innocent. Much better in the city. I enjoyed the jaunt through Skull Island and England, but I’m glad he’s home.
