RARE - SDCC - 2008 Marvel Legends - The Savage Land Zabu Shanna Ka-Zar - NIB.

Marvel Legends: The Savage Land Released in 2008 at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC)

Action Figures: Ka-Zar, Shanna, Zabu

Accessories: Sniper Rifle, Machete, Hunting Knife

Condition: New, Unopened; Box has some damage on one corner. Refer to pictures for precise condition, as they provide views of every side.

Points of Interest (from online research): Ka-Zar's hunting knife fits into the sheath strapped to his right thigh. His other two knives (in his waistband in back, and on his left calf) are not removeable. All three figures have extensive articulations (for 2008), including Zabu's jaw opening to reveal a fully sculpted inner mouth. Hasbro rarely makes articulated animals of this scale, so Zabu's presence alone is notable. During 2007/2008, Hasbro reengineered its sculpting design and processes to create more lifelike head sculpts, and The Savage Land was one of the first products to benefit. The quality and detail of their head sculpts (including Shanna's hair) show significant improvements over earlier products, resulting in very realistic figures.

What is the Savage Land?

The Savage Land is a tropical prehistoric preserve hidden in the middle of Antarctica. The Savage land was created 200 million years ago by the alien Nuwali for the near-omnipotent Beyonders. It was filled with the indigenous life forms of the time: dinosaurs and the corresponding ecosystem they needed to survive. The Nuwali later added early mammals before disappearing in Earth’s early history.

Ka-Zar is Lord Kevin Reginald Plunder, whose father, Lord Robert Plunder, discovered the Savage Land and its abundance of Anti-Metal. When Lord Plunder returned to the Savage Land with his son, they were immediately attacked by Man-Apes, and Lord Plunder was killed. Young Kevin would have died as well, but Zabu appeared and rescued him. The boy and the tiger fled into the Land of Mists, an area that the Man-Apes were afraid to go. A legend grew around the story among the Man-Apes and in the story, Kevin became “Ka-Zar” which means “Son of the Tiger.” In the Land of the Mists, Ka-Zar grew to adulthood with Zabu as his protector and constant companion.

Another visitor who became a permanent resident was Shanna O’Hara. Born in Africa and educated in the States, Shanna returned to Africa with two leopard cubs whose mother was killed at the New York Central Park Zoo. She and Ka-Zar gradually fell in love, married and lived in the Savage Land.

Zabu was the last known living saber-tooth tiger in existence. Having been born in the prehistoric Savage Land himself, his parents and siblings were killed by the tribe of Man-Apes when Zabu was still a cub.

Together, these three protect the Savage Land from outsiders, many seeking the valuable deposits of Anti-Metal which Lord Plumber had discovered long before.