| Plunderer | |
|---|---|
 The Plunderer (bottom right) attacksDaredevil on the cover ofDaredevil #14 (March 1966). Art byGene Colan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Daredevil #13 (February 1966) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Parnival Plunder |
ThePlunderer is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character exists in Marvel'sshared universe, known as theMarvel Universe.
The character of the Plunderer was initially introduced in the Marvel comic bookDaredevil #12 (January 1966), and was created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby.[1] He was the brother of the characterKa-Zar, as revealed in his origin story inDaredevil #13.[2]
He also made significant appearances in subsequent comics throughout the 60's, 70's, and early 80's, includingTales to Astonish #95-98 (September–December 1967),Marvel Super-Heroes #19 (March 1969),Astonishing Tales #11 (April 1972), and #17-20 (April–June 1973),Fantastic Four #191 (February 1978),Rom #13 (December 1980), andKa-Zar the Savage #31-33 (April, June and August 1984). However, the character faded into obscurity for many years, until he served as a main antagonist for the first half of Ka-Zar's eponymous 1997 title by writerMark Waid and artistAndy Kubert, from issues #1-10 (May 1997-February 1998).
The Plunderer was apparently killed by thePunisher inPunisher War Journal (vol. 2) #2 (February 2007) during Marvel'sCivil War event. This led to a turning point in the storyline involvingCaptain America's activities during the Civil War, as he was intending to allow supervillains to join his side and the Punisher's actions prevented this.
However, the Plunderer re-appeared a short time later inMarvel Comics Presents (vol. 2) #5-6 (March–April 2008), explaining the man who had died had not been him but his "American representative."
Parnival Plunder is the younger brother ofKevin Plunder. When their father Robert discovered theSavage Land, word leaked out and he sent Kevin to live there and Parnival to live as a sailor to keep them safe. Parnival believed that Kevin died, so he established himself instead as lord of their family home of Castle Plunder as a front for his criminal activities as the Plunderer.[volume & issue needed] Upon learning that his brother had survived and was living in the Savage Land and operating as Ka-Zar, the two clashed on several occasions, mostly over Parnival's obsession with Antarcticvibranium.[volume & issue needed]
The Plunderer came into conflict with theFantastic Four at one point, when he tried to stealReed's lab equipment while the team had temporarily disbanded.[3]
Parnival later allied with a clone ofThanos in a scheme to steal the equipment that maintains the Savage Land's idyllic environment. The Plunderer hires a man named Gregor to arm one Savage Land tribe with laser rifles to attack Ka-Zar, and kidnap Ka-Zar's son Matthew while Ka-Zar is occupied. Ka-Zar and his wifeShanna the She-Devil rescue the baby and discover that Parnival employed Gregor, so Ka-Zar travels to New York City to find out why his brother wanted him killed. While there, theRhino attacks Ka-Zar on Parnival's behalf, though Ka-Zar turns the Rhino into a weapon against his brother. Shanna, who had followed Ka-Zar to New York, is then attacked by the Plunderer's men. Parnival is then able to smuggle the Savage Land's terraforming machinery into New York City, which has devastating effects on the Savage Land.[4]
During theCivil War, the Plunderer hoped to ally himself withCaptain America, but thePunisher executed him before Captain America could intervene.[5] Plunderer later resurfaced and revealed his "American representative" had been killed and not him.[6]
During theInfinity storyline, Plunderer and his men are stopped from stealing robot parts byHeroes for Hire. Plunderer tries to escape, but he is stopped by theSuperior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind inPeter Parker's body).[7]
The moralities of Plunderer and three members of his gang are inverted during the events ofAXIS due to them secretly being present onGenosha during the battle againstRed Onslaught. Plunderer's new outlook on life prompts him to try to become aRobin Hood-like figure who donates a cut of what he steals to "starving orphans". When Plunderer tries to rob a corrupt company called Cortex Incorporated, he and his gang are stopped byCaptain America.[8]
Plunderer, somehow restored to normal, reappears duringAll-New, All-Different Marvel embarking on a crime spree that is halted by theNew Avengers.[9]
Plunderer was seen in an issue ofWhat If? where it revolved around the Savage Landterraforming toward New York. Both he and Ka-Zar sacrifice themselves to return New York to normal.[10]
