Zaran

This article is about the Marvel Comics character Zaran the Weapons Master, for the Marvel Comics Eternal character, see Zarin

Zaran is a Marvel Comics super-villain, and is a codename carried by two characters related to another.

Maximillian Zaran

Zaran
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Master of Kung Fu (2nd series) #77 (June 1979)
Created by	Mike Zeck
In-story information
Alter ego	Maximillian Zaran
Team affiliations	Thunderbolts Batroc's Brigade, MI-6
Notable aliases	The Weapons Master
Abilities	mercenary with advanced weapon skills

Fictional character biography

Maximillian Zaran was born in Great Britain. Early in his life, he was an agent of the British Secret Service: MI-6, but soon chose to become a mercenary and assassin. Training himself thoroughly in martial arts and the use of various kinds of weapons, he became known as a super-villain as well. He was first employed by Sarsfield and then Fah Lo Suee, and his first battle against a super-hero was against Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, who easily defeated him.^[1] He later battled and defeated Shang-Chi.^[2] Zaran then joined Batroc's Brigade, and was employed by Obadiah Stane to steal Captain America's shield.^[3]

In his next attempt to defeat super-heroes, Zaran joined forces with Razorfist II and Shockwave and fought the West Coast Avengers Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Iron Man.^[4] He battled Hawkeye again alongside Batroc's Brigade.^[5]

During the legendary Bloodstone Hunt storyline, Zaran became good friends with fellow mercenary Batroc. Batroc's Brigade was employed by Baron Zemo to acquire the fragments of the Bloodstone, and Zaran fought Captain America and Diamondback but lost once more.^[6] From then on Zaran was mostly seen alongside Batroc, fighting heroes such as Nomad.^{[volume & issue needed]}

At one point in his life, Zaran also trained another fellow assassin and allowed him to use his codename in battle.^{[volume & issue needed]} He later participated in the hunt for the X-Men thief known as Gambit, where he was apprehended by local police officers.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Marvel Knights

Zaran would return to battle a loose collection of superheroes involving Dagger, Black Widow, Daredevil and Shang-Chi.^{[volume & issue needed]} He is initially employed by the Shadow-Hand to steal a chemical elixir from A.I.M. for Shang-Chi's father, a super-villain sometimes known as Fu Manchu. He is then ordered to kill Shang-Chi himself.^[7]

Civil War/The Initiative

Escaping jail and facing the Thunderbolts, Zaran was forced to join said super-hero group during the Civil War event.

Zaran has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who are part of the Initiative program^[8]. ^[9]

Powers and abilities

Zaran is an athletic man with no superhuman powers. He received British Secret Service training, and has knowledge of all forms of armed and unarmed combat, and extensive knowledge of ancient and modern weapons, including knives, bows, staffs, maces, spears, nunchakus, shuriken, and guns. He wears a leather outfitted with a variety of specialized clips, loops, and pockets for carrying weapons. He usually carries small sais (three pronged daggers) attached to his gauntlets, collar and codpiece, a bo staff/spear/blow gun, and a wide variety of weapons as needed.

Shang-Chi villain

Zaran
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black #1 (1990)
Created by	Doug Moench & Paul Gulacy
In-story information
Alter ego	unrevealed
Notable aliases	Master of the Staff and Sais
Abilities	mercenary with advanced weapon skills

Fictional character biography

The identity of the second Zaran is unknown, but it has been revealed that he was trained by the original Zaran to become a mercenary. Like his master before him, the second Zaran sought out Shang-Chi in battle but was soon afterward defeated by him.^{[volume & issue needed]} Zaran hasn't been seen since.

Other versions

House of M

In this reality, Zaran is a member of Shang-Chi's Dragons criminal organization, alongside, Mantis, Swordsman and Machete.^[10] Zaran is killed by Bullseye after the Dragons are ambushed by the Kingpin's assassins.^[11]

References

1. ^ Master of Kung Fu #77-79
2. ^ Master of Kung Fu #87
3. ^ Captain America #302-303
4. ^ West Coast Avengers #11
5. ^ Solo Avengers #3
6. ^ Captain America #357-362
7. ^ Master of Kung Fu #1
8. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1
9. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
10. ^ House of M: Avengers #2
11. ^ House of M: Avengers #4

External links

• http://marvel.com/universe/Zaran%2C_Maximilian