Plunderer

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caption=The Plunderer (bottom right) attacks Daredevil on the cover of Daredevil #14 (vol. 1, Mar. 1966). Art by Gene Colan.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Plunderer
real_name=Parnival Plunder
species=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut=Daredevil #13 (Feb. 1966)
creators=Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
status=Deceased
alliances=
previous_alliances=
aliases=
relatives=Robert Plunder (father, deceased), Kevin Plunder (brother)
powers=|

The Plunderer is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

Publication history

The character of the Plunderer was initially introduced in the Marvel comic book "Daredevil" issue #12 (January 1966), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. He was the brother of the character Ka-Zar, as revealed in his origin story in "Daredevil" #13.

He also made significant appearances in subsequent comics throughout the 60's, 70's, and early 80's, including "Tales to Astonish" #95–98 (September 1967–December 1967), "Marvel Super-Heroes" #19 (March 1969), "Astonishing Tales" #11 (April 1972), 17–20 (April 1973–June 1973), "Fantastic Four" #191 (February 1978), "Rom" #13 (December 1980), and "Ka-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 writer Mark Waid and artist Andy Kubert, from issues #1-10.

The Plunderer was apparently killed by the Punisher in "Punisher War Journal" #2 (February 2007) during Marvel's Civil War event. This led to a turning point in the storyline involving Captain 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 in "Marvel Comics Presents" #5–6 (March–April 2008), explaining the man who had died had not been him but his "American representative."

Fictional character biography

Parnival Plunder was the younger brother of Kevin Plunder. When their father Robert discovered the Savage Land, word leaked out and he sent Kevin to live there and Parnival to live as a sailor to keep them safe. Believing Kevin had been killed, Parnival established himself as the lord of Castle Plunder as a front for his criminal activities as the Plunderer. Upon learning that his step-brother had survived in the Savage Land as Ka-Zar, the two clashed on several occasions, mostly over Parnival's obsession with Antarctic vibranium.

The Plunderer came into conflict with the Fantastic Four at one point, when he tried to steal Reed's lab equipment while the team had temporarily disbanded. ["Fantastic Four" #191]

Parnival later allied with Thanos 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 wife Shanna 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, the Rhino 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. ["Ka-Zar" #1-10]

Civil War

During the Civil War, the Plunderer sought out refuge with Captain America in hopes that they can side with them. However, the Punisher executed Goldbug and the Plunderer before Captain America could stop him. ["Civil War" #6; "Punisher War Journal" Vol. 2]

Plunderer resurfaced and revealed his "American representative," not him, had been killed. ["Marvel Comics Presents" Vol. 2 #5-6]

Other versions

What If?

Plunderer was seen in an issue of "What If?" where it revolved around the Savage Land terraforming toward New York. Both he and Ka-Zar sacrifice themselves to return New York to normal. [ "What If?" Vol. II #112 ]

Notes

References