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Zabu is a fictional saber-toothed cat appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Zabu is connected primarily to the Savage Land, and the X-Men, and most recently the Avengers (by way of the “Pet Avengers“). He is the last known living Smilodon and is a companion and ally of Ka-Zar.[1][2]

An earlier version was known simply as Zar, in the pulp version of Ka-Zar the Savage, featured in the Ka-Zar magazine.

Publication history

He first appeared in X-Men #10 (March 1965),[3] created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Zabu starred in the Pet Avengers series.

Fictional character biography

Zabu was born in the Savage Land. While still a cub, his mother and siblings were killed by human hunters. He wandered the Savage Land on his own, teaching himself how to survive as he grew to adulthood. His mate was among the Smilodons killed by a Man-Ape tribe led by Maa-Gor. Zabu encountered a young boy named Kevin Plunder as he was about to be attacked by a group of Man-Apes. Zabu saved Kevin, and the two became companions. Zabu protected the boy as he grew to adulthood, and eventually took on the name Ka-Zar, which means “Son of the Tiger”. Zabu was brought to near-human intelligence due to exposure to radioactive mists.

Zabu helps Ka-Zar battle many enemies. For example, in Ka-Zar: Lord of the Hidden Jungle #3 they confront El Tigre and Maa-Gor’s Man-God form. This particular battle resulted in El Tigre mentally controlling Zabu for a time, causing him to attack Ka-Zar. El Tigre lost control before any serious injuries happened. The assistance of Bobbi Morse was vital in rescuing Zabu’s mind.[4]

Ka-Zar marries Shanna the She-Devil and they later have a son named Matthew. Zabu befriends the Savage Land native, Zira, who becomes Matthew’s nanny. He also assists when Gregor, a hunter, kidnaps Matthew.[5]

New York, New York

Zabu left the Savage Land in at least one instance, venturing to New York City with Ka-Zar during marital difficulties; his master was having difficulty controlling an addiction to outside technology. Zabu had many adventures in New York City, as he assisted Ka-Zar and Shanna against Parnival Plunder, who wished to kill them all.[6] In a follow-up to these sequence of adventures, as Kevin attempts to clear out their New York holdings, Zabu is forced to act as a seeing eye tiger. His master had been temporarily blinded and deafened in a subway shoot-out, framed for it and pursued by the police and the Punisher. During this, Zabu practices his jumping, as he keeps blowing them, causing property damage.[7]

Amazing Spider-Man

In a Spider-Man family one-shot in issue #6, the secondary story is about Zabu having emotional troubles, knowing that he has no family left. Ka-Zar asked Peter to watch Zabu while he attends a world summit on global warming. Later, Peter’s Aunt May, completely unaware that Zabu is hiding in the garage, told Peter that this is how she felt, knowing she has outlived her friends, husband, and relatives. Peter uses this to bond with Zabu. Peter took Zabu to a museum to interact with the fake saber-toothed cats on display, and they were almost caught by a guard. Peter told Zabu to pull a “Calvin and Hobbes” maneuver, to which he played as though he were a stuffed animal, leaving Peter stunned at Zabu’s intelligence. Afterward, Zabu felt better and Ka-Zar picked him up from Spider-Man.[volume and issue needed]

Avengers

Zabu is part of the resistance army when the Savage Land comes under attack by resource-stealing Skrulls disguised as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. An array of Avengers help beat back this invasion, unaware of the Skrull involvement.[8]

During the “Secret Invasion” storyline, Zabu was present when the Skrull ship landed in the Savage Land. He helped Shanna and Ka-Zar battle the Skrulls, killing the Skrull pretending to be Jessica Jones.[9] Tie-in issues at this point flashback to Zabu assisting his family in battling the murderous S.H.I.E.L.D. impostors.[10]

Zabu joined with other animal sidekicks to form the Pet Avengers. Mentally linked to each other by one of the Infinity Gems, they joined to fight Thanos. The gems were noted for increasing the intelligence of the animals. The mental link also includes Barack Obama‘s dog, Bo, an honorary member of the team. During the series, Zabu survives a confrontation with Devil Dinosaur and being swallowed by the monster Giganto.[11] In another incident, Zabu and his fellow Pet Avengers travel to China to confront a small group of ancient dragons. This incident leads to them fighting the human Avengers. The confrontation ends well, earning Zabu and the others their own personal home-away-from-home on the grounds of the Avengers Mansion.[12]

During the “Empyre” storyline, Zabu and Ka-Zar later work for the Avengers as part of the Agents of Wakanda.[13] Ka-Zar’s son Matthew has matured enough to join the family in defense of the Savage Land against the Cotati.[14]

Powers and abilities

Zabu possesses the natural abilities associated with saber-toothed cats like Smilodon. The character has powerful claws and teeth, a heightened sense of smell and hearing, and night vision.[15] Zabu ages at a slow rate as well.[16] Zabu developed near human intelligence because of a mutation caused by radioactive mists.[17]

Reception

Critical response

Kevin Lee of Screen Rant included Zabu in their “10 Best From DC & Marvel” list,[18] while Bradley Prom included him in their “10 Best Animal Characters Who Should Join The MCU” list.[19] Darby Harn of CBR.com ranked Zabu 10th in their “10 Most Iconic Pets In Marvel Comics” list,[20] while Kevin Shaffery ranked him 8th in their “15 Coolest Pets In Comic Books” list,[21] and Michael Austin ranked him 10th in their “10 Most Powerful Animals In Marvel Comics” list.[22] The A.V. Club ranked Zabu 21st in their “21 Top Superhero Pets” list.[23]

Other versions

Marvel Zombies

Zabu and Ka-Zar are seen infected with the zombie virus, eating Barbarus and other super-powered inhabitants of the Savage Land.[24]

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Zabu is a normal tiger with Smilodon-like fangs. Flashbacks reveal that Zabu, Shanna, and Ka-Zar have been together since childhood.[25]

In other media

Television

Video games

Merchandise

  • Zabu received a figure in Toy Biz‘s “X-Men: Savage Land” set alongside Ka-Zar.
  • Zabu, alongside Ka-Zar, received a 7-inch statue from sculptor Mark Newman.
  • Zabu received a figure in HeroClix‘s “The Incredible Hulk” expansion set alongside Ka-Zar.

References

  1. ^ Wilson, John (February 16, 2020). “Marvel: 10 Things Everyone Forgets About Lockjaw, Zabu, & The Pet Avengers”. CBR. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Morris, Bryce (January 9, 2023). “Who Are Ka-Zar & Zabu: Origin & Powers of Marvel’s Superpowered Tarzan”. ScreenRant. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 436. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  4. ^ Ka-Zar: Lord of the Hidden Jungle #2-4 (1974)
  5. ^ Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #1-3 (May–July 1997)
  6. ^ Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #3-9 (1997-1998)
  7. ^ Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #14-16 (1998)
  8. ^ The New Avengers #4-5 (April–May 2005)
  9. ^ Secret Invasion #5 (2008)
  10. ^ The New Avengers #38-39 (2008)
  11. ^ Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #2-4 (2009)
  12. ^ Pet Avengers Vs. Avengers #1-4 (2010-2011)
  13. ^ Empyre: Avengers #1 (2020)
  14. ^ Empyre: Avengers #2 (2020)
  15. ^ Raguparan, RaguVarman (December 20, 2022). “10 Scariest Pets In Marvel Comics”. CBR. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. ^ Marvel Pets Handbook #1
  17. ^ Shaffery, Kevin (June 4, 2020). “Which Superhero Pet Are You, Based On Your Zodiac?”. CBR. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  18. ^ Lee, Kevin (April 26, 2022). “Super-Pets: The 10 Best From DC & Marvel”. ScreenRant. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  19. ^ Prom, Bradley (August 12, 2022). “10 Best Animal Characters Who Should Join The MCU”. ScreenRant. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  20. ^ Harn, Darby (May 11, 2020). “10 Most Iconic Pets In Marvel Comics, Ranked”. CBR. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  21. ^ Shaffery, Kevin (August 5, 2019). “The 15 Coolest Pets In Comic Books, Ranked”. CBR. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  22. ^ Austin, Michael (March 1, 2020). “The 10 Most Powerful Animals In Marvel Comics, Ranked”. CBR. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  23. ^ “Best in show: The 21 top superhero pets”. The A.V. Club. July 30, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  24. ^ Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness #3 (2007)
  25. ^ Ultimates (vol. 3) #3 (2008)
  26. ^ “Every Non-Mutant Superhero That’s Ever Appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series”. Comicbook.com. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  27. ^ “Comics Continuum”. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  28. ^ Gallagher, Brian (August 31, 2016). “Squirrel Girl Is Coming to TV in Marvel’s New Warriors Series”. MovieWeb. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  29. ^ Cipriano, Jason (16 February 2011). “Every ‘Marvel VS. Capcom 3’ Cameos – Worlds Truly Colliding”. MTV News. MTV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  30. ^ “Marvel Snap Decks – Best Zabu Decks”. GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  31. ^ Velde, Issy van der (January 10, 2023). “Marvel Snap Will Feature Warrior Falls Less Amid New Balance Changes”. TheGamer. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  32. ^ Toyad, Jonathan (September 26, 2025). “TGS 2025: Marvel Tokon – Fighting Souls Hands-On With Two “New” Heroes”. Kakuchopurei. Retrieved September 26, 2025.