Astonishing Tales #20
Astonishing Tales #20 closes out the three-year Ka-Zar run that served as the proving ground for Bobbi Morse — the character who would eventually become Mockingbird — capping the arc where she operates as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 19, fully enmeshed in the Super-Soldier Serum intrigue that defined her origin. Ka-Zar's firm rejection and destruction of the Serum draws a thematic line in the sand: the jungle lord refuses the shortcut of scientific enhancement and returns to the Savage Land on his own terms, a character statement that set the tone for his subsequent solo series. The issue also ran promotional material for the Son of Satan feature launching in Marvel Spotlight #12 that same month, making it a small crossroads moment for Marvel's early Bronze Age horror push. As the final chapter of the original Ka-Zar anthology strip, it bridged directly into Ka-Zar's own title launched in early 1974, carrying Bobbi Morse's story forward before she was eventually sidelined by the introduction of Shanna the She-Devil.
In "The Final Battle!", Ka-Zar faces off against Victorius in a climactic showdown that tests his resolve and strength. With Zabu’s quick thinking and Ka-Zar’s refusal to rely on the super-soldier serum, the fight reaches its peak—ending with Ka-Zar’s decisive victory and a quiet farewell to Barbara Morse as he returns to the Savage Land. Written by Mike Friedrich and illustrated by Marie Severin and Werner Roth, with inks by Frank Giacoia and colors by Marie Severin, this 1973 Marvel classic features a striking cover by John Romita.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Writer Mike Friedrich had taken over the Ka-Zar feature as regular scripter with issue #14 (December 1972), inheriting a character whose supporting cast — especially Bobbi Morse — had been shaped by a revolving door of creators including Len Wein, Neal Adams, Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, and Herb Trimpe, resulting in a famously tangled continuity. For issue #20, the penciling duties were shared between Werner Roth and Marie Severin, with Severin also handling colors; Grand Comics Database notes, on the authority of correspondence with researcher Nick Caputo, that Severin substantially revised the art throughout the story. Roy Thomas served as editor, and the cover was by John Romita Sr. with Morrie Kuramoto.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Cover-dated October 1973 (on-sale July 17, 1973); written by Mike Friedrich, penciled by Werner Roth and Marie Severin (with Severin also as colorist and extensive art reviser), inked by Frank Giacoia, edited by Roy Thomas.
- Final installment of the Ka-Zar solo feature in Astonishing Tales — the strip ended with this issue after running from #1 (1970); the story continued directly in Ka-Zar (1974 series) #1.
- Bobbi Morse appears here in her established role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 19; she had first appeared (unnamed) in Astonishing Tales #6 (1971), was named as Dr. Barbara Morse in #12, and designated Agent 19 in #18 — she would not become the costumed Huntress until Marvel Super Action #1 (1976) nor adopt the Mockingbird name until Marvel Team-Up #95 (1980).
- Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder) refuses — and destroys — the Super-Soldier Serum for the final time, rejecting enhancement and choosing to defeat Victorius (Professor Victor Conrad) through his own abilities alone.
- Nick Fury, the Plunderer (Parnival Plunder), A.I.M., and both versions of Gemini (Joshua and Damian Link) appear; Zabu the saber-tooth actively assists Bobbi Morse during the climax.
- The issue contains a promotional feature for the Son of Satan (Daimon Hellstrom), whose debut in Marvel Spotlight #12 was published the same month — the letters column is playfully titled referencing 'the Son of Satan and Me — and Satana Makes Three!'
- Collected in Marvel Masterworks: Ka-Zar Volume 2 (collecting Astonishing Tales #17–20, Ka-Zar #1–5, Shanna the She-Devil #1–5, and related issues) and in Mockingbird: Bobbi Morse, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (collecting Astonishing Tales #10, 12–13, 15–20, among other issues).
- A British price-variant edition of this issue also exists.
Cast · 11 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
The fight between Ka-Zar and Victorius continues with Victorius momentarily stopping Ka-Zar. Zabu distracts Victorius until Ka-Zar recovers. Ka-Zar again refuses to take the super-soldier serum, this time destroying it. He then defeats Victorius. Professor Wilma Conrad refuses to make another batch of the super-soldier serum. Ka-Zar leaves Barbara Morse to return to the Savage Land.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).