Jungle Action #9
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeJungle Action #9 (cover-dated May 1974) is the fourth chapter of Don McGregor's 'Panther's Rage,' widely credited as one of the earliest self-contained, multi-issue story arcs in mainstream superhero comics — what critic Jason Sacks called 'Marvel's first graphic novel.' This installment introduces Baron Macabre, one of Erik Killmonger's most theatrically menacing lieutenants, and simultaneously plants the seed of Killmonger's own eventual downfall: the murdered farmer M'Jumbak, whose death here leaves behind a son, Kantu, who will later save T'Challa's life by shoving Killmonger off Warrior Falls. The issue also deepens the arc's soap-opera complexity by ending on Monica Lynne being falsely accused of murdering the royal officer Zatama, a murder-mystery subplot that threads through several subsequent issues and demonstrates McGregor's commitment to serialized, character-driven storytelling that was genuinely unusual for the Bronze Age.
In "But Now the Spears Are Broken," the Panther faces a deadly threat when a rhinoceros charges, but he's not alone—Kantu’s life hangs in the balance. As Baron Macabre unleashes the dead to terrorize the region, the Panther must confront a rising tide of violence, with Zatama’s death and Monica’s wrongful accusation tearing at the fragile peace. Written by Don McGregor and brought to life by Gil Kane’s dynamic art, with inks by Klaus Janson and colors by G. Wein, this 1974 issue features a cover by Gil Kane and Mike Esposito.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Don McGregor came to Jungle Action not as a veteran writer but as Marvel's staff proofreader; after observing that the series' lineup of white jungle-hero reprints was culturally incongruous, he was essentially handed the book with the single editorial constraint that stories be set in Africa. Issue #9 was written by McGregor and penciled by Gil Kane — one of several rotating pencilers on the arc alongside Rich Buckler and Billy Graham — with inks by Klaus Janson, who was still in the early years of what would become a distinguished career. Editor-in-chief Roy Thomas oversaw the issue, and the cover was also the work of Gil Kane. At 36 pages and cover-priced at 25 cents, this issue marked the book's first increase from its previous 20-cent cover price, a transition that also corresponded with the stories expanding to fill the full book rather than sharing space with Lorna the Jungle Girl reprints.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Story title: 'But Now the Spears Are Broken' — Part 4 of the 'Panther's Rage' arc (Jungle Action #6–18); release date February 19, 1974, cover date May 1974.
- First appearance of Baron Macabre, a Wakandan subversive and Killmonger ally who wields the Resurrection Altar to reanimate the dead and commands the Death Regiments; created by writer Don McGregor and penciler Gil Kane.
- First appearances of Kantu (the farmer's son whose later act saves T'Challa) and Karota; first appearance and death of M'Jumbak (Kantu's father, killed by Baron Macabre's forces).
- Death of Zatama, a royal Wakandan officer; Monica Lynne is falsely accused of the murder, launching a multi-issue whodunit subplot later resolved as Tanzika's doing.
- Creative team: script by Don McGregor, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Klaus Janson, cover by Gil Kane (with Mike Esposito inks and Gaspar Saladino lettering on cover); editor Roy Thomas.
- Contains a four-page back-up feature written by McGregor with art by Rich Buckler and Klaus Janson that recaps the story from Jungle Action #6–8, serving as an on-ramp for new readers.
- Includes Series 'A' Marvel Value Stamp #31 depicting M.O.D.O.K. (George Tarleton) — the character's only presence in the issue is on this stamp.
- The main story has been reprinted in: Marvel Masterworks: The Black Panther Vol. 1 (2010), Essential Black Panther Vol. 1 (2012), Black Panther Epic Collection: Panther's Rage (2016), and The Official Marvel Graphic Novel Collection #116 (2016), as well as internationally in Planet of the Apes (Marvel UK, 1976), Thor e i Vendicatori (Editoriale Corno, Italy, 1977), and Superaventuras Marvel (Editora Abril, Brazil, 1983).
Cast · 14 characters
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The Panther saves Kantu from being killed by a rhinoceros. One of Killmonger's terrorists, Baron Macabre raises the dead and battles the Panther. Zatama is killed, and Monica is accused of the murder.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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