Ka-Zar the Savage #2

Ka-Zar the Savage hits its stride with this May 1981 issue, as the cover by Brent Anderson puts Marvel's jungle lord front and center — knife in hand, blond hair flying — surrounded by a swirling mass of golden pterodactyl-like creatures closing in from every direction. A young woman scrambles to safety in the background while a big cat crouches nearby, making it clear Ka-Zar is outnumbered but far from outmatched. Writer Bruce Jones and artist Brent Anderson were crafting something genuinely fresh in 1981, blending prehistoric adventure with real dramatic stakes.