Jungle Action (vol. 2) #10
King Cadaver is Dead and Living in Wakanda
Monica Lynne has been accused of murdering Zatama, one of T’Challa’s advisors.[1] Sitting on the edge of the River of Grace and Wisdom to contemplate these recent developments. He is suddenly ambushed by an crocodile. As the Panther fights for his life the sound of battle draws Taku, Wakanda’s chief communicator. When T’Challa finally fights free from the gator’s maw, Taku helps his king get safely to shore. The two discuss Monica’s recent imprisonment and T’Challa admits that until he can find evidence that proves Monica is innocent, he can’t do anything to free her because everyone already thinks that Monica — viewed as an outsider — is already influencing their king. However, both men are certain that this murder is yet another part of Erik Killmonger’s insurrection.
Returning to the palace, T’Challa visits Monica in her cell and goes over the evidence against her. Zatama was murdered by what appears to be a spear that is covered with Monica’s finger prints. Although this is pretty damning evidence, T’Challa is certain that Monica is innocent and promises to find proof that will clear her name.
Later, T’Challa has returned to his throne for dinner where Tanzika serves him Kraal venison on skewers for the second evening in a row. The meal is interrupted by W’Kabi, who demands that Monica Lynne be punished for murder. T’Challa tries to convince his second-in-command that Monica was framed. However, he ceases the conversation when he sees Karota standing at the other side of the throne room. Remembering that he left the body of her husband, M’Jumbak behind at the graveyard after fleeing Baron Macabre, T’Challa decides to return there as the Black Panther to recover the body.
When the Panther arrives, Baron Macabre’s army of the undead begin rising from their graves. In the ensuing battle, T’Challa discovers that these are not undead zombies but warriors wearing disguises. He threatens to kill one of these warriors if he doesn’t reveal where the tunnels of their grave lead to. Afraid for his life, the warrior explains that they lead to the “Dark Realm” of their master, someone who called King Cadaver. T’Challa knocks out the rest of the “undead” army and explores one of the tunnels. It leads him to a room filled with flashing lights and mirrors where Baron Macabre and King Cadaver are hiding. Cadaver is a grotesque green-skinned man with a misshapen head and large eyes that have hypnotic properties. Between the disorientating lights and mirrors and Cadaver’s hypnosis, the Black Panther almost finds himself overwhelmed.
Luckily, T’Challa’s willpower holds out long enough for him to shatter all the mirrors, lessening Cadaver’s power. This leads to another fight with Baron Macabre. Smashing the ghoul’s face into a post shatters what turns out to be nothing more than a mask as Macabre is just a normal person in a grotesque costume. The same can’t be said of King Cadaver who once again tries to hypnotize the Black Panther. Once again. T’Challa is able to resist this and tosses Cadaver through the last remaining mirror. On the other side he is shocked to discover that this tunnel leads to one of Wakanda’s underground armories, explaining how Killmonger’s army was able to secure firearms for their rebellion.
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, King Cadaver, Baron Macabre, Monica Lynn, W’Kabi, Taku, Tanzika, Karota, M’Jumbak (corpse)
Continuity Notes
Zatama was murdered last issue. Next issue reveals that he was actually murdered by Tanzika, who was trying to frame Monica for the crime.
Topical References
Monica quips that T’Challa could exchange proverbs with “That Kung Fu Guy”, this is a reference Kwai Chang Caine (played by the late David Carradine), the main character of the Kung Fu television series that ran from 1972 to 1975. Other than his martial arts prowess, the character was also known for his use of proverbs, a common trope of the martial arts craze of the 1970s. This should be considered a topical reference.
Supplement Material
This issue features pin-ups of the Black Panther and Erik Killmonger. The Black Panther piece was an early design of the character drawn by Jack Kirby featuring a different costume (yellow stripped chest, gloves and boots with black sleeves and leggings with matching cape. It also states that the original name for the character was supposed to be the Coal Tiger. While this design was initially abandoned, it and the Coal Tiger name would later be used for a version of T’Challa from a parallel dimension (Reality-355) that later appears in Avengers #355-356 & 360.
