KING CADAVER

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human mutate; presumably a Wakandan

Occupation: Warrior

Group Membership: Killmonger's Legions

Affiliations: Agent of Erik Killmonger;
    ally of his Legions (Baron Macabre, Death Regiments, Kazibe,  Lord Karnaj, Malice, Salamander K'Ruel, Sombre, Tayete, Venomm--and presumably Madam Slay)

Enemies: Black Panther (T'Challa), Taku, Venomm, the Wakandan Royal Guard and government;
    dinosaurs

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: N'Jadaka Village, Wakanda; also a chamber excavated beneath the Great Vibranium Mound and a nearby graveyard

First Appearance: Jungle Action II#10 (July, 1974)

Powers/Abilities: King Cadaver has the ability to generate great psychic pain, causing delusions and possibly even controlling the minds of others. He does not wear a mask, but rather that is his true face.

 

History:
(Jungle Action II#12 (fb) - BTS) - The man who would become King Cadaver joined N'Jadaka's insurrection against T'Challa. He accompanied him to the Resurrection Altar, where its energies mutated him into his current form while he screamed in terror and agony.

(Jungle Action II#10) - Working with Baron Macabre, King Cadaver set a trap for T'Challa beneath a graveyard. T'Challa came there searching for him, and they caught him off guard with brilliant lights and mirrors which suddenly pierced the darkness. With T'Challa's defenses disrupted, Cadaver nearly drove him mad, but the Panther managed to regain his wits and pummel Cadaver into unconsciousness.

BTS - Cadaver escaped back to Killmonger

(Jungle Action II#12) - King Cadaver and others accompanied Killmonger for a return trip to the Resurrection Altar, in which he received another treatment of the Altar's energies.

(Jungle Action II#15) - Cadaver returned with Killmonger to N'Jadaka Village to find it having been leveled by T'Challa and the forces of the Wakandan army. Believing T'Challa to have died at the hands of Salamander K'Ruell, Killmonger reassured Cadaver that it was but a hollow victory for the Panther.

(Jungle Action II#17) - In the final assault on the Wakandan forces, Cadaver used his power to assault Taku, interrupting his orders to the soldiers. However, Venomm, having changed loyalties due to his association with Taku, wrapped his whip around Cadaver's neck and used it to hurl him across the battlefield. King Cadaver, dazed by the fall, looked for his foes to attack anew, but some instead the foot of a massive brachiosaur coming at him from above. He commanded it to stop in vain, and was presumably squished into a fine paste.

Comments: Created by Don McGregor, Billy Graham, and Klaus Janson.

As detailed by Bob Almond, the inker extraordinaire for the best run of the Black Panther III series, in regards to the Once-And-Future King storyline, @ #36-37:
    "BTW, the original script had King Kadaver but not Madam Slay.  I reminded everyone that Kadaver was last seen squashed by a dinosaur and since Priest didn't use Slay we'd just substitute."

Also, I guess now's as good a point to remark as any, that the Once and Future King is an old title for a story of Arthurian Legend by T.H. White.
Thanks to Chris Matterface for pointing out the author of that classic, which had slipped by mind. The very last line in X2 references the same book.

Also from Bob: T'Challa had apparently retrieved King Cadaver's gold amulet and chain after his death and stored it in his trophy room as seen in BP # 23 and 41.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:

 

Appearances:
Jungle Action II#10 (July-September, 1974) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Jungle Action II#12 (November, 1974) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham & Klaus Janson (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Jungle Action II#15 (May, 1975) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Jungle Action II#17 (September, 1975) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham (pencils), Virgilio Redondo (inks), Len Wein (editor)

First Posted: 05/23/2003
Last updated: 05/27/2003

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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