This is "Out of Sight," a feature where I explore notable comic book moments that occurred off-panel. When I say "off-panel," I'm mostly talking about a character not being around and then showing up and us learning that something dramatic happened to them off-panel. I'm flexible enough that I can deal with maybe something "in between panels," as well. You can hit me up at brianc@cbr.com if you have a suggestion for a future column!
Today, we look at how the Ka-Zar/Shanna the She-Devil romance came out of nowhere!
At the end of the first issue of Ka-Zar's 1974 series (by Mike Friedrich, Paul Reinman and Mike Royer), Ka-Zar meets Shanna the She-Devil for the first time...
They team-up in the next issue...
There's a definite attraction and Ka-Zar asks her to stay, but she was off to the States for an arc in Daredevil's series.
That came to a close in Daredevil #117 (by Chris Claremont, Steve Gerber and Bob Brown), when she helped Black Widow and Daredevil take down the Owl...
I love that the Owl didn't know veterinarian Shanna O'Hara was also Shanna the She-Devil. Too funny.
Shanna next popped up in Savage Tales #8 in a story by Gerry Conway and John Buscema, where she teamed up with Ka-Zar's ex-love interest, SHIELD agent Bobbi Morse...
Once again, Shanna had some strong chemistry with Ka-Zar...
However, when the story ended, Shanna went back to Africa.
She then had some stories of her own in Savage Tales #9...
and #10...
She then had another story set in California in Rampaging Hulk #9 by Steve Gerber and Tony DeZuniga...
Then, all of a sudden, she was in Ka-Zar the Savage #1 (by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson) and she and Ka-Zar were a couple!
Heck, they had been together long enough that Shanna was even pulling the ol' "If you need freedom, then you can go off on your own" deal...
(Ka-Zar is not the kind of guy that you tell that to, as that guy will find a new lady in an instant).
The series actually eventually explained how Ka-Zar and Shanna got together, but that wouldn't be for a couple of years after this issue. I'll cover that in the future in response to another Ka-Zar related question a reader had for me!
If anyone has a suggestion for a notable plot point that happened off-panel, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!