CAT-PEOPLE of Pangea
CAT-PEOPLE
of Pangea
Classification: Human or humanoid tribe ("Hidden race"/possible sub-species of humanity)
Location/Base of Operations: Pandori, within Pangea, Antarctica (apparently somewhat north of Zarhan, or possibly in the all of the land surrounding Zarhan);
the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#19: Savage
Land races entry referred to them as "the nomadic Cat People of Pandori
in Pangea." Presumably this indicates that the region in which they
werre active and/or originated was known as Pandori.
Known Members: None identified
Affiliations: They worship the power of saber-tooth tigers and other great cats
Enemies: Felina, Ka-Zar (Kevin, Lord Plunder), Leanne, Lemurans, Zabu;
they sacrifice saber-tooth tigers and other great cats and drink their blood to gain their power
First Appearance: Ka-Zar the Savage#1 (April, 1981)
Powers/Abilities: Though they believed themselves to gain the strength and courage of the saber-tooth tigers and other great cats whose blood they drank, there is not evidence to support that they were anything other than conventional humans.
Their life of hunting gave them some degree of strength and physical
fitness, and they were experienced with trapping with nets and the use
of spears and hammer or axe-like weapons. They knew how to make fire
and build primitive wooden structures.
The Cat-People for the skulls of great cats atop their heads, providing them some degree of protection from blunt trauma. They wore the claws of the cats on their belts atop some loincloth-like garment (presumably made from the great cats' hide). They also wore boots, also presumably made from cat-hide.
During hunts, they also some type of garment, almost like a shawl, over their chest, shoulders, back; some of these were also adorned with cat claws.
Traits: The Cat-People were relatively
primitive, and they worshipped the sabre-tooth tigers of the kingdom of
Zarhan, as well as other great cats; however, their worship included capturing and slaying the great
cats and drinking their blood; by drinking the great cats' blood, they believed they obtained the cats' strength and courage.
The only cat they were shown to have caught was a female, but there is
no indication that they only caught females.
After capturing a great cat, they would carry it back to their
ceremonial location, where they built a bonfire near a large wooden
structure from which they could spend and restrain the great cat so
that it could not resist sacrifice. Pending sacrifice, cats were
restrained to some degree on the ground.
The Cat-People typically engaged in bacchanalian celebrations in which they partied all night until passing out around dawn. Based on the discussion between Leanne and Ka-Zar, it is inferred that they typically did not perform the sacrifice until after recovering/waking from their slumber, but that is not confirmed. Under at least some circumstance, they performed the sacrifice earlier in the celebrations.
At the time of their choosing, they would suspend, restrain, and then sacrifice the great cat, presumably by slitting its throat with their ceremonial blade, after which they would presumably collect and drink its blood.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; colors not clearly seen)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed but presumably five
Skin color: Pink ("Caucasian")
Average height: Approximately 6'
History:
(Ka-Zar
the Savage#1 (fb) - BTS) - The desire to slay the cats they worshipped
brought them into conflict with the the people of Zarhan, who cherished
cats in all of their forms; this rivalry lasted for centuries.
(Ka-Zar
the Savage#1) - A group of the Cat-People assaulted the contingent/hunting caravan of Queen Leanne and her Lemuran guards some
twenty miles north of their land, Zarhan. Leanne's servants were all apparently
slain, and Leanne and her pet/companion, the great cat Felina, were separately restrained. 
(Ka-Zar
the Savage#1) - Ka-Zar, who had happened into Pangea (while following his own great cat companion, Zabu, who had been attracted to the in-heat Felina) and was alerted by Leanne's screams, arrived, knocked over Leanne's attackers,
freed Leanne, and rushed off into the jungle with her, despite Leanne's
urging him to stop.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1 - BTS) - When Ka-Zar finally stopped, Leanne explained that they weren't after her (or him), but wanted her cat. Leanne urged Ka-Zar to save Felina to save her from destruction at the hands of the Cat-People, but he advised Leanne that it was foolish to recklessly attack as there were multiple Cat People and just the two of them, and that the Cat-People had taken out her whole caravan.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1) - The Cat-People carried Felina off in a net suspended from a pole.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1 - BTS) - With the goal of determining a way to separate the Cat-People from Felina, Ka-Zar explained that it would soon be dark and he could track the Cat-People without being seen, and Leanne told him of the history and nature of the Cat-People. As Ka-Zar trailed the easy-to-follow tracks of the Cat-People, Ka-Zar soon found tracks matching Zabu's following the Cat-People's and joining them from the East; Leanne revealed that Felina was ready to mate, and that Zabu must be trailing her.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Cat-People bound Felina before their altar, started a massive fire, and began their celebrations.
(Ka-Zar
the Savage#1) - Hours later, Ka-Zar and Leanne approached the Cat-People's camp, and
after Leanne explained how the Cat-People partied all night until
passing out around dawn, Ka-Zar planned to try to rescue Felina after they
passed out. However, the Cat-People instead began to string up Felina in preparation to sacrifice her immediately.
(Ka-Zar
the Savage#1 - BTS) - Leanne urged Ka-Zar to action; but he was unwilling to face the
entire tribe by himself for her cat.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1) - As the tribal leader raised his sword and announced the beginning of the ceremonial act, Zabu suddenly attacked the tribal leader, leading Ka-Zar to leap into the fray, followed by Leanne.
As Ka-Zar released Felina from her bonds, one of the Cat-People ambushed him and prepared to stab him in the chest, but Leanne speared the warrior in the back, saving Ka-Zar. Appreciating this, Ka-Zar led Leanne and Felina to flee with him and Zabu.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1 - BTS) - Miles away, Ka-Zar and his allies took a short break to rest and drink some water; Ka-Zar noted that while there was no sight of their pursuers, they couldn't be far behind.
(Ka-Zar the Savage#1) - The Cat-People began to catch up with Ka-Zar, Leanne, Zabu, and Feline just as they reached the city of Lemura; but, as Leanne predicted, the Cat-People refused to approach Lemura, which they considered to be evil ground.
Comments: Created by Bruce Jones, Brent Anderson, and Carlos Garzon.
The Cat People were defined as being "of Pandori: in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#19: Savage Land races
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Cat People should be distinguished from:
After capturing a great cat, the Cat-People would carry it back to their ceremonial location, where they built a bonfire near a large wooden structure from which they could spend and restrain the great cat so that it could not resist sacrifice.
At the time of their choosing, they would suspend, restrain, and then sacrifice the great cat, presumably by slitting its throat with their ceremonial blade, after which they would presumably collect and drink its blood.
--Ka-Zar the Savage#1
images: (without ads)
Ka-Zar the Savage#1, pg. 12, panel 1 (assaulting Leanne and Lemurans' party);
panel 3 (Leanne restrained);
pg. 13, panel 6 (carrying Felina in net);
pg. 16, panel 1 (ceremony/bonfire);
pg. 18, panel 2 (Felina strung up);
panel 5 (ceremonial blade);
pg. 19, panel 3 (Zabu attacks);
panel 4 (without skull-helmets)
Appearances:
Ka-Zar the Savage#1 (April, 1981) - Bruce Jones (writer), Brent Anderson (penciler), Carlos Garzon (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
First posted: 02/25/2018
Last updated: 04/08/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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ceremonial