Zaran

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This article is about the Marvel Comics character Zaran the Weapons Master, for the Marvel Comics Eternal character, see Zarin

Zaran is a Marvel Comics super-villain, and is a codename carried by two characters related to another.

Contents

[edit] Zaran (Maximillian Zaran)

Zaran

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Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Master of Kung Fu (2nd series) #77 (June 1979)
Created by Mike Zeck
In story information
Alter ego Maximillian Zaran
Team affiliations Thunderbolts
Batroc's Brigade, MI-6
Notable aliases The Weapons Master
Abilities mercenary with advanced weapon skills

[edit] Fictional character biography

Maximillian Zaran was born in Great Britain. Early in his life, he chose to become a mercenary. Training himself thoroughly in martial arts and the use of various kinds of weapons, he became known as a super-villain as well. His first battle against a super-hero was against Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, who easily defeated him. After a few more brawls with Shang-Chi, Zaran was also seen fighting against Captain America.

In his next attempt to defeat super-heroes, Zaran joined forces with Razorfist II and Shockwave and fought the West Coast Avengers and later on Hawkeye.

During the legendary Bloodstone Hunt storyline, Zaran became good friends with fellow mercenary Batroc and joined Batroc's Brigade and fought Captain America but lost once more. From then on Zaran was mostly seen alongside Batroc, fighting heroes such as Nomad.

At one point in his life, Zaran also trained another fellow assassin and allowed him to use his codename in battle. He later participated in the hunt for the X-Men thief known as Gambit, where he was apprehended by local police officers.

[edit] Marvel Knights

Zaran would return to battle a loose collection of superheroes involving Dagger, Black Widow, Daredevil and Shang-Chi. He is initially shown stealing a chemical agent from A.I.M. for Shang-Chi's father, a super-villain sometimes known as Fu Manchu. He is then ordered to kill Shang-Chi himself.

[edit] Civil War/The Initiative

Escaping jail and facing the Thunderbolts, Zaran was forced to join said super-hero group during the Civil War event.

Zaran has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who are part of the Initiative program[1]. [2]

[edit] Zaran (Shang-Chi villain)

Zaran

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Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black #1 (1990)
Created by Doug Moench & Paul Gulacy
In story information
Alter ego unrevealed
Notable aliases Master of the Staff and Sais
Abilities mercenary with advanced weapon skills

[edit] Fictional character biography

The identity of the second Zaran is unknown, but it has been revealed that he was trained by the original Zaran to become a mercenary. Like his master before him, the second Zaran sought out Shang-Chi in battle but was soon afterward defeated by him. Zaran hasn't been seen since.

[edit] Other versions

[edit] House of M

In this reality, Zaran is a member of Shang-Chi's Dragons criminal organization, alongside, Mantis, Swordsman and Machete[3]. Zaran is killed by Bullseye after the Dragons are ambushed by the Kingpin's assassins[4]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1
  2. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
  3. ^ House of M: Avengers #2
  4. ^ House of M: Avengers #4
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