Zaran is a Marvel Comics super-villain, and is a codename carried by two characters related to another.
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| Zaran | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Maximillian Zaran was born in Great Britain. Early in his life, he was an agent of the British Secret Service: MI-6, but soon chose to become a mercenary and assassin. Training himself thoroughly in martial arts and the use of various kinds of weapons, he became known as a super-villain as well. He was first employed by Sarsfield and then Fah Lo Suee, and his first battle against a super-hero was against Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, who easily defeated him.[1] He later battled and defeated Shang-Chi.[2] Zaran then joined Batroc's Brigade, and was employed by Obadiah Stane to steal Captain America's shield.[3]
In his next attempt to defeat super-heroes, Zaran joined forces with Razorfist II and Shockwave and fought the West Coast Avengers Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Iron Man.[4] He battled Hawkeye again alongside Batroc's Brigade.[5]
During the legendary Bloodstone Hunt storyline, Zaran became good friends with fellow mercenary Batroc. Batroc's Brigade was employed by Baron Zemo to acquire the fragments of the Bloodstone, and Zaran fought Captain America and Diamondback but lost once more.[6] 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.
Zaran would return to battle a loose collection of superheroes involving Dagger, Black Widow, Daredevil and Shang-Chi. He is initially employed by the Shadow-Hand to steal a chemical elixir 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.[7]
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[8]. [9]
Zaran is an athletic man with no superhuman powers. He received British Secret Service training, and has knowledge of all forms of armed and unarmed combat, and extensive knowledge of ancient and modern weapons, including knives, bows, staffs, maces, spears, nunchakus, shuriken, and guns. He wears a leather outfitted with a variety of specialized clips, loops, and pockets for carrying weapons. He usually carries small sais (three pronged daggers) attached to his gauntlets, collar and codpiece, a bo staff/spear/blow gun, and a wide variety of weapons as needed.
| Zaran | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
In this reality, Zaran is a member of Shang-Chi's Dragons criminal organization, alongside, Mantis, Swordsman and Machete.[10] Zaran is killed by Bullseye after the Dragons are ambushed by the Kingpin's assassins.[11]