There have been many villains introduced in the title Marvel Team-Up, but very few will ever attain the popularity of the one introduced in the first Spider-Man and Ka-Zar team-up here in this issue. Stegron the Dinosaur Man makes his first appearance in this very issue that Marvel announces as "The Villain Event of the year" on the splash page. Spider-Man has met Ka-Zar before, most notably in Amazing Spider-Man #57. As always, Ka-Zar has at his side, his very loyal Sabretooth Tiger named Zabu. Plus, throw in Dr. Curt Connors, and we have the makings of a very good storyline beginning here and continuing next issue.

The story opens with Spider-Man aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. transport plane flying over Antarctica. He jumps out over a certain spot and uses his webbing to create a parachute safely falling to the ground. He has entered the secret entrance to the Savage Land, unknown to most people and a land which inhabits Dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. Spider-Man has visited the Savage Land previously in Amazing Spider-Man #103 & 104 when he fought both Kraven and Gog with some help from, of course Ka-Zar and Zabu. Spider-Man asks himself how he got himself into this situation he is about to enter as it feels like it is 20 degrees below zero, then the flashback occurs. Spider-Man remembers the night before when Doctor Curt Connors (The Lizard) called Spider-Man for a favor. As Dr. Connors explains, he took on an assistant a few months ago by the name of Dr. Vincent Stegron, to aid him in a project that conducted under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D. and that the project has affected Dr. Stegron. The two Doctors were conducting experiments in cell-regeneration, using dinosaur tissue supplied to S.H.I.E.L.D. by Ka-Zar. The experiments were similar to those that Connors was involved with years ago that helped turn him into the Lizard. As for Stegron, he became obsessed with the experiment, and stole the only existing sample of the extract and fled to the Savage Land to test it. Connors feels responsible for what is happening and what may happen to Dr. Stegron, so he asks Spider-Man to go to the Savage Land to Find Vincent Stegron. He accepted.

Back at the Savage Land after Spider-Man makes his landing, he walks about the land encountering a couple of dinosaurs. Out of nowhere comes Ka-Zar and Zabu from the trees to help save Spider-Man. Spider-Man tells Ka-Zar the reason behind him being there and luckily for Spider-Man, Ka-Zar knows of Stegron's whereabouts. Ka-Zar has heard of the man who many call the lord of the long-tails. The trio then face a horde of swamp-men who attack them for seemingly no reason. The swamp-men knock them all unconscious and then brings them to the temple of the lizard-king where they meet for the first time, Stegron. Ssssstegron speaks with long S's to the men as he was expecting them and declares that he wants to rule not only the Savage Land, but the world! It his intention to return the dinosaur to his rightful place as master of earth. The obedient swamp-men take Spider-Man and Ka-Zar aside to take care of them, but Ka-Zar gets free from his bonds. He then frees Spider-Man and Zabu. The three then run after Stegron into a giant ark where he begins to scream to the many dinosaurs who inhabit the land. One by one, they come to his ark, as Stegron waits to lead them to their ultimate destiny. When Stegron spots Spider-Man, Ka-Zar, and Zabu, he calls out to the dinosaurs once again, but this time to stampede into the underbrush where the innocent swamp-men live. While Ka-Zar takes care of the stampeding dinosaurs, Spider-Man meets Stegron face to face where they square-off against each other. Stegron's long spiked tail knocks Spider-Man into oblivion giving Stegron the chance to take-off with his dinosaur-filled ark. The ark rises skyward with Stegron having his sights set on landing in New York City where he plans on making it the first city to fall to him. Next, the rest of the world!

As Ka-Zar finishes up with the stampeding dinosaurs, having killed the leader of the pack, he watches the ark take off into the sky. But there is something strange that he sees attached to the bottom of a Pterodactyl that amazes him: It is Spider-Man! He shot his web to the creature, then as it got closer to the ark, he proceeded to shoot another one at the bottom of it setting up a nice little cliffhanger that you will have to wait for the next issue to read about! The story obviously concludes next issue where Spider-Man and the Black Panther team-up for the first time in this title. Ka-Zar makes another appearance in this title in Marvel Team-Up #104 as he teams up with the Hulk. He gets together with Spider-Man again in Marvel Fanfare #1 & #2 where they take on Sauron, another Dinosaur Man! Also look for Ka-Zar V3 #21-26, and if you want to see them again against Stegron in the Savage Land, look for Sensational Spider-Man #13-15. Your bound to find something you like!

One of the better issues of Marvel Team-Up that introduces a somewhat important villain for Spider-Man. Be sure to get both issues of the storyline in order to read them together, unless you want to pick up two stand alone issues. But this storyline is very suggested and should be at the top of the list of anyone looking for interesting and entertaining issues of Marvel Team-Up.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Treasury Edition #22