The Lizard Men

History: A race of Lizard Men lived in the subterranean depths of the Earth. At times, one of the Lizard Men would come up to the Earth's surface clad in a shaggy disguise which was actually a protective suit against the cold of the Himalayan Mountains (this was used as an “Abominable Snowman” hoax). One of the Lizard Men came up to the surface and captured TV producer Victor Cartwright and took him back under the Earth to the Lizard Men's underworld civilization; Cartwright later escaped.

In modern times, the Lizard Men returned to battle The Monster Hunters.

Height: 9 ft.
Demonstrated Powers: The Lizard Men were humanoid biped lifeforms which were intelligent and could speak. The Lizard Men lived in a highly advanced civilization. The Lizard Men had a long lifespan, some living up to 1000 years.

Comment: This “Victor Cartwright” should not be confused with the “Victor Cartwright” who fought Dragoom.

Comment: It has been revealed that some Earth-bound monsters were mutate creatures created by Kro (warlord of the subterranean Deviant race) to attack the surface world; this may be the case with the Lizard Men.

Comment: An earlier subterranean Lizard-Man can be seen on the cover of Menace # 8; possible connection?

Comment: The Lizard Men should not be confused with The Lizard Men of Tok, who inhabited the microworld of Dr. Doom (Fantastic Four # 16).

Comment: The Lizard Men should not be confused with the The Lizard, the villain introduced in Amazing Spider-Man # 6.

Comment: The Lizard Men should not be confused with The Serpent Men; possible connection?

Comment: These Lizard Men could be related to the subterranean lizard men discovered by convict Eric Kane in Journey Into Mystery # 64 in the story “I Discoverd the Lair of…The Lizard Men!” (art by Don Heck). Kane was mutated into one of these lizard men at the end of the story. It is possible that the Lizard Men are actually humans mutated ages ago by Deviants to be a slave labor force.

Comment: The Incredible Hulk once disguised himself in a similar furry Yeti-costume when he went to Asia to battle the hordes of General Fang in Incredible Hulk # 5.

Comment: The Lizard Men's “Abominable Snowman” hoax should not be confused with Carl Hanson, a man who was transformed into The Abominable Snowman.

For another entry on the Lizard Men, click HERE.

It is possible that these Lizard Men share a common ancestry with the underground lurking Lizard Men that appear in Heck's “I found the lair of… the Lizard Men” from Journey into Mystery #64

NOTE: Heck's story “I Found the Lair of… the Lizard Men” was reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces #6.

I believe that, in antediluvian times, a group of Lemurian Serpent Men went to Pangea (now known as the Savage Land), to spy on the Atlantean colony there. They decided to do so by transforming into Man-Apes, Neanderthal-like natives whom the Atlanteans used as slave labor. Unfortunately, this particuliar group of “Man-Apes” wound up being used in genetic engineering experiments! Some wound up permanently mutated into Lizard Men. Others wound up stuck forever in their Man-Ape forms. The latter became the ancestors of the Bronze-Age level Swamp People (occasional foes of Ka-Zar). The former becames ancestors of a pacifistic Greco-Roman style culture, nearly wiped out in Zaladane's first attempt at genocidal conquest of the Savage Land. I further believe that a female of this culture was captured by a male of the Swamp People descended from the ill-fated Serpent Men, and became his trophy wife. Their daughter, born with atavistic reptilian anatomy (including a long tail) , was named Iranda. Ultimately banished from her father's village (presumably, after her parents' deaths), because of her ugliness, Iranda lived off the land. And, one day, while pursuing some wounded game, fell through an interdimensional portal into the suburb of Limbo ruled by the demon-lord Belasco! For some reason, he fell for her, and taught her some of his magic, before sending her back to the Savage Land. There, she turned the men of her father's old village into Lizard Men, and used the beautiful young women as her handmaidens. That is, until Ka-Zar and Zabu put a stop to that!.

If anyone can remember what specific issues of ASTONISHING TALES some of those aforementioned stories appeared in, you can/may consider yourselves the biggest no-prize winners in Marvel-fan history!

In addition to this little reference, readers have a curious story that appeared in Astonishing Tales #9 (Dec 71). “The Legend of the Lizard Men” is a fill-in written by Stan Lee and drawn and inked by John Buscema. I suspect it was originally meant to follow up the Ka-Zar story
“The Night of the Looter” from Savage Tales #1 (May 71). It was eventually reprinted in Savage Tales #6. Anyway…Ka-Zar and Zabu come across a devilishing beautiful witch named Iranda who is the queen of the Lizard Men. She has some limited shape-changing abilities. No answers are given as to the origins of Iranda and her Lizard-Men but I think it
convenient to consider them descendents of the Serpent-Men from Valusia. I doubt Lee meant to make the connection but it seems possible in the context of the stories.

The golden age Ka-Zar fought Lizard-Men(aka The Limbos) in Marvel Mystery Comics#19(5/41).

nice,catch john,i forgot about them,but unfortunately,the golden age KA-ZAR is not a part of continuity anymore,however;my guess is that the golden age KA-ZAR was actually MAKKARI in disguise,or maybe ZARA of the jungle,timelys one-shot imitation of SHEENA,was the real inspiration,after all,she has never been seen since the 40s,oh yeah,and on the subject of lizard men,even though i never read that issue of MENACE#8,i bet you that was my favorite monster;DROOM,THE LIVING LIZARD,after all,marvel DID establish him as being active in the 50s……….

............. TURRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!! :: 29 November 2006

A” Japanese Scientist” turned into a Lizard(a real lizard or giant lizard or Connor's like lizard ?) in Marvel Mystery Comics#34(8/42) Patriot story.The original Human Torch fought a villian called The Reptile(Webster) who wore a costume that resembles the Iguana (Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man#33(8/79).The Reptile should not be confused with the Captain America villian The Reptile(Freeman Mosher) also called The Crocodile in the title of the story in Captain America Comics#19(10/42).

the golden age hero THE CHALLENGER also fought a villain named the ''lizard'',he wore a scaly costume,but thats about it for the reptile thing,ciao.

............. TURRRRRRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!!!! :: 13 December 2006

On the cover of Adventures Into #8(2/52)The Lizard's hand is seen opening a door.

Mystical Tales #2's third story is called “The Lizard” and Mystical Tales#8's third story is called “The Lair Of The Thunder Lizard!”.

Marvel's Greatest Comics#74(11/77)/Fantastic Four vol.1#92(11/69) page 3 panel 1 has an alien “Lizard-Man”.

Actually, the FF fought a “sub-atomic” race of reptilian humanoids known as the Lizard Men of (planet) Tok!

It happened in “The Micro-World of Dr. Doom” from the H-B cartoon televersion of the FF's adventures (ABC-TV, circa 1966).

Comment on The Lizard Men