Tom Zenk - The Z-Man in Comix

The Z-Man in comics #1
"Battle Royal"

In April 1992, Marvel Comics - in conjunction with WCW - brought out a series of monthly wrestling comics. The magazines were intended to cash in on - as well as cross-promote - the TV show. Storylines in the comics reprised storylines being used in WCW 's TV shows.

On TV, the Z-Man was being buried by Bill Watts and Dusty Rhodes as they competed to push their sons (Erik Watts and Dustin Rhodes) to the top babyface positon.So the Z-Man wasn't receiving much of a push in the WCW comics either.

This is how the Z-Man appeared in Vol 1 No 1, April, 1992.

The storyline - "Battle Royal"

"Tonight's contest is an OVER THE TOP BATTLE ROYAL - perhaps the most dangerous contest in wrestling. They're risking life and limb for the coveted prize - the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. But they have to survive first.....The winner gets that all important shot at Lex Luger's world title."

The contestants are - Ron Simmons (face), Terrence Taylor (heel), El Gigante (face), The Steiner Brothers (faces), Flyin' Brian Pillman (face), PN News (face), Big Van Vader (heel) The Diamond Studd (heel), Johnny B Badd (heel), 'The Natural' Dustin Rhodes (face), Barry Windham (face) , Arn Anderson (heel), Z-Man Tom Zenk (face), Sting (WCW United States Champion) and Lex Luger WCW World Champion (heel).

The battle royal begins.Terry Taylor is the first out of the ring after a 'blatant illegal fist' to 'The Natural' Dustin Rhodes. Memo to Terrence Taylor - never hit the booker's son.

Brian Pillman is next - ejected by the trash talking Johnny B. Badd.

Badd is getting a huge push here, comparable to his then huge push on TV.

At the time, no one could understand why - given his poor work rate.

The Z-Man considers tackling El Gigante. With a concerted effort from the men in the ring, Gigante is the third man eliminated. Now its the Z-Man's turn ......

Is the Z-Man about to turn?

"Z-Man landed awfully hard. He must be disappointed " reads the caption.

"I hope nobody saw that!" says the cartoon Z-Man.

"Not to worry fans, Z-Man's only injury tonight is to his ego..." says Jim Ross.

Looks like the Marvel Z-Man is a 'proud', even an 'egotisitical' man - too 'proud' to be seen being ejected from the ring.

On the other hand, as Jim Ross acknowledges, the Z-Man is someone the fans care about - "Not to worry" he tells them, the Z-Man isn't injured - "the only injury is to his ego."

So what's THAT all about? Is the Z-Man about to make a 'heel' turn into 'Mr Ego' like Johnny B. Badd ? And does the WCW FINALLY have a story line for the Z-Man?

Johnny B Badd continues to dominate the next 10 pages and most of the remaining bubble space. The order of elimination is Barry Windham, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Dustin Rhodes, Arn Anderson, Big Van Vader, PN News, The Diamond Studd (to chants of "Studd's a Dud"), Sting and, only then, Johnny B. Badd.

That leaves Ron Simmons. But where's Lex Luger . "Hold the phone" says Jim Ross "That guy in the front row - it's Lex Luger. It was him all along.' A man wearing only a brown hat, a green trench coat and a pair of tights (who let him in?) leaps from the front row seats.

"The Total Package is jumping into the ring. Ron Simmons is clueless. He's going for the trophy. This is terrible. Turn around, Ron! Turn around."

TOO LATE! Luger attacks Simmons with a trophy to the back of the head, followed by a pile driver. "It's broken! Simmons neck may be broken! This is awful! ......."

Next - Luger tries to cripple the Z-Man

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