Far from a cowardly lion, Blastarr the Living Bomb-Burst, a denizen of the Negative Zone, is a murderous lion. I guess he's not a lion really, but just looks like a humanoid version of one. Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Blastarr first appers in Fantastic Four #62 to assault Reed Richards who is stranded in the Zone for a bit of time.
Blastarr escapes the Zone to come to Earth where he partners with of all villains, the Sandman. While this duo looks pretty impressive together, the logic of their partnership is strained.
The Sandman, who had recently chosen the FF as his heroes de jour saw a weapon in Blastarr while Blastarr hardly noticed the mutated human who fought with him. Needless to say they were defeated and Blastarr was returned to menace the Negative Zone.
He gets out again in the pages of X-Men #53, this time rendered by Barry (Not-Yet-Windsor) Smith who was still in the throes of his Jack Kirby worshiping phase of artistry. In fact I think this comic book is his first for Marvel, a book full of kinetic enthusiasm if encumbered with clunky storytelling.
Blastarr was of course defeated in due course, though he gives the mutants a hearty struggle. Blastarr kind of faded from the pages of comics for a bit, but returned now and again to remind one and all what pure power unattached to any pity looks like -- a living bomb-burst indeed.
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