If you grew up in the nineties, you probably thought you knew exactly how Scar got his name. He fell into a patch of thorns, right? Or maybe Mufasa gave it to him during a fight? Honestly, the movie never tells us. It just lets that jagged line over his left eye sit there, unexplained and menacing. But in 1994, a series of books called The Lion King: Six New Adventures hit the shelves, and the first story, The Lion King: A Tale of Two Brothers, dropped a lore bomb that Disney fans are still arguing about decades later. It’s a weird, dark, and surprisingly heavy piece of tie-in fiction that changes how you look at the entire Pride Lands hierarchy.
Most people assume the movies are the only "real" canon. Disney is kinda cagey about that. While the films are the gold standard, these books were officially licensed and released right alongside the original masterpiece. They aren’t just fan-fiction. They were the primary source of backstory for an entire generation of kids who wanted to know why Scar was so bitter. And the answer isn't just "he's evil." It’s actually much more tragic and, frankly, makes Mufasa look like a bit of a jerk.
The Secret Origins of Taka
The book starts with Rafiki telling a story to Kopa. Who is Kopa? He’s Simba’s son—basically the "original" Kiara before The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride existed. But the meat of the story is the flashback to when Mufasa and Scar were young. Back then, Scar wasn’t Scar. He was Taka.
Names in The Lion King usually have Swahili meanings that reflect the character. Mufasa means "King." Sarabi means "Mirage." Simba means "Lion." But Taka? In Swahili, taka can mean "want" or "desire," but it also translates to "waste" or "rubbish." Imagine being the spare heir and your parents literally name you Trash. You’re already set up for a villain arc before you’ve even grown a mane. It’s a brutal detail that makes Scar’s eventual betrayal feel less like a random power grab and more like the inevitable result of a lifetime of being told he was second-rate.
The dynamic between the brothers in the book is more nuanced than the "Good vs. Evil" vibe of the film. Taka is jealous, sure, but he’s also clever and feels overlooked by their father, King Ahadi. Ahadi is portrayed as a busy ruler who constantly breaks promises to Taka to deal with kingdom "emergencies," like a drought or a rogue Cape buffalo. It’s a classic story of the neglected middle child, except the middle child is a lethal predator with a growing resentment for his "perfect" older brother.
That Time Scar Almost Died (and Got His Name)
So, how did the scar actually happen? It wasn’t a heroic battle. It was a prank gone wrong.
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Basically, Taka decides to embarrass Mufasa by tricking him into a fight with a massive Cape buffalo named Boma. Taka’s plan is simple: make Mufasa look weak so Ahadi will see Taka as the smarter choice for the throne. He recruits three hyenas—who are younger versions of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed—to help him stir up trouble. But Boma isn't interested in being part of a sibling rivalry. He loses his temper and charges.
The situation spirals. Mufasa, being the powerhouse he is, manages to escape with the help of Rafiki (who is also younger and a bit more agile here). But the buffaloes turn on Taka. One of them strikes Taka with its horns, knocking him unconscious and leaving him with that famous mark.
When Ahadi arrives to save the day, Taka isn't remorseful. He’s humiliated. He looks at his reflection, sees the wound, and tells everyone to call him Scar from then on. It’s a self-imposed brand. He wants to remember the moment he was wronged. It’s incredibly edgy for a children’s book, but it adds this layer of psychological trauma to the character that the 2019 remake or the original movie never quite touched.
Why This Book Breaks the Movie Canon
If you’ve seen The Lion Guard on Disney Junior or the live-action prequel trailers, you’ve noticed things don't line up. The Lion Guard gives Scar a totally different origin story involving a cobra and a "Roar of the Elders."
So, which one is true?
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Strictly speaking, Disney treats the movies and the modern shows as the "official" timeline. But for fans of a certain age, The Lion King: A Tale of Two Brothers is the "real" history. It feels more grounded. There’s no magic roar or mystical snakes. It’s just a story about a family falling apart because of favoritism and pride.
- The Father Figure: In the book, King Ahadi is a large, golden-maned lion, similar to Mufasa. Some fans have pointed out that in the illustrations, he looks almost exactly like Mufasa, which reinforces Taka’s feeling of being the odd one out.
- The Mother: We see Queen Uru, though she’s mostly mentioned rather than seen in the thick of the action. She’s the one who went off to find a water source during the drought, leaving the males to deal with their ego-driven drama.
- Rafiki’s Role: He isn't just a hermit in a tree. He’s a traveler who earns his place as the King’s advisor during this specific crisis.
The book creates a world where the Pride Lands feel lived-in. There are other animal leaders, like the buffalo Boma or the elephant Zuzu (Zazu’s mother). It builds a political ecosystem that makes the eventual "Circle of Life" feel like it has actual stakes.
The Psychological Weight of the Narrative
What’s really wild about rereading this as an adult is how much it plays with the idea of Nature vs. Nurture. Was Scar born evil? Or did a father who named him "Waste" and a brother who got all the glory create the monster?
The book doesn't give Taka a total pass. He’s still the one who tried to get his brother killed by a buffalo. He’s still manipulative. But it makes him a tragic figure. You see the moment his heart hardens. When he demands to be called Scar, he’s rejecting his family. He’s saying, "If I can’t be the king you love, I’ll be the villain you fear."
Compare this to the 2019 "live-action" version where Scar mentions he challenged Mufasa and lost, leading to his scar. That’s a boring, stereotypical warrior backstory. The Tale of Two Brothers version is about intellectual insecurity and the desperate need for validation. That’s way more relatable. And way more terrifying.
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Fact-Checking the "Two Brothers" Myths
Because this book is over thirty years old and relatively rare (it can cost a fortune on eBay), a lot of misinformation has spread online. You’ll see "fan edits" on TikTok or Pinterest claiming things happened in the book that definitely didn't.
- Did Mufasa give Scar the scar? No. As mentioned, it was a Cape buffalo named Boma. Mufasa actually tried to save him.
- Is Zira in the book? Nope. Zira didn't exist until the 1998 sequel movie. The books and the second movie were developed by different teams.
- Is Kopa Simba’s only son? In the book universe, yes. In the movie universe, he basically doesn't exist, replaced by Kiara and Kion.
- Did Ahadi hate Scar? Not exactly. He was just a distant, busy king who didn't realize how much his younger son was hurting.
How to Experience the Story Today
You can’t just walk into a Barnes & Noble and buy a new copy of The Lion King: Six New Adventures. They’ve been out of print for a long time. However, the legacy of A Tale of Two Brothers lives on in the "fandom" in a way few tie-in books do.
If you want to track it down, you’re looking at used book sites or digital archives. It’s worth the hunt if you’re a lore nerd. The illustrations by Darrell Baker and Mike Deas have a specific 90s Disney charm that the modern CGI stuff lacks. They capture the expressions—the smirk on Taka’s face, the regal exhaustion of Ahadi—in a way that feels like deleted scenes from the 1994 film.
Actionable Insights for Lion King Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of Disney lore, here is what you should actually do:
- Look for the "Six New Adventures" Box Set: If you find the full set (which includes stories about Nala’s father and Rafiki’s past), grab it. It's a collector's goldmine.
- Compare the Swahili Meanings: Research the names of the characters in the book vs. the movie. It adds a whole new layer of foreshadowing to the story.
- Check out the "Lion King Renaissance" on Archive.org: Many fans have uploaded high-quality scans of these books since they are technically "orphaned" media.
- Watch the 2024 "Mufasa" Prequel with a Critical Eye: As the new movie comes out, notice how much it borrows—or ignores—from this 1994 backstory. It’s a fascinating look at how corporate canon changes over time.
Ultimately, The Lion King: A Tale of Two Brothers remains the most compelling version of Scar’s origin. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and it doesn't give anyone a clean "happily ever after." It reminds us that even in a world of talking animals and catchy songs, family dynamics are usually the most dangerous thing in the jungle.
If you’ve ever felt like the "black sheep" of your family, Taka’s story hits hard. Just, you know, maybe don't try to lure your siblings into a buffalo stampede. It rarely ends well for anyone involved.