Covering the years 1965-1987 prior to the first series…
Animal Man appeared as the main character in five non-consecutive issues of Strange Adventures in the mid 1960s, which established his abilities and their origin, as well as introducing a couple of supporting characters. In the 1980s, he guested in two issues of Wonder Woman (which fleshed out more details of Buddy’s personal life) before appearing as part of the Forgotten Heroes team in issues of Action Comics and DC Comics Presents.
Appearances that I consider to be fairly minor are indented. The below titles were published by DC Comics unless otherwise noted.
Strange Adventures (1950) #180
“I Was The Man With The Animal Powers”, September 1965
Dave Wood [w], Carmine Infantino [p, c]
While hunting with his friend Roger, Buddy notices an explosion before he is set upon by a tiger and gorilla who have escaped from a circus. Avoiding the animals’ attacks, Buddy discovers that he has super agility and strength. After subduing the animals, he and Roger investigate the source of the explosion and find an alien craft. Buddy surmises that radiation from the craft has given him the traits of nearby animals. Buddy proceeds to help re-capture an elephant and a sea lion. Finally, he has a confrontation with an alien creature that destroys a logging camp and threatens the town. Buddy believes that the alien also possesses the same animal abilities, but even more pronounced due its proximity to the explosion and radiation. When Buddy’s powers begin to wear off, he uses a firetruck to lead the creature out of town. There he tricks the alien into inheriting the fearful qualities of mice, and frightens it over a cliff. After being referred to as a hero in the paper, Buddy builds up the courage to propose to his girlfriend Ellen.
This issue includes the first appearances of Buddy, his girlfriend Ellen, and Buddy’s friend Roger. Buddy is not yet referred to as Animal Man. In this issue, he inherits the abilities of a tiger, gorilla, elephant, and sea lion. Reprinted in Adventure Comics #412 (Nov. 1971), DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #22 (June 1982), and Weird Secret Origins (Oct. 2004).
Strange Adventures (1950) #184
“Return of the Man With The Animal Powers”, January 1966
Dave Wood [w], Gil Kane [p, c]
Roger advises Buddy when he finds another alien craft in the woods. In town, they discover two bipedal aliens (Trano and Zaarn) riding a larger alien monster (a Xtona beast). The aliens zap the townsfolk with a ‘hate ray’ that causes them to be violent towards each other, while Buddy’s animal powers are restored, and a nearby cat is transformed into a tiger. Buddy uses his powers to fight the aliens but is knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he restraints the townspeople and locates the aliens, who he learns are on Earth to recover a device that will allow them to take over the world. Buddy evades the aliens until he finds their device, which he uses to control the aliens’ minds. He forces the aliens to neutralise the ‘hate’ affect on the townspeople, and then makes them leave Earth with their Xtona. Buddy destroys the device and notices that he has retained his powers.
In this issue, Buddy utilises the powers of the animals he encountered in Strange Adventures #180, plus the ability to fly from a nearby eagle. He also mentions having the kicking abilities of a kangaroo, even though a kangaroo is not shown to be nearby, so the logic surrounding his powers is still unclear. There is, however, a kangaroo in a pet store in town, as demonstrated in Strange Adventures #201. Reprinted in Adventure Comics #414 (Jan. 1972).
Strange Adventures (1950) #190
“A-Man – The Man With the Animal Powers”, July 1966
Dave Wood [w], Carmine Infantino [p, c]
Having retained his powers, Buddy decides to become a costumed superhero, and informs Roger in his secret lair in the woods. Buddy foils a robbery but finds that his powers are unreliable, which allows the criminal boss Grabo to escape. Buddy obtains the tracking powers of Roger’s bloodhound and follows Grabo to an island, but his leg becomes stuck in a trap. Buddy attracts a lion to obtain the strength to escape the trap, and flees Grabo’s henchmen. He finds more wild animals and discovers that Grabo has equipment that allows them to be telepathically controlled. Buddy telepathically manipulates a rhino to chase the criminals into a pit trap where they are arrested.
This is the first appearance of Buddy in costume, though he refers to himself as A-Man. Roger’s surname is revealed to be Denning. Buddy obtains the powers of a nearby pigeon, bloodhound, rabbit, tuna, lion, and chimpanzee. He also seems to have taught himself some animal calls as an additional skill. Reprinted in Adventure Comics #415 (Feb. 1972).
Strange Adventures (1950) #195
“Animal Man, Hero or Freak?”, December 1966
Dave Wood [w], Jack Sparling [p, c]
Buddy and Roger travel in a private plane and make note of all the animals in town for later reference. They respond to a bank robbery and, when the fleeing robbers pass an aquarium, Buddy uses the power of a dolphin to stop the car, leading to the arrest of some gang members. Later, when the remaining criminals attempt another robbery. Buddy isn’t able to find any nearby animals to draw power from and Roger’s car is rammed. Buddy eventually comes across a shipment of baby wild animals and uses these powers to stop the criminals, but is forced to let them go in order to put out a fire on the wharf. Buddy gets another chance to stop Grabo and his criminal gang when they rob an art museum. Buddy forces their car to crash, leading to their arrest.
Buddy now is referred to as both Animal Man and A-Man. Buddy obtains the powers of a dolphin, lion cub, elephant, rabbit, and green garden snake. It’s not made clear that Grabo is the same villain from Strange Adventures #190 but, given the unusual name, that would seem logical. Reprinted in Adventure Comics #420 (June 1972).
Strange Adventures (1950) #201
“The Mod Gorilla Boss”, June 1967
Dave Wood [w], Jack Sparling [p], Carmine Infantino [c]
Buddy postpones his wedding with Ellen because he feels that his superhero work is dangerous and the marriage would be unfair to Ellen in the short term. He tries to foil another robbery but is overpowered by one of the robbers who appears to be a super intelligent gorilla. Buddy later follows the criminals to a farmhouse, but he is ambushed and captured. Buddy attracts a bull and uses its strength to break free. He learns more information in a lab at the farmhouse and confronts the criminals at a parade. He battles the chemically-enhanced ‘gorilla’ boss, until the chemicals wear off. The crook returns to his human form and is easily overcome.
Buddy obtains the powers of a kangaroo, gazelle, eagle, bull, pigeon and electric eel. Reprinted in DC Goes Ape #1 (2008).
Wonder Woman (1942) #267
“The Man Who Walked with Beasts”, May 1980
Gerry Conway [w], Jose Delbo [p], Ross Andru [c]
Wonder Woman is investigating an assassin training camp in a hidden wilderness in California when she is attacked by a Cartel plane. She downs the plane and then notices Animal Man carrying the pilot away. She pursues Animal Man and the pilot escapes, but the heroes begin chatting. Buddy mentions that he works as a stuntman, but became a superhero again to find evidence to clear the name of his screenwriter friend Roger, who has been accused of murder. Wonder Woman is looking for the mastermind of the Cartel known as the Prime Planner. Together they discover and explore an underground base.
In this issue, we learn that Buddy’s surname is Baker, and it’s clear that he is based near Los Angeles. He mentions that he hasn’t been in the news for about 10 years, which roughly aligns with his last comic appearance. His recounting of his origin story differs a little from his first comic appearance in that he says he noticed an alien craft before an explosion, whereas in Strange Adventures #180 he didn’t learn of the alien craft until afterwards. He is depicted as a wise-cracking “clown” (in Wonder Woman’s words), which is even more pronounced in the succeeding issues. In this issue, he uses the powers of an elephant, goose, pigeon, octopus, and hyena.
Wonder Woman (1942) #268
“Battleground: France”, June 1980
Gerry Conway [w], Jose Delbo [p], Ross Andru [c]
Wonder Woman and Animal Man travel to Marseilles in search of the Prime Planner and follow a crime boss named Krispin. At the beach, the heroes foil a Cartel submarine-tank attack against Krispin, and they all leave in Diana’s invisible plane to Krispin’s chateau, where he explains that the Cartel want to take over his crime organisation. At an underwater base, the Prime Planner activates three superpowered assassins: Red Fang, The Changeling and Lumber ‘Jack’. The assassins attack the chateau and Wonder Woman is captured, while Krispin’s daughter Lauren is also held hostage. Diana is brought to a yacht before the Prime Planner, who is revealed to be Morgan Tracy of United Nations security. Wonder Woman escapes and sinks the yacht, and the villains are arrested.
Animal Man uses the powers of a gull and a mole.
Action Comics (1938) #552
“Another Time! Another Death!”, February 1984
Marv Wolfman [w], Gil Kane [p, c]
Animal Man is brought to a gathering of superheroes on the West Coast. Cave Carson, Dane Dorrance (of the Sea Devils), Rick Flag (of Suicide Squad), Buddy, Congo Bill, and Dolphin all relate similar stories of discovering a golden temple in an isolated area, before being subsequently harassed by government officials. Rip Hunter explains that the Time Masters discovered a similar temple when they time-travelled back to the Big Bang, and then found that they had aged greatly when they returned to the present. The heroes learn that Immortal Man has brought them all together to battle Superman. In Metropolis, Superman saves human lives when a derelict building collapses, and he discovers that prehistoric plant roots are to blame. At Abraxas headquarters, Vandal Savage and his scientists conspire to cause a Metropolis park to erupt with lava. When Superman attends, Savage and his team activate cultures that secretly cover Superman. Superman briefly encounters a temple underneath Metropolis, before he is overcome by prehistoric plants that grow rapidly from spores he is shedding. He returns to the surface where he finds himself trapped in a forcefield with the plants.
Some of the heroes (minus Animal Man) begin assembling in Action Comics #545 (July 1983), when Rip Hunter first refers to the group as “Forgotten Heroes”. It’s also interesting that Immortal Man and Animal Man made their first appearances in Strange Adventures at around the same time (in issues #177 and #180 respectively). The third appearance of both characters was in Strange Adventures #190 where they each starred in their own story.
Action Comics (1938) #553
“The World at Time’s End”, March 1984
Marv Wolfman [w], Gil Kane [p, c]
Vandal Savage has used the power of the time pyramids (the temples) to infect Superman so that he spreads time seeds (spores) wherever he goes, so as to transform the world into a prehistoric jungle. Superman breaks out of the forcefield, and Savage appears at a press conference explaining that the forcefield was his attempt to protect Metropolis from the time anomalies. In the Rocky Mountains, Immortal Man explains to the assembled heroes that he and Vandal Savage have been enemies since prehistoric times, and both were granted immortality by the radiation of a mysterious fireball. Superman is telepathically instructed to travel to the sun to burn off the spores, while other Forgotten Heroes travel to the pyramids. Later, the Time Masters and Superman use the time sphere to destroy the pyramid at the beginning of time, which causes the pyramids and prehistoric jungles to disappear in the present day. Upon returning to the present, the Time Masters have become young again, but Superman is missing.
Animal Man obtains the powers of a jaguar and a bird.
DC Comics Presents (1978) #77
“Triad of Terror”, January 1985
Marv Wolfman [w], Curt Swan [p], Eduardo Barreto [c]
Rip Hunter introduces the Forgotten Heroes (Hunter, Cave Carson, Dolphin, Immortal Man, Animal Man, Rick Flag and Congo Bill) at a press conference. Nearby, Mr. Poseidon sneaks into the Fortress of Science and takes command of the robot Ultivac. The Forgotten Heroes fail to stop the robot, and Poseidon returns to Enchantress, who is conspiring with the sorcerer Kraklow. The villains also accept Atom-Master into their hideout, but this attracts Superman who they must flee. Superman consults with the Forgotten Heroes (who are familiar with the villains) and they all travel in the time sphere back to Kraklow’s era. Kraklow transforms Superman into a dragon, which Animal Man defeats. The heroes enter Kraklow’s castle and restore Superman. However, Kraklow summons the giant Chun Yull, the Faceless Creature From Saturn.
Rip Hunter mentions that the name ‘Forgotten Heroes’ comes from the media’s description of the group, though Hunter himself appears to have come up with the name in Action Comics #545 (July 1983). Animal Man reveals that he is married (presumably to Ellen) with two children. In this issue, Animal Man obtains the power of a bird, dragon, fish, and octopus.
DC Comics Presents (1978) #78
“The Triad”, February 1985
Marv Wolfman [w], Curt Swan [p]
Superman fights Yull, while Immortal Man is killed by a falling rock. Yull is defeated and explains that he was released from a Klaramar prison by Enchantress to find a third sorcerer and form a triad that would conquer the universe. Immortal Man re-appears, resurrected as a child, and the Forgotten Heroes and Superman travel to Yggardis (a sentient planet that is the third sorcerer) in the future. The group stop on the water planet Qaria and meet some of its inhabitants, before Space Cabby takes them further on their journey. When the cab is attacked and crashes on another planet, the heroes are rescued by Chris KL-99, Jero and Halk in their spaceship and proceed to Yggardis. The heroes battle Yggardis using the ship’s lasers and, on Earth, Enchantress and her fellow villains turn on each other. With fighting on multiple fronts, the triad falls and Enchantress and Kraklow escape. The Forgotten Heroes heroes return to Earth in the present. Elsewhere, on a satellite orbiting Earth, the Monitor and Lyla scan Earth-Three for trouble.
Animal Man obtains the power of a bird, and an alien gopher that can swim in lava.
Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985) #1
“Animal-Man” (p. 15), March 1985
Marv Wolfman, Len Wein [w], Gil Kane [p], George Pérez [c]
Who’s Who was a 26 volume, monthly series that functioned as an encyclopedia of DC Comics characters. Each entry includes an image (a combination of original and existing art), some personal data, a character history, and information about their powers. Issue #1 includes an entry for Animal Man (styled as “Animal-Man” throughout). Some of the info is slightly wrong. It also states that Buddy Baker is based at the Grand Canyon, and it mentions Ellen’s maiden name (Frazier) and the names of their children (Cliff and Maxine).
An update to the encyclopedia (Who’s Who: Update ’88 #4, Nov. 1988) only mentions in the Appendix that Animal Man is now a full-time superhero.
Red Tornado (1985) #3
“The Eye of the Storm”, September 1985
Kurt Busiek [w], Carmine Infantino [p]
Red Tornado has renounced his human aspect (known as John Smith) and now identifies only as a robot, while an artificial intelligence known as the Construct attacks the Earth by controlling machines and then humans. Seeing that Red Tornado is not addressing the threat, T.O. Morrow begins work on another machine, while Kathy Sutton travels towards Morrow, noting zombie-like humans and destruction on the way. Morrow shows Kathy a Quantum Field Separator capable of trapping the Construct, but he is suddenly possessed like the other humans. Kathy tries to avoid technology and finally reaches Tornado, who is watching indifferently from a mountain. She explains that the Construct made Tornado believe that humans hated him, and she forces Tornado to contemplate his existence. He eventually accepts himself (as both a robot and a sentient tornado from Rann), and pledges to destroy the Construct.
Animal Man can be seen in one panel fighting a robot controlled by the Construct.
Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985) #8
“The Forgotten Heroes”, October 1985
Marv Wolfman, Len Wein [w], Paris Cullins, Gary Martin [p]
The entry for The Forgotten Heroes depicts “Animal-Man” but includes no new information.
Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) #10-#12
#10: “Death at the Dawn of Time!”, January 1986
Marv Wolfman [w], George Pérez, Jerry Ordway [p]
#11: “Aftershock”, February 1986
#12: “Final Crisis”, March 1986
Marv Wolfman [w], George Pérez [p]
In #1-#10, the Anti-Monitor is systematically destroying the universes of the positive-matter Multiverse. The Monitor and his band of heroes save the five remaining universes by pulling them into a Netherverse, but these divergent realities are still connected and unstable. The universes are Earth-1 (the main DC Universe), Earth-2 (where DC heroes of the 1940s reside), Earth-4 (the home of Charlton Comics characters), Earth-S (the home of Fawcett Comics characters such as the Marvel Family), and Earth-X (the home of the Freedom Fighters, where the Nazis won World War II).
In #11, after a battle at the beginning of time between the Anti-Monitor and the Spectre, only one, unified universe exists, and its Earth is different from each of the Earths that were combined. Only heroes who were at the battle remember the different universes and they convene at Titans Tower, where Harbinger explains the history of this new universe. Animal Man travels through space in the Time Sphere with Rip Hunter, Dolphin, Adam Strange, Atomic Knight and Captain Comet and they come across Brainiac’s ship. The Anti-Monitor’s shadow demons attack again, and the entire Earth is transported into the antimatter universe where the Anti-Monitor is waiting.
In #12, Animal Man’s group meets Brainiac, and together they travel to Apokolips to seek help from Darkseid. Green Lantern and several magical heroes use the energy of the comatose Spectre to contain the shadow demons attacking the Earth. Other heroes travel to the antimatter world Qward to confront the Anti-Monitor. Doctor Light, Alexander Luthor and Negative Woman drain his power before incapacitating him with a blast using the energy of a sun. Luthor opens a portal and returns the Earth and most of the heroes back to the positive-matter universe, but the Anti-Monitor awakens and kills Wonder Woman. Only Superman (of Earth-2), Superboy (of Earth-Prime) and Alex Luthor remain in the antimatter universe to continue fighting, and Darkseid uses his power through Luthor to knock Anti-Monitor into a sun. With the antimatter universe disintegrating, Alex Luthor opens a portal that allows Superman, Superboy and himself to survive in a paradise dimension with Lois Lane of Earth-2. In the sole remaining reality, Wally West becomes the new Flash, and only Psycho Pirate (imprisoned in Arkham Asylum) remembers the events of the ‘Crisis’.
The ‘Crisis…’ was an attempt by DC to do away with the concept of the Multiverse, which was originally created to explain away some of the continuity problems but was deemed to be too confusing for new readers. The ‘Crisis…’ crossover was used to clean up the convoluted histories of some characters and allowed origin stories to be retold. Animal Man can barely be seen towards the end of issue #10 when the Spectre begins struggling against the Anti-Monitor. Animal Man then only has minor appearances in the final two issues but the ‘Crisis…’ miniseries impacts events in the inaugural Animal Man series.
History of the DC Universe (1986) #2
1986
Marv Wolfman [w], George Pérez [p]
After the ‘Crisis’, Harbinger summarises the past, present and future of the new unified DC Universe.
Animal Man appears when Harbinger mentions that the two met on the Monitor’s satellite. This would have occurred when many heroes were transported to the satellite during Crisis on Infinite Earths #5, and the event is depicted in many other comics, though Animal Man has never been shown aboard the craft.
Secret Origins (1986) #14
“The Secret Origin of the Suicide Squad”, May 1987
John Ostrander [w], Luke McDonnell [p]
Amanda Waller appeals to President Reagan to continue the Task Force X program and provides him with documentation about its history. Originally, Richard Flag is assigned to lead a group of soldiers dubbed the Suicide Squad in World War II. After the Justice Society disbands and superheroes leave the public eye, President Truman creates Task Force X and employs some of the Suicide Squad. Richard Flag has a son Rick, but both of Rick’s parents die when he is young. After becoming a pilot and astronaut, Rick is asked to join a new Suicide Squad with his partner Karin Grace, physicist Jess Bright, and astronomer Hugh Evans. Flag and Grace kept their relationship secret until a mission when they came across a Golden Temple (Action Comics #552) and soon after Bright and Evans are killed. Flag then joins the Forgotten Heroes, but this group splits after the death of Immortal Man during the ‘Crisis’. Meanwhile, Amanda Waller began working for Congress after her family was destroyed by violence. She devised the idea of a new Suicide Squad using prisoners. After discussing the document, the President approves the continuation of the program.
Animal Man appears with the Forgotten Heroes in a flashback in one panel, and we learn what has become of them post-Crisis.
[w] denotes writer, [p] denotes penciller, but I have included both penciller and inker if both are credited equally as artists. [c] denotes cover artist when it is a main series or Animal Man appears on the cover.
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