Covering the Last Days of Animal Man mini-series…
Buddy next appears in the six-issue Last Days of Animal Man mini-series set in the year 2024. He also appears as a Black Lantern throughout the ‘Blackest Night’ crossover, and is later corrupted by Eclipso and fights the Justice League in several Justice League of America issues.
Appearances that I consider to be fairly minor are indented. The below titles were published by DC Comics unless otherwise noted.
Last Days of Animal Man #1
“Part One: Deny”, July 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
About 15 years in the future, and at the inauguration of a flood levee in San Diego, the assembled crowd are attacked by Bloodrage, who gains strength by sapping energy from the blood of other humans. Animal Man fights and eventually defeats Bloodrage, but temporary loses his powers part way through the battle. When Buddy arrives home, Ellen is concerned about him and the couple argue. While Buddy is working as a stunt coordinator, Bloodrage breaks out of his prison cell and Buddy decides to help fight the villain. However, Buddy soon loses his powers again and is knocked off a tall building.
Last Days of Animal Man #2
“Part Two: Rage”, August 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy is rescued by the current Green Lantern of Earth – a blue whale – who also defeats Bloodrage by starving him of oxygen. Watching these events remotely is the villain Prismatik, the estranged daughter of Mirror Master Evan McCulloch, who became a scientist and eventually found her way into the Mirror Dimension to kill her father. Elsewhere, Buddy talks with the Lantern, who confirms that Buddy is rapidly losing his connection to the Morphogenetic Field. After the Lantern leaves, Buddy is attacked by Prismatik. Buddy finds that he can still use his powers when in close proximity to animals, so draws her to the zoo where he absorbs the power of a gorilla. He continues to viciously beat Prismatik until the Justice League arrive.
Action Comics (1938) #879
“Captain Atom, Chapter One” (pp. 21-30), September 2009
James Robinson, Greg Rucka [w], Cafu [p]
In medieval times, Captain Atom attacks a fortified castle and is referred to by the defending army as the “Arrow of the Forlorn”. He suddenly sees a vision of himself addressing Justice League Europe in their headquarters. Captain Atom falls to the ground, with a swordsman taking the opportunity to attack.
Buddy appears in one panel with Justice League Europe.
Last Days of Animal Man #3
“Part Three: Bargain”, September 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy is checked over by the Justice League (now referred to as the League of Titans) who confirm that he will likely lose his powers (but not his life) in a few days because the alternations made to his genetic structure are coming undone. Buddy suggests that the League may be able to repair his genes using the DNA of his children, and he returns home. He again fights with Ellen, who had not heard from Buddy and was worried about him. He then visits Maxine and Cliff to obtain DNA samples, and realises that he has negatively influenced his children by focusing on his superheroics and being an absent father and husband. Buddy returns to the League with his children’s DNA but Red Tornado informs Buddy that his plan will not work. Buddy is consoled by Starfire and the pair kiss. Meanwhile, Prismatik is recovering in a high security hospital after her beating and manages to escape using reflective surfaces. She then breaks Bloodrage out of his cell in order to team up with him.
Last Days of Animal Man #4
“Part Four: Despair”, October 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
After kissing at Unity Island, the current League headquarters in New York, Buddy and Starfire immediately regret their actions. They are then attacked by Bloodrage and Prismatik, who is able to defeat Starfire by reflecting her star energy back at her. Buddy is being severely beaten but has visions about failing his family and is inspired to fight back, using the power of a seal to knock out Prismatik. Using the League’s teleporter, Buddy transports himself and the unconscious Starfire to his home where his family has assembled. Still in the League headquarters, Prismatik decides to summon the rest of the League to her position.
Last Days of Animal Man #5
“Part Five: Accept”, November 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
The Bakers care for Starfire while Buddy accepts that he has all but lost his superpowers and expresses his gratitude to his family, who he realises are more important to him than being a hero. Meanwhile, the League of Titans have been imprisoned in crystals by Prismatik and Bloodrage who demand a ransom for their release. Buddy considers a way he can help the League, visiting a laboratory on his way to confronting the villains. When he arrives at the League headquarters, Buddy is captured and brought to Times Square to be executed.
Last Days of Animal Man #6
“Part Six: Live”, December 2009
Gerry Conway [w], Chris Batista [p], Brian Bolland [c]
While being beaten by Bloodrage, Buddy converses with the yellow aliens about his origin. Buddy awakens in a hospital to learn that his plan has worked: he obtained the characteristics of the bubonic plague from the lab and then infected the villains, causing them to collapse and freeing the League from their crystal prisons. In hospital, Buddy attempts to heal the weakened villains, but cannot because his powers are permanently gone. Later, Buddy is enjoying working as a stunt coordinator again. Ellen and Buddy are visited by the Green Lantern, who offers Buddy a place in the League of Titans in a support role in their headquarters. Buddy initially refuses, but is convinced by his family to accept the role.
Green Arrow and Black Canary (2007) #26
“Five Stages: Part 2 – Anger” (pp. 11-30), January 2010
Andrew Kreisberg [w], Renato Guedes, Jose Wilson Magalhaes [p]
Green Arrow locates Dinah, only to find another version of himself is living with her. Dinah and Speedy (Mia Dearden) fight Oliver while he tries to convince Dinah that he is her real husband. She eventually believes him and they chase the doppelgänger. Dinah confronts the copy and accuses him of being Hannibal Bates (Everyman) but Bates appears to be confused about his own identity. Bates hides, only to be injected with a drug by an unseen figure. Later, Oliver and Dinah catch up, while two mysterious figures on a boat discuss the next stage of their plan.
Animal Man is shown in one panel with other heroes when Everyman is remembering his past as a false Green Arrow.
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’Blackest Night’ crossover event Blackest Night (2009) #5 Green Lantern (2005) #49 Blackest Night (2009) #6 Justice League of America (2006) #41 Adventure Comics (2009) #7 Blackest Night (2009) #8 Untold Tales of Blackest Night (2010) #1 |
Cry for Justice (2009) #5
“Cry For Justice: The Lie”, January 2010
James Robinson [w], Mauro Cascioli, Scott Clark [p]
Summary coming soon.
Cry for Justice (2009) #7
“Justice”, April 2010
James Robinson [w], Mauro Cascioli, Scott Clark, Ibraim Roberson [p], Mauro Cascioli [c]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in a couple of panels, helping in Star City.
Justice Society of America (2007) #43
“Emerald City: A Dark Things Epilogue”, November 2010
James Robinson [w], Jesus Merino [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel as a vampire.
Starman / Congorilla (2011) #1
“Now & Then”, March 2011
James Robinson [w], Brett Booth [p]
Summary coming soon.
Justice League of America (2006) #53
“Omega, Part 4: Finale”, March 2011
James Robinson [w], Mark Bagley [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel.
Justice League of America (2006) #56
“Eclipso Rising, Part Three: The Battle For Emerald City”, June 2011
James Robinson [w], Brett Booth [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in a couple of panels.
Justice League of America (2006) #57
“Eclipso Rising, Part Four: Wrath & Vengeance”, July 2011
James Robinson [w], Brett Booth [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in a couple of panels attacking the Spectre and corrupted by Eclipso.
Justice League of America (2006) #58
“Eclipso Rising, Part Five: The Destined And The Dying”, August 2011
James Robinson [w], Daniel Sampere, Miguel Sepulveda [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel, being kicked by Jesse Quick.
Justice League of America (2006) #59
“Eclipso Rising, Part Six”, September 2011
James Robinson [w], Daniel Sampere [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel, being punched by Jesse Quick.
Flashpoint: Legion of Doom (2011) #2
“Fired Up!”, September 2011
Adam Glass [w], Rodney Buchemi [p], Miguel Sepulveda, Jose Villarrubia [c]
Summary coming soon.
This story is set in an alternate ‘Flashpoint’ timeline.
Flashpoint (2011) #5
“Flashpoint, Part Five of Five”, October 2011
Geoff Johns [w], Andy Kubert [p]
In the ‘Flashpoint’ crossover, Barry Allen (Flash) awakens in a reality in which his mother is still alive but a war between the Amazons and Atlanteans threatens to destroy the world. In issue #5, the Reverse-Flash explains that Barry caused history to change when he travelled back in time to prevent his mother’s death. There is a large battle during which Reverse-Flash and Batman (Thomas Wayne) are killed. After saying goodbye to his mother, Flash travels back in time and prevents himself from saving his mother. A mysterious figure (Pandora) explains that he must unite three timelines (the DC, Vertigo, and Wildstorm Universes). Flash awakens and tells Batman (now Bruce again) what happened and gives him a letter from his father Thomas.
Animal Man appears when some of the Vertigo Universe characters get incorporated into the ‘New 52’ DC Universe.
[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.
Wild Planet 