Covering the years after the ‘Rebirth’ relaunch…
The ‘Rebirth’ relaunch of 2016 saw the return of some pre-‘New 52’ characters and some titles reverted to the issue numbering that the ‘New 52’ reboot had previously reset. Buddy spends another decade without an ongoing series.
Appearances that I consider to be fairly minor are indented. The below titles were published by DC Comics unless otherwise noted.
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‘Injustice 2’ miniseries This series ties into the related videogame rather than the regular DC Universe. In Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1 (Feb. 2023), the Injustice Universe is designated as Earth-49. Injustice 2 (2017) #4 Injustice 2 (2017) #6 Injustice 2 (2017) #9 Injustice 2 (2017) #11 Injustice 2 (2017) #12 Injustice 2 (2017) #21 Injustice 2 (2017) #22 Injustice 2 (2017) #23 Injustice 2 (2017) #24 Injustice 2 (2017) #25 |
DC Super Hero Girls: Date with Disaster GN
February 2018
Shea Fontana [w], Yancey Labat [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel talking with Mary Marvel in the first chapter. This chapter was also released as a comic for Free Comic Book Day.
Justice League (2018) #1
“The Totality Part 1”, August 2018
Scott Snyder [w], Jim Cheung [p]
The Justice League battles a worldwide invasion by six powerful Neanderthal tribes (dubbed Neoanderthals) orchestrated by Vandal Savage. The Earth’s crust begins to break apart and Martian Manhunter is forced to destroy the moon to save the Earth. As the world is being repaired, the Justice League meet. J’onn J’onnz explains that a ball of energy (called the Totality) is hurtling towards Earth from the broken Source Wall. As the group tries to decipher its message, John Stewart prepares to destroy it. Elsewhere, Savage is confronted by Lex Luthor, who believes Savage knows more about the Source Wall. Luthor assembles a Legion of villains and kills Savage, which causes Savage’s knowledge to be imparted upon J’onn J’onzz in the form of a terrible vision of the future.
Animal Man is seen battling the Neoanderthals underwater with Aquaman.
Titans Special (2018) #1
“Emergent”, August 2018
Dan Abnett [w], Sergio Davila, Vincente Cifuentes, Brent Peeples, Matt Santorelli, Brian Ching, Nicola Scott, Max Raynor, Ben Oliver [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man is seen on a computer screen as a potential Justice League member.
Justice League (2018) #7
“The Totality Conclusion”, November 2018
Scott Snyder [w], Jim Cheung [p]
Hawkgirl fights Lex Luthor, who wants to possess the Totality. The rest of the Justice League work together to prevent the sentient sun Umbrax from consuming the Earth, with Flash using the Still Force to successfully close the cosmic membrane. The Legion of Doom retreat and Hawkgirl brings the Totality to the Hall of Justice. The Justice League want to investigate the Totality to determine whether the design of the universe is ultimately cruel (as the Legion believe) or good. Starman suddenly appears in the Hall of Justice, while Luthor seeks help from the Batman Who Laughs.
Animal Man can be seen at the Hall of Justice in a couple of panels.
Justice League (2018) #9
“Good Morning Moon”, December 2018
Scott Snyder [w], Jorge Jimenez [p]
While Batman is receiving surgery, Superman is attacked by Coronavores when attempting to reconstruct the Moon. Superman realises that Batman is behind the attack as part of a scheme to convince Superman to turn the Moon into a defensive weapon. Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice, Wonder Woman builds a chapel and discusses living quarters with Aquaman, while Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter spar and discuss what they saw in the Totality.
Animal Man appears in the cafeteria in the Hall of Justice.
Doomsday Clock (2018) #9
“Crisis”, May 2019
Geoff Johns [w], Gary Frank [p]
While Superman lays unconscious in the JLA Headquarters, Earth’s heroes travel to Mars to confront Dr. Manhattan but find that they are unable to harm him. Ron Raymond learns that Professor Stein engineered the event that transformed them both into Firestorm. While the Earth is unprotected, villains attack the building where Wonder Woman is addressing the United Nations.
Animal Man appears on Mars in one panel.
DC’s Year of the Villain Special (2019) #1
“Justice (Chapter 3)” (pp. 15-22), July 2019
James Tynion IV [w], Francis Manapul [p]
Lex Luthor and his Legion of Doom take over the White House and extract information from Amanda Waller’s mind. When confronted by Captain Atom, Lex blows himself up. Leviathan captures Batgirl, Green Arrow and the Dark Archer and asks Batgirl to join him. Damian Wayne confides in Batman that he believes Jason Todd, the Red Hood, is involved with Leviathan. The Justice League prevent the priest Gerrian Myrde from piloting an ark full of people into the void at the end of the universe. Later, the Justice League decide to recruit more heroes to oppose Luthor, who is working with Perpetua, the mother of the multiverse. Meanwhile, Perpetua is growing a new version of Lex.
Animal Man appears in one panel when the Justice League decide to recruit more heroes to stop Luthor.
Dog Days of Summer (2019) #1
“Rio Celeste” (pp. 41-50), July 2019
Phillip Kennedy Johnson [w], Christian Duce [p]
Summary coming soon.
Further notes.
Justice League (2018) #30
“Justice/Doom War Part 1”, October 2019
Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV [w], Jorge Jimenez [p]
Starman shows the Justice League a vision of the future where they are defeated by Lex Luthor and Perpetua, so Superman brings many superheroes to the Hall of Justice to help. Starman explains that the Multiverse is formed out of seven harmonious forces, but in the past it was made up of seven dark energies and governed by Perpetua until she was overthrown and imprisoned. Now Lex has freed Perpetua and can harness the dark energies by wielding part of the Totality. Starman reveals that he too has part of the Totality and suggests that teams travel to the past and future to gather more fragments. Upon reaching the past and future, the teams find that those timelines have already been altered by Lex’s forces. In the future, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman meet Kamandi, while John Stewart and Flash meet the Justice Society of America in 20th Century New York. Meanwhile, Lex and Perpetua gather the world’s villains into a Legion of Doom.
Animal Man appears with other heroes in the Hall of Justice in one panel.
Justice League (2018) #36-#37
#36: “Justice/Doom War Part 7”, January 2020
Scott Snyder [w], Francis Manapul, Howard Porter [p]
#37: “Justice/Doom War Part 8”, February 2020
Scott Snyder [w], Jorge Jimenez [p]
In #36, Perpetua transforms Brianiac into her throne and captures Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd and Sinestro, feeding their energies to Lex. Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman assemble and address Earth’s heroes in the Hall of Justice, explaining that they need Shayne’s help to telepathically connect everyone on Earth. John Stewart travels in Flash’s car to retrieve Shayne and Hawkgirl, who are being attacked by Mobius, the Anti-Monitor. Lex’s forces assemble outside the Hall of Justice, which transforms into a flying fortress. In #37, Mobius attempts to take Hawkgirl’s wings to sever her connection to the Totality, but John Stewart crashes into him, freeing his brothers the Monitor and the World Forger. Mobius calls to Perpetua for help and she throws Earth-44 (a world where superheroes are robots) at the group. With Flash’s car destroyed, the World Forger uses the power of Earth-44’s impact to open a gateway and transport the others to Earth-0. During the battle on Earth-0, some heroes are struggling to telepathically connect the people of Earth to positive forces. However, when Shayne and the others arrive, the Doom sigil dissipates.
Animal Man appears in one panel in the Hall of Justice in #36, and fights in the battle in #37.
Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen (2020) #2
“Part Two”, March 2020
James Tynion IV [w], Steve Epting, Javier Fernandez [p]
Summary coming soon.
Lex Luthor enters the Hall of Justice by shapeshifting into Animal Man.
Justice League Dark (2018) #20
“The Parliaments Of Life Part 1”, April 2020
Ram V, James Tynion IV [w], Kyle Hotz [p], Guillem March [c]
Animal Man, Bobo and Wonder Woman try to prevent infected people from impulsively climbing up tall buildings, dying, and releasing fungal spores. Animal Man explains that all of the Parliaments are at war, and he becomes infected. At the Hall of Justice, Zatanna and Kent learn of other strange events happening throughout the world, while Nabu (in the Helmet of Fate) blames Khalid for breaking the rules of magic and allowing chaos to rule. Nabu instructs the JLD to convene the Parliaments of Life, which will involve the help of all the guardians. Constantine and Zatanna seek help from Woodrue, who is imprisoned beneath the Hall of Justice, but he demands to be released. Zatanna decides to find Abigail Arcane instead, but Constantine secretly makes a deal with Woodrue. Later, Woodrue is visited by a mysterious figure who he is covertly working with. Elsewhere, Abby appears as a young girl in a strange dreamlike place.
Justice League Dark (2018) #21
“The Parliaments Of Life Part 2”, May 2020
Ram V, James Tynion IV [w], Alvaro Martinez Bueno [p]
Constantine and Zatanna travel to an abandoned sanatorium and locate the heart of the Rot. Constantine ingests part of a plant growing there in order to have a vision, while Zatanna fights off Rot creatures before being confronted by Anton Arcane. Abby relives the memories of her romance with Swamp Thing, and Constantine rescues her from drowning. Wonder Woman, Bobo and Animal Man continue to fight infected citizens, with Animal Man seeking out the powers of a flatworm.
Justice League Dark (2018) #22
“The Parliaments Of Life Part 3”, July 2020
Ram V, James Tynion IV [w], Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Amancay Nahuelpan [p]
Khalid meets the avatars of Stone, Flame, Waves and Vapors in a cave in Tanzania and urges them to reconvene the Parliaments of Life. The Avatars refuse to bring about Order, suggesting that the state of chaos may be natural, but Khalid reminds them that they would cease to exist in a world without humans’ stories. As a flatworm, Animal Man obtains help from Parliament of the Divided who allow bacteria to fight the infection in the possessed population. Animal Man is healed and the other infected collapse. Arcane traps Zatanna at the heart of the Rot but, before she is defeated, Zatanna manages to unleash a spell that writes her name in the sky, which draws the rest of the JLD to the Rot. Constantine explains to Abby that she is caught in her dreams and he asks her to embrace the Rot in order to break free. Abby, now as the Avatar of the Rot, confronts Arcane and is supported by other members of the JLD.
Justice League Dark (2018) #23
“The Parliaments Of Life Part 4”, August 2020
Ram V, James Tynion IV [w], Kyle Hotz [p], Yanick Paquette, Nathan Fairbairn [c]
Arcane escapes the JLD and they tend to Zatanna, with Constantine removing the Rot from her body. Constantine threatens Woodrue, knowing that he was responsible for trapping Abby in her dreams. Khalid brings together the Parliaments of Life in a ritual where the guardians must give up their power. Woodrue and Animal Man do so, but Abby destroys the Parliament of Flowers, and Constantine rescues a seed in the confusion. Constantine travels to Houma, meets Arcane, and regrows Swamp Thing using the seed. Constantine realises that Arcane was working with the Upside-Down Man, and Swampy traps Arcane in a tree. Swampy calms the Parliaments and is reunited with Abby. Meanwhile, an unconscious Zatanna dreams of the Upside-Down Man.
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‘Dark Nights: Death Metal’ crossover A sequel to the ‘Dark Nights: Metal’ crossover of 2017. Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020) #3 Dark Nights: Death Metal Robin King (2020) #1 Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020) #7 |
Future State: Batman/Superman (2021) #2
“Chapter Two: Trust”, April 2021
Gene Luen Yang [w], Ben Oliver, Stephen Segovia [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears in one panel helping to rescue the animals altered by Pyg.
Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular (2021) #1
“In Memoriam” (pp. 1-16), December 2021
Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan [w], Jim Cheung [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy is interviewed about Diana in one panel
Wonder Woman (2016) #780
“Where the Heart Is”, December 2021
Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan [w], Travis Moore [p], [c]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man appears in one panel in the hall of justice.
Flash (2016) #777-#780
#777: “Vengeance is Mine!”, February 2022
Jeremy Adams [w], Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan [p]
#778: “Vengeance is Mine! Part 2”, March 2022
#779: “Vengeance is Mine! Part 3”, April 2022
Jeremy Adams [w], Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Brent Peeples [p]
#780: “The Quick and Dead, Part 3”, May 2022
Jeremy Adams [w], Will Conrad [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man doesn’t appear but Maxine appears throughout as a friend of Irey West.
Flash (2016) #786
“High-Speed Alert”, November 2022
Jeremy Adams [w], Amancay Nahuelpan [p]
Summary coming soon.
DC’s Grifter Got Run Over By A Reindeer (2023) #1
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” (pp. 61-70), January 2023
Michael W. Conrad [w], Christopher Mitten [p]
Summary coming soon.
Batman – Urban Legends (2021) #22
“The Murder Club Part 3 of 4” (pp. 43-64), February 2023
Joey Esposito [w], Vasco Georgiev [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man is shown with members of Justice League Europe, having defeated the Time Commander in Animal Man #16 (Oct. 1989).
Flash (2016) #790-#791
#791: “The One-Minute War, Part One: Zero Point”, March 2023
#792: “The One-Minute War, Part Two: A Ten-Second Week”, March 2023
Jeremy Adams [w], Roger Cruz [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy and Maxine are only briefly shown at the beginning of #791, unconscious on the ground. Both issues reprinted as part of The Flash: One-Minute War – Start the Clock #1.
Swamp Thing: Green Hell (2022) #2-#3
#2: “Book Two”, April 2023. DC Black Label.
Jeff Lemire [w], Doug Mahnke [p]
#3: “Book Three”, May 2023. DC Black Label.
Jeff Lemire [w], Shawn Moll [p], Doug Mahnke [p, c]
In a flooded, post-apocalyptic future, the Parliaments of the Green, Red and Rot are forced to co-exist underwater due to air pollution and decide that the Green should destroy the surviving humans so that new lifeforms can emerge. In #2, Swamp Thing has retired into a metaphysical paradise, accompanied by the souls of Abby and Tefé, until he is summoned by Constantine. He is forced to help the humans if he hopes to return to his family. Swampy begins to fight the creature but is brought in front of the Parliament of Trees. After refusing to side with the Parliament, Swampy’s connection to the Green is severed, but he still manages to defeat the monster. The Parliaments then raise an army of monsters from the seafloor to attack the village. Constantine astral-travels with Deadman to Nanda Parbat to seek help from Maxine Baker, who has become the Red’s avatar after the death of her father Buddy (Animal Man). In #3, a weakened Swamp Thing continues to help the villagers fend off waves of monsters, and George is killed protecting the children. Animal Woman, who still retains the power of the Red, joins the battle with her army. Constantine commits suicide to make a deal with the denizens of Hell to empower Swamp Thing, and Swampy is able to destroy the monsters. Swampy and Maxine then dismantle their respective Parliaments and Swamp Thing returns to his afterlife with his family. Ronnie later finds that she has the power of the Green.
Flash (2016) #796
“The One-Minute War, Finale: One More Minute”, June 2023
Jeremy Adams [w], Roger Cruz, George Hambadais [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy and Maxine are shown at the barbecue at the end of the issue.
Flash (2016) #797
“Misadventures in Babysitting”, June 2023
Jeremy Adams [w], Serge Acuña, Tom Derenick [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy doesn’t appear, but Maxine does, and Mineral Man seems to be a parody of Animal Man.
Unstoppable Doom Patrol (2023) #3
“The Fast and the Nebulous”, July 2023
Dennis Culver [w], Chris Burnham [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy is shown looking at the painting that Paris is trapped inside, from Doom Patrol #28-29 (Dec. 1989/Jan. 1990).
Flash (2023) #1
“Strange Attractor”, November 2023
Si Spurrier [w], Mike Deodato Jr. [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy doesn’t appear, but Maxine is in class with Irey.
DC’s Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun (2023) #1
“This Day, Anything Goes” (pp. 19-28), December 2023
Michael W. Conrad [w], Christopher Mitten [p]
Summary coming soon.
Nightwing (2016) #108
“Odd Hours: Part 3 of 3” (pp. 23-30), January 2024
Michael W. Conrad [w], Serg Acuña [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man does not appear but Nightwing and Barbara Gordon attend a screening of a movie titled ‘Animal Style’ starring Buddy Baker.
Titans – Beast World (2024) #1-#2
#1: “Part 1”, January 2024
#2: “Part 2”, Feburary 2024
Tom Taylor [w], Ivan Reis [p]
Summary coming soon.
In #1, Buddy appears among the heroes assembled in Titans Tower. In #2, Buddy appears on one page.
Titans – Beast World Tour – Central City (2024) #1
February 2024
Si Spurrier, Alex Paknadel [w], Serge Acuña, Scott Koblish [p], Mikel Janin [c]
Summary coming soon.
Flash (2023) #6
“The Gift”, April 2024
Si Spurrier [w], Mike Deodato Jr. [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy does not appear but Maxine is Irey’s classmate.
Absolute Power (2024) #1
“Powerless”, September 2024
Mark Waid [w], Dan Mora [p]
Summary coming soon.
Green Arrow (2023) #14
“Arrows Against The World!”, September 2024
Joshua Williamson [w], Amancay Nahuelpan, Sean Izaakse [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears on a television screen in the Arrow Cave.
Absolute Power (2024) #2
“Resistance”, October 2024
Mark Waid [w], Dan Mora [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears on a screen.
The Question – All Along the Watchtower (2025) #1-#2
#1: “Death On My Doorstep”, January 2025
#2: “The Case of the Runaway Ring”, February 2025
Alex Segura [w], Cian Tormey [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy appears on one page in both issues.
Batman – The Brave and the Bold (2023) #19-#20
#19: “Hive Mind Part 1” (pp. 33-40), January 2025
#20: “Hive Mine Part 2” (pp. 38-45), February 2025
Michael W. Conrad [w], Christopher Mitten [p]
Summary coming soon.
DC vs Vampires World War V (2024) #6-#7
#6: “The Hunger Part One” (pp. 26-34), March 2025
#7: “The Hunger Part Two” (pp. 26-34), May 2025
Joey Esposito [w], Pasquale Qualano [p]
Summary coming soon.
The Question – All Along the Watchtower (2025) #4-#6
#4: “The Great Escape”, April 2025
#5: “Into The Breach”, May 2025
Alex Segura [w], Cian Tormey, Raül Fernandez [p]
#6: “The Price”, June 2025
Alex Segura [w], Cian Tormey [p]
Summary coming soon.
Buddy only appears in one panel in #5, and in the background in several panels of #6.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest (2022) Annual #1
“Chapter Three: Certain Doom”, June 2025
Christopher Cantwell [w], Dan McDaid [p]
Gorilla Grodd travels into the past to assemble a Legion of Doom, motivating the villains by showing them a vision of the future where they have been defeated. Grodd decides to take the team into their future (his present) to takeover the Watchtower, but first has the group draining several time travel devices of their tachyon energy. Superman and Batman realise what is happening and start foiling the Legion’s plans, though Robin is shot by a time ray and vanishes. The villains manage to freeze the heroes in time before making their getaway into the future, and Grodd has also enlisted Pythoness to cast a spell that causes the heroes to forget what they saw. Grodd abandons Cheetah in the past, so the heroes blame her for the attacks on the time devices and do not pursue the Legion. Meanwhile, in the present, Robin from the past appears at the Justice League Watchtower and meets Batman and his future self, Nightwing.
Animal Man appears in one panel with other Justice League Unlimited heroes in Grodd’s vision of the future.
New Gods (2025) #7
“Black Smoke Rising, Part 1”, August 2025
Ram V [w], Travis Moore [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man appears in one panel.
Taste of Justice (2025) #13
“Episode 13: Office Retreat”, September 2025. Digital only.
Andrew Aydin [w], Domo Stanton [p]
Summary coming soon.
Animal Man appears in one panel.
New History of the DC Universe (2025) #2-#3
#2: September 2025
Mark Waid [w], Brad Walker, Michael Allred [p]
#3: November 2025
Mark Waid [w], Dan Jurgens, Doug Mahnke [p]
Barry Allen recounts the history of the DC Universe. Issue #2 begins with: the arrival of Superman, Batman, The Flash and other Justice League mainstays and their sidekicks, the rise of other superheroes (including Animal Man) and villains, and teams such as the Titans. The issue ends with the Crisis on Infinite Earths and the collapse of the multiverse into a single reality. Issue #3 continues with the post-‘Crisis’ heroes, the creation of Justice League International and Europe, Checkmate and Suicide Squad, the Invasion event, the death of Superman, Hal Jordan’s transformation into Parallax and the ‘Zero Hour’ storyline, and the events of Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis.
Animal Man’s origin is mentioned in issue #2, and Buddy appears with Justice League Europe in #3.
DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus (2026) #1
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (pp. 31-40), January 2026
Marley Halpern-Graser [w], Jon Mikel [p]
Summary coming soon.
[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 