Covering the first 26 issues (1988-1990)…
Animal Man first appeared in his own series beginning in 1988. The first 26 issues were written by Grant Morrison, with pencils primarily by Chas Truog. In this period, Buddy was a founding member of the Justice League Europe team and left after one year. Buddy also made several other appearances that related to the main Animal Man series to varying degrees, including some involvement in the ‘Invasion!’ crossover event.
The series and its creators were nominated for the following awards in 1989:
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards:
- 1989 Best Single Issue (Nominated) for Animal Man #5.
- 1989 Best Writer (Nominated) – Grant Morrison, for Animal Man.
- 1989 Best New Series (Nominated).
Appearances that I consider to be fairly minor are indented, though I have treated as major any appearance where Justice League Europe is a focus of the issue and Animal Man is a contributing member of the team. The below titles were published by DC Comics unless otherwise noted.
Animal Man #1
“The Human Zoo”, September 1988
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog [p], Brian Bolland [c]
A mysterious superpowered figure is drawn towards S.T.A.R. labs after sensing, telepathically, the distress of monkeys. Buddy Baker decides to become a superhero full-time and assigns his friend Roger as a publicist. After appearing on a television program, he receives a call from S.T.A.R. for help. Buddy finds the labs destroyed and a pile of primates fused together.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #2
“Life in the Concrete Jungle”, October 1988
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Dr. Myers explains to Animal Man that a giant cockroach was seen entering the labs before they were destroyed and the fused monkey mass was discovered. Animal Man tracks the creature but loses its scent and then briefly meets Superman. The Beast fuses a rat to a homeless man and the resultant ‘Ratman’ attacks Buddy, severing his arm. Meanwhile, Ellen and Maxine are threatened by hunters in the woods.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #3
“The Nature of the Beast”, November 1988
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
The Beast is revealed as B’wana Beast, who has come to San Diego to rescue Djuba – his gorilla companion with whom he shares a telepathic connection. Buddy grows a new arm using the regenerative abilities of an earthworm and is taken back to S.T.A.R. labs with the Ratman (now returned to human form). There Buddy learns that the scientists are actually developing a strain of weaponised anthrax, and are now concerned that their test subject Djuba is loose in the city with B’wana Beast. Elsewhere, in the woods, Ellen is threatened by some hunters and is rescued by her neighbour Morris Weidemeir.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #4
“When We All Lived in the Forest”, December 1988
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy and B’wana Beast battle at the San Diego Zoo. B’wana Beast collapses, overcome by the anthrax virus, but Buddy uses his powers to save him. Later, B’wana Beast returns to S.T.A.R. labs to fuse Dr. Myers with the body of Djuba, and the creature is vivisected by the scientists. Meanwhile, Ellen and Maxine rescue some kittens but only one survives.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #5
“The Coyote Gospel”, Winter 1988
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy decides that he and his family should become vegetarian. Meanwhile, a truckdriver runs over a strange coyote in the desert and subsequently suffers various misfortunes. Believing that the coyote is a devil, the trucker hunts it and attempts to kill it. The coyote (whose name is Crafty) meets Buddy and presents him with a written text that explains his story. Crafty comes from a cartoon world of anthropomorphic animals that are constantly violently attacking each other but can never die. Crafty confronts his creator, who agrees to stop the violence but sends Crafty to the human world, where he is still immortal but can feel pain. Buddy is unable to read the text or understand Crafty’s story, and Crafty is assassinated by the trucker using a silver bullet.
For further notes, see the annotations.
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‘Invasion!’ event The ‘Invasion!’ event included a 3-part Invasion! miniseries and tie-in issues across many DC titles, including Animal Man. An alliance of warlike alien races, led by the Dominion, plan a takeover of Earth. The aliens fear the genetic anomaly in humans that has resulted in many people of Earth becoming superpowered, so the alliance plans to eradicate everyone on Earth. Animal Man #6 Invasion (1988) #2 Animal Man #7 Invasion (1988) #3 |
Justice League International (1987) #24
“Across A Crowded Room…” (pp. 23-39), February 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Kevin Maguire [p, c]
After the events of the invasion, a number of heroes have received invites upon leaving hospital and now congregate at Justice League headquarters where Oberon hopes to recruit more members to Justice League International. A number of Khunds appear and the heroes chase them away. By the end of the night, Oberon and Maxwell Lord have recruited Power Girl, Flash (Wally West), Animal Man, Elongated Man, Metamorpho, Rocket Red #4, and Captain Atom, with Wonder Woman as a part-time member.
Animal Man #8
“Mirror Moves”, February 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Animal Man is still feeling the effects of the gene bomb when he receives his ID card from Justice League Europe. Buddy is then attacked by Mirror Master whose employers are unhappy with Buddy’s interference with S.T.A.R. Labs and his support of animal rights. Ellen returns home and saves Buddy, while Mirror Master escapes to report to his bosses. Elsewhere, a Native American physicist named James Highwater ponders his existence, while a computer screen displays an ominous message.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Blasters (1989) Special #1
March 1989
Peter David [w], James Fry [p]
The Blasters struggle with their powers as they attempt to return to normal life on Earth. Snapper Carr is traumatised after teleporting with his eyes open, and receives psychiatric treatment for delusions after recalling his adventures in space during the invasion. He accidentally teleports to the spaceship of the Omega Men and frees Churljenkins, who steals the ship. After learning that Churl’s home planet has been destroyed to build a space route, Churl and Snapper decide to travel to Earth to find the other Blasters. Upon approaching Earth, they are fired upon by a Spider Guild craft, but the aliens are chased away by other superheroes. Churl and Snapper then gather the other Blasters (Jolt, Moshe, Looking Glass, Frag and the con artist Amos Monroe) and destroy a Spider Guild weapons depot in Israel. After the fight, the Blasters (along with Churljenkins, Moshe’s mother and a sympathetic Dominator named Gunther) decide to travel into space for further adventures.
Animal Man appears with other heroes and helps drive the Spider Guild away from Earth.
Animal Man #9
“Home Improvements”, March 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Tom Grummett [p], Brian Bolland [c]
J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter, arrives at the Bakers’ home to welcome Buddy into the Justice League, and to provide repairs and additional security features to the house. Buddy confesses that his powers are behaving strangely, and J’onzz offers help. J’onzz frightens some children who are bullying Cliff, while Buddy again doesn’t offer much help. Elsewhere, Highwater finds a mysterious note directing him to “ask the Psycho Pirate”. And, in an African village, a man senses that “the gods are coming”.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Secret Origins (1986) #39
“The Myth of the Creation”, April 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Tom Grummett [p], Michael Kaluta [c]
As Buddy continues to struggle with his powers, a spacecraft called the Traveller awakens the two aliens onboard. They observe Buddy and realise that continuity has changed since they created him in Strange Adventures #180, and also note that the aftereffects of the gene bomb is killing him.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #1
“How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On the Farm After They’ve Seen Paree?”, April 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p, c]
Captain Atom is nervous about leading the JLE and meets Catherine Robert, the chief of the embassy in Paris. Captain Atom addresses the rest of the team after they arrive, but he is not taken seriously. The teleportation tubes destroy Animal Man’s luggage, and then a man is found dead inside the embassy building. A mysterious figure decides to cause the JLE more problems by directing a mindless crowd to attack the embassy and to accuse the heroes of being Nazis. Eventually, the psychological effects wear off of the mob. Later Captain Atom learns that the man who died may have been a Nazi.
Animal Man #10
“Fox on the Run”, April 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Mark McKenna [p], Brian Bolland [c]
After returning from helping hunt saboteurs in England, Buddy meets Vixen who is fleeing some invisible beasts. She explains that “He Who Never Dies” is excavating a sacred site in Africa, which may have released evil spirits. The invisible creatures break into Buddy’s home and he disintegrates when they look at him, while Vixen and Ellen come face to face with the aliens. At Arkham Asylum, Highwater receives a strange comic book page from Psycho-Pirate that depicts Animal Man.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #2
“Somebody Up There Hates Us!”, May 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p]
The JLE decide to investigate some Neo-Nazi groups with links to superhumans. Animal Man and Captain Atom visit the base of the Aryan Nation in Santa Cruz but find it destroyed. They are attacked by the Wild Huntsman, and accidentally put the attacker in a coma. Power Girl and Rocket Red go to Frankfurt and have a similar experience with a hero called the Rising Sun, while Metamorpho, Elongated Man and Flash fight Tuatara in Dover. Elsewhere, we see that Owl Woman and Jack O’Lantern are behind the latest events.
Animal Man #11
“Out of Africa”, May 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
The aliens recreate Buddy and restore his powers but the continuity of the universe is still in danger. Buddy and Vixen appear in Africa where they are attacked by Hamed Ali and his disciple Tabu. Vixen and Buddy are trapped in a room unable to use their powers as they await their death, while Ali tries to open the Traveller with the aliens inside. Back in Los Angeles, Ellen doesn’t remember having children and promptly disintegrates.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #3
“Another Fine Mess!”, June 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p, c]
Captain Atom believes someone is trying to discredit the JLE by linking them to Neo-Nazis. Atom makes a bad impression on a representative from the French government. Power Girl, Elongated Man and Wally West travel to the prior headquarters of the disbanded Global Guardians team, whose members attacked them in the last issue. The heroes go undercover on a guided tour of the headquarters, but the other tourist become possessed and attack them. Jack O’Lantern also attacks the heroes and the confrontation makes the news, alerting the rest of the JLE. Jack O’Lantern leaves but destroys the headquarters.
Animal Man appears at a JLE meeting at the beginning of the issue, and heads to Global Guardians headquarters with the rest of the League after learning about the fight.
Animal Man #12
“Secret Origins”, June 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy uses bacteria’s ability to multiply to create duplicates of himself and overcome Ali and Tabu. After escaping, Buddy and Vixen enter the pit where the Traveller is located. While Vixen and Tabu fight, Buddy converses with the aliens who explain their purpose and invite Buddy to re-create his origin so that it is consistent with the post-‘Crisis’ continuity. Ali arrives and attacks the aliens but is removed from existence. Buddy and Vixen then find themselves back above ground.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #4
“Bialya Burning!”, July 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p, c]
Queen Bee is behind the campaign to discredit the Justice League after they entered her country Bialya in Justice League International #17 (Sept. 1988). Some of the JLE (including Animal Man) arrive in Bialya to investigate her activities. Metamorpho learns that Queen Bee has mind control over members of the Global Guardians, as well as a Dominator scientist who is enhancing some of the Guardians’ powers. When Metamorpho, Power Girl, Wally West and Animal Man try to sneak into Queen Bee’s palace, they are discovered and attacked by Jack O’Lantern. Jack is overpowered but not before he accidentally kills a bystander. Queen Bee and the JLE reach an agreement not to bother each other, and for the Queen to stop her association with the Dominator. Afterwards, Queen Bee has Jack and the Dominator killed. Back in Paris, Sapphire (Metamorpho’s ex-wife) travels to the JLE embassy.
Animal Man #13
“Hour of the Beast”, July 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Animal Man runs into Mike Maxwell in Africa, who needs to choose a successor to the Beast role. Visions lead him to South Africa and anti-apartheid activist Dominic Mndawe, who is about to be murdered by a racist police officer. Mndawe is rescued and presented with the helmet and elixir. At a protest the next day, Maxwell is shot and Mndawe appears as Freedom Beast and kills the officer with a hybrid animal resembling a unicorn. Animal Man smuggles some of Mndawe’s photos out of Africa and gives them to the Daily Planet in Metropolis.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #5
“Stagg Party!”, August 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p]
Captain Atom is called to New York by Max Lord and his recent decision-making is questioned, but he ultimately receives a vote of confidence. Sapphire arrives at the embassy to see Metamorpho but, after his resurrection by the gene bomb, he does not remember her. She tries to remind him of his previous life, and mentions that she had his child. Animal Man is surprised that other superheroes are also married. Sapphire’s current husband, Java, arrives and is angry. Atom arrives and breaks up a fight, and Metamopho’s memories return. Sapphire’s father (the tycoon Simon Stagg) also appears and takes Sapphire away.
The Flash (1987) #29
“Casablanca Nights”, August 1989
Les Strazewski [w], Grant Miehm [p]
Wally West (the Flash) travels to Casablanca, Morocco. In a diner he meets Yuri of the Estonian secret police who explains that the diner is frequented by spies and an assassination is about to occur. Flash helps the Phantom Lady save a defecting Soviet food scientist who specialises in ruining food supplies.
Animal Man appears with Justice League Europe in Wally’s dream in one panel at the beginning of the issue.
Animal Man #14
“Spooks”, August 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Tom Grummett, Steve Montano [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Maxine and Ellen encounter a strange man in the yard who looks like Buddy. Later, Ellen again feels the presence of the man, while Cliff receives a message (“CLIFF 9 27”) after playing with an ouija board. The real Buddy returns home and also meets the stranger. Elsewhere, Highwater dreams about a man in Glasgow and then awakens in San Francisco, while an assassin named Lennox kills a Mrs. Linfield and her daughter.
For further notes, see the annotations.
New Titans (1984) Annual #5
“When The Sun Goes Black!”, August 1989
Marv Wolfman [w], Chris Wozniak [p]
The Titans visit the grave of Cyborg’s father, Silas, on the anniversary of his death but they are attacked by mysterious assailants. In a flashback, Silas argues with a man named Raymond Dark against the development of nuclear technology at Westchester Sciences, and Raymond implies that Silas is a Soviet sympathiser. Silas decides to leave to work at S.T.A.R. labs, but his final report causes Raymond’s project to be shut down. Raymond forms a company called the Children of the Sun. In the present day, the Titans arrive at a nuclear facility that terrorists are threatening to destroy. Around the world, Children of the Sun members have kidnapped citizens, re-programmed their minds to attack nuclear facilities, and rigged their enhanced bodies to self-destruct. Raven and Jericho infiltrate the terrorists and Raven teleports them away before they explode. Various superheroes respond to other nuclear threats around the world. The Titans track Raymond Dark to Oakland, but his followers kill him before they arrive. The Children of the Sun try to escape in a submarine, which seems to explode before they are apprehended.
Animal Man and the JLE are shown responding to the nuclear terrorist threats in Europe.
Justice League Europe (1989) #6
“No More Teachers’ Dirty Looks…?!”, September 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p, c]
Most of the team go to night school to learn French from a teacher, Ms. Kessler. The Injustice League (comprised of Major Disaster, Multi-Man, the Clock King, Big Sir, the Mighty Bruce, and Cluemaster) also decide to learn French and show up to the same class. The groups fight until the police arrive and arrest all of them, and the Injustice League are deported. Ralph and Sue Disney watch footage of the French superhero, the Red Fox, who they are interested in recruiting.
Animal Man #15
“The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”, September 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy meets up with Dane Dorrance (of the Sea Devils) in the Faroe Islands. With Dolphin (of the Forgotten Heroes) and a local named Jóannes, they attempt to prevent the slaughter of dolphins by the islanders by driving the mammals away from the shore. Buddy fights a particularly sadistic hunter named Ongur and drops him from a great height into the ocean, but Ongur is saved by a dolphin whose family he had just murdered.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Captain Atom (1987) #34
“Powerless”, October 1989
Cary Bates, Greg Weisman [w], Tom Grindberg [p]
Captain Atom has lost his powers. Tom Emery (Doctor Spectro) is disgruntled with his employer General Eiling and considers exposing the Atom project. He travels to Paris and hypnotises Catherine Cobert, but fails to hypnotise Captain Atom. Atom’s powers briefly return and he saves Catherine. Meanwhile, two psychiatric patients (Dr. Anton Sarrok and Homer Lockleed) have disappeared from the Damon Clinic. They travel to a secret base where General Eiling and Heinrich Megala are investigating a structure called Silver Shield that is draining Atom’s powers. Sarrok is familiar with Silver Shield and it seems to respond to him.
Buddy appears at the beginning of the issue, discussing Captain Atom’s situation with other members of the JLE.
Justice League International (1987) Annual #3
“Around the World with the Justice League”
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Mike McKone [p]
The members of both Justice Leagues (America and International) visit a number of their embassies around the world, including Brazil, Japan (where Rising Sun is still comatose after Justice League Europe #2), Moscow, London, Canberra, and Paris. An indigenous group from KooeyKooeyKooey decide to ask the Justice League to set up a base on their South Pacific island to avoid either Russia or the US from building a military installation there. A small delegation, including the chief’s nephew Herb, meet J’onn J’onzz who travels with them around the world trying to catch up with Maxwell Lord. They finally meet Lord in Paris and he agrees to their proposal.
As this issue isn’t cover-dated, it is difficult to ascertain where this appearance fits chronologically. This issue might occur before Captain Atom loses his powers, which would place it before Justice League Europe #6 (Sept. 1989). However, many chronologies, as well as the ‘Justice League International Omnibus’ books, place this issue after JLE #6. The Annual must then also take place after Captain Atom #34 (Oct. 1989), when Atom’s powers begin to return, but before Fire wears her new costume in Justice League America #31 (also Oct. 1989).
Animal Man #16
“The Clockwork Crimes of the Time Commander”, October 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
When Ellen is notified that her book is going to be published, she and Buddy travel to Paris to celebrate. In Paris, they find that time is being affected by the villain Time Commander (John Starr), who plans to bring back everyone who had died in the past. Buddy works with members of Justice League Europe (Elongated Man, Metamorpho, and Red Rocket) to stop Starr. Afterwards, Buddy and Ellen are surveilled by the assassin Lennox.
Later reprinted as part of the trade paperback collection 52: The Companion in 2007. For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #7
“Teasdale Unbound!”, October 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p]
Justice League Europe are called by the UN to Eastern Europe to help stop the spread of an infection that makes people behave like vampires. The JLE, Justice League America, and the new Doctor Fate (Linda Strauss) are attacked, but the villagers retreat when the sun rises. Nearby, Dr. Irwin Teasdale plots his revenge against Simon Stagg. The Spectre and the Grey Man watch the events unfold. The Grey Man’s function is to channel essence from the dead to the Lords of Order he serves but he secretly plots the destruction of the heroes.
Justice League America (1987) #32
“Breaking Point!”, November 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Adam Hughes [p, c]
Teasdale releases more of the toxin to turn troops into vampires, and the JLE must flee. Teasdale had worked for Simon Stagg to develop the (eventually fatal) toxin in order to control a population, but Stagg then tried to kill him. Teasdale subsequently allied himself with the Grey Man, who is rebelling against the Lords of Order. Simon Stagg asks the JLE to protect his factory from the horde. Fate and Spectre meet the Lords of Order and tell them that the Grey Man is complicit in the deaths of the villagers, but the Lords are unconcerned.
Justice League Europe (1989) #8
“Showdown…”, November 1989
Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis [w], Bart Sears [p]
The JLE attempt to protect Stagg’s factory. Teasdale and the Grey Man enter the factory, with the Grey Man wanting to obtain more of the toxin to destroy the world. The horde begins to be electrocuted by the surrounding fences and the Grey Man takes their souls and grows to an enormous size. The Justice Leagues and Doctor Fate fight him, and the Grey Man kills Teasdale. The Spectre arrives with both the Lords of Order and Chaos, and they shrink and they take away the Grey Man’s free will entirely. Power Girl is severely injured and recuperates in hospital, while Fate decides to stay in the Justice League.
Animal Man #17
“Consequences”, November 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
In Glasgow, Lennox meets with Mirror Master who refuses to give him the layout to Buddy’s home. Buddy rescues animals from a testing facility with other activists who burn down the laboratory. Buddy lectures Cliff about the consequences of eating meat, then learns that three firemen have been injured as a result of the laboratory fire. Roger subsequently quits as Buddy’s manager and Animal Man has a disastrous television appearance. Buddy decides to stop being a superhero. Highwater finds that his limbs occasionally revert to pencil sketches, and he arrives at the Bakers’ house for help.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #9
“Under the Skin”, December 1989
Keith Giffen, Bill Loebs [w], Art Nichols [p, c]
Power Girl needs an operation but her body is invulnerable to surgical tools. Sue Dibny calls Superman for help without the authorisation of Captain Atom. The operation is successful when the surgeon is able to harness Superman’s heat vision. Power Girl survives but some of her powers are reduced. Elsewhere, Wally West and Elongated Man bond by reminiscing about Barry Allen, while Metamorpho tells Batman that he felt abandoned by the Outsiders.
Animal Man appears on one page, watching a news report about Power Girl with Dmitri.
Animal Man #18
“At Play in the Fields of the Lord”, December 1989
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy wakes up in his kitchen and is cared for by Roger and Tricia. Two days earlier, Highwater attempts to show Buddy the comic book page he found but it has transformed into a map to a mesa in Arizona. They travel to the mesa and ingest peyote. During the trip, Buddy is visited by a fox named Foxy who explains that Buddy is connected to the morphogenetic field, which allows him to access the abilities of any animal species that has ever existed. He is also warned about a second Crisis. Meanwhile, Lennox visits the Baker house and the date is September 27.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Doom Patrol (1987) #28-#29
#28: “Labyrinths”, December 1989
#29: “The Kingdom of No”, January 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Richard Case [p]
In #28, the Brotherhood of Dada have trapped Paris (and some of the JLE) inside a painting. Animal Man, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and the Doom Patrol (Robotman, Rebis and Crazy Jane) investigate. Doom Patrol enter the painting and encounter members of the Brotherhood of Dada in places that relate to art movements (such as Impressionism, Futurism, and Surrealism). Robotman and Rebis are defeated by the Brotherhood. Sleepwalk awakens and warns the other villains of the coming of the Fifth Horseman. In #29, the rest of the Brotherhood of Dada find Fog dazed after unsuccessfully attempting to absorb Crazy Jane. The enormous Horseman appears and Jane explains that it represents extinction and has been contained since the painting’s creation. It is growing strong off the ideas in the painting and, if it breaks out, it will destroy the world. The Brotherhood rouse Rebis and Robotman, Jane possesses the Horseman, and together they all guide the rider to the Dadaist area of the painting, where meaning is destroyed. Once the rider is defeated, the Brotherhood decide to stay in the painting. The painting self-destructs, ejecting the Doom Patrol and Paris back to reality where the Justice League and Superman have assembled. The Fifth Horseman also appears in the real world as a harmless rocking horse. Superman finds that Jane has been seriously injured. Later, the damaged painting is locked in a safe.
Animal Man appears in a few panels at the beginning of issue #28 when the Doom Patrol enter the painting, and then in a few panels in #29 when the Justice League have assembled outside of the painting.
Justice League Europe (1989) #10
“After the Fox!”, January 1990
Keith Giffen, Bill Loebs [w], Bart Sears [p]
A large globe full of cash is stolen from a Wayne Foundation charity event in Paris. The Crimson Fox pursues the robbers’ helicopter. The JLE are testing the limits of Power Girl’s diminished abilities when the money globe is accidentally shot open and the helicopter crashes into Captain Atom’s room in the embassy. The criminals are arrested and Captain Atom accuses Crimson Fox of being associated with them until Batman explains that she foiled the robbery. Captain Atom then offers her Justice League membership. Crimson Fox initially refuses, but then accepts and sends Atom a replacement bed.
Animal Man appears on one page, jogging and chatting with Power Girl.
Animal Man #19
“A New Science of Life”, January 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
The peyote trip continues for Buddy and Highwater. Buddy is told about his post-Crisis origin, but also meets the Silver Age Animal Man who explains that continuity has been changed for the sake of entertainment for “them”. Buddy is suddenly able to see the reader of the comic and understands that there is a level of reality above his own that is more Hellish than his world. Highwater explains the levels of reality using David Bohm’s Implicate Order theory. Highwater is convinced to jump off the mesa by an eagle spirit but he awakens unharmed. Buddy returns home to find his family murdered.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Captain Atom (1987) #38
“Haunted”, February 1990
Cary Bates, Greg Weisman [w], Rafael Kayanan [p]
Captain Atom admits to the Justice League that he was a spy created by the government, but the team is not concerned. Atom meets with Red Tornado who asks him to construct him a more permanent body than the one created by Firestorm. They both travel to Chester King’s house, who has been entrusted to care for the alien Silver Shield. Atom has been haunted by the presence of the Black Racer. Chester’s pregnant wife Bonnie collapses and is close to death, so Atom uses the opportunity to confront and defeat the the Black Racer. Bonnie and her child are saved at the hospital with the help of Red Tornado.
Buddy appears in the first few pages with the rest of Justice League Europe.
Animal Man #20
“The Last Enemy”, February 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy’s neighbours support him as he grieves the death of his family, but the police have no leads regarding the identity of the killer. Buddy is contemplating suicide when Mirror Master calls with information about who is responsible. Elsewhere, Lennox fears retaliation by the superhero community but his employers have created an armoured suit dubbed “Bug-Man” to protect them. In Arkham Asylum, Roger Hayden (Psycho-Pirate) warns that “they’re all coming back!”.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Justice League Europe (1989) #11
“Family Ties”, February 1990
Keith Giffen, Bill Loebs [w], Bart Sears [p], Kevin Maguire [c]
Metamorpho is determined to meet his child, so Buddy and Dmitri follow him while Captain Atom warns the Justice League embassy in New York. Guy Gardner volunteers to protect Simon Stagg. Metamorpho learns that his son has the ability to transform other objects and people into elements, and Stagg and Doctor Magnus are exploiting this to create a new type of fuel. Metamorpho attempts to free his son but first fights Gardner and is then confronted by Magnus’ Metal Men. Meanwhile, Blue Jay and Silver Sorceress are locked in a prison for metahumans in the USSR. Josef Mallinovich attempts to help them escape by smuggling them a serum but he is then caught by the authorities.
This issue and Justice League Europe #12 probably take place during or after Animal Man #20.
Justice League Europe (1989) #12
“Bringing Up Baby”, March 1990
Keith Giffen, Bill Loebs [w], Bart Sears [p]
Metamorpho fights the Metal Men, and Buddy, Dmitri and Java join in. The baby is knocked from his crib and Java catches him, only to have his arms turned to sludge by the baby’s powers. Sapphire and Metamorpho are immune to the baby’s powers and comfort their son. Metamorpho hands the baby to Stagg in the hope that Stagg will be transformed, but Stagg is also immune. Stagg feels affection for his grandson and decides to abandon the experiments. Afterwards, Buddy takes leave from the JLE to deal with problems in his own life. In the Soviet Union, Josef’s serum returns superpowers to Blue Jay and Silver Sorceress. Sorceress decides to teleport back to her home planet, while Blue Jay breaks out of the prison.
Buddy is unable to use his powers in the fight because there are no animals nearby, but in Animal Man #19 he learned that distance is not an impediment to his abilities.
Animal Man #21
“Tooth and Claw”, March 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Animal Man and Mirror Master seek revenge on Lennox and the three government men who ordered the hit on Buddy’s family. The employers are killed first, and Buddy then defeats and kills Lennox after a battle with the Bug-Man suit. Buddy feels unfulfilled but suddenly has an idea that he can restore the past using a time machine.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #22
“Time in a Bottle”, April 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Paris Cullens, Steve Montano [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy visits John Starr (Time Commander) for help to get his family back, but Starr no longer has any time control abilities. Buddy then lies to Rip Hunter in order to borrow a time travel device. Buddy travels back into his past (and into previous issues of Animal Man) but fails to warn his family of the danger. Stuck in the past with no solutions, Buddy meets the Phantom Stranger. At Arkham Asylum, Hayden manifests comic books that feature characters from pre-‘Crisis’ Earths, and Highwater is visited by the yellow aliens.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Time Masters (1990) #4
“Time is on My Side”, May 1990
Bob Wayne, Lewis Shiner [w], Art Thibert [p]
The Time Masters have relocated to Cave Carson’s underground base after their lab was destroyed, and Jeff Smith is recovering after being shot by Jonah Hex. Rip Hunter’s cousin Dan is sent back to 1770 to prevent George Washington from being replaced by an imposter member of the Illuminati named Weishaupt. Dan is captured by the Illuminati but is rescued by Tomahawk. Dan then meets and warns Washington, before defeating the assassins with Tomahawk. Not realising that his efforts have been unsuccessful, Dan is thanked by Weishaupt posing as Washington and Dan decides to stay in the 18th century with Tomahawk and Laughing Fawn. Because Dan’s actions have not altered events in the future, Rip decides to go further back in time to locate the Holy Grail: a source of power for the Illuminati. Later, Buddy meets the Time Masters and lies to them in order to borrow a time travel device.
Buddy’s meeting with Rip and the Time Masters is also depicted in Animal Man #22.
Animal Man #23
“Crisis”, May 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Still in the past, the Phantom Stranger leads Buddy to a meeting of immortal characters who convince him to carry on living. In Arkham Asylum, objects and characters (including the genocidal Overman) from Earths destroyed in the Crisis begin to materialise out of the Psycho-Pirate, who revels in the chaos. One of the aliens leads Highwater into the Asylum to help them combat the threat, while the other alien retrieves Buddy.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #24
“Purification Day”, June 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog, Doug Hazelwood [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Highwater speaks to the resurrected characters, explaining that they are characters in a comic book. Overman threatens to blow up the world with a doomsday bomb. Buddy attacks him from outside of the comic panels with help from the Veil, and Overman is eventually crushed by the panel borders. The characters from other Earths disappear into Psycho-Pirate’s mask. Psycho-Pirate also disappears while Highwater wears the Medusa Mask and remains in Arkham Asylum to contain the other Earths. Buddy decides to find the writer of his world and opens the front door of his house to find himself in a graveyard.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #25
“Monkey Puzzle”, July 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Buddy leaves his house and steps into Limbo: a place where characters reside when they are not actively appearing in any stories. Buddy meets Merryman and the Inferior Five. They explain that there is a chimp who types on a typewriter who, according to a legend, will one day write the characters out of Limbo. The chimp begins to write the script to Animal Man #25 but keels over, gravely ill. Buddy attempts to take the chimp to the City of Formation for help but, after many years, the chimp dies and Buddy ends up back at his house to find T.C. and Skipper dead. Buddy reads the chimp’s completed script and continues to follow the story, traveling through Glasgow to the home of Grant Morrison.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Animal Man #26
“Deus Ex Machina”, August 1990
Grant Morrison [w], Chas Truog [p], Brian Bolland [c]
Morrison explains and demonstrates that they are the writer of Buddy’s life. Buddy petitions Morrison to bring back his family but Morrison refuses. Morrison explains their intentions behind the Animal Man series, and thanks everyone who contributed to the comic, while Buddy fights some other characters. Afterwards, Buddy finds himself at home with his family and assumes he must’ve dreamed the recent events.
For further notes, see the annotations.
Next: Issues #27-50 (1990-1992)… ▸
[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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