Who's Who In The DC Universe #1: Animal Man, Anthro, Apokolips
Animal Man by Gil Kane
Stunt man Buddy Baker was bathed in radiation from an alien space ship that crashed to Earth
He later discovered that he could absorb the special abilities of any animal within a certain range
Buddy designed a costume and called himself “Animal Man”
He later retired and married Ellen Frazier and had two children with her – Cliff and Maxine
Buddy was later recruited by the Immortal Man and joined several other semiretired adventurers in an organization called the Forgotten Heroes
My first exposure to Animal Man (besides Who’s Who) was his appearances in the Justice League Europe issues. I fell in love with him immediately. I love his power set – Vixen is another favorite for the same reason. He was so down to Earth and his relationship with his Ellen is one of my favorites in comics. Buddy is perfect proof that an “everyman” hero can have a wife and children. My recommendations for anyone interested in Animal Man are the Animal Man series by Grant Morrison, his appearances in the Justice League Europe series, and his role in the “52” series. As far as I know, Buddy hasn’t made any appearances in any DC animated are live-action roles – Vixen tends to be used instead. And yes, as a woman and person of color, Vixen’s appearances are important for diversity (and she’s simply a great character) but Buddy is cool too, so how both characters be allowed to shine? If Young Justice can have Superboy, Superman, Captain Marvel, and Icon (all similar powersets) than Animal Man and Vixen can make appearances in the live action/animated parts of the DC Universe.
Anthro by Howie Post
We journey to the era of time when Neanderthals were giving way to the rise of the Cro-Magnon. Anthro was born in this era, the son of a Cro-Magnon mother and a Neanderthal father.
Ne-ahn, Anthro’s father, was chief of the Bear Tribe, and Anthro’s deceased unnamed mother was a member of a tribe long thought destroyed.
Anthro’s mother doesn’t receive a name but his stepmother is Emba.
The Bear Tribe had no permanent home, lived a nomadic existence, and tried to survive the hostile elements of the dawn of civilization.
The background art shows Anthro riding wooly mammoths, spear fishing, and battling Neanderthals.
Anthro debuted in the Showcase series – issue “74. The only appearance I’ve read of Anthro was in the Crisis of Infinite Earths series. He was so much fun in his appearance. If that was typical of his character, Anthro must have been a blast in his Showcase appearance.
Apokolips by Greg Theakston
The New Gods were Jack Kirby’s original end game for the Marvel Asgardian gods. Kirby left Marvel and brought his idea to DC with a few changes (for legal reasons).
“There came a time when the old gods (the Asgardians) died. The final moment came with the fatal release of indescribable power which tore the home of the old gods (Asgard/Nine Worlds) asunder, splitting it into great halves, and filling the universe with the blinding death-flash of its destruction.” (Ragnarök)
Two worlds emerged from this explosion (Apokolips and New Genesis).
New Genesis was “given nobility and strength from the living atoms of Baldurr (Marvel’s Baldur).
Apokolips was “saturated with the evil and cunning which was once a sorceress (Marvel’s Karnilla).
Apokolips is ruled by Darkseid.
Notable locations on Apokolips include the Armagetto (home of the Hunger Dogs and the Energy Pits), Darkseid’s Tower of Rage (his home palace), and the Granny Goodness’s Happiness Home (home of the Dog Soldiers and Female Furies).
“As of this writing, New Genesis has apparently been destroyed, leaving the New Gods to seek their destiny among the stars, and leaving Darkseid among the ruins of Apokolips, a bitter, frustrated man.e
Poor Darkseid, someone took his away his toys!
I’ll delve into the importance of Darkseid and the New Gods to the DC Universe when I get to those entries, as for Apokolips itself…it has to be in the top 10 in the “alien comic book planets” category – for the entirety of comic book universes. Off the top of my head, no research, and no generic or real planets (ex – Skrull homeworld or Mars), I can list: Apokolips, New Genesis, Oa, Thanagar, Rann, Khera, Hala, Krupton, Mogo, Tamaran, etc. As a Legion fangirl, I can name numerous home planets of the Legionnaires: Colu, Rimbor, Trom, Bismol, Daxam, etc but I’m not sure how well known those are to a non-Legion fanbase. I can name numerous alien races from Marvel but blank on their home planets except for the Kree (Hala) and the Eternals (Titan).
I would also put Apokolips in the “Top 10 Worst Comic Book Locations To Live In” category. Horrible place to be born.
Apokolips has featured heavily in the comics (the various New Gods titles, Superman, Justice League, Legion of Super-Heroes, DCeased, etc) and has made multiple appearances in the animated/live actions series.
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