# Forager (character)

Forager is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

## Publication history

The original Forager first appeared in New Gods #9 (August 1972) and was created by Jack Kirby. A female version of the character debuted in New Gods (Volume 3) #2 (March 1989).

## Fictional character biography
### Original Forager

Forager is a member of a humanoid insect species from New Genesis. Considered to be below the New Gods, the bugs form a lower class on New Genesis and are sometimes the target of prejudice.
Despite this, Forager becomes an ally of the New Gods and helps them battle Darkseid. In Cosmic Odyssey, he is killed saving Batman and preventing the Anti-Life Equation from destroying Earth.
Forager appears in the 2017 miniseries Bug! The Adventures of Forager, published as part of DC's Young Animal imprint.

### Female Forager

A female Bug is chosen to succeed Forager following his death. In Countdown to Final Crisis, Forager works with Jimmy Olsen in an attempt to stop Infinity-Man from killing the New Gods. In the final issue, she joins forces with Donna Troy, Atom, and Kyle Rayner to protect the multiverse.

## Powers and abilities

Forager retains the attributes of The New Gods, including superhuman strength, endurance, speed and reflexes. The Forager's incredible strength allows him to face much bigger enemies, jumping several meters high easily and running to great speed without fatigue. Forager is extremely long-lived and immune to diseases. Also, he is an accomplished fighter, hardened by the bugs' harsh life of hunting and survival. In addition to his natural abilities, Forager carries a variety of tools including a shield, adhesive pads on his gloves and boots that allow him to stick or climb walls and surfaces, and acidic pods.

## In other media
### Television

* The original Forager makes a cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Apokolips...Now!".
* The original Forager appears in the Justice League episode "Twilight", voiced by Corey Burton. This version is modest and reveres the Supertown Gods. While aiding Batman and Wonder Woman in stopping Darkseid's attack on New Genesis, Forager uses his hive to provide shelter for Supertown's inhabitants after the New Gods abandon them. Following this, Highfather promotes Forager to a higher rank.
* Forager appears in Young Justice, voiced by Jason Spisak. This version is an insect-like alien who possesses an extra set of arms, can roll up into a ball, and displays an odd connection to sentient technology. Additionally, despite being from New Genesis, he is not a New God and does not use pronouns due to his race's unique sense of self. Introduced in the third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, he contacts the Team to help stop a war between the Bugs and New Gods, only to be banished from his hive by Mantis and earn the wrath of Ma'alefa'ak, the one who orchestrated the conflict. As it is no longer safe for him on New Genesis, the Team takes Forager with them to Earth, where he joins them in fighting the Light and takes on the human identity Fred Bugg via a glamour charm to attend Happy Harbor High School. He later reveals his true identity to his classmates, to their enjoyment. As of the fourth season, Forager has become class valedictorian, graduated from Happy Harbor High, and enters a relationship with a female purple Forager (voiced by Nika Futterman), who later becomes a Green Lantern after Lor-Zod kills Tomar-Re.
* The original Forager makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Harley Quinn episode "Inner (Para) Demons".

### Video games

Forager appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.