Animal Man (New 52)

*"I never get sick of this. It doesn't matter how many times I dip into the Morphogenetic Field and take on an animal power, I still get that same rush I got the very first time I did it. Truth is, that's why I can't give up being Animal Man... It's too much fun."*

## **Summary**

**Buddy Baker,** also known as **Animal Man**, is a compelling protagonist in the DC universe who offers an unusual perspective on the conventional superhero. A devoted family man first and a superhero second, Buddy's story represents a unique blend of domestic drama and cosmic horror. His connection to The Red, a force representing all animal life, shapes his destiny and adventures as Animal Man. Animal Man's powers provide him with a versatile skill set that sets him apart from many other superheroes. Buddy can mimic the abilities of any animal within proximity, gifting him a broad array of powers, such as super strength, flight, underwater breathing, speed, or heightened senses. His bond with The Red also enables him to use his powers in creative ways, making him unpredictable in battle. Buddy's most important relationships are with his wife Ellen and his children Cliff and Maxine, which ground him in human concerns even as his powers connect him to a broader ecosystem. In terms of allies, Buddy often finds common cause with other characters connected to the elemental forces of the DC universe, such as Swamp Thing. As a member of Justice League United, he has also collaborated with many of DC's most well-known heroes. His enemies primarily arise from The Rot, the opposing force to The Red, and from various threats to the natural world. In the New 52 continuity, Animal Man's narrative gets especially entwined with the story of his daughter Maxine, who is designated to be the next avatar of The Red. The series delves into horror and existential themes, with storylines including the "Rotworld" crossover event with Swamp Thing. As Buddy navigates the challenges of parenthood and the responsibilities of his powers, his character evolves, emphasizing the human element beneath the mask of the superhero.

## Base

### **Output:**

#### Physical Strength

* Shatters part of a pillar by punching a man into it.
* Punches one of the Rot avatars.
* Brawls one of the Rot as it attacks his family.
* Rips apart Rot wolves, bears, and other animals.
* Decapitates a Rot donkey and then takes on a bunch of other Rot animals as much as he can.
* Tears through Rot spawns in the Realm of the Red.
* His first body puppeted by the Rot is able to fight off Socks, another avatar of the Red. Buddy's second body easily beats and destroys his first body, stomping it to mist.

### **Defense:**

#### Blunt

* Copies the durability of a rhino before a bullet can strike him after it has left the chamber.
* Gets beaten down by the Rot.
* Tanks getting pounded into the ground by a corpse by the Rot.

#### Piercing

* Tanks getting bit by one of the Rot avatars.
* Takes getting a piece of himself bit off by the Rot.
* His first body gets swarmed by Rot animals, but he doesn't get ripped apart.

### **Speed:**

#### Reactions

* Copies the durability of a rhino before a bullet can strike him after it has left the chamber.

#### Travel

* Travels from his home in San Diego to Sacramento in a short time while his wife tries to fight the Rot.

### **Misc:**

#### The Red

* Copies the ability to fly seemingly from a bird.
* Copies the bark of a dog to intimidate people.
* Adopts the weight of a bumblebee.
* Shapeshifts more like a primate to fight the Rot avatars.
* Smells traces of his family and the Rot hours after they left their house.
* Flies away with his son to dunk on some hoes.
* His second body can morph far more into animalistic forms.
* Copies the body of a rhino, gorilla, and elephant when fighting his old body after it is puppeted by Rot.