Publisher DC Comics Creators Bob Haney, Mike Sekowsky | Alter ego Michael Payson Maxwell Fictional universe DC Universe | |
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Created by Bob Haney (writer)
Mike Sekowsky (artist) Abilities Telepathic control over animals
Able to fuse two animals into a chimera
Superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and agility
Heightened senses (Possibly exclusive to the DCAU only)
Experienced wrestler First appearance Showcase #66 (January 1967) Similar Lifeguard, Big Bertha, Ricochet, Transonic, Animal Man | ||
B'wana Beast is a fictional character, a superhero, in the DC Universe, who can communicate with and merge animals. He first appeared in Showcase #66 (January 1967) and was created by Bob Haney and Mike Sekowsky.
Contents
- Publication history
- Fictional character biography
- Powers and abilities
- Television
- Video Games
- Toys
- References
Publication history
B'wana Beast appeared in Showcase #66–67. He did not appear again until an issue of DC Challenge, in which he and Djuba teamed up with Congo Bill. His next appearance, around the same time, was in Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. He then showed up in Swamp Thing Annual #3 in 1987. After that, he appeared in Animal Man #1, 2, 3, 4, and 13 in 1988, subsequently returning as the Shining Man in Animal Man #47–50.
He also makes an appearance in the cartoon tie-in series Justice League Unlimited in issue #29. There he assists Animal Man in defeating the Queen Bee.
Fictional character biography
In his most well-known incarnation, his given name is Mike Maxwell. Maxwell possesses a helmet and elixir that grant him his powers. These powers are mind control and the ability to fuse together two living animals to make one powerful entity under B'wana Beast's control.
With the help of his gorilla companion, Djuba, in a secret hideout at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, ranger Mike Maxwell drinks the aforementioned elixir and dons the helmet to become B'wana Beast. In the origin issue, he fights Hamid Ali, "He Who Never Dies."
In the initial story arc of Animal Man, written by Grant Morrison, B'wana Beast journeys to America to rescue Djuba, who has been captured by scientists and infected with an experimental form of anthrax. He fails to save Djuba and is himself infected with the disease, but he is cured by Animal Man, who mimics B'wana Beast's powers in order to merge his white blood cells into forms capable of fighting off the disease. In Animal Man #13 (July 1989), also written by Morrison, Maxwell decides to retire and performs a ceremony to find a successor. He passes the helmet and elixir on to a South African activist named Dominic Mndawe, who assumes the name Freedom Beast.
Mike Maxwell returns in Animal Man #47 (May 1992), corrupted and possessed by the destructive force called the Antagon and transformed into the evil Shining Man. In the ensuing battle, Maxwell is killed. B'wana Beast is brought back for the DC reboot Justice League International. He is turned down, but it is unknown whether he will become a member later.
Powers and abilities
B'wana Beast possesses great strength, speed, hand-to-hand combat and hunting and tracking abilities. He also has the ability to communicate with animals. He also has the ability to merge two animals together to form a chimera or (how he puts it) he merges the best of two different things to create an unstoppable force. He can merge up to four things together which can include a human, but this requires great concentration. He can also undo the merge if the need arises. For the most part, once these animals are merged, B'wana is able to acquire their aid in situations of need. Whether this is due to his ability to communicate with them or an instinct on their part is not known.