Wikipedia

B'wana Beast

B'wana Beast (Michael Payson "Mike" Maxwell) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

B'wana Beast
B'wana Beast's debut appearance in Showcase #66 (January 1967).
Art by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAs B'wana Beast:
Showcase #66 (January 1967)
As Shining Man:
Animal Man #47 (May 1992)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoMichael Payson Maxwell
Team affiliationsJustice League
Notable aliases
  • Jungle Master
  • White God
  • Shining Man
Abilities
  • Telepathic control over animals
  • Able to fuse two animals into a chimera
  • Superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and agility
  • Heightened senses
  • Experienced wrestler

Publication history

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Created by Bob Haney and Mike Sekowsky, B'wana Beast made his first appearance in Showcase #66 (January 1967).[1] The character was an attempt to capitalize on Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan, borrowing the African jungle setting and "Tarzan yell" which was created in the Johnny Weissmuller incarnation of Tarzan.[2]

Fictional character biography

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Michael Maxwell is a ranger in Zambezi's nature preserves who crashes on Mount Kilimanjaro after his plane is struck by lightning. He and his companions take refuge in the cavern home of Djuba, a mutant red gorilla. After drinking the cavern's mineral-rich water, Maxwell gains superhuman strength and defeats Djuba.

Acknowledging Maxwell as its master, Djuba gives him a mystical helmet that enables him to communicate with and fuse animals.[3] Later, S.T.A.R. Labs scientists infect B'wana Beast and Djuba with an experimental form of anthrax.[4] Djuba dies, but Animal Man cures B'wana Beast by enhancing his immune system.[5] In Animal Man #13 (July 1989), Maxwell retires and gives his helmet and elixir to South African activist Dominic Mndawe, who becomes Freedom Beast.[6]

Mike Maxwell returns in Animal Man #47 (May 1992), where he is possessed by the Antagon and transformed into the evil Shining Man. He wreaks havoc on Earth before being killed in a fight with Metaman.[7]

The New 52

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In 2011, "The New 52" reboots the DC universe. B'wana Beast appears as a rejected Justice League International applicant whose abilities are derived from the Red, a mystical force that connects all animal life.[8]

Powers and abilities

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B'wana Beast drinks an elixir that gives him superhuman strength, speed, hunting and tracking abilities. He also wears an ancient helmet that allows him to communicate with animals and merge them to form Chimeras.[1][9][10]

In other media

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Television

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  • B'wana Beast appears in The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure. Additionally, the studio considered making a standalone B'wana Beast series, but it did not come to fruition.[11][12]
  • B'wana Beast appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Peter Onorati.[13] This version is a member of the Justice League who has a thick New York accent and blue collar personality. Additionally, according to the DVD commentary for the episode "This Little Piggy", a seductive growl that B'wana Beast directs at Zatanna was provided by producer James Tucker as Onorati was unable to do so.
  • B'wana Beast appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.[13] This version is the love interest of Vixen and a former wrestler who gained his abilities from exposure to contaminated radioactive water. In the two-part episode "The Siege of Starro!", B'wana Beast sacrifices himself to destroy Starro. However, he returns in the series finale "Mitefall!" to attend the series' wrap party.
    • Additionally, an unnamed alternate universe incarnation of B'wana Beast makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in a flashback in the episode "Deep Cover for Batman!" as a member of the Injustice Syndicate.
  • B'wana Beast makes non-speaking appearances in Teen Titans Go!.[13]
  • B'wana Beast appears in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Freakshow", portrayed by Jason William Day.[14] This version is an unnamed strongman working for P. T. Barnum's traveling circus.

Film

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B'wana Beast makes a cameo appearance in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.

Video games

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B'wana Beast appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[15]

Miscellaneous

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B'wana Beast appears in Justice League Unlimited #29.[16]

Merchandise

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References

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  1. ^ a b Showcase #66
  2. ^ Eury, Michael (2017). Hero-a-go-go! : campy comic books, crimefighters & culture of the swinging sixties. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrrows. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-60549-073-1.
  3. ^ Morris, Jon (2015). The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Quirk Books. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-1-59474-763-2.
  4. ^ Animal Man #3. DC Comics.
  5. ^ Animal Man #4. DC Comics.
  6. ^ Animal Man #13. DC Comics.
  7. ^ Animal Man #47-50. DC Comics.
  8. ^ Justice League International vol. 3 #1. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  10. ^ Showcase #67
  11. ^ McNeil, Darren (July 2004). "The 1968 DC Filmation Pilots". Back Issue! (5). TwoMorrows Publishing. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  12. ^ The Aquaman Shrine: Aquaman Meets The Blackhawks?
  13. ^ a b c "B'wana Beast Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  14. ^ Anderson, Jenna (July 23, 2017). "First Look at B'wana Beast on Legends of Tomorrow". Comic Book. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  16. ^ "Justice League Unlimited #29 - Untamed (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
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