Animal Man: Home Improvements

[alicemacher]

Warning for bullying.


From Animal Man #9 (Mar. 1989).



Cliff Baker has found that being a superhero's kid makes him the target of bullies.







Later, as Cliff continues his walk, the mysterious shadowed figure from the previous issue touches down from a tree and, from a distance, whispers Cliff's name.

Meanwhile, Buddy and Ellen receive a surprise visit from the Martian Manhunter, who's there to welcome Animal Man into the JLE. He's also brought along some workers to repair the Mirror Master's damage to the house, and to install a security system, all free of charge. ("We realize that not everyone is a millionaire playboy.") Buddy's delighted, but Ellen reminds him he has someting to tell J'onn. ("Thanks a bundle, Ellen!") He suggests J'onn fly with him to the desert so they can talk in private.







In the desert, Buddy explains that, apart from still being able to fly, his powers are all scrambled as a result of the gene bomb. When he tries to pick up one animal's abilities, he gets those of another species instead. J'onn, while advising his colleague that the League can't take on "passengers," says that nevertheless he admires Buddy's efforts for animal rights and the environment. So he's determined to help Buddy get his powers working and thus retain his membership, "whatever it takes."

Animal Man demonstrates what happens when he tries to use his power. He focuses on a nearby rabbit, but finds himself bombarded with the psychic presence of many animal species at once. This makes him puke violently. J'onn helps him sit down and asks what it felt like.







Cliff returns home and, as if he didn't have enough troubles, no sooner does he open the door than an alarm, laser-beam barrier and robots scare the crap out of him.



















J'onn J'onzz: protector of children, unintentional humiliator of their dads.

The issue wraps up in Africa, where a shaman puts his ear to the ground and announces, "The gods are coming."

We'll meet these "gods" (a blast from the original Animal Man's past, so to speak) in the next post, from Secret Origins, which takes place in between Animal Man Issues 9 and 10 (and thus is collected in the second TPB from Morrison's run).