scans_daily

From Animal Man #24 (June 1990).

Animal Man has arrived in Arkham, ready once more for action, just after Ultraman has unintentionally created a breach between the DCU's panel-contained world and the white void, beyond which lies the world of its creators and readers. The Psycho-Pirate urges everyone to charge through and take revenge on our world, but to his frustration everyone ignores him. Instead, they debate Highwater's assertion that his theory has been proven correct: they're all characters in a story written to entertain "the gods, if you like."

Then there's the matter of the psychotic Overman, who's just revealed himself and his Doomsday bomb. The Yellow Aliens decline to stop him, claiming it'd "interfere with the story." Ultraman, however, has no such compunctions. Although a villain, he once again, as he'd done just before his death in Crisis, resolves to stop the world's destruction. "I don't care if I'm just a minor character in a bad story," he says, lunging at Overman who's just started the timer. "I've still got my dignity! I won't let this happen again!"

Unfortunately, he's no match for Overman's powers. Neither are Streaky the Super-Cat and Bizarro, who each have a go at him next. (Sorry I couldn't include Bizarro's sequence; funny as it is, there's just too much else happening in this issue.) Animal Man tries a different strategy: he attempts to psyche Overman out by taunting him from outside the panel borders. However, Overman pulls him back in and roughs him up. Animal Man once again fears he's history.

Then an invisible entity speaks from a corner of the room. "The things I've seen. The things I see. Look! Look! I'll show them to you!" With that, the Veil -- Red Mask's insane former partner mentioned back in Issue 7 -- helps Buddy pull Overman into the void.

I... I wouldn't spend too much time pondering the Veil's last claim there, if I were you. O__O

No pressure. We're just suggesting you throw away your potentially revolutionary physics career and the rest of your existentially fascinating life, so you can be the Magical Native American and save this world of mostly white characters, is all. Sheesh. Couldn't one of the aliens wear the damn mask?

Anyway. Time for another callback, this time to Buddy and Hawkman at the end of Issue 6.

With that settled, the Yellow Aliens, Buddy and Psycho-Pirate gather outside the asylum. One of the aliens claims "The continuum is purged of all inconsistencies," but also notes the butterfly resting on their finger is an Earth-14 species. Buddy says he feels like there should be someone else with them. (Presumably Highwater, already erased from Buddy's memories.) And the Psycho-Pirate finds himself beginning to vanish, but isn't bothered. "Do you... think... [the pre-Crisis characters are] enjoying it... out there?..." he asks.

Hayden does in fact return to the DCU, without explanation, but not until 1995's Underworld Unleashed crossover. As for James Highwater:

"Not at all," says the dependably callous Huntoon. "It's always the same: something desperately trivial." *Sigh* Goodbye, James...

That said, I do like the "Dustin Hoffman" / "You mean Rain Man" exchange. As Jonathan Woodward points out in his very useful Crisis-Relevant Annotations to this run, it's yet another mixing of realities (that of the actor, and that of the character he portrayed), albeit just in conversation.

So... later, at home, Buddy asks the Yellow Aliens, "Why me? What was my part in all of this?"

"Buddy?" says a voice. "Time to go now. Time to put aside all worldly things. Time for the last adventure." Buddy opens the front door, and...

Next post: Buddy has been through the Hell of his family's murder and his unsatisfying attempts to avenge or undo it. After finally accepting his loss, he's been through the Purgatory of "Purification Day," having become a hero once again. So now he's off to... Paradise? What?! Are you kidding? This is Animal Man here! No, he's off to a special kind of Limbo.