Anthro (comics)

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Anthro
Showcase74Anthro.jpg
Anthro on the cover of Showcase #74, art by Howard Post.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Showcase #74 (March 1968)
Created by Howie Post (writer & artist)
In-story information
SpeciesEvolved Cro-Magnon or Neanderthal
Team affiliationsThe Bear Tribe
Freedom Fighters
Team 13
Abilities
  • Expertise in hunting and tracking

Anthro is a fictional superhero character published by DC Comics, presented as the "first boy", a caveman born to Neanderthal parents. Anthro was created by cartoonist Howard Post; he first appeared in Showcase #74 (March 1968). [1]

Contents

Publication history

After a single Showcase appearance, Anthro was given his own title, which lasted for 6 issues (1968–69). [2] All six issues were written and drawn by Post, with Wallace Wood providing inking for the final issue. [3]

Since the cancellation of his title, he has made minor appearances, most notably in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2. Subsequently, Anthro appeared in the 2006 revival of Tales of the Unexpected and the 2008 miniseries Final Crisis by Grant Morrison and J. G. Jones. Anthro also starred in the first story in DC Universe Holiday Special 2010.

Fictional character biography

Anthro is the first caveboy born in the Stone Age. [4] His father, Cro-Magnon (or Neanderthal) caveman Ne-Ahn, is the chief of his tribe; his mother, a captive member of another tribe. Winning two competing cavegirls as his wives, Cro-Magnon women Embra and Nima, Anthro begins the human race, as Embra lives to bear his first child.

Justice League Europe Annual #2 features a version of Anthro. In an alternate time-line, an older Silver Sorceress, lost in time, is rescued from a large creature by Anthro. He exhibits great eagerness, smashing the beast long after it is subdued. A bored cavegirl, either Embra or Nima, joins the Sorceress in watching Anthro's 'battle'.

Anthro is featured in the graphic novel Doctor Thirteen: Architecture & Mortality, where he is frozen in ice and resurrected in the modern day. [1]

In Final Crisis , Metron gives Anthro the knowledge to make fire. He later meets a time-displaced Batman before dying from old age. [5] [6] [7]

In Dark Nights: Death Metal , Anthro is among the superheroes who Batman resurrects using a Black Lantern ring. [8]

Other versions

Anthro had a supporting role in the Booster Gold series, starting with issue eight. In this story, as in Tales of the Unexpected, Anthro wears a leather jacket that resembles Mr. Terrific's, but has Anthro's name on the sleeves instead of "Fair Play". This is an alternate time-line Anthro, who is part of a resistance group against the murderous Maxwell Lord. Fellow members include Green Arrow, Hawkman, Wild Dog and Pantha. During the flight to Lord's headquarters, Anthro is taken out by a mind-controlled Superman. [9]

In Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1, Superman moves briefly through Earth-20, where alternate versions of a number of DC Comics older heroes exist as 'The Society of Super-Heroes', a group of 'pulp'-style mystery men led by Doc Fate and including Immortal Man. [10] Writer Grant Morrison described it as a '1940s retro thing'. [11] In The Multiversity - The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors from the Counter-World #1 (2014), it is revealed that Immortal Man of Earth-20 is Anthro, who was exposed to the same meteorite that bestowed Vandal Savage's powers on him. He and Doc Fate's Society of Super-Heroes are Earth-20's last defence from an invasion by their paired evil world, Earth-40, where the militia is led by Savage and Lady Shiva.

In other media

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References

  1. 1 2 Wallace, Dan (2008), "Anthro", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 17, ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1
  2. ↑ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 209. ISBN   978-1605490557.
  3. ↑ Markstein, Don. "Anthro". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 18. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  5. ↑ Final Crisis #1. DC Comics
  6. ↑ Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-2 (May–June 2010). DC Comics.
  7. ↑ Final Crisis #7 (2009). DC Comics.
  8. ↑ Dark Nights: Death Metal #5. DC Comics.
  9. ↑ Booster Gold vol. 2 #7-9 (2008)
  10. ↑ Final Crisis Secret Files #1 (2009)
  11. ↑ Interview with Grant Morrison - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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