- "I wish you had rabies. You're a bad, bad old lady!"
- ―Maxine Baker
| "Flesh and Blood (Part 4): Despair Pop Dead" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Animal Man | |
| Title: | "Flesh and Blood (Part 4): Despair Pop Dead" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 54 |
| Cover price: | $1.75 |
| Cover date: | December, 1992 |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Jamie Delano |
| Pencilers: | Steve Pugh |
| Inkers: | Steve Pugh |
| Cover artists: | Brian Bolland |
| Cover inker: | Brian Bolland |
| Colorists: | Tatjana Wood |
| Letterers: | John Costanza |
| Editors: | Tom Peyer |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Animal Man #53 |
| Next: | Animal Man #55 |
"Flesh and Blood (Part 4): Despair Pop Dead" is the fifty-fourth issue of the first Animal Man ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. It was written by Jamie Delano with artwork & inks by Steve Pugh. It was colored by Tatjana Wood with lettering by John Costanza. The cover art illustration was rendered by Brian Bolland. The story was edited by Tom Peyer. This issue shipped with a December, 1992 cover date and carries a cover price of $1.75 per copy (US).
"Flesh and Blood"[]
In Northern California, Uncle Dudley takes Cliff Baker out hunting in the desert wilderness. He shoots a hawk out of the sky and makes Cliff carry it. He then brings him to a box canyon where they find the ruins of an old movie set. Cliff is excited and points out many of the props and set dressing left behind from some of his favorite horror movies.
In Vermont, screams of a child awaken Ellen Baker, who runs downstairs to find Maxine crying as her grandmother labors to kill a bat that has gotten into the house. Maxine knows that it is actually her father. Grandma smacks at the bat with a broom and Maxine calls her a "bad lady".
Buddy the bat survives the old woman's attack and flies outside. He is weakened however, and transfers his essence to a cat, who then devours the bat. With blood smeared across his muzzle, Buddy the cat re-enters the house at night and finds Ellen sleeping on the couch. He begins lapping at her breasts. Ellen is aroused at first until she sees the blood and pushes the cat away in disgust.
Dejected, Buddy crawls into the barn, where he encounters Winky, Maxine's pet triceratops. Sensing that the creature will be free from the constant annoyance of being prey and predator, Buddy transfers into Winky's body. Sharing Winky's own loneliness, Buddy lets out several cries of anguish, alerting his family. Using his horns, Buddy breaks out of the barn, and wanders along the countryside.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Dudley Frazier
- Mary Frazier
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- Despair
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- This series is suggested for mature readers.
- The character of Buddy Baker was created by writer Dave Wood and artist Carmine Infantino. He first appeared in the first story featured in Strange Adventures #180 in September, 1965 titled "I Was the Man With the Animal Powers".
- This issue is reprinted in the Animal Man: Flesh and Blood trade paperback collection, which was published on July 15th, 2014.
- The events of this issue take place two days after the events of issue #53.
- This is the fourth issue of Animal Man written by Jamie Delano.
- Cliff Baker makes reference to a fictional film called Taxidermist. The canyon that Uncle Dudley brings him to is where the film was shot.
- Buddy Baker possesses a bat, a cat and a dinosaur in this issue.