- "Wow! What a combination -- a tiger spring and a gorilla sock to clobber this berserk elephant!"
- ―Buddy Baker
| "I Was the Man With Animal Powers" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Strange Adventures | |
| Title: | "I Was the Man With Animal Powers" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 180 |
| Cover price: | .12 |
| Cover date: | September, 1965 |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Dave Wood |
| Pencilers: | Carmine Infantino |
| Inkers: | George Roussos |
| Cover artists: | Carmine Infantino |
| Cover inker: | Murphy Anderson |
| Cover letterer: | Ira Schnapp |
| Letterers: | Stan Starkman |
| Editors: | Jack Schiff |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Strange Adventures 179 |
| Next: | Strange Adventures 181 |
"I Was the Man With Animal Powers" is the first story featured in the 180th issue of the first Strange Adventures ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. The story was written by Dave Wood with artwork by Carmine Infantino and inks by George Roussos and lettering by Stan Starkman. The second story is called "One Monster -- Coming Up" by an unknown writer and artwork by George Roussos. Both stories were edited by Jack Schiff. This issue shipped with a September, 1965 cover date and carries a cover price of .12 cents per copy.
"I Was the Man With Animal Powers"[]
| "I Was the Man With Animal Powers" | |
|---|---|
| No image available | |
| Title: | "I Was the Man With Animal Powers" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Dave Wood |
| Pencilers: | Carmine Infantino |
| Inkers: | George Roussos |
| Letterers: | Stan Starkman |
| Editors: | Jack Schiff |
Buddy Baker is at the home of his girlfriend Ellen Frazier. He wants to propose to her, but loses his nerve. He excuses himself and goes off hunting with his friend Roger Denning. Buddy comes to a ridge where he is exposed to a blinding flash of light. The next thing he knows, he is being attacked by a tiger and then a gorilla. Amazingly, Buddy is able to imitate the abilities of both animals to survive the encounter. Roger rushes up to him and tells him about a nearby train wreck that was carrying circus animals. Buddy and Roger return to the ridge and find the ruins of a downed alien spacecraft. Buddy theorizes that the ship gave off radiation that gave him the ability to imitate the characteristics of animals within the area.
Suddenly, Roger intercepts a radio transmission S.O.S. about a rampaging elephant out at Deep Hollow. Buddy races over there and uses the powers of the tiger, the gorilla and now the elephant to deal with the angry creature. Buddy holds him at bay until the animal handlers can come along with a tranquilizer dart.
Buddy's next venture involves diving into the river to save some children whose raft has been upturned by a sea lion. He adapts the sea lion's aquatic abilities and swims down to rescue a boy named Bobby from drowning.
After that, Buddy hears about an emergency taking place at a nearby logging camp. This threat is not caused by an escaped animal however, but rather by a tall, scaly, orange alien creature. Even with the strength of a gorilla, Buddy is not strong enough to defeat it. The creature flees and heads into a nearby town. By the time Buddy catches up to him, his powers begin to fade as the radioactivity wears off. Buddy commandeers a fire engine and sprays the alien down with water from one of the hoses. He then baits the monster into chasing him back towards the ridge. Buddy theorizes that the ambient radiation gave the alien the same powers that he had. Once they are near the edge, Buddy holds up a container of frightened field mice. The alien adopts the fear from the animals and falls backward off the edge of the ravine.
The following morning, Buddy returns to Ellen's house. He finally musters up the courage to ask her to marry him, and Ellen accepts. He is so shocked by her response that he faints in her arms.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Alien monster
Minor characters
- Bimbo the Elephant
- Bobby
- Ellen Frazier
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- Adirondack Mountains [1]
- Deep Hollow
Items
Vehicles
- Fire engine
- Jeep
- Raft
- Space ship
- Train (Referenced only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
"One Monster - Coming Up"[]
| "One Monster - Coming Up" | |
|---|---|
| No image available | |
| Title: | "One Monster - Coming Up" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Unknown |
| Pencilers: | George Roussos |
| Inkers: | George Roussos |
| Letterers: | Stan Starkman |
| Editors: | Jack Schiff |
A team of oil drillers set up a rig in the Black Hills of South Dakota. An elderly miner approaches them and warns them about a tribal demon that will rise and attack any who contaminate the land. Oil workers Biff and Lang ignore the old man's concerns and continue drilling. As the old man warned, a giant red-furred winged demonic creature arises from the earth. It grabs a truck, but the driver, Denning, manages to escape. The old timer tells the others that they need to remain very still, for it is movement that attracts the creature. The demon pauses, sniffs at the motionless men, then flies away.
Biff decides to descend down into the hole created by their drill bit to see where the tribal demon originated. He finds a tablet with a glyph of the creature, as well as a horde of Native American treasure that it had apparently been guarding. Biff brings the tablet back to the surface, and uses it to bait the demon into following him. He lures the creature into a train tunnel and uses the power of the tablet to trap the monster back into its original stone form. Biff returns to the surface and tells Lang that even though there is not oil to be found, they now have a fortune in Indian treasure.
Featured characters
- Biff
Supporting characters
- Lang
- Old-Timer
Villains
- Injun Demon
Minor characters
- Denning
Organizations
- Wildcatters
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
- Oil derrick
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- This is the first appearance of Buddy Baker, who will become the costumed adventurer known as Animal Man. He appears next in Strange Adventures #184.
- This issue includes an advertisement for G.I. Joe action figures, as well as a membership subscription to the G.J. Joe club.
- This issue includes a half-page "Little Pete" comic strip.
- This issue includes an illustrated article called "Nature's Bill of Rights", courtesy of the Massachusetts Board of Health.
- This issue includes an editorial called "Strange But True".
- This issue includes a house ad for Showcase #58 featuring Enemy Ace, on sale on July 29th, 1965.
- This issue includes a house ad for 80-Page Giant #14 featuring Lois Lane, on sale on July 15th, 1965.
- The events of "One Monster - Coming Up" do not take place in the continuity of the mainstream DC Universe.
Recommended Reading[]
See also[]
External Links[]
- Strange Adventures, Volume 1 #180 at DCDP
- Strange Adventures, Volume 1 #180 at Comics.org
- Strange Adventures, Volume 1 #180 at Comic Vine
- Strange Adventures, Volume 1 #180 at the DCU Guide
- Strange Adventures, Volume 1 #180 at Hey Kids Comics
References[]
- ↑ The exact location of this story is unrevealed. Later stories establish that Buddy developed his powers in the Adirondack Mountains.