Animal Man #2 is an issue of the series Animal Man (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1988. It was published on June 30, 1988.
Synopsis for "Life in the Concrete Jungle"
Animal Man investigates an incident at S.T.A.R. Labs, where several test-monkeys have been fused together by someone or something.[1] Doctor Meyers explains that the perpetrator seems to have been some kind of giant cockroach. While Buddy can't help the monkeys, he offers to use his powers to absorb a dog's sense of smell, and track the creature. Buddy is, however, suspicious of Dr. Myers' methods.
Elsewhere, Buddy's neighbor's cat is feeding her newborn kittens in the same location that a number of unscrupulous hunters are killing for sport.
When the trail goes cold, Animal Man takes lunch on the roof of a nearby building. He is suddenly surprised by the appearance of Superman. Though he recognizes Buddy, he is called away before any real conversation can occur, and Buddy is left unsatisfied.
In an alley, a mysterious figure known as the Beast uses his strange powers to fuse a rat with a nearby drunk.
Buddy calls his wife Ellen excitedly, to tell her about the visit from Superman, but midway through the call he is attacked violently by a strange rat-man. Absorbing the powers of a nearby praying mantis, Buddy manages to put up a decent fight. However, the tables begin to turn, and the rat-man manages to tear Buddy's arm from his body, and as he bleeds to death, the rat and the man begin to separate.
Elsewhere, Buddy's wife Ellen and their daughter Maxine head to the forest, where Maxine discovers the kittens, and Ellen ominously becomes the subject of the hunters' attention.
Appearing in "Life in the Concrete Jungle"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Aquaman (Mentioned only)
- B'Wana Beast
- Jamie (Single appearance)
- Lester the mantis (Single appearance)
- Lew (Single appearance)
- Luna (Single appearance)
- Ray (Single appearance)
- Sheba the cat (First appearance)
- Superman (Cameo)
- Morris Weidemeir
- Violet Weidemeir (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Pakistan (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- California
- Port Townsend
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Animal Man Vol. 1, Animal Man: Origin of the Species, and Animal Man Omnibus.
Trivia
- The hunters reference Bambi, Walt Disney, the Garden of Eden, and Eve. A-Man's internal monologue includes Disneyland, The Ramones, Howard Johnson's, and R.E.M.'s cover of "Superman".