Animal Man (1988) 1

More often than not we forget we share the planet with others.

Not just other nations, but other species. What we sometimes refer to as our four-legged friends. Whether four legged or not, today is the day to celebrate and commemorate that partnership with fellow members of Earth during International Animal Rights Day.

Animal Man (1988) 1

To reinforce our shared heritage, International Animal Rights Day coincides with Human Rights Day today.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights was sponsored by the United Nations in 1948 following the revelation of human suffering during the Holocaust. Animal rights were championed shortly after, but nothing would officially be drafted for another 50 years. In 1998, Uncaged, an animal protection organization, created International Animal Rights Day to cast a spotlight on the mistreatment and violence orchestrated on upon animals in the name of greed and barbarity.

Animal Man first appeared in Strange Adventures (1950) 180. The stuntman cum hero was given the powers to imitate animal life around him, but wouldn’t adopt the super hero pseudonym until issue 190. He would continue to appear in Strange Adventures through issue 201 in 1967.

It wasn’t until the 1980s he returned to the DC Universe making guest appearances in Wonder Woman 267 and 268. Following his brief revival, he was relegated to the Forgotten Heroes line up before Crisis on Infinite Earths erupted.

His most important incarnation would come at the hands of Scottish Scribe, Grant Morrison following DC’s Crisis fallout. Morrison would pen the first 26 issues of the Animal Man reboot. Initially conceived as a four-issue mini, strong sales catapulted the character into an ongoing series.

Morrison would take Baker into a different realm with plots and storylines that ran years long. During his tenure, Baker and Morrison both became vegetarians as he scripted animal rights-driven storylines.

Animal Man’s popularity led him to a brief stint in Justice League Europe.

Several writers would try their hand at the title before it was cancelled with issue 89 due to poor sales.

Animal Man would be included in both the New 52 and DC Rebirth launches boasting strong initial sales.

Even with all the virtual ink just lavished on a fictional character, don’t forget what today is: an opportunity to make the world a better place for animals.

That said, no matter the series – though Morrison’s post-Crisis run is the best – Animal Man has been an interesting character – in all ways. Celebrate both in deed and read.