B'wana Beast Explained

B'wana Beast (Michael Payson "Mike" Maxwell) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Publication history

Created by Bob Haney and Mike Sekowsky, B'wana Beast made his first appearance in Showcase #66 (January 1967).^[1] The character was an attempt to capitalize on Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan, borrowing the African jungle setting and "Tarzan yell" which was created in the Johnny Weissmuller incarnation of Tarzan.^[2]

Fictional character biography

After graduating from college with highest honors, Michael Payson "Mike" Maxwell declined his millionaire father's offer to join the family business and instead decided to join his college roommate, Rupert Kenboya, in Africa and become a ranger in Zambezi's new animal preserves.

When the private aircraft carrying Maxwell and Kenboya to Zambezi was struck by lightning and crashed at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the two injured men took refuge in the cavern home of Djuba, a mutant red gorilla. After drinking from the cavern's mineral-rich water, Maxwell became stronger and was able easily subdue Djuba.

Acknowledging Maxwell as its master, the red gorilla retrieved an ancient Corinthian-styled helmet from the depths of the cave and placed it on Maxwell's head. Through the helmet, Maxwell was able to read the red gorilla's mind and discovered its name was Djuba. He also discovered that the helmet enabled him to control the actions of all other animals. Agreeing that these new powers must be used for the good of all Africa, Maxwell created the identity of "B'wana Beast" and became the Dark Continent's super troubleshooter.^[3]

Animal Man

In the initial story arc of Animal Man, written by Grant Morrison, B'wana Beast journeys to America to rescue Djuba, who has been captured by S.T.A.R. Labs scientists led by Dr. Myers and infected with an experimental form of anthrax. He fails to save Djuba and is himself infected with the disease,^[4] but he is cured by Animal Man, who mimics B'wana Beast's powers to merge his white blood cells into forms capable of fighting off the disease.^[5] In Animal Man #13 (July 1989), also written by Morrison, Maxwell decides to retire and performs a ceremony to find a successor. He passes the helmet and elixir on to a South African activist named Dominic Mndawe, who assumes the name Freedom Beast.^[6]

Mike Maxwell returns in Animal Man #47 (May 1992) written by Tom Veitch, after a long period of absence, in which after hearing the call of the destructive force called the Antagon, he is corrupted and possessed, and transformed into the evil Shining Man. With his new identity, Maxwell wreaked havoc on Earth until he was killed in a fight with Metaman.^[7]

The New 52

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. B'wana Beast was considered as a possible new member for the Justice League International by United Nations head of intelligence Andre Briggs. They decide he is not right as a candidate for the team at that time, and he is not invited to join.^[8]

Infinite Frontier

Powers and abilities

B'wana Beast drinks an elixir that gives him great strength, speed, hunting and tracking abilities. He also wears an ancient helmet that allows him to communicate with animals,^[1] and to merge up to four animals together to form a Chimera.^[9] For the most part, once these animals are merged, B'wana is able to acquire their aid in situations of need. It is unknown whether this is due to his ability to communicate with them or an instinct on their part.^[10]

In other media

Television

• B'wana Beast appears in Filmation's The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure. Additionally, the studio considered making a standalone B'wana Beast series, but it did not come to fruition.^{[11] [12]}
• B'wana Beast appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Peter Onorati.^[13] This version is a member of the Justice League who has a thick New York accent and blue collar personality. Additionally, according to the DVD commentary for the episode "This Little Piggy", a seductive growl that B'wana Beast directs at Zatanna was provided by producer/character designer James Tucker as Onorati was unable to do so.
• B'wana Beast appears in , voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.^[13] This version is the love interest of Vixen and was originally a wrestler who gained his abilities from exposure to contaminated radioactive water and obtained his mask and title after defeating the masked gorilla Djuba in Africa. In the two-part episode "The Siege of Starro!", the Faceless Hunter captures B'wana Beast and harnesses his power to fuse Starro's parasites into one giant monster. While Batman defeats the Faceless Hunter, B'wana Beast sacrifices himself to destroy Starro. In the series finale "Mitefall!", B'wana Beast returns to attend the series' wrap party.
  • Additionally, an unnamed alternate universe incarnation of B'wana Beast makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in a flashback in the episode "Deep Cover for Batman!" as a member of the Injustice Syndicate.
• B'wana Beast makes non-speaking appearances in Teen Titans Go!.
• B'wana Beast appears in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Freakshow", portrayed by Jason William Day.^[14] This version is an unnamed strongman working for P. T. Barnum's traveling circus.

Film

B'wana Beast makes a cameo appearance in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.

Video games

B'wana Beast appears as a character summon in .^[15]

Miscellaneous

B'wana Beast appears in Justice League Unlimited #29.^[16]

Merchandise

• Four B'wana Beast action figures were produced by Mattel. The first was released as part of the company's Justice League Unlimited line as part of a six-figure boxed set along with Superman, Crimson Fox, Deadman, Commander Steel, and Vibe.
• Two figures of B'wana Beast from the Batman: The Brave and the Bold TV series were produced, one in the five-inch scale and another in a two-pack with Batman as part of the smaller Action League series.
• A six-inch scale DC Universe Classics figure of B'wana Beast was released in the "Justice in the Jungle" two-pack with Animal Man in December 2009 as a MattyCollector.com internet exclusive.

External links

• Unofficial Guide to DC Comics entry
• B'wana Beast entry

Notes and References

1. Showcase #66
2. Book: Eury . Michael . Hero-a-go-go! : campy comic books, crimefighters & culture of the swinging sixties . 2017 . TwoMorrrows . Raleigh, North Carolina . 978-1-60549-073-1 . 67 .
3. Book: Morris . Jon . The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History . 2015 . Quirk Books . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . 978-1-59474-763-2 . 134–135.
4. Animal Man #3. DC Comics.
5. Animal Man #4. DC Comics.
6. Animal Man #13. DC Comics.
7. Animal Man #47-50. DC Comics.
8. Justice League International vol. 3 #1. DC Comics.
9. Book: Cowsill . Alan . Irvine . Alex . Manning . Matthew K. . McAvennie . Michael . Wallace . Daniel . DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle . 2019 . DK Publishing . 978-1-4654-8578-6 . 123.
10. Showcase #67
11. The 1968 DC Filmation Pilots. Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing. Darren . McNeil. 5. July 2004. May 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20140130220727/http://www.aquamanshrine.net/2008/05/aquaman-meets-blackhawks.html?m=1. January 30, 2014.
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20140130220727/http://www.aquamanshrine.net/2008/05/aquaman-meets-blackhawks.html?m=1 The Aquaman Shrine: Aquaman Meets The Blackhawks?
13. Web site: B'wana Beast Voices (DC Universe) . Behind The Voice Actors . . A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information..
14. Web site: Anderson . Jenna . July 23, 2017 . First Look at B'wana Beast on Legends of Tomorrow . July 28, 2017 . Comic Book.
15. Web site: Eisen . Andrew . October 4, 2013 . DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide . May 30, 2024 . IGN.
16. Web site: Justice League Unlimited #29 - Untamed (Issue) . May 30, 2024 . Comic Vine . en.