[hider=Animal Man]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/T0mqb3E.png[/img][/center]

[b]Name:[/b]  Bernhard "Buddy" Baker 
[b]Alias:[/b]  Animal Man
[b]Age:[/b]  43
[b]Personality:[/b] Sanguine, courageous, self-assured, somewhat condescending and "ostentatious" - a word a tabloid critic used to describe Buddy when he was first breaking in to super heroics that has stuck with him for all these years. He would lean into this as a foundational part of his public persona during his early pursuit of fame.

[b]Powers:[/b] Buddy is able to copy the capabilities of any creature that has existed on the planet at any point in time. He has publicly stated in interviews that he achieves this by tapping into a cosmic force known as The Red. While he doesn't need to shapeshift in order to have feats of strength, speed or flight, Buddy can most definitely change parts of his body to copy those of any animal. 

Aside from his actual superhero abilities, Buddy has cultivated an underdog persona throughout his career. When most think of Animal Man, the image conjured up is that of a local hero (literally) prowling the streets of West Coast cities beating up petty criminals during the night while showing up to animal rights protests for photo ops during the day. Secretly, underneath all the glamour and glitz, is a man who has been through hell and back, battling incomprehensible horrors across dimensions and saving the mortal realms from their grip. 

But this all works to his advantage. Let them all think lowly of Animal Man but like the mighty ant, he has more strength than meets the eye, specially when in the realm of The Red. 

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] While he is definitely wiser and more versatile at this point in his career, Buddy is also more jaded and set in his ways after 20 years of being a solo, journeyman, non-caped crusader. While his reflexes are arguably the same due to the nature of his powers, he has rarely needed to innovate his tactics specially with regards to collaborating with other heroes on the scene.

Buddy has also been through a lot, more than anyone can ever know and he did it all while being on the outer periphery of the Justice League. To that effect, Buddy has a bit of a better-than-thou complex that he needs to keep in check. 

[b]Background Hero:[/b] Dr. Alec Holland aka The Swamp Thing - a man who has gone through similar trials as Buddy though has turned to a more private personal life than his contemporaries. Little is known of both the doctor's personae aside from the fact the he controls plant matter and lives somewhere in the New Orleans area.

[b]Appearance:[/b] 
[hider=The Man Himself]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/G1kvaHy.jpg[/img]
[/hider]


[b]Potential Storylines:[/b] 

The main overarching theme for Animal Man will be acceptance - not just from his peers but also from himself. Is he satisfied with his lot in life resulting from the decisions he has made so far. To explore this, I propose these storyline ideas:

[u]First Blood Part II[/u] : A string of strange abductions and brutal murders have convinced Animal Man that The Cult of Blood, once led by Brother Blood, has re-emerged after years of hiding. Having once sought to usurp control of The Red, Animal Man was able to barely stop them before they succeeded. Can Buddy do it once more? 

[u]Possible Worlds[/u] : In a different world quite similar to this one, Solomon Grundy was made champion of The Gray - the source of rot and decay, the antithetical nemesis of Animal Man's source of power. With the knowledge of another Solomon Grundy in this world, the consciousness of The Red demands that Animal Man dispose of the problem permanently before it gets worse. Is Buddy willing to cross the line, knowing the possibility of what might happen if he refuses?

[u]Fire Walk With Me[/u] : The Red has tasked Animal Man to defend against an invasion launched by The Gray. However, the battleground is not located on the metaphysical plane - it is within the border realms of the Dreaming and he can only access it while asleep. Unfortunately, this leaves him exhausted during the day and is taking a toll on his heroics. Can the rest of the League help Buddy catch a wink of sleep or will this be an unending nightmare?

[u]Which Side Are You On? [/u]: Animal Man is actively making the media rounds to promote his admittance to the Justice League. However, the Screen Actor's Guild is on strike and he's getting flak for undermining the spirit of it. Trying to minimize the damage, he attempts to cancel the remaining bookings but one contractual obligation refuses to budge - "What's Up, Jack? with Jack Ryder" on the Luthor News Network. How will Buddy Baker address this controversy and what will he do moving forward?

[b]BRIEF Bio[/b]: Around 20 years ago, a man stargazing under the Nevada desert sky sees a shooting star flying by and wished for fame. Being an aspiring actor who just finished a day's work of filming a TV series pilot, such a wish didn't seem that farfetched. Little did he know that the shooting star was actually a spaceship and he had caught their attention. His memories are fuzzy of what happened next but the following morning would be Buddy Baker's first day as Animal Man!..

This origin story is from the official ghostwritten autobiography of Animal Man. Nowadays, some details of his story doesn't hold up to scrutiny but Buddy insists that this was what truly happened. While the highlight of his superhero career has been a few team-ups with the Justice League, Buddy Baker's acting career did see him star as a bit player in a few long running sitcoms, one of which has even reached syndication. What more can someone really want from life? 

[b]Notes:[/b] This version is based on a post-Lemire run Animal Man, years after the finale of the book. 

[b]Sample Post[/b]: "And we're back from the break." says the man sitting opposite to Buddy Baker. The superhero finds himself in a somewhat compact recording studio, made only smaller by the fact that both he and the podcast host were north of six feet. Even moreso the host due to the fact that his shock of red hair gave the illusion of him being at least two inches taller. Still, he had been having fun with recollections of his past adventures and a few non-sequiturs but the big story surely was next. "Buddy, I have to ask the question most of the public are wondering about... Were you auditioning for the part of Air Bud in the new reboot? I imagine the savings alone for the CGI would make you a frontrunner."

Buddy couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, actually I've been shooting scenes between Justice League missions for the last few months already. But, um, for legal reasons, this is a joke and, uh, I'm not breaking the strike guidelines... Actually, who even owns the rights to that franchise?" Asked Buddy in an effort to pivot from the topic. While the question was directed at the host, it would be shifted it to his assistant immediately after. "Sonia google that so we can talk about it after the actual big news that you just mentioned: Animal Man in the Justice League!"

"Yeah, the Justice League." Buddy would repeat. "It's a big change, absolutely, and it comes with heavy responsibility. We all know the circumstances that led to this but I do see it as a big opportunity. Y'know, the main reason as to why I decided to specifically come on your podcast is because I see a similarity with what you had done years prior." The host earnestly smiles at the comparison. "Oh? I don't quite recall getting a phone call from Wonder Woman after getting fired from the Tonight Show but I suppose I need to clear my voice mails or check if carrier pigeons from Themyscira got lost on the way to Los Angeles."

Another joke and even more laughter from Buddy. "Well, if you recall, you spent roughly around two decades hosting late night television and a big change put you in circumstances that were quite vexing to say the least. I'm also just about to hit the big two-oh for my career in both acting and heroics and, well, I've also hit a crossroads that has forced me to re-evaluate everything that has led up to this point." Buddy would take a pause, collecting his thoughts. 

"You've said it multiple times on the podcast and at least one time while behind a tree stump podium: it is in our perceived failure to become our ideal self that ultimately defines us. Since starting this career, I've suffered a number of injuries, I've faced eviction from my home because I endanger those around me, I've seen the faces of people I have failed be disappointed in me, and I've even gotten divorced from my high school sweetheart a few years ago... Yet, I continue on. The League has suffered a major setback but we'll bounce back."

Silence fills the studio, but only because those present could not help but admire the candidness of Buddy Baker in his declaration. Listeners couldn't see it but the host would be beaming with a smile, knowing that hope will continue in the next era of the Justice League. 
[/hider]