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Anthro (comics)
Encyclopedia
Anthro is a fictional character
published by DC Comics
. Anthro was created by cartoonist Howard Post
; he first appeared in Showcase
#74, (May 1968).
Since the cancellation of his title, he has made minor appearances, most notably in Crisis on Infinite Earths
#2. Recently, Anthro appeared in the 2006 revival of Tales of the Unexpected
and the 2008 miniseries Final Crisis
by Grant Morrison
and J.G. Jones. Anthro also starred in the first story in DC Universe Holiday Special 2010.
boy born in the Stone Age
. His father, Neanderthal
caveman
Ne-Ahn is the chief of his tribe, his mother a captive member of another tribe. Winning two competing cavegirls as his wives, Cro-Magnon women Embra and Nima, Anthro begins the human
race, as Embra lives to bear his first child.
Justice League Europe Annual #2 features a version of Anthro. In an alternate time-line, an older Silver Sorceress
, lost in time, is rescued from a large creature by Anthro. He exhibits great eagerness, smashing the beast long after it is subdued. A bored cavegirl, seemingly either Embra or Nima, joins the Sorceress in watching Anthro's 'battle'.
Anthro is featured in the graphic novel "Doctor Thirteen
: Architecture & Mortality". Speaking only French, he is soon melted out of an chunk of ice into what seems to be the modern day. He assists the Doctor, Infectious Lass, Genius Jones
, Captain Fear and other somewhat heroic characters in a mission to keep their existence relevant. The story ends with his status seemingly threatened by the reader of the novel itself.
indicate that Anthro (the First Boy) will appear on the first page of Final Crisis, mirroring the appearance of Kamandi
(the Last Boy) on the last page.
Issue one of Final Crisis
features an extended introduction involving Anthro, where the New God Metron
appears before the boy and gives him the knowledge and skill to make fire. This starts a sequence in which Anthro is able to fight off a group of savage raiders with a burning stick. In the closing pages, Anthro seems to have a vision of Kamandi. In this depiction, Anthro is much more caveman like in his attire, wearing only a loincloth and a satchel, and carrying stone and wood weapons, while his body looks more like a modern teenager rather than having a Cro-Magnon appearance. In this issue, he only expresses himself with ! and ?
signs, as he is apparently unable to speak, as are the rest of the cavemen characters in the book.
In the final issue of Final Crisis, Anthro appears as an old man, drawing the symbols covering Metron's body on a cave wall. As he finishes drawing he dies peacefully, watched over by Bruce Wayne
, who is lost in time. The after-effects of Anthro's death on his friends and family is explored in the limited series 'Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne
'. It was revealed he was a rival of Vandal Savage
.
series, starting with issue eight. In this story, as in Tales of the Unexpected, Anthro wears a leather jacket that resembles Mr. Terrific's, but has Anthro's name on the sleeves instead of "Fair Play." This is an alternate time-line Anthro, who is part of a resistance group against the murderous Maxwell Lord. Fellow members include Green Arrow, Hawkman, Wild Dog and Pantha. During the flight to Lord's headquarters, Anthro is taken out by a mind-controlled Superman.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Anthro was created by cartoonist Howard Post
Howard Post
Howard Post , aka Howie Post, was an American animator, cartoonist and comic strip and comic book writer-artist....
; he first appeared in Showcase
Showcase (comics)
Showcase has been the title of several comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing...
#74, (May 1968).
Publication history
After a single Showcase appearance, Anthro was given his own title, which lasted for 6 issues (1968-69). All six issues were written and drawn by Post, with Wallace Wood providing inking for the final issue.Since the cancellation of his title, he has made minor appearances, most notably in Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
#2. Recently, Anthro appeared in the 2006 revival of Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected (comics)
Tales of the Unexpected was a science fiction comic book published by DC Comics from 1956 to 1968 for 104 issues. It was later renamed The Unexpected although the numbering continued and it ended at issue 222, in 1982...
and the 2008 miniseries Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and J.G. Jones. Anthro also starred in the first story in DC Universe Holiday Special 2010.
Fictional character biography
Anthro is the first Cro-MagnonCro-Magnon
The Cro-Magnon were the first early modern humans of the European Upper Paleolithic. The earliest known remains of Cro-Magnon-like humans are radiometrically dated to 35,000 years before present....
boy born in the Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
. His father, Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
caveman
Caveman
A caveman or troglodyte is a stock character based upon widespread concepts of the way in which early prehistoric humans may have looked and behaved...
Ne-Ahn is the chief of his tribe, his mother a captive member of another tribe. Winning two competing cavegirls as his wives, Cro-Magnon women Embra and Nima, Anthro begins the human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
race, as Embra lives to bear his first child.
Justice League Europe Annual #2 features a version of Anthro. In an alternate time-line, an older Silver Sorceress
Silver Sorceress
The Silver Sorceress is a DC Comics character and member of the Champions of Angor. She first appeared in Justice League of America #87, , and is an homage to the Scarlet Witch.-Fictional character biography:...
, lost in time, is rescued from a large creature by Anthro. He exhibits great eagerness, smashing the beast long after it is subdued. A bored cavegirl, seemingly either Embra or Nima, joins the Sorceress in watching Anthro's 'battle'.
Anthro is featured in the graphic novel "Doctor Thirteen
Doctor Thirteen
Dr. Terrence Thirteen, known simply as Doctor Thirteen or Dr. 13, is a fictional character in comic books set in the DC Universe. The character's first published appearance is in Star Spangled Comics #122, ....
: Architecture & Mortality". Speaking only French, he is soon melted out of an chunk of ice into what seems to be the modern day. He assists the Doctor, Infectious Lass, Genius Jones
Genius Jones
Genius Jones is a comic book character from the Golden Age of Comic Books who first appeared in the DC Comics published, Adventure Comics #77...
, Captain Fear and other somewhat heroic characters in a mission to keep their existence relevant. The story ends with his status seemingly threatened by the reader of the novel itself.
Final Crisis
Comments by Grant Morrison at 2007's San Diego Comic-ConComic-Con International
San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego , and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans...
indicate that Anthro (the First Boy) will appear on the first page of Final Crisis, mirroring the appearance of Kamandi
Kamandi
Kamandi is an American comic book character, created by artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The bulk of Kamandi's appearances occurred in the comic series Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth, which ran from 1972 to 1978....
(the Last Boy) on the last page.
Issue one of Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
features an extended introduction involving Anthro, where the New God Metron
Metron (comics)
Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. He was "based on Leonard Nimoy as Spock", and designed as a character who "would frequently change sides [between New Genesis and Apokolips]"...
appears before the boy and gives him the knowledge and skill to make fire. This starts a sequence in which Anthro is able to fight off a group of savage raiders with a burning stick. In the closing pages, Anthro seems to have a vision of Kamandi. In this depiction, Anthro is much more caveman like in his attire, wearing only a loincloth and a satchel, and carrying stone and wood weapons, while his body looks more like a modern teenager rather than having a Cro-Magnon appearance. In this issue, he only expresses himself with ! and ?
?
or is a letter derived from the Latin alphabet. Both glyphs of the majuscule and minuscule forms of this letter are based on the rotated form of a minuscule e; a similar letter with identical minuscule is used in the Pan-Nigerian Alphabet and some alphabets based on the African reference...
signs, as he is apparently unable to speak, as are the rest of the cavemen characters in the book.
In the final issue of Final Crisis, Anthro appears as an old man, drawing the symbols covering Metron's body on a cave wall. As he finishes drawing he dies peacefully, watched over by Bruce Wayne
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, who is lost in time. The after-effects of Anthro's death on his friends and family is explored in the limited series 'Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne is a 6-issue American comic book limited series published by DC Comics beginning in May 2010 to November 2010, written by Grant Morrison and featuring a team of rotating artists starting with Chris Sprouse and Frazer Irving.The series picks up from Batman and Robin...
'. It was revealed he was a rival of Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 , and was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell....
.
Alternate versions
Anthro had a supporting role in the Booster GoldBooster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
series, starting with issue eight. In this story, as in Tales of the Unexpected, Anthro wears a leather jacket that resembles Mr. Terrific's, but has Anthro's name on the sleeves instead of "Fair Play." This is an alternate time-line Anthro, who is part of a resistance group against the murderous Maxwell Lord. Fellow members include Green Arrow, Hawkman, Wild Dog and Pantha. During the flight to Lord's headquarters, Anthro is taken out by a mind-controlled Superman.
Television
- Anthro appears in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "The Siege of Starro" Pt. 1. He is shown during a montage showcasing various heroes throughout history where he defeats Kru'llVandal SavageVandal Savage is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 , and was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell....
the EternalKing Kull (DC Comics)King Kull is a comic book supervillain originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics and appearing as a foe of Captain Marvel. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist C. C. Beck, Kull's first appearance was in Captain Marvel Adventures #125...
after the villain attacks a group of peaceful cave people.
External links
- Anthro at DC Database
- Toonopedia entry: Anthro
- DCU Guide: Anthro