Animal Man #2

In "Animal vs. Man, Part One," Buddy Baker and his family flee into the wilderness as the Rot spreads through the Red, twisting animal life into something unnatural. Haunted by a vision of a future where Maxine has become Animal Woman—yet the world is consumed by the Rot—Buddy must fight not just for survival, but for the soul of the natural world.

In "Animal vs. Man, Part Two," Buddy finds himself trapped with his family as Rot-infected animals close in. When Maxine tries to calm the creatures, she’s fatally attacked—but with a surge of the Red, she reclaims her life, rebuilding her body from the remnants of her old one. Knowing the danger is too great for his loved ones, Buddy makes the hard choice to leave them behind, stepping into the fray alone to confront the infected beasts.

In "Extinction Is Forever, Part One: The Bone Orchard," Buddy finds himself drawn into a haunting mystery when he meets the Shepherd, who agrees to guide him to the Animal Totems after learning he’s Maxine’s father. As a Hunter from the Rot takes on Buddy’s form and hunts the Baker family, John Constantine arrives on the scene—offering help that may be as dangerous as the threat itself.

In "Extinction Is Forever, Part Two: Warriors of the Redlands," Buddy finds himself deep in the Red, guided by The Shepherd to the Animal Totems—only to learn his body has been claimed by a Hunter, with Cliff now in peril. Back on Earth, John Constantine, Zatanna, and Madame Xanadu arrive to warn Ellen and her family, offering only a cryptic lead: find the Swamp Thing.

In "Red Birth," the Animal Totems, mourning the death of their African counterpart at the hands of Anton Arcane, choose Hollywood stuntman Buddy Baker as a flawed but necessary successor. As Buddy grapples with the weight of his new role, the Totems look ahead to a future where his yet-unborn daughter will rise as a great champion—her destiny already woven into the fabric of the animal spirit world.