Anthro was the first Cro-Magnon man, progenitor of the human race.
History
Origin
His position was chieftain of the Bear Tribe, much like his neanderthal ancestors before him. He constantly struggled for survival in a harsh and unrelenting environment, but searched for better ways of life for his people. Despite being a great hunter, he taught mercy and compassion to the cruel and violent world around him. Most people recognize him as the first true hero.
Crossovers
Although he was born in the prehistoric era, Anthro has interacted with many other time periods through different means. During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, ripples of time began to collide with each other and he witnessed Metropolis in the 30th Century, inadvertently setting a herd of Mammoths on the Legion of Super-Heroes.[1] He was also transported into the middle of Wayne Manor in present day Gotham City where he interacted with the Outsiders.[2] Armageddon 2001 saw the Justice League Europe dilated throughout time by an explosion, and Anthro briefly came into contact with the Silver Sorceress.[3] Extant came to his time during Zero Hour, and Anthro threw rocks at the cosmic-powered villain.[4] The manipulations of Access caused him to briefly intersect with the Marvel Universe and be chased by Devil Dinosaur.[5]
Team 13
Many years later, Anthro became involved in a conflict with cosmic beings called the Architects.[6] The cave boy was frozen in a block of ice and kept perfectly preserved for thousands of years, until he was discovered in the 21st Century by Doctor Thirteen.[7] After unfreezing and escaping his imprisonment, he singlehandedly took down Julius of the Primate Patrol and earned the affections of Traci Thirteen in the process.[8] He would go on to become a member of Team 13 along with Captain Fear, Genius Jones, the Haunted Tank, Infectious Lass and I... Vampire.[9] He also received a new costume, a Mister Terrific-style jacket but with his own name printed on it.[10]
Booster Gold created an alternate timeline when he changed history to save the life of his best friend Blue Beetle. Maxwell Lord ruled the world with an army of OMACs and Superman as his personal mentally controlled puppet. Most of the world's heroes had already been killed.[11] Anthro became part of a small resistance movement comprised of the few remaining heroes led by Green Arrow and Hawkman, including Pantha and Wild Dog. He met his end at the hands of Superman during an ambush on Blue Beetle's Bug.[12] Beetle eventually repairs the timestream by sacrificing himself.[13]
Final Crisis
Main article: Final Crisis
Metron of the New Gods gave Anthro the gift of fire, making him into a Prometheus-like figure. This new power allows him to harness the forces of the universe around him, and he uses it immediately to fight evil and chaos during a conflict with Vandar of the Blood Tribe. He is also given a symbol, to help humanity fight against the Anti-Life Equation. Anthro draws the symbol in the sand, a cosmic circuit pattern. This gives him the brief ability to traverse time and space, and he meets Kamandi in the far future. Kamandi says that Metron gave Anthro a weapon to use against the gods, and they need it now to fight Darkseid during the Final Crisis.[14][15] Superman uses the symbol as a weapon. Batman kills Darkseid's immortal body by shooting him with a Radion bullet, and in return is blasted by the Omega Sanction.[16] This sends him thousands of years back through time. Anthro is seen as an old man at the end of his life, having spent his time taking care of the flame and learning its messages. Bruce Wayne is with him, and lays his utility belt across his chest as Anthro passes away.[17]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
Trivia
- There is also a Marvel Comics character named Anthro.
- Anthro's status as the first boy makes him similar to the Marvel character Moon Boy, developed several years later.
Recommended Reading
- Anthro (Volume 1)
- Crisis on Infinite Earths (Volume 1)
- Final Crisis (Volume 1)
- Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 2)
Related
- 42 Appearances of Anthro (New Earth)
- 45 Images featuring Anthro (New Earth)
- 8 Quotations by or about Anthro (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Anthro (New Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ Crisis on Infinite Earths #2
- ↑ Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
- ↑ Justice League Europe Annual #2, see excerpt
- ↑ Guy Gardner: Warrior #24, see excerpt
- ↑ Unlimited Access #2, see excerpt
- ↑ Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 2) #1
- ↑ Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 2) #2, see excerpt
- ↑ Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 2) #4, see excerpt
- ↑ Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 2) #8
- ↑ Booster Gold (Volume 2) #3, see excerpt
- ↑ Booster Gold (Volume 2) #7
- ↑ Booster Gold (Volume 2) #8
- ↑ Booster Gold (Volume 2) #10
- ↑ Final Crisis #1, see excerpt
- ↑ Grant Morrison on Final Crisis #1
- ↑ Final Crisis #6, see excerpt
- ↑ Final Crisis #7, see excerpt
  This character is or was from the Prehistoric Era, thousands of years in the past, including but not limited to the time of Dinosaurs and the dawning of the species of man. These stories occur traditionally before history was formally recorded, and civilization developed completely. |
 This character is or was a member of the Freedom Fighters, a team of American super-heroes who fight threats to the nation and its ideals under the leadership of Uncle Sam. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Freedom Fighters members" category. |