OMAC (Buddy Blank)

For the OMAC cyborgs, see OMAC (comics).

OMAC
Cover to OMAC #6, with the original OMAC. Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	Buddy Blank
Team affiliations	Global Peace Agency
Notable aliases	One-Man Army Corps
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, durability and explosive energy generation provided by Brother Eye

OMAC (Buddy Blank, the One-Man Army Corps) is a superhero comic book created in 1974 by Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The character was created towards the end of Kirby's contract with the publisher, following the cancellation of Kirby's New Gods,^[1] and was reportedly developed strictly due to Kirby needing to fill his contractual quota of 15 pages a week.^[2][3] As envisioned by Kirby, OMAC is essentially Captain America set in the future, an idea Kirby had toyed with some years earlier while on staff at Marvel Comics, but had never realized.^[3]

Publication history

Set in the near future ("The World That's Coming"),^[4] OMAC is a corporate nobody named Buddy Blank who is changed via a "computer-hormonal operation done by remote control" by an A.I. satellite called Brother Eye into the super-powered One-Man Army Corps (OMAC).^[5]

OMAC works for the Global Peace Agency (GPA), a group of faceless people who police the entire world using pacifistic weapons. The world balance is too dangerous for large armies, so OMAC is used as the main field enforcement agent for the Global Peace Agency. The character initially becomes the Ares-like war machine to save a female coworker at the Pseudo-People factory (manufacturers of androids initially intended as companions, but later developed as assassins). The coworker is revealed to be in actuality a bomb, and Blank is left in the employ of the GPA, sacrificing his identity in their relentless war, with faux parents his only consolation and companions.^[6]

The original OMAC series lasted for eight issues (1974-1975), canceled before the last storyline was completed, with Kirby writing an abrupt ending to the series. Later, towards the end of Kamandi (after Kirby had left that title), OMAC was tied into the back-story and shown to be Kamandi's grandfather. An OMAC back-up feature by Jim Starlin was started in issue #59, but the title was cancelled after the first appearance. It would later finally see print in Warlord, and a new back-up series would also appear in that title (#37-39, 42-47). OMAC made appearances as a guest alongside Superman in DC Comics Presents #61.

In 1991 OMAC was featured in a four-issue prestige format limited series by writer/artist John Byrne that tied up loose ends left from previous stories. Byrne would later reuse OMAC in Superman & Batman: Generations 3, an Elseworlds mini-series.

In Countdown to Final Crisis, Buddy Blank is featured as a retired, balding professor with a blond-haired grandson. In #34, Buddy Blank is mentioned but not seen, and is referred to as having direct contact with Brother Eye. He is contacted by Karate Kid and Una in Countdown #31, and appears in #28 and 27. A version of Buddy from Earth-51 appears in #6 and #5 where the Morticoccus virus is released. The virus results in worldwide destruction. Buddy leaves his Project Cadmus laboratory job and assisted by Una, attempts to rescue his daughter and grandson. After spending some time moving through Metropolis, they find Buddy's family, only to be attacked by humanoid rats. Una and his daughter are both devoured, but not before one of them manages to toss the Legion flight ring. Buddy uses it to take his grandson to safety in a scientific facility called 'Command D' in Blüdhaven. In the final issue Countdown to Final Crisis #1, Brother Eye rescues Buddy and his grandson from the bunker and from starvation by turning him into a prototype OMAC with free will. This entity resembles the original Jack Kirby OMAC. ^[7]

Powers and abilities

Through interfacing with the Brother Eye satellite, via an invisible beam to his receiver belt,^[8] Buddy Blank is transformed into OMAC and imbued with an array of superhuman abilities. The base of abilities involve density control of Blank's body. An increase in density leads to superhuman strength and enhanced durability,^[9] while a decrease in density leads to flight and super-speed. Brother Eye could provide other abilities as well, such as self-repairing functions and energy generation.

Other versions

OMACs

The modern OMAC. Cover to The OMAC Project #5. Art by Ladrönn.

Main article: OMACs

The character, along with the Brother Eye satellite, was reimagined for the 2005-2006 Infinite Crisis story arc. OMACs are portrayed as cyborgs, humans whose bodies have been taken over via a nano-virus. The characters retain OMAC's familiar mohawk and Brother Eye symbol on their chest. The characters are featured in the OMAC Project limited series which leads up to Infinite Crisis, and subsequent OMAC limited series. The acronym has multiple meanings through the series: Observational Meta-human Activity Construct,^[10] One-Man Army Corps^[11] "Omni Mind And Community."^[12]

Other

• DC Comics', in its Tangent Comics imprint issue The Joker's Wild in 1998, self-parodied OMAC with a beta-version automated policeman called "Omegatech Mechanoid Armored Cop".
• DC would later make a nod to OMAC during the DC One Million event in 1998. In Superboy 1,000,000, one of the future Superboys is known as Superboy OMAC, or "One Millionth Actual Clone", and the title of the story was "One Million And Counting", repeating the acronym. He appeared in the Superboy and Young Justice specials, as well as the DC One Million mini-series. His appearance is based on OMAC, and he gains increased power from Brother Eye.
• In Kingdom Come, Alex Ross created a female version of OMAC named OWAC, (One-Woman Army Corps).
• The One Million 80 Page Giant also introduced a female Luthor with OMAC elements who called herself the One Woman Adversary Chamber.
• OMAC made a brief appearance in Elseworlds' JLA: Another Nail when all time periods meld together.
• Some basic OMAC units resembling the first OMAC were featured in Final Crisis.

In other media

Television

OMAC from Batman: Brave and the Bold episode "When OMAC Attacks."

• The original OMAC, Buddy Blank appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "When OMAC Attacks" voiced by Jeff Bennett. OMAC battles Shrapnel in a long and destructive battle arranged by Equinox.^[13] In this episode, Buddy did not know he was OMAC until Batman tells him his purpose. While OMAC handles Shrapnel, Batman interrogates and fights Equinox. Shrapnel is eventually brought to justice by OMAC and the previously clumsy Buddy Blank buys time for Batman to stop a nuclear meltdown by distracting Equinox after reverting from his OMAC form. In "The Power of Shazam," OMAC is among the heroes that got taken over by the Starros.

Video games

• Batman's ending in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe involves him creating "OMAC" (Outerworld Monitor and Auto Containment) robot versions of Batman to maintain the balance between Earthrealm and DC Universe. It is designed to monitor and trap invaders from different universes.

Toys

• It was announced at New York Comic Con 2009 that OMAC will be released as a figure in the Justice League Unlimited toyline down the road. This version of OMAC will also be released as a figure in wave 15 of Mattel's "DC Universe Classics" line.

• Versions of the modern OMAC have been released in both Mattel's DC Universe and DC Direct toy lines.

See also

• General Kafka

Collected editions

• Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps (hardcover, DC Comics, May 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1790-7)^[14]

Notes

1. ^ Flagg, Gordon. Booklist article on OMAC.
2. ^ Callahan, Timothy. "Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps," Comic Book Resources (June 5, 2008).
3. ^ ^{a b} Evanier, Mark. "Introduction," Jack Kirby's OMAC: One Man Army Corps (DC Comics, 2008).
4. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "In OMAC's first issue, editor/writer/artist Jack Kirby warned readers of "The World That's Coming!", a future world containing wild concepts that are almost frighteningly real today." 
5. ^ Weems, Erik. "Paul Pope Solo 2005," Art & Artifice blog (July 20, 2006).
6. ^ "Review: Jack Kirby's OMAC: One Man Army Corps collected hardcover (DC Comics)," Collected Editions (Mar. 26, 2009).
7. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #1
8. ^ Jones. "Vacation Guestblogstravaganza! Jones squeaks in under the wire," Warren Peace Sings the Blues (June 22, 2008).
9. ^ Gallego, Beth (Los Angeles Public Library, North Hollywood). OMAC review, School Library Journal (Nov. 1, 2008).
10. ^ The OMAC Project #1
11. ^ The OMAC Project #5
12. ^ The OMAC Project #6
13. ^ Season 1 guide: "Episode 23: When OMAC Attacks!," Batman: The Brave and the Bold, World's Finest Online. Accessed July 17, 2010.
14. ^ Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps profile at DC

References

• OMAC (Buddy Blank) at the Comic Book DB
• OMAC (Michael Costner) at the Comic Book DB
• OMACs at the Comic Book DB
• OMAC (1974) at the Comic Book DB
• OMAC: One Man Army Corps at the Comic Book DB
• The OMAC Project at the Comic Book DB
• OMAC (2006) at the Comic Book DB

External links

• Review of Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps, Comic Book Resources