Freedom Beast

Superherobox|

caption=Freedom Beast by Chas Truog
character_name=Freedom Beast
real_name=Dominic Mndawe
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Animal Man" #13
(1989)
creators=Grant Morrison
alliances=Global Guardians
aliases=
powers=Mind control, super strength, healing factor, and the ability to fuse any two animals to make a powerful chimera. |

Freedom Beast is a fictional comic book character in the DC Universe.

Fictional character biography

A South African by birth, Freedom Beast was born Dominic Mndawe. His first appearance was in "Animal Man" #13. That issue takes place during the rule of apartheid in South Africa; Dominic was under arrest for taking pictures of racially motivated acts of violence being committed by white Afrikaner policemen. In a cell, Dominic was about to be killed by his captors when he is rescued by Animal Man and B'wana Beast (Mike Maxwell), Mndawe's predecessor and future mentor.

After the rescue, Maxwell gives Mndawe the elixir and helmet that confer powers on their owner. Those powers include mind control and the ability to fuse two or more animals into one hybrid beast under the control of Freedom Beast.

Animal Man and Freedom Beast then prevent the massacre of a group of peaceful demonstrators by Afrikaner police. Animal Man returns to the USA, while Maxwell and Freedom Beast stayed in South Africa.

Mike Maxwell returns in "Animal Man" #47 (May 1992). He had been taken over by an evil force called the Antagon and transformed into the Shining Man. He perishes in the ensuing battle.

Animal Man and Dominic team up once again during the Day of Judgement incident, protecting African wildlife from the murderous intentions of demon invaders.

Current status

Freedom Beast's most recent appearances were in the "Day of Vengeance" "Infinite Crisis" Special, where he is possessed by Rage, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and in "Green Lantern" #11, where he is introduced as one of the members of the new Global Guardians. He has also made several cameo appearances in the "Justice League Unlimited" comic book.

ee also

* African characters in comics

References

* [http://www.blacksuperhero.com/exhibithtml/detail.cfm?id=251 Museum of Black Superheroes entry]