Wikipedia

OMAC (Buddy Blank)

(Redirected fromOne-Man Army Corps)
For the OMAC cyborgs, seeOMAC (comics).

OMAC(Buddy Blank) is asuperheroappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byDC Comics.[1]

OMAC
Cover ofOMAC#6 (July–August 1975) with the original OMAC.
Art byJack KirbyandD. Bruce Berry.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceOMAC#1 (October 1974)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoBuddy Blank
Team affiliationsGlobal Peace Agency
Notable aliasesOne-Man Army Corps
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, durability and explosive energy generation provided by Brother Eye

Publication history

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He was created by writer-artistJack Kirbytowards the end of his contract with the publisher following the cancellation of hisNew Godsseries; it was reportedly developed strictly due to Kirby needing to fill his contractual quota of 15 pages a week.[2][3]The character is inspired byCaptain America,but lives in the future, an idea he had toyed with some years earlier while atMarvel Comicsbut had never realized.[3]

Fictional character biography

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

OMAC works for theGlobal Peace Agency(GPA), a group of faceless people who police the entire world using pacifistic weapons.[6]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 uses his abilities 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.[5]

The originalOMACseries ended with its eighth issue (December 1975),[7]canceled before the last storyline could be completed, and Kirby wrote an abrupt ending to the series. InKamandi#50 (May 1977), by other creators, OMAC is tied into the back-story and shown to be Kamandi's grandfather.[8]An "OMAC" back-up feature byJim Starlinbegan in issue #59 (October 1978), butKamandiwas cancelled after its first appearance. The story was later printed inTheWarlord,and led to a new OMAC back-up series in that title (#37–39, 42–47). OMAC appeared withSupermaninDC Comics Presents#61.[9]

In 1991OMACwas featured in a four-issue prestige formatlimited seriesby writer/artistJohn Byrnethat was independent of the previous series. Byrne later reused OMAC inSuperman & Batman: Generations 3,anElseworldslimited series.

In "Countdown to Final Crisis",Buddy Blank is featured as a retired, balding professor with a blond-haired grandson. In #34, he is mentioned but not seen, and is referred to as having direct contact with Brother Eye. He is contacted byKarate KidandUnainCountdown#31,[10]and appears in #28[11]and #27.[12]

A version of Buddy fromEarth-51appears in #6[13]and #5,[14]in which the Morticoccus virus is released. The virus results in worldwide destruction. Buddy leaves hisProject Cadmuslaboratory job; assisted by Una, he attempts to rescue his daughter and grandson. They search for Buddy's family in Metropolis, where they are attacked by humanoid rats. Una and Buddy's daughter are both devoured, but one of them manages to pass a Legion flight ring to Buddy. He uses it to take his grandson to safety in the scientific facility "Command D" inBlüdhaven.

In the final issue,Countdown to Final Crisis#1, Brother Eye rescues Buddy and his grandson from the bunker and from starvation by turning Buddy into a prototype OMAC with free will. This entity resembles the original Jack Kirby OMAC.[15]

Powers and abilities

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Through interfacing with the satellite, via aninvisible beamto his receiver belt, Buddy Blank is transformed into OMAC and imbued with an array of superhuman abilities based on remote molecular rearrangement from Brother Eye. For example, an increase in his density grantssuperhuman strengthand enhanced durability, and a decrease in his density allows flight and super-speed. Brother Eye could provide other abilities as well, such as self-repair functions and energy generation.

OMACs

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The modern OMAC; cover toThe OMAC Project#5 (Oct. 2005), art byJosé Ladrönn.
Main article:OMAC (comics)

The character and the Brother Eye satellite werereimaginedfor theInfinite Crisisstoryline. OMACs are portrayed as cyborgs, humans whose bodies have been corrupted by a nano-virus. The characters retain OMAC'smohawkand Brother Eye symbol on their chests. The characters are featured inThe OMAC Projectlimited series which precedesInfinite Crisis,and a subsequentOMAClimited series. Theacronymhas multiple meanings through the series: "Observational Meta-human Activity Construct",[16]"One-Man Army Corps",[17]and "Omni Mind And Community".[18]

Other versions

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  • In theSupermanstoryline "For Tomorrow"(2004–2005),two super-soldiers called Equuswere featured, each representing a generation of cybernetically enhanced warriors named "One-Man Army Corps" under Mr.Elias Orr.They bore no physical resemblance to any other version of the OMAC.[19]
  • TheTangent ComicscomicThe Joker's Wild(1998) parodied OMAC with a beta-version automated policeman called "Omegatech Mechanoid Armored Cop".[20]
  • DC would later make a nod to OMAC during theDC One Millionevent in 1998. InSuperboy#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.[21]He appeared in theSuperboyandYoung Justicespecials, as well as theDC One Millionmini-series. His appearance is based on OMAC, and he gains increased power from Brother Eye.
  • InKingdom Come,Alex Rosscreated a female version of OMAC namedOWAC(One-Woman Army Corps).[22]
  • TheDC One Million 80 Page Giantintroduced a femaleLuthorwith OMAC elements who called herself the One Woman Adversary Chamber.[23]
  • OMAC made a brief appearance inElseworlds'JLA: Another Nailwhen all time periods meld together.[24]
  • Some basic OMAC units resembling the first OMAC were featured inFinal Crisis.
  • In theMultiversityseries, the cyborgBen Boxer(a character from theKamandiseries) is an OMAC, calling himselfbioMAC.[25]

In other media

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Television

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OMAC as he appears inBatman: Brave and the Bold.

Buddy Blank / OMAC appears inBatman: The Brave and the Bold,voiced byJeff Bennett.[26]This version is a contemporary janitor for the GPA who idolizes Batman and is unaware of his dual nature as OMAC.[27]

Video games

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Buddy Blank / OMAC appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[28]

Merchandise

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Collected editions

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  • Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army CorpscollectsO.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps#1–8, 200 pages, May 2008,ISBN1-4012-1790-7[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016).The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe.DK Publishing. p. 222.ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^Callahan, Timothy (June 5, 2008)."Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on June 17, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 6,2013.
  3. ^abEvanier, Mark(2008). "Introduction".Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps.New York: DC Comics. pp. 3–5.ISBN978-1-4012-1790-7.
  4. ^McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s".DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 161.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.InOMAC'sfirst 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.{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^abKirby, Jack(w), Kirby, Jack (p),Royer, Mike(i). "Brother Eye and Buddy Blank"OMAC,no. 1 (October 1974).
  6. ^Cronin, Brian (November 3, 2012)."The Abandoned An' Forsaked – Who Are the Global Peace Agency?".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2015.
  7. ^OMACat theGrand Comics Database
  8. ^O'Neil, Dennis(w),Ayers, Dick(p),Alcala, Alfredo;Auad, Manuel (i). "The Death Worshippers!"Kamandi,The Last Boy on Earth,no. 50 (May 1977).
  9. ^Wein, Len(w),Pérez, George(p),Marcos, Pablo(i). "The Once-and-Future War!"DC Comics Presents,no. 61 (September 1983).
  10. ^Dini, Paul;McKeever, Sean(w), Garcia, Manuel (p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "New Frontiers"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 31 (November 2007 (September 26, 2007)).
  11. ^Dini, Paul:Bedard, Tony(w), Barrionuevo, Al (p),Thibert, Art(i). "Now, Forager"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 28 (December 2007 (October 17, 2007)).
  12. ^Dini, Paul; McKeever, Sean (w), Magno, Carlos (p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "Disasters Great & Otherwise"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 29 (December 2007 (October 24, 2007)).
  13. ^Dini, Paul;Beechen, Adam(w),Norton, Mike(p),Palmiotti, Jimmy(i). "Outbreak"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 6 (May 2008 (March 19, 2008)).
  14. ^Dini, Paul; Beechen, Adam (w),Starlin, Jim(p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "End Times"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 5 (May 2008 (March 26, 2008)).
  15. ^Dini, Paul;Giffen, Keith(w), Derenick, Tom (p),Faucher, Wayne(i). "Loose Ends"Countdown to Final Crisis,no. 1 (June 2008 (April 23, 2008)).
  16. ^Rucka, Greg(w), Saiz, Jesus (p), Saiz, Jesus (i). "---Part One--- The Eye in the Sky"The OMAC Project,no. 1 (June 2005).
  17. ^Rucka, Greg (w), Saiz, Jesus; Richards, Cliff (p), Saiz, Jesus;Wiacek, Bob(i). "---Part Five---...Long Live the King!"The OMAC Project,no. 5 (October 2005).
  18. ^Rucka, Greg (w), Saiz, Jesus; Richards, Cliff (p), Saiz, Jesus; Wiacek, Bob (i). "---Conclusion---Loss of Signal"The OMAC Project,no. 6 (November 2005).
  19. ^Azzarello, Brian;Lee, JIm(2009).Absolute Superman: For Tomorrow.New York, New York: DC Comics. p. 328.ISBN978-1401221980.
  20. ^Kesel, Karl;Simmons, Tom (w),Phillips, Joe(p), Rodriguez, Jasen (i). "B-B-B-Blackout!"Tangent Comics / The Joker's Wild,no. 1 (September 1998).
  21. ^Kesel, Karl (w),Grummett, Tom(p), Kesel, Karl (i). "OMAC: One Million and Counting!"Superboy,vol. 3, no. 1,000,000 (November 1998).
  22. ^Waid, Mark(w),Ross, Alex(a). "Truth And Justice"Kingdom Come,no. 2 (June 1996).
  23. ^Millar, Mark(w),Wieringo, Mike(p),Case, Richard(i). "System's Finest"DC One Million 80-Page Giant,no. 1,000,000 (August 1999).
  24. ^Davis, Alan(w), Davis, Alan (p),Farmer, Mark(i).JLA: Another Nail,no. 3 (2004).
  25. ^Morrison, Grant(w),To, Marcus(p), Siqueira, Paulo (i). "Maps and Legends"The MultiversityGuidebook,no. 1 (March 2015).
  26. ^"Omac Voice - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV Show)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedApril 27,2024.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  27. ^Vietti, Brandon (director); Berkowitz, Stan (writer) (October 16, 2009). "When OMAC Attacks!".Batman: The Brave and the Bold.Season 1. Episode 123. 22 minutes in.Cartoon Network.
  28. ^Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013)."DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide".IGN.RetrievedApril 27,2024.
  29. ^Pickett, Daniel (September 14, 2010)."Mattel's DCUC 15 – OMAC".Action Figure Insider.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2015.
  30. ^"Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps".DC Comics. 9 March 2012.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 6,2013.
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