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OMAC (Buddy Blank)

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(Redirected from One-Man Army Corps)
For the OMAC cyborgs, see OMAC (comics).
OMAC
Cover of OMAC #6 (July–August 1975) with the original OMAC.
Art by Jack Kirby and D. 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

OMAC (Buddy Blank) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1]

Publication history

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OMAC was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby towards the end of his contract with the publisher following the cancellation of his New Gods series; it was reportedly developed due to Kirby needing to fill his contractual quota of 15 pages a week.[2][3] The character is inspired by Captain America, but lives in the future, an idea Kirby had conceived years earlier while at Marvel Comics but 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 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 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 GPA. 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 original OMAC series 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. In Kamandi #50 (May 1977), by other creators, OMAC is revealed to be Kamandi's grandfather.[8] An "OMAC" back-up feature by Jim Starlin began in issue #59 (October 1978), but Kamandi was cancelled after its first appearance. The story was later printed in Warlord, and led to a new OMAC back-up series in that title (#37–39, 42–47). OMAC appeared with Superman in DC Comics Presents #61.[9]

In 1991 OMAC was featured in a four-issue prestige format limited series by writer/artist John Byrne that was independent of the previous series. Byrne later reused OMAC in Superman & Batman: Generations 3, an Elseworlds limited series.

A contemporary incarnation of Buddy Blank appears in Countdown to Final Crisis.[10][11][12][13][14] Following the release of the Morticoccus virus, Blank and his grandson flee to the scientific facility Command D, where Brother Eye rescues them and transforms Blank into a prototype OMAC.[15]

Powers and abilities

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As OMAC, Buddy Blank possesses various abilities derived from Brother Eye. For example, an increase in his density grants superhuman strength and 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 to The OMAC Project #5 (Oct. 2005), art by José Ladrönn.
Main article: OMAC (comics)

The character and the Brother Eye satellite were reimagined for the Infinite Crisis storyline. OMACs are portrayed as humans whose bodies have been corrupted by a nano-virus. The acronym has multiple meanings throughout 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 other media

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OMAC as he appears in Batman: Brave and the Bold.

Television

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A contemporary version of Buddy Blank / OMAC appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Jeff Bennett.[26]

Video games

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Buddy Blank / OMAC appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[27]

Merchandise

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Collected editions

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  • Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps collects O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps #1–8, 200 pages, May 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1790-7[29]

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. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Callahan, Timothy (June 5, 2008). "Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Evanier, Mark (2008). "Introduction". Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps. New York: DC Comics. pp. 3–5. ISBN 978-1-4012-1790-7.
  4. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: 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. ^ a b Kirby, 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. Archived from the original on April 21, 2015.
  7. ^ OMAC at the Grand 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. ^ 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).
  20. ^ Azzarello, Brian; Lee, JIm (2009). Absolute Superman: For Tomorrow. New York, New York: DC Comics. p. 328. ISBN 978-1401221980.
  21. ^ Kesel, Karl (w), Grummett, Tom (p), Kesel, Karl (i). "OMAC: One Million and Counting!" Superboy, vol. 4, no. 1,000,000 (November 1998).
  22. ^ Millar, Mark (w), Wieringo, Mike (p), Case, Richard (i). "System's Finest" DC One Million 80-Page Giant, no. 1,000,000 (August 1999).
  23. ^ Waid, Mark (w), Ross, Alex (a). "Truth And Justice" Kingdom Come, no. 2 (June 1996).
  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 Multiversity Guidebook, no. 1 (March 2015).
  26. ^ "OMAC Voice - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 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. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  28. ^ Pickett, Daniel (September 14, 2010). "Mattel's DCUC 15 – OMAC". Action Figure Insider. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015.
  29. ^ "Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps". DC Comics.com. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
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