Animal Man #24

Issue Details

Synopsis

The first few panels of the issue cut between an unwell Psycho Pirate, and someone's hands typing out the scene on a computer keyboard. The hands type out the phrase, "The story begins:" Animal Man and the aliens approach the hole that Ultraman made in the panel border. Animal Man asks what it is and the aliens tell him that it is a hole into the continuum. Animal Man looks through the hole at the reader, and mentions that he sees a giant blurred face looking back. The aliens ask him if he's afraid to which Buddy replies that he's not. Ultraman tries to stop Buddy from entering the empty space by telling him that he did and it was horrible. Everything was white, and there were faces staring down. Dr. Highwater is excited because this proves his theory: that they are all minor characters in a story. Ultraman scoffs because there's no way he could be a minor character. Psycho Pirate angrily tells them they're all stupid, but is interrupted Overman who has entered still carrying the gigantic bomb with the words "Purification Day" written on it. Highwater asks the aliens if they can do anything, but they can't interfere with the story. Ultraman seems to realize that Overman is him if he had grown up on another earth. Overman flips the switch; arming the bomb. Ultraman battles the insane "hero", while Psycho Pirate tries to get them to stop fighting because it's what "they" want. While Overman battles other Supeman analogues including Streaky the Supercat and Bizarro, Dr. Highwater grabs some comic books and explains to the others that this is the nature of their reality. While they all think they have histories, it's just their minds filling in the gaps. On the other hand, each time their story is read; they live again. Unfortunately, Animal Man isn't paying much attention. He decides someone needs to stop Overman, and jumps through the hole into the white space between panels. Buddy spends some time in the gutters; observing Overman fight. He finally reaches into a panel,...