Forager (character)

{{Infobox comics character

|character_name=Forager

|image=Foragerdcu0.jpg

|caption=The original Forager as depicted in New Gods #9 (August 1972). Art by Jack Kirby.

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut=New Gods #9 (August 1972)

|creators=Jack Kirby (writer & artist)

|real_name=

|species=Bug/New God

|homeworld=New Genesis

|alliances=

|aliases=

|supports=

|powers=

Longevity
Immortality
Superhuman physical attributes
Bug-like attributes
Ability to cling to most surfaces
Shed exoskeleton
Shield, adhesive pads and acid-pods

}}

Forager is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, he first appeared in New Gods #9 (August 1972). Forager is depicted as an insectoid alien from New Genesis who is subjected to prejudice from the planet's other inhabitants, the New Gods. He was killed during the Cosmic Odyssey event in 1988, but resurrected years later in Bug! The Adventures of Forager, which was published as part of the "DC's Young Animal" imprint in 2017.

Forager has appeared in various media outside comics. He made a guest appearance in Justice League, voiced by Corey Burton, and appeared as a recurring character in Young Justice, voiced by Jason Spisak.

Publication history

The original Forager first appeared in New Gods #9 (August 1972) and was created by Jack Kirby.{{Citation | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Forager I | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 129 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc = 213309017}} A female version of the character debuted in New Gods (vol. 3) #2 (March 1989).

Fictional character biography

=Original Forager=

Forager is a member of a humanoid insect species from New Genesis.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=113}} Considered to be below the New Gods, the bugs form a lower class on New Genesis and are sometimes the target of prejudice.{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=Brian |title=The Returns of the New Gods |journal=Back Issue |date=June 2018 |issue=#104 |page=5 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing}}

Despite this, Forager becomes an ally of the New Gods and helps them battle Darkseid.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=146}} In Cosmic Odyssey, he is killed saving Batman and preventing the Anti-Life Equation from destroying Earth.

Forager appears in the 2017 miniseries Bug! The Adventures of Forager, published as part of DC's Young Animal imprint.{{Cite news |last=Sava |first=Oliver |title=The Allred family pays tribute to Jack Kirby in Young Animal's Bug! |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-allred-family-pays-tribute-to-jack-kirby-in-young-a-1798257724 |access-date=2017-08-26 |work=News |language=en-US}}

=Female Forager=

Image:Countdown -29 "Now, Forager!".jpg.|left]]

A female Bug is chosen to succeed Forager following his death.{{Citation | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Forager II | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 129 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc = 213309017}} In Countdown to Final Crisis, Forager works with Jimmy Olsen in an attempt to stop Infinity-Man from killing the New Gods. In the final issue, she joins forces with Donna Troy, Atom, and Kyle Rayner to protect the multiverse.

Powers and abilities

Forager possesses similar abilities to the New Gods, including superhuman strength, endurance, speed and reflexes. Forager's incredible strength allows him to face much bigger enemies, jumping several meters high easily and running to great speed without fatigue. Forager is extremely long-lived and immune to diseases. Also, he is an accomplished fighter, hardened by the bugs' harsh life of hunting and survival. In addition to his natural abilities, Forager carries a variety of tools including a shield, adhesive pads on his gloves and boots that allow him to stick or climb walls and surfaces, and acidic pods.

In other media

= Television =

The original Forager makes a cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Apokolips...Now!".
The original Forager appears in the Justice League episode "Twilight", voiced by Corey Burton. This version is modest and reveres the Supertown Gods. While aiding Batman and Wonder Woman in stopping Darkseid's attack on New Genesis, Forager uses his hive to provide shelter for Supertown's inhabitants after the New Gods abandon them. Following this, Highfather promotes Forager to a higher rank.
Forager appears in Young Justice, voiced by Jason Spisak.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Wally West Voice Returns for Young Justice: Outsiders |url=https://www.cbr.com/young-justice-outsiders-wally-west-voice-actor-forager/ |website=CBR}}{{cite web |title=Forager / Fred Bugg Voice - Young Justice (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Young-Justice/Forager-Fred-Bugg/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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. This version possesses a more insect-like appearance with four arms, can roll up into a ball, and displays an odd connection to sentient technology.{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Sam |date=June 29, 2019 |title=Young Justice: Outsiders Forager Gets a New Look on Character Design Art |url=https://www.cbr.com/young-justice-outsiders-forager-new-look-character-design/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Justin |date=December 31, 2018 |title=Young Justice: Who's Who (and Who's New) in Outsiders |url=https://www.cbr.com/young-justice-outsiders-character-guide/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}} Additionally, he does not use pronouns due to his race's unique sense of self. Introduced in the third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, Forager contacts the Team to help stop a war between the Bugs and New Gods, only to be banished from his hive by Mantis and earn the wrath of Ma'alefa'ak, who orchestrated the conflict. As it is no longer safe for him on New Genesis, the Team takes Forager with them to Earth, where he joins them in fighting the Light and takes on the human identity Fred Bugg' via a glamour charm to attend Happy Harbor High School. He later reveals his true identity to his classmates, to their enjoyment. As of the fourth season, Forager has become class valedictorian, graduated from Happy Harbor High, and enters a relationship with a female purple Forager (voiced by Nika Futterman),{{cite web |title=Green Lantern / Forager Voice - Young Justice (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Young-Justice/Green-Lantern-Forager/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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. who later becomes a Green Lantern after Lor-Zod kills Tomar-Re.
The original Forager makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Harley Quinn episode "Inner (Para) Demons".

= Video games =

Forager appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=IGN}}

External links

[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=forager DCU Guide: Forager I] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015121425/http://dcuguide.com/who.php?name=FORAGER |date=2007-10-15}}
[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=forager2 DCU Guide: Forager II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211043141/http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=forager2 |date=2007-02-11}}