Name: B'Wana Beast
Universe: Earth-1
Alter Ego: Michael Payson Maxwell
Occupation: Game Ranger, Zoologist
Marital Status: Single
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Zambesi Nation, Africa
Known Relatives: Gilbert Maxwell (father)
Height: 6 ft.
Weight: 185 lbs.
Hair Color: Blond
Eye Color: Blue
First Appearance: Showcase #66

History:
After graduating from college with highest honors, Mike Maxwell declined his millionaire father's offer to join the family business, and instead decided to join his college roommate, Rupert Kenboya, in Africa, becoming a game warden and head of the Zambesi nation's new animal preserves.

When the private aircraft carrying Maxwell and Kenboya to Zambesi was struck by lightning and crashed atop Mount Kilimanjaro, the two injured men took refuge in the cavern home of a mutant red ape. While drinking rainwater that had been filtered through the cavern's mineral-laden walls, Maxwell suddenly found he was growing larger, stronger, and more ferocious, and was able to subdue the attacking red ape with ease.

Acknowledging Maxwell as its master, the red ape retrieved an ancient helmet from the depths of the cave and placed it upon Maxwell's head. Through the helmet, Maxwell was able to read the ape's mind, and discovered its name was Djuba. He also discovered that the helmet enabled him to control the actions of all other animals.

Agreeing these new powers must be used for the good of all Africa, Maxwell created the identity of B'wana Beast, and became the Dark Continent's super troubleshooter.

Powers:
When he drinks the unique waters of the Kilimanjaro cavern, Maxwell's body swells to heroic proportions, granting him super-strength and super-speed likened to the strongest and swiftest of Africa's wildlife. The duration of these powers depends entirely upon how much of the water Maxwell has drunk. The red ape Djuba always carries a supply of this water in a large vial worn around his neck.

As well as granting him telepathic mastery over all wildlife, the helmet worn by B'wana Beast enables him to combine beasts of two different species into one large mutated creature, which exhibits the greatest strengths of both. These transformations are also of limited duration, and the two beasts are then separated again, unharmed.

A skilled hand-to-hand combatant, B'wana Beast is also possessed of animal strength, cunning, and reflexes, which heighten his five senses to a superhuman level.