THE BEAST-MAN

Real Name: Amos (last name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human mutate (post-World War II era)

Occupation: Scientist, thief

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: His wife

Enemies: Alice Cartwright, John H. Cartwright

Known Relatives: Unidentified wife

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: An unidentified location in the USA

First Appearance: Strange Tales I#77 (October, 1960)

Powers/Abilities: Amos designed a chemical formula which transformed him physically into a dog while retaining his full human intelligence. In his dog form, he wore a collar with a hidden pouch in which he could conceal objects he had stolen. In order to regain his human form, he designed a machine which generated electromagnetic waves that restored him to his human form. If he waited longer than one hour from the time he ingested the formula, the machine would be unable to restore his humanity. However, the formula's effects would wear off after one month.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown

History:
(Strange Tales I#77/2) - Determined to apply his scientific genius in committing the world's perfect crime, Amos designed a chemical which could transform him into a dog. Amos tested his invention in the basement of his home, with his wife forbidden to enter his laboratory. In the first test of his formula, Amos transformed his right arm into a dog's leg. He then designed a machine which would emit electromagnetic waves. By lying on the machine, Amos' right arm was restored to normal. It took Amos nearly an hour to build the machine and if it had taken him longer than an hour, the transformation would have persisted. Amos was aware it would take one month for the formula to wear off. Having successfully transformed one arm into that of a dog, Amos schemed to continue his research until he could transform his entire body into that of a dog. Amos went upstairs for dinner and chastised his wife to keep out of his laboratory and keep from disturbing him. 

    Amos continued his research for several days until he finally made the serum strong enough to transform his entire body into that of a dog. Without hesitating, he drank the serum and immediately transformed into a dog. Stepping over to the machine, he activated it using his nose then returned to his human form.

    Heading upstairs, Amos told his wife he had to step out that evening. He went to the most expensive jewelry store in town and broke inside. While he was stealing valuable gems from a display case, he heard a policeman enter the shop. Donning a dog collar with a pouch for the gems, Amos took out the serum and drank it, again transforming into a dog. When the policeman saw him, he assumed the dog had been accidentally locked inside the shop. The policeman released Amos, who sped back to his basement laboratory and used the machine to revert to his human form. Amos realized he could have made a bigger haul from the jewelry store if the policeman hadn't interfered but as it was, he believed he could continue his robberies without being caught.

    For his next robbery, Amos targeted the home of John H. Cartwright, the richest man in town. While stealing valuable jewels from the house, he heard John and his wife Alice stirring. Again Amos donned his dog collar to conceal the jewels then drank the formula, becoming a dog. Amos fled out the window. Although John caught sight of Amos outside, he assumed he was a normal dog. Amos set off for his laboratory to access his machine but then something happened that he hadn't counted on: the town dog catcher captured him! Amos was confined in the town dog pound and realized that, since he couldn't access his machine, he would remain in that form for an entire month. He realized he'd been a fool.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer (either Stan Lee or Larry Lieber) and Don Heck.

    He was only called the Beast-Man in the title of his story ("I Am the Beast-Man!").

    Happy birthday to Snood, and remember: the next dog you treat could be a robber in a very cunning disguise! Check their collars for heisted gems!

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Beast-Man should not be confused with:

John H. Cartwright and Alice Cartwright

John H. Cartwright was said to be richest man in town. Amos targeted the Cartwright house for his second robbery and stole a number of valuable jewels. When John and his wife Alice awoke to hear noises in their house, they rose to investigate but, by the time they emerged, Amos had become a dog and escaped out a window. John saw Amos outside but assumed he was an ordinary stray dog.




--Strange Tales I#77/2

Amos' wife

Amos' wife was entirely unaware of his experiments and his goals. When he went out committing robberies in the form of a dog and wound up in the clutches of a dog catcher, she was left wondering why he didn't return that evening.





--Strange Tales I#77/2

Amos' machine

Amos' machine emitted electromagnetic waves that could reverse the effects of the formula he created, thus changing him from his dog form back into his original human state. However, the machine was only effective if used within one hour of the time when he ingested the formula. After an hour, the machine could not revert his transformations and he would have to wait one month for the formula to wear off. The machine was simple enough that Amos could activate it even while in his dog form.





--Strange Tales I#77/2

images: (without ads)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 2, panel 6 (Beast-Man, main)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 1 (Amos transforming)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 6, panel 4 (Amos as a dog)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 6, panel 3 (Cartwrights)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 2, panel 1 (wife)
Strange Tales I#77/2, page 3, panel 1 (machine)

Appearances:
Strange Tales I#77/2 (October, 1960) - unidentified writer, Don Heck (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 07/15/2025
Last updated: 07/15/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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