Ani-Men

First appearing in Daredevil #10 (October 1965), the Ani-Men were created in Marvel Comics as a recurring team name applied to different groups. The original lineup (Ape-Man, Bird-Man, Cat-Man, Frog-Man) were costumed criminals recruited by a man calling himself the Organizer (Abner Jonas). Later incarnations include a Count Nefaria-upgraded team whose members were submitted to a process by Dr. Kenneth Sturdy that gave them superhuman powers and animalistic appearances, a team organized or used by Death-Stalker and other underworld figures, an independent group of anthropomorphic militants who attacked a convention center, and a High Evolutionary incarnation (also spelled "Animen") composed of his New Men (evolved animals such as Buzzard, Crushtacean, Flying Fox, Komodo, and Spinneret).

Appearance varies by incarnation. The original costumed Ani-Men wore themed costumes matching their codenames (e.g., Ape-Man in an ape-like suit, Bird-Man in a bird-like suit, Cat-Man in a cat-themed outfit, Frog-Man in a frog-themed suit); Dragonfly is noted as a female member possessing dragonfly-like abilities. Under Count Nefaria's modification the characters were described as gaining superhuman powers and more animalistic appearances after the process administered by Dr. Kenneth Sturdy. The High Evolutionary's Ani-Men (Animen) are physically evolved animals — named Buzzard, Crushtacean, Flying Fox, Komodo, and Spinneret — and independent incarnations have included overtly anthropomorphic figures such as Giraffe-Man, Great Horned Owl-Man, Pig-Man, and Rabbit-Woman.

Abilities are incarnation- and member-specific. The original costumed criminals are primarily human operatives whose documented traits in sources include Cat-Man's feline agility, Frog-Man's Olympic-level leaping, and Ape-Man's strength; otherwise they function as conventional criminal combatants. After Count Nefaria's scientific alterations the team members were described as possessing superhuman powers alongside animalistic appearances. The High Evolutionary's New Men are evolved animals and are portrayed with the implied abilities of their animal forms (e.g., a buzzard-derived character, a spider-derived Spinneret). Behaviorally, Ani-Men have been used as hired muscle, agents for villains (Organizer, Count Nefaria, Death-Stalker, Spymaster, High Evolutionary), and in at least one instance acted as militant anthropomorphic attackers motivated by perceived transgressions against animals.