History:

During the 1920s and 1930s a new type of hero was appearing in the newsreels, the African big game hunter. Among the most notable of these were Frank Buck, Clyde Beatty and Paul Kirk. As a young man, Kirk made a reputation as a big-game hunter and tracker. Boasting superior tracking skills, Kirk lead game safaris and captured animals for zoos around the world in the late 1930's. He tired of the life, seeking greater challenges. His abilites came to the notice of a group of alien hunters known as The Manhunters, who track down criminals. Shortly after the United States entry into World War II, Kirk was tricked into joining the society of Manhunters by tracking down the murderer of his friend Police Inspector Donovan ( himself a Manhunter Agent ). Taking the name Manhunter and the costume as his own, Kirk had little contact with other Manhunter agents, including Dan Richards, who also calling himself Manhunter.

As World War II progressed, Kirk began working for OSS, an American Intellegence group, usually not in costume. Kirk undertook many brutal missions behind enemy lines, and by the time of the war's end, tired of the senseless brutality and took to Africa to try and heal the wounds his hunting had created on his soul.

In 1946, weary of living, Kirk was accidentily trampled by an elephant. Near death, his body was taken by a group called The Council, a eugenics group bent on world domination. Over the decades, while in suspended animation, Kirk's body was repaired and altered, giving him greater reflexes and the ability to heal wounds instantaneously. His genetic template was used in the groundforces of The Council, its soldiers were Kirk's clones.

Learning of The Council's plans for world conquest, Kirk shattered The Council and destroyed much of its resources, at the cost of his life. Duing his battles with the Council, he believed he destroyed all of his clones. There were two known survivors, however; one of the clones became a hero of sorts, infiltrating the Darkseid lead Secret Society of Super-Villains and smashing its plans for a time, at the cost of his own life. The other went back to Africa and became a mercenary, years later being shamed by Nightwing into funneling his talents towards helping others, though for a price as a member of The Power Company.

Chronological Appearances:

Secret Origins Vol. 2 #22 (January 1988): "Paul Kirk Manhunter"
Adventure Comics #73 (April 1942): "The Secret of the Buzzard's Revenge"
Adventure Comics #74 (May 1942): "Scavenger Hunt"
Adventure Comics #75 (June 1942): "Beware of Mr. Meek"
Adventure Comics #76 (July 1942): "The Legend of the Silent Bear"
Adventure Comics #77 (August 1942): "The Stone of Vengeance"
All-Star Squadron #31 (March 1984): "Uncle Sam Wants You"
All-Star Squadron #32 (April 1984): "Crisis On Earth-X The Prequel" [Behind the scenes]
Adventure Comics #78 (September 1942): "The Lady and the Tiger"
All-Star Squadron #59 (July 1986): "Out of the Ashes... Mekanique"
All-Star Squadron #60 (August 1986): "The End of the Beginning!"
Young All-Stars #3 (August 1987): "A Call to Arms"
Young All-Stars #7 (December 1987): "Somewhere in This Favored Land"
Young All-Stars #8 (January 1988): "Manhunters of the World, Unite..."
Young All-Stars #9 (February 1988): "You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Souls"
Young All-Stars Annual #1 (1988): "The Mekanique Paradox"
Adventure Comics #79 (October 1942): "Battles the Cobras of the Deep"
Young All-Stars #27 (July 1989): "Meanwhile..." [Flashback to events taking place during Adventure Comics #79]
Adventure Comics #80 (November 1942): "Man Trap Island"
Adventure Comics #81 (December 1942): "The Case of the Crying Cat"
Adventure Comics #82 (January 1943): "The Animal Murders"
Adventure Comics #83 (February 1943): "Justice Was Taken For a Joy Ride"
Adventure Comics #84 (March 1943): "The Adventure of the Animal Assassins"
Adventure Comics #85 (April-May 1943): "The Mystery of the Monster Bird"
Adventure Comics #86 (June-July 1943): "Catalogue of Crime"
Adventure Comics #87 (August-September 1943): "The Man from Yesterday"
Adventure Comics #88 (October-November 1943): "Loaded For Bear"
Adventure Comics #89 (December 1943-January 1944): "Fisherman's Fortune"
Adventure Comics #90 (February-March 1944): "Little Clerk--What Now?"
Adventure Comics #91 (April-May 1944): "Treasure Is Where You Take It"
Adventure Comics #92 (June-July 1944): "The Hand of Doom"
Thrilling Comics(v2) #1 (May 1999): "No More Tomorrows"
All-Star Comics(v2) #2 (Late May 1999): "Time's Arrow"
Detective Comics #439 (February-March 1974): "The Resurrection of Paul Kirk" [Flashback]
Detective Comics #440 (April-May 1974): "Rebellion" [Flashback]
Detective Comics #437 (October-November 1973): "The Himalayan Incident"
Detective Comics #438 (December 1973-January 1974): "The Manhunter File"
Power Company: Manhunter #1 (March 2002): "A Well-Respected Man..."
Detective Comics #439 (February-March 1974): "The Resurrection of Paul Kirk"
Detective Comics #440 (April-May 1974): "Rebellion"
Detective Comics #441 (June-July 1974): "Cathedral Perilous"
Detective Comics #442 (August-September 1974): "To Duel the Master"
Detective Comics #443 (October-November 1974): "Gotterdammerung"
Manhunter #13 (October 2005): "Manhunted Part 4: Skin Deep"

Profile written by: Jim 'Zilch' Doty
Profile and Appearances found and copied from: DCUGuide.com