Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Titans season 4, episode 9, “Dude, Where’s My Gar?”The story of Titans season 4 took an astonishing twist when it introduced the hero Freedom Beast. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Chaz Truog for the Animal Man comic book, Freedom Beast has one of the most memorable powers in superhero history, as well as a unique backstory. This made him the perfect mentor for Beast Boy, whose evolving powers and inability to control them have played a major role in the plot of Titans season 4.
Gar Logan’s fate following the cliffhanger mid-season finale of Titans season 4 was revealed in Titans season 4, episode 9, “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” Beast Boy awoke in a cave on Mount Kilimanjaro and was greeted by a man, whom he recognized as the stranger that warned him to visit The Red “when the tower splits in half” in Titans season 4, episode 6, “Brother Blood.” The stranger introduced himself as Freedom Beast and confirmed that they were but two of the many heroes who had protected the Earth using the powers of animals since the dawn of time.
Freedom Beast’s Titans Backstory Explained
Freedom Beast reveals that he was once a man named Dominic Mndawe, who lost his family to the same Green Plague that killed Beast Boy’s parents. He left his past life behind after he was given the Helmet of the Beast by Mike “Bwana Beast” Maxwell. Since that day, he has acted as a protector of the environment, striking at those who “profit off pain,” like the scientists responsible for creating the Green Plague. This is part of the reason he brought Beast Boy to him through The Red, thinking they might bond through their shared pain. Yet he also seeks a successor to take his place and end his vigil.
Freedom Beast’s backstory in Titans season 4 is largely true to his comic book origin story from Animal Man #13. The chief difference is that the comic book Freedom Beast was more politically motivated, using his powers to fight against the Apartheid regime of South Africa, as well as poachers and other enemies of the environment. The comic book Freedom Beast also had a history as a political dissident, taking photos of racially motivated acts of violence being committed by White Afrikaner police officers against Black civilians. There’s no suggestion of Titans‘ Freedom Beast having a similar background beyond his liberty-based codename.
What Powers Freedom Beast Has In Titans (& In DC Comics)
Freedom Beast describes his powers as being at “one with all beasts, who breed and bleed.” Later, he clarifies this point, explaining to Beast Boy that the Helmet of the Beast gives him “strength, stamina, and the ability to fuse two creatures into one super-hybrid” as well as an extended lifespan and slowed aging. The Helmet also gives him a connection to The Red, and through it, the ability to sense the presence of animals empathically and communicate with them. The Red also grants him the powers of teleportation and postcognition, which he uses to show parts of his past to Beast Boy.
All of these powers are in keeping with Freedom Beast’s abilities in the comics and the powers potentially available to any hero who taps into The Red. The only difference is that the Freedom Beast of the comics accessed his powers through the Helmet of the Beast and a magic elixir. It is possible the Freedom Beast of Titans does the same thing, as he gives Beast Boy a potion that helps him to access The Red on his own. The comic book Freedom Beast also has a healing factor. It’s possible Titans’ Freedom Beast has this power as well, but there is no occasion for him to demonstrate it.
How Beast Boy Is Connected To Freedom Beast
Beyond their shared grief from having lost their families to the Green Plague, Freedom Beast and Beast Boy share a connection to the same mystic power source. Freedom Beast outlines the history of beast-themed heroes to Beast Boy, showing him that his helmet has passed through a succession of superheroes who used its powers to tap into The Red. He also mentions Animal Man and Vixen, two superheroes who also tap into The Red to mimic the powers of different animals. Freedom Beast says that Beast Boy taps The Red as they do but that he does not need a magic artifact to do it.
Freedom Beast says that Beast Boy’s connection to The Red is stronger than the one granted by the Helmet of the Beast, being able to become animals rather than merely borrowing their power. This means that Beast Boy potentially has the ability to do far more with his connection to The Red than Freedom Beast once he is properly trained to take advantage of it. This is why Freedom Beast believes that Beast Boy is meant to take over his role as the lead Champion of the Red.
Will Freedom Beast Return In Titans Season 4?
It is unclear if Freedom Beast will have a larger role to play in Titans season 4 following the episode “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” His primary purpose in appearing in the show was to act as a mentor to Beast Boy and to offer some exposition regarding the full range of powers available to him through The Red. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Beast Boy falling out of The Red into unfamiliar territory after making contact with Freedom Beast one more time. It is possible Freedom Beast might need to act to rescue Gar Logan from whatever trouble he’s put himself in.
It’s also possible that Freedom Beast will join the fight against Brother Blood on his own, believing this to be the final battle of his long life before Beast Boy officially replaces him. The two heroes clashed throughout “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” with Freedom Beast insisting that those who connect to The Red must live apart from humanity and avoid personal connections. Gar Logan insisted that made no sense, given that his powers only made him feel more connected to everyone, especially his family in the Titans. Despite this, he did agree to take on the Champion of the Red role once Brother Blood was defeated.
Titans season 4 continues on Thursdays on HBO Max.
Key Release Dates
