Who is Animal Man?
Animal Man is Buddy Baker. Beloved husband and loving father. Animal rights activist and vegetarian. And least (Yes, I said least) importantly, a superhero and a member of Justice League International.
Despite all of the critical acclaim that Grant Morrison's run on the title (#1-26) has received over the years, the character and title "Animal Man" is hardly known outside of the most hardcore comic book circles. Casual comic book readers know about Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, and Maus, but say Animal Man, and they're stupified. Animal Man has every right to stand aside the aforementioned greats -- but it doesn't. Why? Maybe it's because the art looks dated (the title's ONLY flaw, IMO). Or, maybe because the story revolves around a 3rd string hero that nobody knew about to begin with.
Well, I'm here to promote Grant Morrison's Animal Man. There are three TPBs out, which collect the entirety of Grant Morrison's run. Animal Man is Grant Morrison's best work. Yep, I said it. Better than the Invisibles. Better than JLA. Better than New X-Men. Better than Doom Patrol. Better than Flex Mentallo. Better than SeaGuy. Well, you get the idea.
What is Grant Morrison's Animal Man run about? Hard to say, without giving too much away. Basically, it's about Buddy Baker aka Animal Man, your average joe; a guy trying to make the world a better place, while also, trying to find his place in a world of colorful heroes, day-glo colors, and hokey villains. In terms of superpowers, Buddy can absorb the abilities of animals (animals being a broad term) -- say, the weight of an elephant, the flight of a bird... you get the idea.
Kicking off the #1, we learn that Buddy has quit the superhero game for a number of years, after marrying his high school sweetheart, Ellen. Now living in the San Diego suburbs with his wife and two kids, Buddy is inspired by recent headlines made by Justice League International. Of course, it becomes much more than this, but it's better than you go in with as little information as possible.
As mentioned earlier, there are three TPBs currently out: Animal Man, Animal Man: Origin of the Species, and Animal Man: Deux Ex Machina.
You might scoff at the notion of this being one of the greatest comics ever after the first TPB, but I assure you, but the end of the second, you'll realize how brilliant this book is. By the end of the third, you'll agree that this is one of the best comics of all time.
So yeah, please trust me on this one. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.
Animal Man is Buddy Baker. Beloved husband and loving father. Animal rights activist and vegetarian. And least (Yes, I said least) importantly, a superhero and a member of Justice League International.
Despite all of the critical acclaim that Grant Morrison's run on the title (#1-26) has received over the years, the character and title "Animal Man" is hardly known outside of the most hardcore comic book circles. Casual comic book readers know about Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, and Maus, but say Animal Man, and they're stupified. Animal Man has every right to stand aside the aforementioned greats -- but it doesn't. Why? Maybe it's because the art looks dated (the title's ONLY flaw, IMO). Or, maybe because the story revolves around a 3rd string hero that nobody knew about to begin with.
Well, I'm here to promote Grant Morrison's Animal Man. There are three TPBs out, which collect the entirety of Grant Morrison's run. Animal Man is Grant Morrison's best work. Yep, I said it. Better than the Invisibles. Better than JLA. Better than New X-Men. Better than Doom Patrol. Better than Flex Mentallo. Better than SeaGuy. Well, you get the idea.
What is Grant Morrison's Animal Man run about? Hard to say, without giving too much away. Basically, it's about Buddy Baker aka Animal Man, your average joe; a guy trying to make the world a better place, while also, trying to find his place in a world of colorful heroes, day-glo colors, and hokey villains. In terms of superpowers, Buddy can absorb the abilities of animals (animals being a broad term) -- say, the weight of an elephant, the flight of a bird... you get the idea.
Kicking off the #1, we learn that Buddy has quit the superhero game for a number of years, after marrying his high school sweetheart, Ellen. Now living in the San Diego suburbs with his wife and two kids, Buddy is inspired by recent headlines made by Justice League International. Of course, it becomes much more than this, but it's better than you go in with as little information as possible.
As mentioned earlier, there are three TPBs currently out: Animal Man, Animal Man: Origin of the Species, and Animal Man: Deux Ex Machina.
You might scoff at the notion of this being one of the greatest comics ever after the first TPB, but I assure you, but the end of the second, you'll realize how brilliant this book is. By the end of the third, you'll agree that this is one of the best comics of all time.
So yeah, please trust me on this one. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.