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psantic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alex_kies's review
3.0
The first part of this arc is pretty good, with Lemire returning to what worked so well in the beginning of the series, i.e. the intersection of celebrity and superheroism, this time with a lot more pathos layered on top. The Anansa story is prime Animal Man, he has the ability to diffuse conflict instead of winning a conflict.
However, that story is shanghaied in the name of another "Epic Save the Whole World and Several Dimensions" storyline set in the Red. I guess that's my complaint with superhero stories at large right now, that not everything has to be a huge epic narrative. Animal Man has, in all its iterations, transcended the form by allowing Buddy to be an explorer and diplomat, instead of a capital H hero. It just seems like these mandates come down from DC, and Marvel is guilty of the same thing. I wish the suits would just let Lemire make a weird horror/superhero comic.
However, that story is shanghaied in the name of another "Epic Save the Whole World and Several Dimensions" storyline set in the Red. I guess that's my complaint with superhero stories at large right now, that not everything has to be a huge epic narrative. Animal Man has, in all its iterations, transcended the form by allowing Buddy to be an explorer and diplomat, instead of a capital H hero. It just seems like these mandates come down from DC, and Marvel is guilty of the same thing. I wish the suits would just let Lemire make a weird horror/superhero comic.
sherpawhale's review
4.0
I'd give this a 5 if it weren't for the fact that I know I considered dropping this after Cliff died. Cliff won't let anything happen to his kids, they're his raison d'etre, yada yada yada. Same for Ellen.
However, the Brother Blood arc has heatly rejuvenated this series' life blood. I think it was issue 23 that made me heark back 2 years ago to issue 2, which convinced me to stick around for the long haul.
However, the Brother Blood arc has heatly rejuvenated this series' life blood. I think it was issue 23 that made me heark back 2 years ago to issue 2, which convinced me to stick around for the long haul.
theartolater's review
3.0
Animal Man is slowly losing me, and it may have lost me for good had this not gotten cancelled.
There are a few really interesting thing with The Red and the Animal Man persona going around here. This is contrasted by some really frustrating celebrity hand-wringing and the story itself getting bogged down a bit in its own backstory/mythology. It's still well-written, it's just getting more and more frustrating on a whole.
Still good on a whole, but a bit of a misstep here.
There are a few really interesting thing with The Red and the Animal Man persona going around here. This is contrasted by some really frustrating celebrity hand-wringing and the story itself getting bogged down a bit in its own backstory/mythology. It's still well-written, it's just getting more and more frustrating on a whole.
Still good on a whole, but a bit of a misstep here.
nonesensed's review
3.0
Enjoyed Maxine's adventures in meat land, not too invested in Animal Man's thing yet.
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