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brantelg's review
5.0
Having just re-read the entire Animal Man run by Grant Morrison again in 2016, it is interesting to see how the series reads as an introduction and explanation of concepts that would be fully realized decades later. (Example: comics leaking between worlds as a method for different universes to speak to each other, like in Multiversity)
But that speaks to what I love most about Morrison's DC Comics works, he creates a rich tapestry of interesting ideas, unfolding over decades. The stories typically work on their own, but you are rewarded for reading them all.
But that speaks to what I love most about Morrison's DC Comics works, he creates a rich tapestry of interesting ideas, unfolding over decades. The stories typically work on their own, but you are rewarded for reading them all.
testpattern's review
5.0
Ah, the days when metafiction and comics were just going on their first dates. I'm so glad this is finally collected in trade paperback. Animal Man was so much fun. The art is kind of lame early 90s bad DC house style, until the end of the book. I always cry at the end.
crowyhead's review
4.0
This volume completes Grant Morrison's weird, post-modern run on Animal Man. Like the work he was doing on Doom Patrol at the same time, this manages to both be tongue-and-cheek and emotionally affecting. The first volume in this series is not so great, but Origin of the Species and Deus Ex Machina are definitely worth seeking out.
adrianasturalvarez's review
4.0
This final volume of Morrison's run on the Animal Man title culminates in balls out meta-fiction, which was interesting for all its implied, abstract elements of contemplation but as far as the text itself it worked as a kind of short hand for theoretical work a reader could do, you know, on his own time. Lack of intellectual rigor aside, this is a comic book, meaning it has certain responsibilities to entertainment as well as enlightenment and I thought Morrison balanced both wonderfully.
I am so glad I read Crisis On Infinite Earths before this series as much of the last issues in this volume deal directly with that event, even critiquing its foundation (what does it mean when a character is "outdated" and needs to end? What is a character? When does a character live?). Animal Man develops into a sort of comic book superhero version of Sartre's No Exit crossed with Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author. Though the final surprise confrontation comes off a little kitschy (like Julia Roberts playing herself in Ocean's 12), this story was written at a time when postmodernism wasn't as familiar as it may be now.
I definitely recommend this three volume series but I think a reader gains more from reading Crisis On Infinite Earths as prerequisite literature, if only for the final volume. In any case, this certainly has been a great introduction to Grant Morrison's interests and daring as a writer.
I am so glad I read Crisis On Infinite Earths before this series as much of the last issues in this volume deal directly with that event, even critiquing its foundation (what does it mean when a character is "outdated" and needs to end? What is a character? When does a character live?). Animal Man develops into a sort of comic book superhero version of Sartre's No Exit crossed with Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author. Though the final surprise confrontation comes off a little kitschy (like Julia Roberts playing herself in Ocean's 12), this story was written at a time when postmodernism wasn't as familiar as it may be now.
I definitely recommend this three volume series but I think a reader gains more from reading Crisis On Infinite Earths as prerequisite literature, if only for the final volume. In any case, this certainly has been a great introduction to Grant Morrison's interests and daring as a writer.
ladydewinter's review
5.0
What a trippy and absolutely fantastic read! I was actually glad that my train was delayed (while I was sitting in it, mind you) so I got the chance to finish this tonight.
I'm changing my rating of the first book from 4 to 5 because you really have to see this series as a whole and I just love it when (tiny!) stuff that comes up in the first couple of issues turns out to be all part of the big picture. Add to that that this is a really engaging story with great characters plus some animal rights activism and all the meta you could wish for and you have, well, Grant Morrison's Animal Man. There are also some really funny moments, and heartbreaking ones and mindblowing ones. The three volumes should definitely be read in one go, though, and I suppose knowledge of the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths would definitely help.
"I saw another world and it was worse that this one. It was like I glimpsed heaven and... and it wasn't paradise. It was more like hell. What if God, or whoever it is, created us to be better than himself? What if God's reality... heaven, if you like... what if it's so bad that he had to imagine us to help make his life bearable?"
"It's really over. God, I'm talking in clichés! That proves we're not characters in a story. No one would write such terrible dialogue..."
I'm changing my rating of the first book from 4 to 5 because you really have to see this series as a whole and I just love it when (tiny!) stuff that comes up in the first couple of issues turns out to be all part of the big picture. Add to that that this is a really engaging story with great characters plus some animal rights activism and all the meta you could wish for and you have, well, Grant Morrison's Animal Man. There are also some really funny moments, and heartbreaking ones and mindblowing ones. The three volumes should definitely be read in one go, though, and I suppose knowledge of the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths would definitely help.
"I saw another world and it was worse that this one. It was like I glimpsed heaven and... and it wasn't paradise. It was more like hell. What if God, or whoever it is, created us to be better than himself? What if God's reality... heaven, if you like... what if it's so bad that he had to imagine us to help make his life bearable?"
"It's really over. God, I'm talking in clichés! That proves we're not characters in a story. No one would write such terrible dialogue..."
saif42's review
2.0
Grant Morrison is my favourite writer in comics. I love the style, the weirdness, and its all here. This is also his first series of note and you can definitely see how his style developed as he went on to work on other series. I think if anybody picks up Animal Man they're going to be put off Morrison, especially if they read the whole run. This is Morrison at his preachiest, at his most immature, and using an ending that I never imagined I would see in comics and hope to never see again. That's why vol. 3 in the series has the lowest rating whereas I kind of didn't hate the others.
Perhaps its Animal Man himself and how he was sort of pushed into the DC event that led to the overarching plot in his own series, perhaps it was just the plot itself that was weak, my takeaway from this series is that its definitely Morrison's weakest work and absolutely skippable. Kind of regret reading it, kind of ok with at least 'knowing' where Morrison's wild ride started.
Perhaps its Animal Man himself and how he was sort of pushed into the DC event that led to the overarching plot in his own series, perhaps it was just the plot itself that was weak, my takeaway from this series is that its definitely Morrison's weakest work and absolutely skippable. Kind of regret reading it, kind of ok with at least 'knowing' where Morrison's wild ride started.
librarimans's review
5.0
Animal Man is still Morrison's best comic run, and still my favorite run by anyone.
the_graylien's review
5.0
HERE we go. Grant Morrison's third and final volume of Animal Man. "Deus ex Machina". "God in the Machine".
This volume, in short, turned the whole of Grant Morrison's run on this title into absolute genius. Gone is the ineffectual Buddy Baker, stumbling through being a superhero while the world and its events go on around him. Here is the iconic, mystic, reality-questioning Morrison work all his fans have grown to love.
In this final volume (collecting issues #18-26), Morrison has given us a commentary on the entire medium of comics/graphic fiction, a powerful revenge story, and insight into the mind of the creator.
To say much more would be to spoil this brilliant collection, but rest assured, if you've gone through prior volumes of Animal Man and not found them to your liking, your need to go back, reread all those and then come to this volume for your reward.
Recommended for fans of Morrison, great comics/fiction and all who didn't believe that Animal Man could be absolutely stunning.
***Thoughts upon rereading in November of 2015***
Brilliance. Just utter genius.
This volume, in short, turned the whole of Grant Morrison's run on this title into absolute genius. Gone is the ineffectual Buddy Baker, stumbling through being a superhero while the world and its events go on around him. Here is the iconic, mystic, reality-questioning Morrison work all his fans have grown to love.
In this final volume (collecting issues #18-26), Morrison has given us a commentary on the entire medium of comics/graphic fiction, a powerful revenge story, and insight into the mind of the creator.
To say much more would be to spoil this brilliant collection, but rest assured, if you've gone through prior volumes of Animal Man and not found them to your liking, your need to go back, reread all those and then come to this volume for your reward.
Recommended for fans of Morrison, great comics/fiction and all who didn't believe that Animal Man could be absolutely stunning.
***Thoughts upon rereading in November of 2015***
Brilliance. Just utter genius.
kissem4me's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lowthor's review
4.0
Gets very Morrison by the end. I can see how you get from here to things like the Filth. The man's slightly odd.