Rating: 
Summary: Low-quality reprint
Review: The stories in this volume are classics, one of the best modern rebirths of a superhero, but the format of the collection isn't of the same quality. The printing and paper quality are perhaps a step down from the original single issues, and are certainly no upgrade from those. One of Bollands ugliest paintings has been chosen for the cover, and there are no extras to speak of. The interior title and intro pages feature animals prints in clashing neon tones. I would prefer to may more for a finer version, as I believe Animal Man deserves better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: The transformation of a superhero
Review: These first nine issues of the Animal Man ongoing series are a stellar example of a minor character becoming much more through the vision of an imaginative and challenging creator. The art is solid, clear throughout, but this is clearly Grant Morrison's book - his stories' complex structure and their multiple levels of interpretation usually dictate the tone of the illustrations, which are mostly functional. This volume showcases variety and evolution: a fairly straightforward but memorable initial arc (#1-4) is followed by a symbolic tale (#5), while the last four issues tackle, among other things, an invasion and a villain's autobiography; despite this variety, every issue has important consequences on what follows. Reading the last few pages of this volume, one does not get a true sense of closure, and some confusion arises from the later issues (crossovers are mainly to blame - Morrison's introductory notes do explain some of the difficulties) - to get the most out of these stories, it's necessary to also buy the two following trade paperbacks. The merging of worlds, which was to become the series' trademark, is only beginning here; it's rarely subtle, but often provocative.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Grant Morrison
Review: This book starts as an above average story of a second rate superhero, but what makes this book really special is the reprint of 'The Coyote Gospel', probably the best single issue story I have ever read, and a thinly disguised tribute to the great downtrodden Wile E Coyote of Roadrunner fame. After buying this book, seek out the remaining 18 or so issues of Animal Man that Grant Morrison did, which challenge the reality of Animal Man's world and are in my opinion Grant Morrison's best work to date.
Rating: 
Summary: The entire Grant Morrison run, back in print!
Review: This review is actually for all 3 trade paperback volumes of Grant Morrison's ANIMAL MAN, back for all to conveniently enjoy. After 10 years of having only Volume 1 in print, DC FINALLY printed the rest of Morrison's run in a Volume 2 and 3, giving us the complete story, a defining work for a great comic writer. To try to explain the entire storyline in just a few paragraphs would be woefully inadequate, but I will say that, while ANIMAL MAN could be defined as Grant Morrison voicing his opinions on animal rights, it is so much more than that: First, it's a study of how the world of comics interacts with (our) reality - almost mind-bendingly so. Morrison drops hints from the beginning of his run that our perceptions of "reality" in the DC Universe will be challenged with these stories. It takes over 20 issues to make his final point, but brother is it worth it. From the Looney-Tunes-ish antics of "The Coyote Gospel" to the revelations of the villain Psycho-Pirate (the only character who remembers the DCU before the Crisis), this is some very creative work. Second, these stories are a tribute to the pre-Crisis DC Universe. It's putting it mildly that Grant Morrison misses the timelines and characters eliminated by the Crisis, and in ANIMAL MAN, he does what he can to make sure that we don't forget the richness and fun of the Golden and Silver Ages. His final 3 or so issues made me feel even MORE ashamed that the Crisis ever happened. I will say this, however: if the Crisis created the fertile ground for stories like this, then I'll accept it. It's a case of being thankful for the good and the bad. Brian Bolland provides excellent covers for the series. I always felt it was a shame that he couldn't do the interiors as well. The work of Chas Truog, regular series artist, is lacking. The few issues with guest artists were welcome breaks from Truog's visually boring style. Don't let that hold you back, however, as his art does improve somewhat over time, and the story more than makes up for it.
Rating:
Summary: The entire Grant Morrison run, back in print!
Review: This review is actually for all 3 trade paperback volumes of Grant Morrison's ANIMAL MAN, back for all to conveniently enjoy. After 10 years of having only Volume 1 in print, DC FINALLY printed the rest of Morrison's run in a Volume 2 and 3, giving us the complete story, a defining work for a great comic writer. To try to explain the entire storyline in just a few paragraphs would be woefully inadequate, but I will say that, while ANIMAL MAN could be defined as Grant Morrison voicing his opinions on animal rights, it is so much more than that: First, it's a study of how the world of comics interacts with (our) reality - almost mind-bendingly so. Morrison drops hints from the beginning of his run that our perceptions of "reality" in the DC Universe will be challenged with these stories. It takes over 20 issues to make his final point, but brother is it worth it. From the Looney-Tunes-ish antics of "The Coyote Gospel" to the revelations of the villain Psycho-Pirate (the only character who remembers the DCU before the Crisis), this is some very creative work. Second, these stories are a tribute to the pre-Crisis DC Universe. It's putting it mildly that Grant Morrison misses the timelines and characters eliminated by the Crisis, and in ANIMAL MAN, he does what he can to make sure that we don't forget the richness and fun of the Golden and Silver Ages. His final 3 or so issues made me feel even MORE ashamed that the Crisis ever happened. I will say this, however: if the Crisis created the fertile ground for stories like this, then I'll accept it. It's a case of being thankful for the good and the bad. Brian Bolland provides excellent covers for the series. I always felt it was a shame that he couldn't do the interiors as well. The work of Chas Truog, regular series artist, is lacking. The few issues with guest artists were welcome breaks from Truog's visually boring style. Don't let that hold you back, however, as his art does improve somewhat over time, and the story more than makes up for it.
Rating:
Summary: The dawning of Vertigo
Review: What we have here is a TPB that reprints one of the earliest works of Grant Morisson, now famous mostly for "Invisibles". Morisson took an already existing, but underused and relatively anonimous, character that is named Animalman and he tried to make him into something more appealing to people/readers. A goal in which he succeeded reasonably well. This trade makes clear why Animalman later turned out to be suitable for the Vertigo-line, the 'feel' is already here. Overall it is a pretty good read. There are 9 issues in here with 6 of them good, 1 superb and 2 a little less. The flaw of those two issues that aren't that great is that they are both part of a multi-series cross-over DC had going at that time named "Invasion". These issues are a little hard to place without reading the rest of the cross-over. The other issues are a very nice read for both people who are into superheroes as for people who are more orientated outside the superhero-scene. ONE issue named "The Coyote Gospel" stands out because it is THAT good. It's a great tale about an animal who everybody fears but turns out to be the only reason mankind as it is still exists. Full of methaphors and symbolism it's one of the better issues there is from the early days of Vertigo. I'd recommend this trade to people who are into Vertigo and to people who like to read about the more human side of superheroes. If you are in one of those categories you'll probably like this trade.
|
