Welcome to yet another issue of RazorFine Presents Comic Spotlight as we take a look at comic heroes, villains, and everything in between. This week we shine the comic spotlight on one of the “lesser” heroes of the DC Universe, Animal Man. For over forty years he’s fought for truth, justice, and the rights of the furry (think Manimal in spandex, well, kind of). Peaking in popularity during the 1980’s during an exceptional run by Grant Morrison, our hero is currently back in action in a DC mini-series as a tie-in to Countdown to Final Crisis.
Animal Man
Name: Bernhard “Buddy” Baker
1st Appearance: Strange Adventures issue #180
Currently Appearing: Countdown to Adventure
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Created by Dave Wood and Carmine Infantino way back in 1965 Animal Man has had a long, and mostly troubled, history. Mostly a minor character and guest-star for the first 20 years (always a bridesmaid…) Animal Man found new life during the revamp of the DC Universe following Crisis on Infinite Earths. A young writer named Grant Morrison asked for and was given the opportunity to update the character. Animal Man became a big hit as a result, and the rest, as they say is history.
Animal Man has the power to mimic the abilities of any animal (living or dead) by tapping into “The Red” a Lifeweb of all animals who have ever existed. Over the years he has shown many examples of this including super-strength (T-Rex), flight (bird), camouflage (chameleon), electricity (eel), breathe underwater (fish), regrow lost limbs (worm), and use a sonic blast (pistol shrimp) among many others. Not usually, but sometimes he mimics appearance of animals including once having his hands become the claws of a wolverine. He also has the ability to commune and empathize with animals.
It was Morrison’s fresh take on the character and comic heroes in general that garnered interest. Under Morrison’s eye Animal Man became an everyman in a world of heroes who dealt with both real and supernatural issues including his struggle to be a good husband and father. The series is also noteworthy for its many mentions of the DC Multiverse, promoting animal rights and vegetarianism, and Morrison’s willingness to break the fourth wall (even writing himself in as God), and play with both the reader’s and the character’s expectations (including a terrific send-up of Willie E. Coyote in issue #5 entitled “The Coyote Gospel”).
Given the higher visibility of the character he was given a spot on the new Justice League spin-off Justice League Europe, but only stuck around for 12 issues due to he brutal murder of his wife and children at the end of Morrison’s run on Animal Man.
After Morrison’s departure the comic struggled with Buddy’s search into totems and the meaning of his powers. Starting with issue #57 the character was moved to the Vertigo line in what would become more of a horror book with the super-hero aspects of the character removed.
And then history repeated itself as the character returned to his roots. Animal Man once again became a periphery character popping up from time to time as a guest star or a member of the larger DCU in crossovers like Infinite Crisis. Finally the character was given new life in 52 and is currently part of the Countdown tie-in mini-series Countdown to Adventure along with other cast-off characters including Starfire and Adam Strange.
I’d recommend Morrison’s run on Animal Man to everyone. All 26 issues are available in three graphic novels (check them out here, here, and here). I’d also recommend his short stint with Justice League Europe for fans of the funny and absurd.
I’m a huge fan of Cartoon Network’s Justice League (as you, our longtime readers know- read reviews here and here). One of my few criticisms of the series was their incorporation of both B’wana Beast and Vixen (both who found larger readership in Animal Man as recurring characters) but not Animal Man himself. Although the character has struggled mightily over the last decade another huge crossover has given him new life and I’m glad to see him back in costume and hope DC has a place for him in the future.