Review: Animal Man #6

I’m going to piss a lot of people off, but fuck you.  If you are so perfect that you can lookdown from your ivory tower of fandom and cast judgment on the rest of us, thenstay up there and rot. 

But for those of us who love comic books and share afascination for the medium, then I invite you on this journey with me.

I have never read an Animal Man comic prior to this issue.  I remember way back when the pages of Wizard magazine lauded this book for its groundbreaking storylines by GrantMorrison.  The book took on an AlanMoore reverence—you know, the perfection of comic books that can do no wrong according to most comic book arguments.

I must say that this issue is no such letdown.  Now, I’ve shitted on books like Flash 4where the title character doesn’t appear until the end.  This issue doesn’t focus on Animal Manuntil the final, superpower free last pages.  So why did I enjoy this deviation from the main characterstoryline?  I enjoyed it for the sheer brilliance of storytelling.

Using a framework basedon a film, Animal Man #5 follows Chas ashe makes an attempt to get back into his son’s life.  The problem is that Chas suffers from alcoholism.  And he’s a former hero called RedThunder.  His wife is remarried toa better man.  His son thinks he’sa steaming pile of shit.

And when Chas puts the costume back on to relive old glory,he gets a two-booted ass kicking.   

You can read this issue in so many wonderful ways.  For instance, in the context of thestoryline, Red Thunder becomes a reflection of Buddy’s desire to protect hisfamily from The Rot.  From a realworld perspective, the Red Thunder embodies all of our failed dreams.

Although I’m not 100% familiar with the Animal Man comic, Isure the hell felt bad for Chas. And it’s been a long time since a comic book has made me feel more thanthe gee-whiz a man can fly feeling that comes with most costumed hero books.

Animal Man ismarvelous.

Score: 4/5

DC Comics

$2.99

Release Date: 2/1/12

Artists: Jeff LeMire and John Paul Leon

Pencils: Travel foreman

Inks: Jeff Huet