Really weird and really great. ( )

I've been enjoying these old, eighties style Animal Man graphic novels. Campy, serious, funny, bizarre. Love the Baker's eighties living room. I think I grew up with that furniture.

There are so many things going on. I'm pretty confused but there's enough of a cohesive story line that I can follow along well enough. There were origin stories about the aliens, stories about Africa, about dolphin killing, about animal test subjects. Moments where Buddy says "I can't do this anymore. I can't be Animal Man!"

Hopefully, on to the next one (if I can find a copy).

One interesting thing to note: When the Bakers are in Paris having a crazy adventure with the Time Commander, on a bathroom stall we see some graffiti - "quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" I don't know much French, but I assumed it was "who will watch the watchmen?". I looked it up and that is what it says. Watchmen predates these issues of Animal Man, so. . . . ( )

More philosophical play from Grant Morrison. This volume definitely shows a marked interest in political activism: anti-animal testing, anti-whaling, vegetarianism, and even anti-superhero violence. In one story, images of violence being committed against dolphins prefigure with stunning accuracy the documentary footage captured in The Cove.

Most interesting to me, however were the storylines involving a mysterious "red man" who challenges the very foundations of reality for the characters he interacts with.

I'll definitely be continuing on with volume 3 of Morrison's Animal Man series. More than the first volume, this one was written for the meta-narrative-ly inclined and I can only imagine he goes further down that path as he develops these characters. ( )

More philosophical play from Grant Morrison. This volume definitely shows a marked interest in political activism: anti-animal testing, anti-whaling, vegetarianism, and even anti-superhero violence. In one story, images of violence being committed against dolphins prefigure with stunning accuracy the documentary footage captured in The Cove.

Most interesting to me, however were the storylines involving a mysterious "red man" who challenges the very foundations of reality for the characters he interacts with.

I'll definitely be continuing on with volume 3 of Morrison's Animal Man series. More than the first volume, this one was written for the meta-narrative-ly inclined and I can only imagine he goes further down that path as he develops these characters. ( )

Starting to get darker and a little more intriguing. I really like the way that Grant Morrison sort of, kind of breaks the fourth wall but at the same time keeps it within the confines of the story and its own characters. It's really strange, as per typical Grant Morrison writing, but it is highly enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the Dolphin issue, because it reminded me so much of the documentary The Cove. Basically, Morrison was onto certain social and moral issues in the 90's that weren't even highlighted until almost 10 years into the following century, and he did it using a comic book character that uses the strengths of animals around him for power. How about that, importance of comic books? I'm starting to understand the significance of Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man, as well as seeing why it is held as one of the legendary runs by comic authors. ( )