Animal Man #4-6
There they were, just sitting on the shelf. Sure the first issue was the fourth printing variant, but I didn't care. I just heard such good things about the book. So I caved in and bought all six issues. So here is a special quick review and run down of the next three issues.
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover: Travel Foreman
Inks: Jeff Hunt & Travel Foreman
The Comic
We pick up from the end of last issue. Ellen is driving with the Detective/Rot creature to her mother's house, a place that the fam decided to meet in case of emergency. Back in the Red, Animal is getting his but kicked.Maxine steps up and protects her father, sending the Rot away. Maxine has to heal her father and learn her powers. She does, and tells her father that she wants a costume.
We get a little more history of how the Hunters Three came to be. Basically, they are after a living avatar, who happens to be Maxine. If they possess her, then the Rot would spread throughout the Life Web. The Red warns Animal that Alec Holland, from Swamp Thing, is also encountering the Rot, and that means we will have a crossover sometime soon!
One of the Red creatures decides to leave the Red in order to help Maxine, even at the risk of never being able to return to the Red.
Meanwhile, Cliff has discovered that the Detective guy is bad news, and the creature needs to feed. Cue Ellen out to find out what happens. As she learns what is about to happen, Animal Man returns home to find everyone missing.
Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Highly. Next please!
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Travel Foreman and Steve Pugh (pgs 17-20)
Inks: Jeff Huet (pgs 1-16)
The Comic
Boom goes Ellen's shotgun at the Rot creature. Animal Man comes flying in as Cliff takes up the shotgun to the creature who has Ellen in his grasp. Then Animal Man gets shown what will happen if the Rot gets control of his daughter.
Now that's just gross and horrifying. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it.
Maxine uses her powers to get as many animals over to help her father. The animals eat the Rot, but instead of stopping it, the Rot has now spread into the animals and further into the Red. possessed animals, attack Animal Man and family!
The issue ends with the Red creature, who is a talking cat, telling the Baker family that the Rot is spreading like a sickness everywhere, and only the Swamp Thing can save them now.
If this was the end of a storyline, i would consider it kinda weak. As a comic on its own, it just seems to be wanting to tie things back up to get us ready for what is next, but it is very sparse. So, kinda like most of the issue #5s of the New 52.
Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 10/10 - just for the one scene that I just can't describe without getting sick.
Recommend: Eh. If you figure that not much will be resolved from the previous issue, then not too recommended. However, the art only is enough to get it.
Jeff Lemire: writer
John Paul Leon: artist pages 1-17
Travel Foreman: pencils pages 18-20
Jeff Huet: inks 18-20
The Comic
This seems like a filler issue, but it is an awesome filler. We get to see the movie that was discussed in the first issue that Buddy Baker starred in. The movie follows an alcoholic superhero as he tries to beat the habit. The thing is, he's a joke. He gets his ass handed to him by some kids and doesn't have too good of prospects with the family life. Just as the movie was progressing, the battery dies for the phone that it was being viewed on.
Back in reality, Cliff is covering up the fact that he was watching his dad's movie. We see that the family has hit the road, and the last panel reveals that the Rot is hot on their trail.
I loved the guest artist used for this issue. There is a very different style done here than in previous issues that reminds me of Michael Lark from Gotham Central and Daredevil fame. While I am sure that this is just the first part of the movie, I can't wait to see more coming.
Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Definitely. This is the way that you allow for your main story artist to get some time to catch up and take a break from regular art duties without sacrificing the story.
Previous Issues
Animal Man #1-3
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