Comics! Animal Man #19

Animal Man #19

Jeff Lemire: writer
Steve Pugh: artist

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Let's just forget about this whole Rotworld thing, shall we?

At least, that is the impression I get after reading this book. There are ramifications to acknowledge, such as Buddy's son's death, but this book gives me the feeling that it will be trying to move away form the whole Rotworld breakdown in story that happened before this.

Honestly, if anything should have been labeled an "epilogue," then this issue fits the bill. It really feels like it wants to move forward at the end.

This issue brings the same feelings to me that Batwing #19 did. It gave enough story to everything that happened before but then leaves you on an ending that just felt like it was too soon. In that regard, both books did offer very good transitional material for their respective stories.

Something that bothered me about Ellen in this story is that I don't see how her character has progressed much since the first issue of the series. She still is in denial about anything involving superheroes and the supernatural when it comes to her family. The one thing her personality does mirror is buddy's outright ignorance to his role within the Red. The art for this issue started the story mirroring how each of these character's spent their time before Cliff's funeral, at it was looking over these pages that I got the sense of both Buddy and Eleen's denial.

It is funny to think that the only character who has really grown is Maxine. My only sense of hope that he character makes it is that she provides the key to whatever it will take to get Ellen and Buddy to realize their character flaws. I could see her serving as a good vehicle for that character development.

I will say that with less of a focus on all things Rotworld, this book makes a good first step towards coming out of that crossover nonsense and being able to stand on its own two feet.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Alright, let's move on.
Buy Next Issue: Going to give it a go.