Review:
Hello, Hello, We’re from a place called Vertigo

Amongst all the other things it freed them to up to do, the DC revamp has allowed some of its wayward children to return home…

Buddy Baker it seems has used his powers to mimic the abilities of any animal very wisely. Whether it was borrowed from an Ant or a Puffin (or a Badger for all I know, I’m not Terry Nutkins) it would appear that he has successfully scouted a migratory path back to the DC Universe for not only himself, but for many other “darker figures” that previously had found themselves unwelcome and left to fend for themselves.

The point of this article is NOT to take away the success (or lack of it in certain cases) of their titles in Vertigo but to welcome them home.

Animal Man & Swamp Thing

The aforementioned Buddy Baker and the recently resurrected Alec Holland find themselves the champions of fauna and flora respectively in two new (and one can be safe to assume likely to intertwine) titles. Between them they must protect the Red and the Green from the Rot…

Early on both our heroes discover how the buck does not begin and end with them, rather they both have an obligation to something much more important, precious and ultimately at risk.

The last time I personally read any of the exploits of Mr Baker was in Countdown to Adventure where aside from a few poignant moments he was (in my humble and possibly incorrect opinion) treated very much as the “light relief” alongside of the emotional strain being felt by Adam Strange and Starfire as they attempt to readapt to lives post 52.

Believe me when I say that after reading Animal Man #1 I am not going to accuse this title of falling in the light relief category without there having been some drastic changes in direction… Dark, gritty and more than a little gruesome.

From a purely personal point of view I’m not a huge fan of the art style that’s been utilised in this title but so far the strength of the story has more than compensated for that.