Animal Man #29

Jeff Lemire - Writer, Penciller, Cover Artist, and Cover Colorist

Travel Foreman - Penciller & Cover Artist

Jose Villarrubia - Colorist

Lovern Kindzierski - Colorist

Jared K. Fletcher - Letterer

After spending so many years with Animal Man, what does Jeff Lemire have to ultimately say about the character? The answer is a foreboding sense of depression that rattled the bones of this tale for issues upon issues. Buddy Baker does not rest, he does not sleep after experiencing something this traumatic. Finally reading this issue in the context of so many others you will know exactly what I am talking about. It took a year in this series current direction to really sell me on the death of Cliff Baker, but i'll be damned if Lemire and company did not stick to their guns over the past 14 issues. The author described the tale as his worst nightmare, and the emotions pulsating throughout this issue will definitely catch readers off guard. I have often complained about this direction with the series, because I never thought that the writing would be taken to this level, or that it would take this many years in order to get here. The bottom line is that when most writers come to the Baker family, they want to destroy, to kill one of the few happy families in superhero comics. I will always resent anyone who tries to rip Maxine, Cliff, Ellen, or Buddy away from their family, but Lemire didn’t back down and immediately resurrect anybody to return the family to status quota.

This tale is the single most perfect entry into the Animal Man series since some of the early chapters. The book has always dared to be different, as Lemire’s stamp on Animal Man is distinct from that of a legend like Grant Morrison. It is also really enjoyable to see some major players get the proper amount of payoff that they deserve. Socks and Shepherd each have a lovely swan song, that puts them in a completely different direction which feels completely earned. When the next up and coming writer takes on the character, hopefully he or she will remember all the work that has been done here. If this series highlights anything, it’s that being a superhero dad in a family with young children is completely irresponsible. Buddy unnecessarily has put his entire family at risk time and time again, yet he still so desperately loves each Baker and wants to see them grow. When considering the former information, Baker is a bit of an anti-hero.

Travel Foreman returns to the series he started back in 2011. The artist brings his sketchy line work back to Animal Man, as this project has always fitted his style almost perfectly. The loose strands of blood in the beginning, and the devilish nature of the red is wonderfully depicted by Foreman. It’s a shame that the artist left the title so soon, but having him back is more a than welcome addition to the last issue. Lemire’s pencils in the book are harsh, and fit the storyline incredibly well. The lines seem disorganized at first and attack the page, but after carefully looking deeper into the pages in this book, the reader starts to discover that everything is intentional. A cartoonist bringing his style into a New 52 DC book is a dramatic shift in house style. With an issue that is seething with such intense emotion, readers won’t think twice when considering the choice of these two unconventional pencillers.

Fans that have been consistently following Animal Man since Lemire began will be shocked to discover an issue with such a high amount of emotional depth. This title concludes with a profound emotional symphony of loss. Thank goodness that this family is resting until Justice League: United, where Buddy’s family will hopefully not be seen.