Today, Drew and Peter are discussing Animal Man 11, originally released July 4th, 2012.

Drew: Animal Man’s power-set is weird. He can seemingly take any trait of any animal and apply it to himself. It makes sense for things like “the vision of an eagle” or the “strength of an elephant,” but the thought of taking on “the weight of a bumblebee” just seems to defy the laws of physics. Upon closer scrutiny, an eagle’s eyesight and an elephant’s braun are clearly related to their specific physiologies, and the thought that Buddy’s relatively tiny frame could contain the strength of a two-ton animal simply doesn’t make sense. To put a finer point on it: birds fly because they have wings, not because they have some supernatural abilities, so Buddy’s supernatural connection to them should only allow him to fly if it allows him to grow wings. As Buddy’s adventure into the Rot concludes, writer Jeff Lemire takes the opportunity to fix what I hadn’t realized bothered me until I thought about it.

The issue begins with Buddy getting fitted for his “replacement flesh” by the Red’s Royal Tailors. They opt to upgrade him to “limited species-shifting abilities,” which actually alters his physiology to give him the animal powers he’s tapping into. This means he elongates when running like a cheetah, sprouts wings when flying like a bird, gets all huge and horned when charging like a rhinoceros, and bulges with muscle when raging like a gorilla. Those are awesome, monstrous moments, sold entirely by Alberto Ponticelli’s pencils, which paradoxically pays tribute to the Animal Man house style while looking totally unique.

Meanwhile, back at the Baker RV, Ellen is freaking out about Cliff. She almost breaks down and asks Maxine to use her abilities, but Socks steps forward, turning into a hulking cat-monster. He tracks down Cliff, but isn’t much of a match for Rot-Buddy. Fortunately, Buddy arrives just in time to save the day (after a tearful reunion with the RV gang), punching the monster’s head CLEAN OFF OF HIS BODY.

Bear in mind: that body used to be his body — he just punched his own head off. The head sprouts legs, The Thing style, and delivers some ominous news about the impending ROTWORLD before Buddy SPLATs it with a species-shifted elephant leg. It’s a gross moment made only grosser by Cliff comparing the mess to a pizza. THANKS FOR RUINING PIZZA, CLIFF. With the monster vanquished, Buddy and Cliff (and Socks!) return to the RV. Cliff promptly passes out from a scratch he received from the Hunter, mumbling something about how Arcane is coming.

It’s a clever tease on top of a thrilling issue, and one that truly showcases everything I love about this title. This issue in particular ups the action, metaphysical mind-fuckery, family drama, AND humor to levels unlike any that have come before. I’ve already highlighted the action above, but I’d like to draw attention to examples of just how potent those other attributes are represented in this issue.

Buddy’s flesh replacement process begins with the Royal Tailors manipulating his Rot manifestation (which looks like his body, but isn’t his body), but ends with a sequence where he sort of traces the course of animal evolution.

Obviously, squirrels didn’t evolve from birds, and salamanders aren’t reptiles, but this is an inspired sequence, where Buddy struggles to find a form that can contain all of his parental fury. He eventually settles back into the form we know, but now with the ability to morph into all kinds of crazy forms.

That morphing ability allows him to sprout wings before reuniting with his “Little Wing,” in a moment that admittedly choked me up a bit.

Of course, it’s not all happy reunions. Ellen doesn’t want to blame Buddy for the danger Cliff is in, but she also doesn’t want to hear any more of his promises about fixing things. Buddy assures her this is the last time, but with Arcane on the way, we know that can’t be the case. Ponticelli delivers beautifully expressive faces during this scene and throughout the issue, elevating the drama at every turn.

Those faces also sell the jokes, of which this issue has quite a few. Buddy’s “get me some pants” made me laugh out loud, but my favorite moment had to be between the Royal Tailors, a brother-sister duo of martian-looking creatures that are part-stylist, part-million-dollar-man-scientist-team.

Lemire establishes a tangible dynamic between them that makes me just want to read the continued adventures of the Royal Tailors. I’ve already mentioned how Ponticelli’s faces help sell the jokes, but I also have to point out the background detail running along the left-hand side of the page. The way it’s laid out, it suggests that this bone structure is growing as they have their conversation, and while that’s possible, I kind of suspect that it’s just a cool way to present background details. The effect is a page that feels more composed than being strict with spacial relations would really allow. I think it’s neat, anyway.

This issues was really firing on all cylinders, not just hitting all of its notes, but nailing the ever-loving snot out of them. Heck, Ponticelli even reined-in Cliff’s horrible hair (in addition to drawing him a bit younger-looking, which really works for this issue). It managed to highlight everything I like about this title AND make next month’s sound even better. Peter, this is the first time you’ve written about Animal Man, are you enjoying this as much as I am?

Peter: I really love this book, and it is because it doesn’t  read like a traditional superhero comic. While there is a superhero, a villain (or Three), and a need to save the world, it still doesn’t fit into the ‘classic’ superhero comic mold. Of course, Buddy Baker doesn’t really fit into that ‘classic’ superhero mold anymore, either. Buddy is no longer a superhero, but a super dad.

I too spent a lot of time laughing in this issue. Those Royal Red Tailors are the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. It’s interesting that in a world full of grotesque animal creatures, they look rather ‘normal’.

My favorite part of this book is the two page spread of evolution. As the biologists around here, you and I both know that this is not your standard evolutionary sequence. However, as he becomes more mammalian and closer to human, the individual panels moves from black the red. It’s as if he evolves and becomes closer to human, his connection to the Red grows.

Something that has been simultaneously great and troubling: this story arc has lasted for 11 issues, so far. I know that DC has divided it up so they can produce graphic novels, but it really is one huge, continuous storyline. As I mentioned before this book doesn’t read like a traditional comic book, it reads like a novel, with very elaborate pictures.

As to the identity of the Avatar of the Rot, we assume it’s Anton Arcane from Swamp Thing. But what if it isn’t? I have this crazy theory that it’s Cliff. If this book was stand-alone, and Swamp Thing wasn’t in the picture, it would totally be Cliff. First of all, tiny clue, look at the soles of his shoes:

They are bone feet. They are a subtle hint that he could have a connection to the Rot. Also, if Buddy was still killed and subsequently resurrected — like he was in the Vertigo Animal Man — he has touched the Black and could have passed that onto his son. Or, Hunter Buddy could have infected him, or something. It’s possible, albeit a little farfetched.

I love this book, and next month with Swamp Thing is going to be sweet. Also, shame on Cliff for ruining pizza for everyone. Now what am I going to eat on Thursday nights?

For a complete list of what we’re reading, head on over to our Pull List page.  Whenever possible, buy your comics from your local mom and pop comic bookstore.  If you want to rock digital copies, head on over to DC’s website and download issues there.  There’s no need to pirate, right?