Just Perfect
The Good: JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER. TELL ME YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THIS COMIC. Very likely my favorite first issue cover for the entire new 52. Haunting and creepy and gripping. Surreal, and a perfectly organized picture for the first issue's cover.
I've never read any Sweet Tooth, but I've heard good things about it, I haven't yet read Morrison's run on Animal Man but damn do I want to. So unlike Swamp Thing, Animal Man was at the top of my list from the start. I mean, JUST LOOK AT THAT... Wait, ok, I already talked about the cover. Calm down TMM. The point is, I was not let down in the least.
Out of all the Superhero comics of the New 52, this is by far the least standard. (Men of War isn't a superhero comic.) Buddy Baker is by far one of the most real characters so far. The fake interview at the beginning sets the tone of realism in Buddy's life, despite being a superhero. And then what do we see right after that? Normal family life with Buddy, his wife, and daughter. They are going through very real concerns with very real dialogue. His wife says some things that make her a little hard to read, but in a way that's completely natural. Buddy himself is unsure what she's getting at, so it's not bad writing that makes her hard to read, it's the depth of her character.
Travel Foreman's artwork is a bit minimalist at times, but it fits this series like a vacuum sealed glove made of spandex. Facial expressions are fantastic, and when things get creepy DEAR GOD. Well, just look at that cover!.... Wait wait. I know. But still. When things get creepy, the art is just sublime. And during Buddy's dream, things are mostly black and white, with certain things in color. Eyes, intestines, lake of blood, etc. Interestingly enough, during the dream the art is actually LESS minimalist, instead opting to emphasize the surreality with what appears to be almost watercolor effects. And the designs for the hunters are perhaps the most terrifying and disturbing things I've ever seen.
This is not a standard superhero comic. This is the perfect blend of Superhero, Family Drama, and Horror. The pacing is flawless, and the end literally made me exclaim " Holy Shit!" out loud.
Another thing that sets this apart is the nice little touches we get from Buddy using his powers in everyday life. He doesn't overdo it or rely entirely on his powers, but uses them subtly when they'd be most useful. Weight of a bumblebee so he doesn't wake his kids when he gets home late. Napping abilities of a cat when he's having trouble sleeping. Lemire has seamlessly blended Animal Man's superhero life and his normal life in a way that's never been done so well before.
The Bad: Nothing.
In Conclusion: 5/5
Can I give it 5.5/5? This is the only DC New 52 so far where I can completely confidently say there was nothing wrong with it. Not only that, but it goes above and beyond in the story to be gripping and engaging, while also being one of the most unique styles in the relaunch. Unlike Zatanna, where I usually awarded 5/5's because I just couldn't find flaws, this one also stands out in quality. Rarely do I see the 2 blended so well. Usually something bold and big has some smaller flaws that it hopes you'll overlook. Animal Man does not have this problem. It's a solid issue from the cover to the last page. If you're a DC fan at all, buy this comic. Just buy it now. You will not regret it.
