Buddy Baker's big screen antics only recive one thumb up.
Let me start off by saying that Animal Man is probably my favorite title of the new 52, and if not it is certainly the most consistent when it comes to quality. The idea that I would one day get to see 'Tights' the film evolve on page was one that held considerable promise for me. Darren Aronofsky is my favorite director and seeing as Lemire was clearly referencing that artist's film 'The Wrestler' brought my two great loves: cinema and comics together.
Unfortunatelly, while Lemire grasps completely the direction of Animal Man, he doesn't seem to have as clear an idea of what to do with Red Thunder. The story of this washed up hero just wasn't very exciting and did not seem to have anything to say that other films and even other comic books have not done better. 'Tights' is not bad by any stretch, but in the real world it would never win any Oscars either.
Perhaps the light and mundane story centering around Red Thunder could have been invigorated by being spaced out over several issues and interlaced with the ongoing narrative if parallels could be drawn to the the life Buddy ultimately leads, but even when the story does pick back up with Buddy and the family, nothing is really added to the plot. There is a brilliant and subtle revelation however which stands out as the high point of the issue: characterization that shows that unlike the child within the film, Buddy's real son does idolize his father. It is a very touching moment that is downplayed in a way that coincides with how you would expect a teenage boy to act.
I did enjoy the choice to have the artistic duties for 'Tights' handled by a different penciller, but while John Paul Leon's pencils clearly fit the gritty realistic tone of the story within a story better, I could not help but miss the beautiful and vibrant art by Travel Foreman which did not appear until the last few pages. His ability to distinguish characters visually and give them unique personalities could have been used to great effect within 'Tights' where everyone was relegated to civilian clothes.
I know I griped quite a bit, but this is still a worth while issue for any one currently reading Animal Man, it just also happens to be the weakest issue of the six. While I certainly commend Jeff Lemire's intent here, I can't help but be disappointed by what I was gleefully anticipating to be the best book of the series so far. Overall this just feels like filler.
