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Animal Man #12 - Rotworld: Prologue, Part One Review

5

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The prologue to Rotworld begins here! Animal Man and Swamp Thing team up to take on the rot!

The Good

If you're thinking about picking this book up, do yourself a favor and also pick up Swamp Thing 12; however read this issue first. These two books work perfectly with each other. It's an amazing ride from Animal Man to Swamp Thing and a seamless transition. Well, let's just focus on Animal Man, for now, shall we?

This is the cross over we've all been waiting for as Buddy and his family finally meets Alec. Cliff stays at the hotel because he seems sick, so it's just Buddy, his wife, Maxine, and Socks. We get to see what the world will look like if the rot takes over in one of Maxine's visions, and it is frightening. Obviously, Alec and Buddy need to do something about this, and they take off to stop the rot once and for all. Fantastic story from start to finish, even though it may have been a bit slower than previous issues. Something crazy is going on with Cliff as well, and I'm dying to figure it out what the Rot version of Buddy did to him in the previous issue.

Writer Jeff Lemire, once again, does a great job of story telling and developing each character so they feel just as important as the main character. Also, obvious props to Scott Snyder who also worked on this script. I'm glad their doing this together and not separate, so each book flows well into each others.

Artist Steve Pugh does another fantastic job here. I loved his panel work for the flashback sequences and the flash forward sequences. It's very original. The best page in this issue, by far, is when Buddy becomes one with the red in order to find Swamp Thing. It's a dynamic layout and pretty bizarre. This is what I love about Animal Man.

There is a couple of pages of quick summary, which is great for new readers here, since so much has happened in this book in the past 11 issues.I'm glad their doing this so people who have only read Swamp Thing can see how great this book has been and currently is.

The Bad

Buddy's outfit changes from the Animal Man issue to the Swamp Thing issue. You will notice this when you buy both books.

The Verdict

A cross-over that seems to work? Yes! This issue of Animal Man is a huge success. However, you NEED to buy Swamp Thin as well to really appreciate where this story is going. This is a great story here. Lemire and Snyder work incredibly well together in the writing department, and as always, Steve Pugh does a great job. I couldn't have been happier with this issue.

Seriously, go buy this and Swamp Thing.

By the way, I just noticed GMan's Swamp Thing review went up.

12 Comments
Posted by longbowhunter

I hated to see Travel Foreman go but I've really come to appreciate Steve Pugh's work. That layout that was mentioned was incredible. So happy to see these two books finally merge. Also love the connecting covers. Yo DC Direct, how come this isn't a poster already?

Posted by inferiorego

@longbowhunter said:

I hated to see Travel Foreman go but I've really come to appreciate Steve Pugh's work. That layout that was mentioned was incredible. So happy to see these two books finally merge. Also love the connecting covers. Yo DC Direct, how come this isn't a poster already?

I was also bummed about Foreman, but I've become increasingly happy with what Pugh is putting out.

Staff
Posted by longbowhunter

I'm glad Foreman was on the book first and set the stage with all the great character designs for the rotlings. Pugh's monsters are almost as scary, but what I like best is the way he draws the Bakers. He puts a lot more emotion into their expressions. Since family is really the focus of this title I think thats a real strength he's brought.

Posted by CombatSpoon86

Whenever Snyder and Lemire work together. It is a work of beauty.

Posted by JonesDeini

@longbowhunter said:

I'm glad Foreman was on the book first and set the stage with all the great character designs for the rotlings. Pugh's monsters are almost as scary, but what I like best is the way he draws the Bakers. He puts a lot more emotion into their expressions. Since family is really the focus of this title I think thats a real strength he's brought.

Yeah, Pugh is very familiar with the Bakers and has been killing it on Animal Man since Delano's awesome run (THAT NEEDS TO BE COLLECTED DC!!!)

Posted by CitizenJP

I went out and bought Swamp Thing 1-12 just for this.

Posted by kennyshat

I hadn't noticed the change in Buddy's outfit that was mentioned above so I grabbed the issues and checked. It seems the same (pants from the costume, grey shirt, black jacket) except that somewhere between Animal Man and Swamp Thing he lost his boots.

Posted by Mucklefluga

This is the first Animal Man issue i have bought and the summary workes brilliantly for me. Man this issue was amazing :D

Edited by Booster_Bronze
SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.
I liked the Frankenstein reference in Maxine's vision as well. It feels like Frank would be a perfect incorporation into the Rotworld since he occupies that gray area between the Red and the Rot, and he has also had his run-in with the Rot a few issues back in his own series, if anyone who reads Animal Man is unaware of, it dovetails with Animal Man's story, so go pick it up if you want a little bit of a continuation.
Posted by Cap10nate

@CitizenJP said:

I went out and bought Swamp Thing 1-12 just for this.

Ha. I was the exact opposite. I bought all 12 Animal Man books to get ready for the Swamp Thing story which I have been reading monthly.

Posted by CitizenJP

@Cap10nate said:

@CitizenJP said:

I went out and bought Swamp Thing 1-12 just for this.

Ha. I was the exact opposite. I bought all 12 Animal Man books to get ready for the Swamp Thing story which I have been reading monthly.

AH YEAH NICE! Lol Animal Man is pretty dang awesome. I love the artwork. Hella creepy. >_>

Posted by Cap10nate

@CitizenJP said:

@Cap10nate said:

@CitizenJP said:

I went out and bought Swamp Thing 1-12 just for this.

Ha. I was the exact opposite. I bought all 12 Animal Man books to get ready for the Swamp Thing story which I have been reading monthly.

AH YEAH NICE! Lol Animal Man is pretty dang awesome. I love the artwork. Hella creepy. >_>

They are both awesome titles but I still like Swamp Thing a little more. I love that they can act basically separate from the rest of the DCU but that their stories intertwine to make their portion of the universe bigger. This could be a pretty epic story when it's all said and done.