Animal Man, Book 2 - Origin of the Species [Paperback]

Grant Morrison (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156389890X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563898907
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Grant Morrison is one of comics' greatest innovators. His long list of credits includes Batman: Arkham Asylum, JLA, Seven Soldiers, Animal Man, Doom Patrol, The Invisibles and The Filth. He is currently writing Batman and All-Star Superman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Middle ground, February 11, 2007

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Animal Man, Book 2 - Origin of the Species (Paperback)

As the second volume of Grant Morrison's existencial Animal Man trilogy, Origin of the Species is just that as Buddy Baker, AKA the Animal Man, learns some very interesting, and confusing, details of his origin. This happens as Animal Man teams up with Vixen on a trip to Africa and has a run in with some mysterious aliens, and soon enough Buddy begins to learn the true nature of his existence, but it's nowhere near as jaw dropping as what happens next. Buddy also has another meeting with B'wanna Beast, and the mysterious Highwater as well, who knows more than he's letting on. As a middle volume, Origin of the Species feels disjointed and the issues don't always connect with each other, but there is a reason for this, and it's all thanks to highly creative and possibly slightly deranged writer Grant Morrison. The art is relatively the same as before, so it's either take it or leave it depending on how you feel about it. By the time you reach the final page, you'll be stunned, shocked, and possibly scratching your head (if you've never read any of the books or heard anything about them that is), but make no mistake that what happens next solidifies the classic status of Morrison's take on Animal Man.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bridge, January 1, 2007

By 

Pandrio Androtti "The Penguin" (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Man, Book 2 - Origin of the Species (Paperback)

There are all kinds of people in the world. For the needs of this review we will classify them as either someone looking for a short 'yay' or 'nay' on the book and those who want a somewhat in-depth look at it.
The SHORT: (Let's see, I read this part in issues, so I'll look them over...)
*First thing's first, if you haven't read the first nine issues go and buy that, I gave them four out of five because it's hard to say something is perfect, but it's a good read (and so is volume two, but the first has some needed knowledge).*
"The second volume of Morrison's trilogy builds the story and the tension, and can be seen as filler, but it is well written filler which is better than the most pivotal story that isn't. The story begins with a four-part arc concerning origins and reestablishing the story's focus on the fourth wall, following that we see the return of B'wana Beast and Mirror Master, the JLE, and climax in the form of the strange Dr. Highwater. It may not all make sense now, but with the final trilogy, it all falls together."
The LONG (the following can include the above or be taken as separate):
"The main themes of Animal Man are the effects of Crisis on the characters, animal rights, and the fourth wall (the last blending with the first at times). The first story of the collection touches on all of them. Animal Man continues his (somewhat) absurd fight to save the lives of any (and all) animals he can, Dr. Highwater returns and things begin to take shape in Arkham, and reality warping is throughout. This is followed by four single issues that add to the plot (like the entire run seems to do). One deals with not only animal rights, but other worldly problems, another will make more sense later, the third is a look at humanity's brutal nature juxtaposed with humane nature itself, and the last harkens back to issue seven (in style) and has the gueststars of the JLE. The finale of the trade once again embraces all elements of the series, I'll leave you to read them."
The story doesn't work well as a stand alone trade, but Morrison's Animal Man as a whole is brilliat. It's too bad brilliance doesn't cut perfectly.

4.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Vol.1, April 27, 2009

By 

Bob Wayne - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Animal Man, Book 2 - Origin of the Species (Paperback)

This volume is better than the first, but you must read the entire run, especially vol.3, because it's the best one. Great story, not too good art, but acceptable. Recomended.