Animal Man 7: The Death of the Red Mask!

Yesterday we saw how Animal Man #5 began Grant Morrison’s “Duck Amuck” take on Animal Man. In addition to breaking down the fourth wall and confronting inhumane treatment of animals, Morrison made Animal Man a meta-comic; in other words, a comic book about comic books. For example, the 1980s Crisis on Infinite Earths revisionist plots affect the characters in unusual ways as they become aware that their fictional reality has ‘continuity’ problems.

Julian’s Books has a good Animal Man review dealing with that.

 
In issue #7, “The Death of The Red Mask,” Morrison deals with the other great DC event of the 1980s: Watchmen. We aren’t going to spoil it for you and tell you all the Watchmen references and parallels we found here. Part of the fun is doing that yourself! Just don’t let the last page throw you. It has nothing to do with this story, only a segue into another DC mega-crossover called “Invasion.”

Collector’s Guide:
- From Animal Man #7. DC Comics, 1989.
- Reprinted in Animal Man TPB #1, 1990.
Story by Grant Morrison, art by Chas Truog and Doug Hazelwood. Cover by Brian Bolland.

You can buy the entire 26-issue Grant Morrison run on Animal Man for less than the cost of new books!

Animal Man 5: The Coyote Gospel!

Grant Morrison‘s 26-issue run on Animal Man remains legendary, and for good reason. Morrison ran with the logical implication of a man with animal powers: concern for animal rights, vegetarianism, and the consequences of radical action. Many will also remember Morrison’s run for breaking down the “fourth wall;” that is, giving the characters an awareness of their fictitiousness that leads to conversing with the audience.

Although a somewhat radical departure for comic books – especially considering Animal Man becomes aware of the audience on a peyote trip – the idea was not entirely new. By 1988, we’d seen it in TV (Moonlighting) and movies (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.) But we suspect Grant Morrison actually got the idea from the 1953 Daffy Duck cartoon “Duck Amuck.”

Morrison set the stage for his “Duck Amuck” version of superhero comics in issue #5, “The Coyote Gospel.” A familiar coyote takes center stage, with horrendously back-firing coyote results.

Collector’s Guide:
- From Animal Man #5; DC Comics, 1988.
- Reprinted in Animal Man TPB #1, 1990.
Grant Morrison, story. Chas Truog and Doug Hazelwood, art. Cover by Brian Bolland.