Animal Man by Grant Morrison

Animal Man has got to be one of the hokiest super heroes, which is a bit tragic given that he's got one of the coolest powers. Animal Man can absorb abilities from the animals around him and use them in a super human way. Cool, right? When I was a kid, I used to imagine having that power. But Animal Man was one of those naive all american types which made him a little unsatisfying.

Grant Morrison took the hero and gave him an update.  Actually, he seems to be part of a modern trend of giving writers a trial run on revitalizing old comic book properties. Neil Gaiman completely reinvented Sandman and Alan Moore gave Swamp Thing a face lift.

Morrison's Animal Man is a more human figure. He struggles with being a good husband and father while balancing the responsibility of having super powers. At least in the beginning. It's a nice update on the basic character and makes him more relatable.  Ellen, the wife, added a good counterpoint or anchor to the non-super world.

At least in the start. As the story progresses, it veers sharply away from the standard super hero fare.

As it goes on, it's clear that Morrison is playing with narrative structure and convention. He completely obliterates the fourth wall and culminates with writing himself in as a character in a sort or interstitial quasi space which is neither the comic world nor the real one.

It's weird.

Really weird.

But good.