Animal Man
DC/Vertigo.
Animal
Man (1-9; w Grant Morrison; a Chas Truog, Tom Grummet).
[From DC Comics: The much-demanded collection from writer Grant Morrison
is back in print, in a new edition from VERTIGO! Morrison is all set to
breathe new life into the X-Men, and has already helped revitalize the JLA,
making it DC's #1 title. But before all that, Morrison produced a ground-breaking
run on ANIMAL MAN that's since become a cult fan-favorite. Buddy Baker is
more than just a second-rate super-hero. He's also a devoted husband, a
loving father of two and a fierce animal activist. But just as he's attempting
to jump-start his super-hero career again, his life takes some unexpected
and bizarre turns. Reprinting the first nine issues of one of the most original,
innovative, and thought-provoking super-hero comics of the last dozen years,
the ANIMAL MAN TP showcases some of Morrison's early genius in storytelling—including
the infamous ""Coyote Gospel"" story and featuring appearances
by Superman and Martian Manhunter.] 
Origin
of the Species (10-17, Secret Origins 39; w Grant Morrison; a Chas Truog,
Tom Grummet). [From DC Comics: ANIMAL MAN: ORIGIN
OF THE SPECIES is a 224-page VERTIGO trade paperback collecting issues #10-17
of Morrison's run, and also includes the 19-page story from SECRET ORIGINS
#39. Featuring art by Chas Truog, Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood, Steve Montano,
and Mark McKenna, ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES also sports a brand-new painted
cover by Brian Bolland - the fan-favorite artist whose remarkable and distinctive
covers for ANIMAL MAN drew raves from every quarter. In the issues collected
here, Animal Man moves more and more deeply into the cause of animal rights,
but something else is going on beyond his burgeoning radicalism. Strange
visions of aliens, people disappearing into strange pencil-like drawings,
and hints of a terrible Crisis lurk around the edges of reality. And Animal
Man begins to sense something moving towards him...something invisible...something
worse than evil.] 
Deus
ex Machina (18-26; w Grant Morrison; a Chas Truog, Doug Hazlewood, Paris
Cullins, Mark Farmer, Steve Montano). [From DC Comics:
Long before The Filth, writer Grant Morrison was turning reality inside
out with his legendary work on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL, helping to break
the ground that VERTIGO would take root in. Now ANIMAL MAN: DEUS EX MACHINA
completes the collection of Morrison's legendary reimagining of Animal Man.
In stories written by Morrison with art by Chas Truog, Doug Hazlewood, Paris
Cullins, Mark Farmer, and Steve Montano. Reprinting ANIMAL MAN #18-26, DEUS
EX MACHINA follows Buddy Baker (a.k.a. Animal Man) through an incredible
odyssey of discovery, traveling from spiritual enlightenment to the blackest
depths of grief and culminating in a meeting with the Creator himself (in
the form of Grant Morrison!). This hefty 232-page collection also features
a brand-new painted cover by renowned artist Brian Bolland.] Old Book of the Week 7/27/05: Grant Morrison wasn't the first to inject himself into his story (Marvel delighted in the technique almost from the beginning). But he is probably the first mainstream comics writer to take the conceit seriously, and use it to make an artistic statement (and I refuse to blame Morrison for all the abuse this idea has taken since at the hands of lesser talents). I've never liked Animal Man's art, but the writing makes it worthwhile: ambitious, intelligent, and political. 