Review: Animal Man Vol. 4- Splinter Series

Quick Summary

Pros: This collection is full of emotional moments that enhance the fallout of the previous arc. The story still manages to be exciting without undercutting the emotion. The entire book contributes to the series as a whole. The artwork looks good and matches the comic’s tone.

Cons: Nothing significant.

Overall: This is another win for the Animal Man series. After the events of the previous story arc, Buddy Baker’s life has fundamentally changed in a way that has also changed the comic. His story here is highly emotional while still finding time for some entertaining Animal Man action and some interesting changes in the Red. Anyone who enjoyed the previous collection should continue reading here.

Story

Animal Man Vol. 4: Splinter Series, by Jeff Lemire, is a wonderful transition from the chaos and horror of the Rotworld (Review) crossover into the next chapter of Animal Man’s life. It starts out by dealing with the emotional fallout from the loss in Rotworld, highlighting the family element that has been so crucial to the success of this series. Then, things get exciting once more as drama in the Red pulls the Baker family back into their heroic roles once more. The entire collection is well done and works perfectly as a way to move this series forward while never compromising on storytelling quality.

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Splinter Series starts out with a chapter that has Buddy Baker deal with the death of his son. The Animal Man series has, thus far, been primarily a family affair, so making this loss feel significant is important. In this way, Lemire succeeds, as this chapter is touching and emotional in a way that many comics are not.

From here, things slowly transition into a comic about heroes and villains once more. Animal Man digs back into his animal activist roots and confronts a local problem. Meanwhile, his daughter, Maxine, begins to slowly learn more about her role in the Red and further develop her own powers. This introduces action and drama back into the series in a way that does not cheapen or reduce the importance of the previous story arc. It also builds excitement for the future, as the entire volume concludes on a cliffhanger that thoroughly got me excited to read the next volume.

Though these separate stories are entertaining on their own, Splinter Series‘s most impressive attribute is how perfectly it transitions the Animal Man series from the conclusion of Rotworld (Review) into a brand new story arc. Lemire’s decision to gradually move both Buddy and Maxine into their heroic roles allows the series to recognize the impact that Cliff’s death had on both characters. Plus, the current story makes constant reference to the emotional toll both characters are going through. Many comics out there would simply move on from an event like Rotworld but this one uses it to hammer home character driven storytelling and emotional development. It works well in making this a great comic collection but works even better in making this a great comic series.

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Art

The story isn’t the only positive attribute in Splinter Series, as the art also enhances this collection. Artists like Steve Pugh, Francis Portela, Travel Foreman, and John Paul Leon manage to keep a solid level of consistency throughout this book and are able to make the visuals look similar to the visuals in previous collections. Their continued use of a minimalist art style helps highlight emotional and frightening moments, both of which are important in making this story work. Plus, all of the work here is highly creative, especially Steve Pugh and Francis Portela’s depictions of the ever-shifting world of the Red. Overall, this is a visually pleasing collection that fans of the series are likely to enjoy.

Continuity

Animal Man Vol. 4: Splinter Series continues the story from Animal Man Vol. 3: Rotworld- The Red Kingdom (Review).

The story here continues in Animal Man Vol. 5: Evolve or Die! (Review)