Review: Animal Man Vol. 5- Evolve or Die!

Quick Summary

Pros: The stories told here are filled with thrilling action and well-written emotion. The focus on the Baker family is well done. The end of this collection works for the story currently being told and also for the greater narrative of the series as a whole. The artwork looks good and suits the story.

Cons: One aspect of the conclusion features a deus ex machina.

Overall: The final volume in Animal Man’s current journey ends up being a fantastic and worthwhile adventure from beginning to end. It finishes up the current narrative in a way that showcases the comic’s ability to combine action with emotion. Meanwhile, it also provides the perfect end to the series as a whole, giving the family-focused comic a conclusion that fans are sure to love. Anyone who has read this series should read this volume, and anyone who hasn’t read this series should read it so that they can read this volume.

Story

Animal Man Vol. 5: Evolve or Die!, by Jeff Lemire, is a great volume on its own and a fantastic conclusion to the Animal Man series. It combines a thrilling showdown between heroes and villains with an emotional story about a family overcoming loss and separation. Plus, by the end of this book, all of the comic’s major plotlines come to a satisfying and natural conclusion, thus providing a worthwhile conclusion to the series as a whole. All of these factors come together to create something truly unique and special, particularly in the realm of mainstream comic books.

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Evolve or Die! picks up right where the previous collection left off by having the Baker family face off against Brother Blood and the power he has gained from the Red. This is an exciting battle where it constantly feels as if the main characters are at the verge of defeat, making their victory all the more satisfying. This is especially true in the case of Shepard, whose near death experience and return to life were some of the most thrilling and emotional moments in the book. It also helps that the entire face off is fueled by the unique abilities granted by the Red, which Lemire is able to wield with great creativity.

However, Evolve or Die! isn’t just epic showdown between good guys and bad guys, it also is an emotional journey for a few separate characters. The events detailed here see Buddy reunite with his wife and family and also see Maxine finally accept the fact that her brother has passed away. These are deeply emotional and deeply personal issues that almost all readers will be able to connect with on some level. The way they are concluded here is also very well done, as neither is rushed and both are allowed to come to a satisfying end.

Conclusions like these then go on to form one of this collection’s most significant positives. By the end of this collection, nearly every aspect of this series is wrapped up in a satisfying and worthwhile fashion. This can range from big issues, like Shepard and Socks taking over as the new Totems of the Red and Buddy taking over as the Red’s new avatar, or small issues, like revealing that Buddy won his acting award. Though this comic has concluded, readers can leave it with a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that the future looks bright for the Baker family.

The only problem with this volume is that Animal Man’s involvement with the Bridgewalker felt like a deus ex machina. This character came out of nowhere and gave Animal Man the power he needed to defeat Brother Blood. It showed that Buddy is willing to sacrifice everything to keep his family safe but it was so unexpected and coincidental that it slightly took away from the volume’s otherwise great conclusion.

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Art

The majority of Evolve or Die! features artwork from Rafael Albuquerque. His work here looks great and does a solid job in depicting both characters and locations. It also looks particularly nice in the book’s final showdown, where intense action scenes are detailed and structured well.

In addition, Evolve or Die! also features a stunning final chapter drawn by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman. The artwork here perfectly captures the emotions in this issue and gives the perfect complement to the story. It also serves as a wonderful visual sendoff to these characters and a great way to end this series.

Continuity

Animal Man Vol. 5: Evolve or Die! continues the story from Animal Man Vol. 4: Splinter Series (Review).

The Animal Man series ends with this volume. However, later on, Animal Man goes on to have a role in the Justice League United series, which begins in Justice League United Vol. 1: Justice League Canada (Review).