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Summary
At the prison term of its publication , there was no other comic in America quite likeGrant Morrison’sAnimal Man . Prior to Morrison , Animal Man had been just another unnoticeable character languishing in limbo . Initially seeing Animal Man as a vehicle to research animate being right yield , Morrison finally postulate the fiber in a metaphysical steering , lift profound questions about the nature of realness and existence .
After make a name for themselves in the British cartoon strip ' shot , Grant Morrison entered the mainstreamwithAnimal Manin 1988 . Over the course of 26 issues , and one chronicle inSecret Origins , Morrison not only rescued Animal Man from abstruseness , but ensured the character would remain life-sustaining to succeeding generation . Most of Morrison’sAnimal Manoutput were exclusive , self - contained stories that still nevertheless tell one big saga . There were a few multi - issue arc , and for the aim of this list , they are counted as one write up . Here are all 19 Grant MorrisonAnimal Manstories , ranked .
Animal Man was created by author David Wood and artist Carmine Infantino
19Not Even Company Mandated Crossovers Slowed Grant Morrison Down
“Birds of Prey,” appearing inAnimal Man#6 by Grant Morrison, Chas Troug and Doug Hazelwood
Every year in the belated eighties , DC held a major crossover event that impacted the entire pedigree , andAnimal Manwas no exception . Issue six tie into the publisher ’s megaInvasionevent , which saw a confederation of foreign races , include the Thanagarians , invade Earth . Morrison and their collaborators extend with the premise , introducing the “ art martyrs ” of Thanagar , who used end and chaos in their works . Morrison sum up not only a new and disturbed layer to the warlike and hawkish Thanagarians , but to the entireInvasionevent as well .
18The Red Mask ShowedAnimal Man’sHuman Side
“The Death of the Red Mask,” appearing inAnimal Man#7 by Grant Morrison, Chas Troug and Doug Hazelwood
Tangentially related to theInvasioncrossover event,“The Death of the Red Mask ” was one of the best demo of the book ’s man . The writer of comic strip ’ “ British Invasion , ” of which Morrison was part of , humanize heroes and villains in new and exciting ways . Morrison make a “ new ” Golden Age villain in The Red Mask , only to toss off him off in the same outcome . While the human race around them burn , Animal Man attempts to talk Red Mask out of suicide . Animal Man departs , thinking he has made a find , only for the Mask to turn around and actually do it .
take heed , if you ’ve got five seconds to spare , I ’ll order you the story of my life-time . Heh ! The secret origin of the Red Mask
17Animal Man Was More Than Just a Champion For Human Beings
“Fox on the Run,” appearing inAnimal Man#10 by Grant Morrison, Chas Troug and Mark McKenna
Although Grant Morrison eventually tookAnimal Manin a meta - textual guidance , they initially used it to search animal rights . These two seemingly contradictory worry collide in the story “ Fox on the Run . ” Animal Man travels to Britain where he disrupts a fox hunt club by save up the animate being . Although fox Richard Morris Hunt of the such depicted inAnimal Man#10 do not go on in America , they are a very big headache for European animal rights advocates . Not contented to but make another beast rights narration , Morrison begins seed bits and pieces of the meta - focus the book will presently head in .
16The Time Commander Gave Animal Man a Change of Pace–If Only Briefly
“The Clockwork Crimes of the Time Commander,” appearing inAnimal Man#16 by Grant Morrison, Chas Truog and Doug Hazelwood
For the first part of Grant Morrison ’s tenure onAnimal Man , the character was a member of the European offset of the Justice League , andthis consequence read why he belong there , despite whatever his impostor syndrome might have told him . Animal Man and his Justice League colleagues team up up tostop the Silver Agevillain , the Time Commander , from send law-breaking against the timestream . The result end with Animal Man and his wife enjoying dinner in Paris . While they are enjoying themselves , a secret humanity who has been stalk Animal Man in former payoff watches .
15Animal Man Would Not Hesitate to Break the Law–If It Helped Save a Life
“Consequences,” appearing inAnimal Man#17, by Grant Morrison, Chas Truog and Doug Hazelwood
By the prison term “ Consequences ” was published , Morrison was earnestly ramping up the meta - textual elements that would culminate in the book ’s net bow . However , they paused for a bit to tell another animate being - right hand story . Animal Man serve a group of animal right advocates to take a hop caged monkeys from science lab . Animal Man and his Friend are successful , but in the aftermath , a first respondent is seriously hurt . From there , Animal Man confronts a right - wing bully commentator on bouncy television , only to calculate uncollectible in the cognitive operation . This story was a commentary on not only animal rights , but the nature of heroes and the jurisprudence .
14Animal Man’s Past and Future Collide in “Spooks.”
“Spooks,” appearing inAnimal Man#14, by Grant Morrison, Tom Grummett and Steve Montano
At roughly the middle breaker point in theirAnimal Manrun , Grant Morrison had already place up a identification number of intriguing storylines , some that would not bear fruit for several more issues . They also set up another one in “ Spooks . ” A mystical phantom begin stalking members of Animal Man ’s kin . Every metre Animal Man attempt to chase the ghost , it disappears . Morrison themselves makes an appearance in this issue , albeit in the dreams of Doctor Highwater , one of the book ’s recur characters . Between the phantom and Morrison , the piece of music were lento moving into position .
13On Land or On Sea, Animal Man Defends All Animals
“The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” appearing inAnimal Man#15 by Grant Morrison, Chas Troug and Doug Hazelwood.
dolphinfish hunting is an inauspicious reality , and Morrison tackles the issue head onin “ The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea . ” Once again fix aside the meta - textual concerns for an issue , Morrison civilize reader on the topic in a non - preachy and non - didactical way . Animal Man regularly meets the Hero of the DC Universe during Morrison ’s run , and in this government issue , is match up with Dolphin , an episodic ally of Aquaman . Animal Man , by his own admission , broke a number of external laws – but he really did not worry , as the dolphins were safe .
12Grant Morrison Addressed an Issue Surrounding One of DC’s Goofiest Characters
“Hour of the Beast,” appearing inAnimal Man#13, by Grant Morrison, Chas Troug and Doug Hazelwood
The B’Wana Beast , a silly character from the Silver Age , was remould as a supporting character ahead of time in Morrison’sAnimal Manrun . B’Wana Beast has the power to meld two animal together . It is not a particularly useful great power , but Morrison and their collaborators made the best of it . However , in “ Hour of the Beast,”Morrison addresses the fictitious character ’s tough nature . B’Wana Beast is a bloodless man who considers himself a champion of the African continent , raising issues of snowy saviorism , and Morrison satisfy this head - on , create a new B’Wana Beast by issue ’s end .
11Grant Morrison Gave Animal Man’s Origin New and Mind-Bending Layers
“The Myth of Creation,” appearing inSecret Origins#39 by Grant Morrison, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazelwood
DC ’s late-1980sSecret Originstitle retold grapheme root in the wake of theCrisis on Infinite Earths , and when it came clip for Animal Man to get this treatment , Morrison obligate . They gave anew spin on the eccentric ’s first appearing inStrange Adventures#180 by tying it into the major , meta - textual story they were developing in Animal Man ’s own title . Morrison made an already bonkers origin story even more so , and cleverly comprise theSecret Originsstory into the first part of way out ten , “ Fox on the Run . ”
10Grant Morrison Used Animal Man to Make an Old Flash Villain Cool
“Mirror Movies,” appearing inAnimal Man#8 by Grant Morrison, Chas Truog and Doug Hazelwood.
This masterpiece , from early in Morrison ’s running play , reintroduced the Mirror Master , a Silver Age Flash villain . influence as an assassin for party unknown , Mirror Master judge to kill Animal Man , but as seen later in the streamlet , developed 2nd cerebration about it , even becoming something of an ally to the hero . Morrison made the novel Mirror Master Scottish , and gave him a vague moral code . This version of the Mirror Master proved popular with fans , and has made many more appearances in the DC Universe , including in the pages ofThe Flash .
