Pugh's art does wonders for the book and backed with the emotive family drama the title continues to be a great read. However the necessary evil of crossover exposition does impact the pace of the narrative. But now it is all over the crossover can move forward unencumbered and we can enjoy the ride. Read Full Review

Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder have big plans for their books. They spent eleven issues each crafting an epic tale of three forces of nature battle for balance on earth. Animal Man #12 is the first taste of what is coming. Being part one of a two part story creates certain necessary hurdles that slow the issue down slightly. It takes eight pages to get to where we knew Buddy was going in Swamp Thing #11 and then the two page recap really hurts the momentum of the book. Once we get into fresh territory, the story really starts running. If you've enjoyed the horror that Jeff Lemire and company have brought to Animal Man already, then issue #11 will only make you want more. Read Full Review

Next month we get all of DC's #0 issues, so the event won't effectively start until October, but I can say now that I'm sure this story will be worth all the wait and build up and I can't wait where it leaves both of our heroes as we move forth into the second year of stories from the New 52. Read Full Review

Buddy's fight against the Rot is more personal than any other fight going on in the DC Universe. His son is sick and his family is in danger as they fight alongside their super-powered father. Part two of this story arc takes place in Swamp Thing #12 also released this past week. Read Full Review

Nothing too outstanding just yet, but we are only in the prologue of Lemire and Snyder's collaborative masterwork. They only need to get you primed and nervous for what's next, and they manage that easily. Read Full Review

Steve Pugh ups his game for this crossover issue and provides more minute details to the setting than ever before. Vines creep up a railing, haunting figures are showcased in front of an apocalyptic backdrop, and the first journey into the Rot has a sickening amount of bones, teeth, and flies. A montage detailing the interactions between the Green, the Red, and the Rot looks stunning with its veiny structure not unlike Yanick Paquette's plant-paneling in Swamp Thing. With the marrying of both art style and story concepts, the Animal Man and Swamp Thing creative teams have set up a crossover that I can't wait to read. Given general hate for crossovers, that is a strange feat indeed. Read Full Review

With both an orign and a continuation of this story coming out next month, this reviewer could not be more excited. August has always been a horrible month anyway, so bring on September! This series has been overwhelmingly impressive so far, and many more issues of “Animal Man” should be purchased by anyone who is a fan of good comics. Read Full Review

"Rotworld" is off to a solid start here, and knowing that "Swamp Thing" #12 (wrapping up the prologue) is also published the same week makes the chunk of exposition here feel a bit more reasonable. At this point, my biggest complaint is only that next month's issue #0s means that we'll have to wait an extra month for "Rotworld" to kick in to high gear. All in all, not a bad opening. Read Full Review

Rotworld is missing the supernatural horror thatAnimal Manhas been lauded for. Now that were through this expository chapter heres hoping things get better as the crossover continues inSwamp Thing. Read Full Review