I highly recommend picking this issue up. Read Full Review

Foreman uses almost no backgrounds outside of color and he wields the power of shading in a gifted way. He sneaks everything up on you. When his human forms, violent creatures, and plain backgrounds come together you see how the rest of the world is fuzzy compared to this one. It's really a major achievement for a comic book. I also enjoy how Foreman uses colors in the background to help elevate the emotion of scene. The only book that compares to this one right now is Swamp Thing and I'm hoping the red monster there is connected to the Red of Animal Man. These two books coming together would be a real triumph for comic fans. The combination of art, literature and comic book ideals doesn't come together any better than this. Read Full Review

For the second month running, Swamp Thing and Animal Man stand head and shoulders above a strong offering of new DC titles on the week of their release. In fact, when I got to my local comic shop on Wednesday afternoon, I picked up one of the last two remaining copies of Animal Man on the shelf, and had to get the display copy of Swamp Thing: if anything proves to me that DCs relaunch has thus far been a success, its that quality titles such as Swamp Thing and Animal Man that are selling out. If I got nothing else from the New 52, these two sister titles would have made the whole relaunch worthwhile. In terms of Animal Man #2 in particular, the pacing of this comic is relentless, with narrative and visuals coming together to create an utterly immersive experience for the reader. Both Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman are on top form, and Animal Man has already established itself as one of the very best titles available on the shelf from any publisher. Read Full Review

I'm going to give this book a rare five-star review because the problems I had with the book aren't exactly permanent ones; after all, we're two issues into the series and still don't know the "new" Buddy quite yet. The reason that I say "give it time" to this book, and not others is that Jeff Lemire has put together an amazing book without the excuse that "it'll get better." Read Full Review

Lemire understands what has been done before with Animal Man, from Morrison's meta-foundation to Jamie Delano's creepier explanation of Buddy's powers, and he utilizes them and twists them to his own unique working. He's honoring the character's past without repeating it. Artist Travel Foreman has an exceptionally unique style, which often sees bodies and faces contorted in weird ways, as well his inking is a strange mix of thinly constructed lines, hard black shadows and feathery brushed shading, altogether making for a unusual-looking book, yet an absolutely perfect fit. Read Full Review

This issue maintains its gripping spell as it takes mainstream comics to brand-new dark corners. Read Full Review

This new dynamic duo provide yet another quality comic. There's still a lot left unexplained in Animal Man's most recent adventure, but it is clear that there is an explanation behind everything that's going on, and it will be revealed as time goes on. I, for one, cannot wait. Read Full Review

Those who enjoyed Animal Man #1 last month should find Animal Man #2 up to standards. And if you haven't checked out this new Animal Man series yet, you're missing out on one of DC's best new books. Read Full Review

I have a long time love affair with the Animal Man character and he was one of the few things in Countdown that kept me coming back to it. With his own series, it's right back into the Vertigo-esque world that he feels the most appropriate in and Lemire has managed to capture it well. His life is being thrown for a loop and something he didn't think he'd have to deal with for years to come with his daughter having powers is forcing itself on him in a big way. Maxine comes off a bit odd at times in a way that feels strangely written, even for her different view of the world because of her exposure to the Red, but it's also written in a way that reminds me of a lot of old 80′s horror movies where the kids have a disconnect that's creepy and haunting. The only thing holding the book back from really being a top flight title for me at this stage is the artwork as Foreman doesn't work for me in the slightest. Read Full Review

Two issues in, this is one of the New 52s best. Read Full Review

I find the pacing of the issue really makes for a tense read and this is only magnified with the disturbing artwork. I can’t wait for issue #3 Read Full Review

This is, thematically, a descendant of Grant Morrison's, Peter Milligan's, Tom Veitch's, and Jamie Delano's "Animal Man." There are subtexts of superhero adventures here, but the primary action requires Animal Man to be more of an adventurer than a superhero. That adventure is anything but predictable. Lemire and Foreman give us a story that's disturbing and crazy, but memorable and exciting. Read Full Review

Even though I'm not the biggest fan of this type of story, and I'll probably move on from the comic before this storyline is finished, I'm interested to see where Lemire and artist Travel Foreman end up taking the character, and how big a role the young Maxine will have in her father's use and understanding of his powers. And given the early glimpses we've seen here, the exploration of The Red is going to be a trippy experience. Worth a look. Read Full Review

Right now, Animal Man is like a car that drives smoothly except for that nagging thump you keep hearing from under the hood. Key parts — the digital inking, the “I know stuff” deployment of Maxine as infopixie — just aren't working, but there are so many other pieces that do come off well that it's not a crippling set of problems yet. Still, if left alone and not addressed, they could well be the gateway for Animal Man dropping off its current level of quality, which would just be a damn shame. Read Full Review