ANIMAL MAN #21 is an awesome start to a new story line. For song long, this book has been tied into a very long, but very good, storyline, Rotworld. Now, after the events of Rotworld, everything and everyone has changed, but something new has started. This is a great place for new readers to jump on, and they won't be disappointed. Read Full Review

As I said, this is the best issue of the series since #1. The story, the dialogue, the artwork, and everything are all in top form, and I really can't think of anything negative to mention. This is a piece of work, and if you for whatever reason decided to drop Animal Man, I highly recommend revisiting the series because you're missing out on something more than special. Read Full Review

Lemire uses a stream of Twitter-like posts to show what Buddy's fans and the media have to say about him, and it's used absolutely perfectly. They contribute to the story by helping build up the mysterious animal kidnapper while also adding in bits of humor to balance out the dark mood. Animalfan180 has got to be my favorite because regardless of whether s/he is praising Animal Man or insulting his detractors, each tweet ends with "God bless." Read Full Review

Animal Man #21 is a very good issue. It's one of the best in the series. It's unnerving, funny, creepy, and depressing. Plus, you get some very pretty looking pages. Read Full Review

Overall, I like the direction this book is headed and Maxine seems to really be headed for an interesting story! Read Full Review

"Animal Man" #21 has the book back in fine form, and I'm completely enthused about the title once more. Lemire, Pugh, and Portela's kick-off of a new storyline is strong and interesting, and wherever we go from here, I feel like I'm on board for the ride. "Animal Man" #21 is the sort of superhero comic that makes me continue to enjoy the genre. Read Full Review

Animal Man is still one of those DC titles that should be picked up. It's trying to do much more than the average superhero title and to an extent it does succeed. Read Full Review

At this point who knows where exactly Lemire is taking the story. From a few issues the main character has gone from saint to sinner. This direction is a huge risk for the story to take. The new nemesis proves interesting and Animal Man themed, his introduction was appropriately chilling. Upon further inspection the scene here may not be exactly what it seems here. The only sure bet here is as long as Steve Pugh is drawing the title the art will stay consistently beautiful. Hopefully the foreboding evil animals in this issue can be ignored for the future of this comic book. Mainly because as a fan of the character, I am not sure how much pain the titular hero can take. Read Full Review

Despite the occasional wart, Animal Man is definitely a comic that's finding its way again, after months of subsuming its own identity in the "Rotworld" crossover with Swamp Thing. The New 52 has definitely had a place for a celebrity superhero, and the added horror spin? Well, there's plenty of potential there, too. This comic is not as deliberate as some readers might want, but there are a lot of moving parts that are each starting to show some legs. This is definitely a step in the right direction. Read Full Review

Overall this is most definitely still a book you need to be reading. Probably now more than ever. After the events of Rotworld, Animal Man is finally coming back around to that series that, quite frankly, was one of the very best right out of the gate for DC and they New 52 initiative. This book is different from the rest of the capes and tights books, folks, so don't go into it expecting the same old. This title remains the jewel in Jeff Lemire's crown and it's undoubtedly one of the best DC has to offer right now. Read Full Review

For new readers, it may be best to catch up via trades first. This issue just doesn't set a good enough foundation for the previous, nor is it the usual high-quality work that the creators are usually known for. Read Full Review

An accurate depiction of grief in the wake of death, but not as emotionally impactful as it should be, and ultimately overshadowed by a plodding plot. Read Full Review

Steve Pugh’s art is solid, even if it does look like less-developed Travel Foreman pencils. Pugh’s work has that same creepy elegance to it, but it feels restrained, like Pugh is holding back. The best of what he does leans towards the weirder elements of the story. The multi-animal humanoid monster, the dying animals, the scenes within The Red, that all looks great. His normal human interactions are sullied with badly drawn faces and dull backgrounds. Hopefully Lemire will return to the more bizarre elements of Animal Man, which will allow Pugh to really open up. Read Full Review