This comic manages the incredibly difficult task of continuing an ongoing narrative while also being entirely approachable for new readers, something that should ideally be far more common than it actually is. Jeff Lemire, Timothy Green, and Joseph Silver truly made a wonderful comic together, and I hope that these gentlemen will get further opportunities to collaborate in the future. Read Full Review

I imagine most of the people reading the ongoing Animal Man title already got this issue, and whats more, that most of them are reading Swamp Thing as well. If you arent, this annual probably wont be absolutely vital to your understanding of the upcoming crossover, but it wont hurt. And if youre a fan of either title, this added perspective about just what our heroes are going to have to face is well worth the read. Read Full Review

If you have been following along with the Animal Man series, then I would recommend this. By itself, it can not be an issue for the casual reader, as it depends too much from the story told all year. Read Full Review

All in all, though, this is a solid read, and a great jumping-on point if you've missed out on the beginning of Animal Man (buy the trade, though - seriously, its good). If this issue was any indication, you'll be getting on-board just in time for some rather earth-shattering events, which are always exciting. Read Full Review

While it's not quite substantial enough to be considered a must-read, there's enough new information here to be worth your time, though the art is not quite as potent as it should be. Read Full Review

While Jeff Lemire writes a pretty stellar back-story, it doesn't have a major impact on the canon, so readers would be safe in skipping this annual. But, if you like depth to your mythos and awesome-yet-disturbing art, this is your comic. Most annuals are not worth the money, but I think Animal Man is. It's got a lot offer current fans of not only Animal Man, but Swamp Thing too. As a step towards the eventual crossover, this is a nice bridge for those two series. Read Full Review

All in all this is a great issue for anyone following the current Animal Man series but as a stand alone story I could see new readers not fully grasping the storyline. I do have to admit that being Canadian I did love all the Canadian content and references in this issue. For that reason alone, even with the $4.99 price tag, this was a great purchase and an example of how annuals should be handled. Read Full Review

This was a great Annual issue. It's a nice one-shot story about the connection of the Red and the Green and how the Rot once tried to take on the world, over 100 years ago. Fantastic writing, as always, by Jeff Lemire, and I really enjoyed the art by Timothy Green II. Animal continues to be one of DC's best books. Read Full Review

Readers of "Animal Man" right now will probably fixate the most on Jacob's two-page vision of the future, moments that are even in the future of "Animal Man." It's a rather horrific end to a lot of heroes, and Animal Man himself appears for an enigmatic warning about the Rot and what it will do to his own family. It's a message that is hard to ignore, and hints at bad times in the months to come for "Animal Man." Regardless, though, "Animal Man Annual" #1 is not only a good way to help fill this fifth week of the month for DC Comics, it's a good comic, period. This is a good reminder of how Annuals used to be, and hopefully we'll be getting this level of quality in the ones to come. Read Full Review

For Animal Man fans, this is simply another installment of Lemire's ever expanding story. The $5 price tag is still a hard sell, but ultimately fans that want a bit more insight on the three elements (and some fun moments with Socks the cat), Animal Man Annual #1 should serve you well. Read Full Review

Probably the best reason to pick this up, outside of being a collector, is Timothy Green II’s pencils. This isn’t Travel Forman level art, but I like what Green does more so than the artist that’s currently on Animal Man. Green’s faces are a little rough but his action jumps off the page and his sense of pacing is spot on. Overall, with the delicate and detailed pencils, Animal Man Annual #1 is more fun to look at than read. Read Full Review

Overall, this issue does what an Annual should do, and delivers an extra-sized story (for an extra-sized price) that can be read as part of the series or as a one-and-done story. Fans of the series should enjoy it, but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone who hasn't been reading eitherAnimal Manor Swamp Thing in the past. Read Full Review

While we're at it, does it seem bleedingly obvious that Abigail will become the new avatar of the Rot after the crossover? I could be wrong, but that seems like what the writers are heading towards. Read Full Review