Animal Man is One of DC’s Coolest Characters (So Why Aren’t They Doing More With Him?)

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As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel that Animal Man is one of the most captivating characters DC Comics has ever created. With two standalone series, one under DC/Vertigo and another in the New 52, this character truly stands out. Unlike Beast Boy or Vixen, Buddy Baker, our beloved Animal Man, possesses unique abilities due to his role as a host for The Red, the universal animal life force.

What sets him apart from the rest isn’t just the intricacies of his powers, but also the causes he champions. While he’s been an active member of the Justice League, Buddy has always shown a particular dedication to helping both animals and humans in San Francisco.

However, as time went on, Animal Man’s stories took a darker turn, evolving into a horror series that showcases a superhero and his family. From gruesome body horror to chilling existential dread, Animal Man left an indelible mark on the DC Universe.

The story of Animal Man, initially penned by Grant Morrison, has been ongoing for five additional years under the Vertigo imprint. For those unfamiliar, Vertigo is a sub-brand of DC that focuses on darker, experimental stories and allows creators to maintain ownership within the DC system. Characters like Swamp Thing and Constantine were moved to this separate universe away from the main DC Universe, but Animal Man bridged both worlds. Over time, he made occasional appearances, but was among Vertigo’s earliest series to embrace experimental storytelling. After Morrison’s final issue that featured groundbreaking concepts for the character, Animal Man has been less prominent. However, it seems there’s potential for DC to explore this character more extensively in future works.

Where to Take Animal Man Next?

In the New 52 comic book series, Animal Man made his solo return after 16 years, penned by Jeff Lemire. Lemire built upon Grant Morrison’s foundation and infused horror elements into the character. With his daughter Maxine, Buddy gained access to The Red, a powerful animal life force. This significant development in the storyline revealed that Buddy was not the true avatar of The Red, but rather it was meant to be passed down to Maxine. The Red had been orchestrating this plan for centuries and bestowed Buddy with his abilities to ensure their transfer to his daughter. This surprising twist left the entire Baker family in shock.

Ellen and Cliff, along with Buddy, being the three non-Red family members, showed deep worry. The fact that The Red intended to keep Maxine until they deemed her ready didn’t make things easier. As a result of these events, one family member tragically lost their life in an unexpected turn of events. This event forever changed the dynamics of the series for everyone involved.

A potential direction for the future of Animal Man could involve delving deeper into family dynamics, now that there are three family members instead of four. One aspect that made the original series captivating was how each family member had distinct storylines, even when Buddy wasn’t active or was deceased. Given his past resurrections, this could be an intriguing twist. Additionally, there’s potential to focus on Maxine’s powers and her evolving relationship with Animal Man. Since the series ended, we’ve caught glimpses of their interactions, and it appears that Maxine’s powers have grown significantly stronger. Whether she becomes Animal Girl or Animal Woman is yet to be determined, but exploring the developing father-daughter legacy would offer a unique perspective on both Animal Man and Maxine as they embark on their individual journeys.

Regardless of how DC chooses to reintroduce this iconic character, it’s high time for Animal Man to make a comeback. Although his fan base might be relatively small, his original run has proven its classic status. He deserves more attention and here’s hoping we’ll see him in a starring role again, rather than just appearing briefly in other titles.

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2025-07-12 21:39