Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988–1995): Grant Morrison's Metafiction Classic and Beyond
Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988–1995): Grant Morrison's Metafiction Classic and Beyond
A minor 1960s hero, a young Scottish writer and a comic that ended up talking back to its own readers. Here's our guide to the 89 issues of Animal Man Vol. 1.
Buddy Baker was a forgotten C-list hero when DC gave him his first ongoing series in 1988. Then a young writer called Grant Morrison turned Animal Man into one of the most inventive superhero comics ever published, a book about animal rights, family and, eventually, the fact that Buddy is a character in a comic.
We have a solid run of the post-Morrison issues on our shelves at Siomic Comics, from Peter Milligan through the Vertigo years. Here's a guide to the whole series, its creators and its key issues.
Animal Man at a glance
- Publisher: DC Comics, then the Vertigo imprint from #57
- Run: 89 issues, September 1988 to November 1995
- Writers: Grant Morrison (#1–26), Peter Milligan, Tom Veitch, Jamie Delano, Jerry Prosser
- Artists: Chas Truog, Steve Dillon, Steve Pugh
- Cover artist: Brian Bolland on most of the run
- Colourist: Tatjana Wood
- Hero: Bernhard 'Buddy' Baker, who can borrow the abilities of animals
- Award: Brian Bolland won the 1992 Eisner for Best Cover Artist for his work here
Who is Animal Man?
Buddy Baker first appeared in Strange Adventures #180 in 1965, created by Dave Wood and Carmine Infantino. He can take on the abilities of any animal nearby, from a bird's flight to an ant's strength. For two decades he was a rarely used character, which is exactly why Morrison chose him. In 1988 Buddy was given his first solo series, and Morrison was handed a near-blank slate.
Morrison's Buddy is a family man living in the suburbs with his wife Ellen and their children Cliff and Maxine. The series ties his powers to the Red, the force that connects all animal life, and lets him become an animal-rights activist as well as a superhero.
The creative eras
| Issues | Creative team | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| #1–26 | Grant Morrison and Chas Truog | The classic run: The Coyote Gospel, the Red, and Buddy meeting his writer |
| #27–32 | Peter Milligan, with Chas Truog | Strange, playful stories, including Schrödinger's Pizza |
| #33–50 | Tom Veitch and Steve Dillon | A shamanic turn, ending with Journal of a Plague Year in #50 |
| #51–79 | Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh | A darker, horror-tinged run that moves to Vertigo |
| #80–89 | Jerry Prosser and others | The final stretch, ending in November 1995 |
Grant Morrison's run
Morrison's 26 issues are the reason most people seek out this series. Their first standout, #5, The Coyote Gospel, tells the story of Crafty, a cartoon coyote trapped in the real world, and was nominated for an Eisner for Best Single Issue. From there the series moves through animal-rights stories, a run-in with a new Mirror Master and the return of B'wana Beast, and grows steadily more self-aware. It climaxes in #26, Deus Ex Machina, in which Buddy comes face to face with his own writer. DC has since described the run as one that changed the trajectory of American superhero comics.
Key issues for collectors
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | September 1988 | Animal Man's first solo series; first appearance of Maxine Baker |
| #5 | November 1988 | The Coyote Gospel, one of the most celebrated single issues of the era |
| #8 | February 1989 | First appearance of the second Mirror Master, Evan McCulloch |
| #23 | May 1990 | Crisis, with the first appearance of Sunshine Superman |
| #26 | August 1990 | Deus Ex Machina: Morrison's final issue, in which Buddy meets his writer |
| #27 | September 1990 | Peter Milligan takes over |
| #50 | August 1992 | Journal of a Plague Year, the anniversary issue |
| #57 | March 1993 | The first issue under the Vertigo imprint |
| #89 | November 1995 | The final issue |
The Brian Bolland covers
From the very first issue, Brian Bolland, the artist of Batman: The Killing Joke, provided the covers, and he stayed for most of the series. His clean, witty, often unsettling images, such as #5's coyote, made Animal Man one of the best-looking books on the racks, and won him the 1992 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist. For many collectors the covers are reason enough to put the run together.
Curiosities collectors should know
A founding Vertigo title
With #57 in March 1993, Animal Man became one of the charter titles of DC's mature-readers Vertigo imprint, alongside books like Hellblazer.
Eisner recognition
In 1989 the series earned Eisner nominations, including Best Single Issue for #5.
One colourist throughout
Tatjana Wood coloured the series across its run, which gives it a consistent feel through every change of writer.
Morrison came back
Morrison returned to Buddy Baker in the weekly series 52 in 2006 and 2007.
Animal Man's influence
Morrison's run became a model for metafiction in superhero comics, and it launched Morrison into the front rank of comics writers. Buddy's later life shows the influence: Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman's 2011 New 52 Animal Man series built on the idea of the Red, and Buddy has turned up in animated shows such as Justice League Unlimited and Teen Titans Go!, and in games like Scribblenauts Unmasked. If you like this series, our guides to Hellblazer and 52 are good next stops.
Where to start reading Animal Man
- #1, for Morrison's opening.
- #5, The Coyote Gospel, if you only read one issue.
- #26, for the end of Morrison's run.
- #51, for the start of Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh's run.
- #57, for the Vertigo years.
Animal Man covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see what we have on the shelf.
#5
#8
#23
#26
#27
#52
#66
#85
#89Browse our Animal Man back issues
These are some of the Animal Man issues currently in stock. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#11
Animal Man #11: Out of Africa
A chapter of Morrison's run, with a Brian Bolland cover.
View our copy -
#25
Animal Man #25: Monkey Puzzles
The penultimate chapter of Morrison's run, just before Buddy meets his writer.
View our copy -
#32
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#35
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#50
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#57
Animal Man #57: Wild Bunch
Jamie Delano and Steve Pugh, now under the Vertigo imprint.
View our copy -
#61
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#79
We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our Animal Man comics.
Keep exploring our comic history guides
Frequently asked questions about Animal Man
When did Animal Man Vol. 1 start?
Animal Man #1 is cover-dated September 1988. The series ran for 89 issues, to November 1995.
Who wrote Animal Man Vol. 1?
Grant Morrison wrote #1 to #26, followed by Peter Milligan, Tom Veitch, Jamie Delano and Jerry Prosser.
What is The Coyote Gospel?
Animal Man #5, The Coyote Gospel, is a standalone story about a cartoon coyote in the real world, and was nominated for an Eisner Award.
Which issue of Animal Man has Buddy meet Grant Morrison?
Animal Man #26, Deus Ex Machina, Morrison's final issue.
When did Animal Man become a Vertigo title?
With #57, cover-dated March 1993.
Who drew the Animal Man covers?
Brian Bolland drew most of the covers and won the 1992 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist for his work on the series.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Animal Man comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. Animal Man and all related characters are trademarks of DC. Cover images are shown for reference.