This is a great video, but it's worth pointing out that Grant Morrison uses They/Them pronouns now. They came out about this fairly recently so I can't blame you for getting it wrong, but in future it would be a good thing to keep in mind.
I will absolutely keep that in mind for the future. A prior comment pointed this out to me and, I admit, I had no idea about the change. So, again...no disrespect intended! I simply did not know.
@@hopebringer2348 okay i was genuinely asking because after seeing how there is basically an abc out of the many icons representing different gender identities and sexualities... i am pretty unsure of many stuff
I once summarized this issue's, and this run's in general, message as "perhaps we should be kinder to both animals, and to fictional characters that we create."
Concept: Since we now have a DC/Looney Tunes crossovers, let Grant Morrison do a remake of Coyote Gospel with actual Wily E Coyote. I mean, WB owns them...
I would love for Grant Morrison to do something like the sequel to the Coyote's Gospel BUT with Daffy Duck as a bigger reference Maybe something like "Morrison at MARVEL, with Coyote's gospel sequel starring Howard the Duck"
I just wish this story didn't begin with Buddy announcing to his adult, sane, bread-winning wife that SHE is now becoming a vegetarian, and the proceeds to throw out the groceries she bought with her money in front of her, and yells at her when she has the nerve to very lightly protest against him doing that. Nobody talks about this, or how Buddy gaslights his own son by telling him he doesn't want to force him to be a vegetarian (after jumping out of the bushes at him with a scowl and accusingly pointing at the burger he's eating and a demands to know "What is THAT ?!") but that any time he eats a burger, he helps kill the planet. I love TCG but the fact is people ignore Buddy's horrible behaviour to his wife and kinda give him a free pass on it.
I’ve heard that a few times before, but I don’t see it that way. When my wife became a vegan, she did almost the same thing. I was mad, but then I started thinking, she didn’t do it because she thought she was superior or something. She truly believes in the benefits of not eating meat and she wanted that for her family. She was passionate about her new lifestyle. After that I sat with her and explained how I felt. I read that comic for the first time last year and when I read it I saw my wife in Animal Man. It is not that he is machista tyrant, he’s just passionate for his new lifestyle, and I don’t think people in general think what he did was right, it’s just the important part of the comic comes after that.
@@BionicRambutan The point isn't his intentions, it's him actively infantelizing his own wife and just deciding she isn't going to eat meat anymore, without even thinking he should ask her, like she has 0 say in what she does or doesn't eat from now on, because her washed out D grade broke superhero husband said so.
Only two issues later by #7 ("The Death of the Red Mask"), Animal Man is beginning to see clues of the "grand cosmic plan" (the "meta" take on the comic book scripts that make up his life), as he says to another minor villain, "Listen, you don't want to die. It'd be pointless. People keep dying on me. It's getting really depressing." Only seven issues into the series, he's already seen enough death that he's getting tired of it. Of course, the worst is yet to come.
That is EXACTLY what I thought, too. In fact, in my original script I called him Carl. I changed it to Bob because Bob and Crafty sounded better than Carl and Crafty. Too many hard C's, in my opinion.
@PoeTesseract : One of reasons was due to a line from a NoMeansNo song, The Day Everything Became Nothing. The line being: I forgot my name, so I called myself Bob. It's weird being a Bob. But I'll get used to it...I have to!
Great vid, as always. On thing I'll mention is that Crafty, in a sense, is the devil like Bob thinks him to be. Crafty is cast out of his cartoon world for his disobedience as Lucifer was from Heaven. I think this is a very intentional parallel given the active decision to have Bob think Crafty is "The Devil" rather than some other sort of monster, which is very interesting when paired with the imagery of the crucifixion.
Another thing left out, and coincidentally sort of opposite to what you've said, is that Crafty is also in a sense a Christ-like figure. Crafty tells god that he will bear any punishment imaginable if the cartoon world can live in peace. So when he's sent to Animal Man's world he is quite literally suffering (and eventually dies) for his world's sins. I also think that's the reason Crafty is drawn in an obvious crucifixion pose at the end of the story.
I just finished reading the whole series. I read this issue and felt like I semi understood but missed a lot of the meaning. This is a great breakdown. This issue is loaded with ideas and it really is concise as hell. How you can be this profound in 24 pages is beyond me. It just has me thinking back more and more of the other issues and what’s trying to be said. This was one of the greatest things I’ve ever read. This comic is worth the hype. Thanks for the breakdown, it’s phenomenal.
Blatant Gnostic Christ allegory.. the Trickster/Coyote/Anubis/Set/Legba-Ellegua-Eshu/Yurugu as Messiah.. originally derived from African Kemetic/Dogon inner mysteries as implied during the Invisibles...
I always like to think the true recipient of the message wasn't animal man but to us the readers, A-man is just a conduit to deliver that message, that's why he couldn't understand the letter.
Makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the story when I read it years ago. I knew Morrison hated the Watchmen and Dark Knight, but never connected it in my mind. Quick question, have you done a video on Resurrection Man? Love to hear your take on that story.
Wait ... a bit confused. I know Morrison loved Killing Joke. I even heard audio on this. So he hated MOST of the 'dark' comics with some key exceptions. Or did he change his mind recently thanks.
I just finished rereading this run for the 3rd time. Excellent work on the video. I was wondering if you were willing to cover Jamie Delano's run on Animal Man as well? I feel the Delano run is very underappreciated. He did some interesting character work, turned Buddy into an unlikely cult leader and pushed a lot of radical ideas when they certainly were not mainstream
@@StrangeBrainParts that would be great! The whole series is so fascinating, as each writer took the series in completely different directions. It's also interesting to study the transition from late 1980's British invasion DC Comic into a Vertigo book, at a time when Vertigo was still establishing its voice. I would love to hear you cover the Milligan-Veitch-Delano-Prouse phases
Great review. Missed some of those parallels between #5 and the series as a whole before. I did know #5 was something really special at the time though.
This was supposed to be the introduction to doing the entire series, but it went on much longer than I anticipated. So, I just focused on this one issue. I do reserve the right to return to discussing the metastory and how it emerges through the series.
This posting was worthy in and of itself because of how important this issue is to the entire run of Animal Man. It can either be a stand alone of just the start of a larger examination of an amazing series. As it stands, and excellent review of an important issue of a phenomenal series.
I still dislike the chas troug art. I dont think morrison ever figured out how to write to the strengths of the artist. Other 80s writers like miller or moore are notable bc they tend to lean in to how comics are a visual medium. i dont think morrison ever figures out that synergy. his best work is with quitlely, sure. but i dont think he writes in a way to lean into quietley. also, morrison never consistently works with an artist of that quality and never exploits it.
Really? I think he and Porter were AMAZING on Justice League - granted their best stuff is the first 40 issues or so but hey that's still quite a run Also try to get Morrison's Batman stuff in Legends - those were artistically done well imho
But what I mean is that the modern political stories in comics is kind of messy and politicals is inaccurate I mean have you read any modern marvel comics and ask yourself this Over exaggerated ?
@@pacotorres5968 I've read modern marvel and the only thing I see is they adapting to their current times one way or another, like they always did. Some stories are forced, others more natural but it's a big umbrella to lump all of it into "modern politics". Khamala Khan is a great character that some just think as a "checklist" character and things like those "New Warriors" character like "Snowflake" or "Screentime" are just a mismanaged mess like they always had too (same goes for DC)
@@pacotorres5968 I get what you mean too, but lumping everything together is one of the big problems with the industry today. Every character has forced and unnecessary stories, that's more of a short falling of comics and not the characters imo. Khan and Morales are best examples probably, great characters with a lot of long term potential I think.
Amazing video, The only problem I have with it is Morrison is non binary and your using He/Him pronouns but I feel like that’s just me trying to find something bad.
@@StrangeBrainParts But they were male at the time. I do not see the problem. It's like the difference between Bruce and Caitlyn jenner. Grant assumed themselves as male in this comic series, so it's part of their past.
This is a great video, but it's worth pointing out that Grant Morrison uses They/Them pronouns now. They came out about this fairly recently so I can't blame you for getting it wrong, but in future it would be a good thing to keep in mind.
I will absolutely keep that in mind for the future. A prior comment pointed this out to me and, I admit, I had no idea about the change. So, again...no disrespect intended! I simply did not know.
@@TakinErEasyHere wait what? are ziiiiiiiiiiiiiim and zeeeeeeeeeeeer even real?
@@TakinErEasyHere wow edgy
@@ianr.navahuber2195 Of course not
@@hopebringer2348 okay
i was genuinely asking because after seeing how there is basically an abc out of the many icons representing different gender identities and sexualities... i am pretty unsure of many stuff
I like how grant Morrison still has a soft touch for the Pre-crisis characters and give them a good send-off on his animal man run.
I once summarized this issue's, and this run's in general, message as "perhaps we should be kinder to both animals, and to fictional characters that we create."
Concept: Since we now have a DC/Looney Tunes crossovers, let Grant Morrison do a remake of Coyote Gospel with actual Wily E Coyote. I mean, WB owns them...
I would love for Grant Morrison to do something like the sequel to the Coyote's Gospel BUT with Daffy Duck as a bigger reference
Maybe something like "Morrison at MARVEL, with Coyote's gospel sequel starring Howard the Duck"
I read this last night. I hadn't heard anything about this issue. Man, what a read!
Agreed. It's one of my favorite single issue comics of all time.
@@StrangeBrainParts Hard to argue
"He was known as A-Man..."
"That's *Mister A* Man to you."
"What?"
"I've been reading Ayn Rand. Ditko was spot on about that Objectivist thing." :)
Probably the best series to introduce readers to Grant Morrison.
I definitely agree with that! It is quite accessible.
When I read it when teen I finished it with a "wow." Best Morrison in my opinion is when there is some editorial oversight. Fully unleashed is a bet.
Check Annihilator, it's a hidden gem of his and fairly understandable.
I just wish this story didn't begin with Buddy announcing to his adult, sane, bread-winning wife that SHE is now becoming a vegetarian, and the proceeds to throw out the groceries she bought with her money in front of her, and yells at her when she has the nerve to very lightly protest against him doing that.
Nobody talks about this, or how Buddy gaslights his own son by telling him he doesn't want to force him to be a vegetarian (after jumping out of the bushes at him with a scowl and accusingly pointing at the burger he's eating and a demands to know "What is THAT ?!") but that any time he eats a burger, he helps kill the planet.
I love TCG but the fact is people ignore Buddy's horrible behaviour to his wife and kinda give him a free pass on it.
I’ve heard that a few times before, but I don’t see it that way.
When my wife became a vegan, she did almost the same thing. I was mad, but then I started thinking, she didn’t do it because she thought she was superior or something. She truly believes in the benefits of not eating meat and she wanted that for her family. She was passionate about her new lifestyle. After that I sat with her and explained how I felt.
I read that comic for the first time last year and when I read it I saw my wife in Animal Man. It is not that he is machista tyrant, he’s just passionate for his new lifestyle, and I don’t think people in general think what he did was right, it’s just the important part of the comic comes after that.
@@BionicRambutan The point isn't his intentions, it's him actively infantelizing his own wife and just deciding she isn't going to eat meat anymore, without even thinking he should ask her, like she has 0 say in what she does or doesn't eat from now on, because her washed out D grade broke superhero husband said so.
Only two issues later by #7 ("The Death of the Red Mask"), Animal Man is beginning to see clues of the "grand cosmic plan" (the "meta" take on the comic book scripts that make up his life), as he says to another minor villain, "Listen, you don't want to die. It'd be pointless. People keep dying on me. It's getting really depressing." Only seven issues into the series, he's already seen enough death that he's getting tired of it. Of course, the worst is yet to come.
Red Mask is another great one off charcter.
Grant morrison's design of Red Hood in his Batman and Robin run is very keen to the design of red mask
Bob looks like a young Carl from ATHF.
That is EXACTLY what I thought, too. In fact, in my original script I called him Carl. I changed it to Bob because Bob and Crafty sounded better than Carl and Crafty. Too many hard C's, in my opinion.
@@StrangeBrainParts Yeah I would agree, Bob is a fine name for an everyman stereotype too.
@PoeTesseract : One of reasons was due to a line from a NoMeansNo song, The Day Everything Became Nothing. The line being: I forgot my name, so I called myself Bob. It's weird being a Bob. But I'll get used to it...I have to!
This issue was a rewiring of my brain!
There's so much to unpack in just these 24 pages. Now I want to give Animal Man a try
May I suggest that "Bob", may be standing in for Freleng/Jones/McKimson, who were routinely injuring the coyote, as the directors, in the cartoons.
YES! The best comics YTuber reviews one of my favorites from the 90s.
Thank you. I hope it was enjoyable.
Agreed, easily one of my favorite TH-camrs
Appropriate enough topic for Easter, I’d say
Great vid, as always. On thing I'll mention is that Crafty, in a sense, is the devil like Bob thinks him to be. Crafty is cast out of his cartoon world for his disobedience as Lucifer was from Heaven. I think this is a very intentional parallel given the active decision to have Bob think Crafty is "The Devil" rather than some other sort of monster, which is very interesting when paired with the imagery of the crucifixion.
Another thing left out, and coincidentally sort of opposite to what you've said, is that Crafty is also in a sense a Christ-like figure. Crafty tells god that he will bear any punishment imaginable if the cartoon world can live in peace. So when he's sent to Animal Man's world he is quite literally suffering (and eventually dies) for his world's sins. I also think that's the reason Crafty is drawn in an obvious crucifixion pose at the end of the story.
One of my favorite single issues of any comic. Amazing how there is still things to discover about it years after I read it!
Crafty moving realities feels reminiscent of the hoping creation myth where they're brought up from the lower worlds
I just finished reading the whole series. I read this issue and felt like I semi understood but missed a lot of the meaning. This is a great breakdown. This issue is loaded with ideas and it really is concise as hell. How you can be this profound in 24 pages is beyond me. It just has me thinking back more and more of the other issues and what’s trying to be said. This was one of the greatest things I’ve ever read. This comic is worth the hype. Thanks for the breakdown, it’s phenomenal.
You should try Grant Morrison’s run on Doom Patrol.
Already done. It's in the archive.
the LOL dance machine advert that cannot be skipped is intolerable and i cannot continue but great video so far
Blatant Gnostic Christ allegory.. the Trickster/Coyote/Anubis/Set/Legba-Ellegua-Eshu/Yurugu as Messiah.. originally derived from African Kemetic/Dogon inner mysteries as implied during the Invisibles...
could you tell me every sinlge mythology you just described slower please?
Ooooohhh this is a classic issue!
Wow. For a guy who's read this issue a zillion times since he was 9, I didn't think this video could tell me anything new. Well done!
Holy shit, I was talking about this last night. What an amazing issue in a phenomenal run.
Actually read this whole run last year. Fantastic stuff.
I always like to think the true recipient of the message wasn't animal man but to us the readers, A-man is just a conduit to deliver that message, that's why he couldn't understand the letter.
I really enjoyed this analysis. A great book in a great series.
I have a whole run of Animal Man in the attic - I'm going to have to go and find this issue and re-read it.
Makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the story when I read it years ago. I knew Morrison hated the Watchmen and Dark Knight, but never connected it in my mind. Quick question, have you done a video on Resurrection Man? Love to hear your take on that story.
I have not...yet! It's one of those oddball series that I really should get to sooner rather than later.
Wait ... a bit confused. I know Morrison loved Killing Joke. I even heard audio on this. So he hated MOST of the 'dark' comics with some key exceptions. Or did he change his mind recently thanks.
No wonder he's becoming my favorite comic-book writer
I just finished rereading this run for the 3rd time. Excellent work on the video. I was wondering if you were willing to cover Jamie Delano's run on Animal Man as well? I feel the Delano run is very underappreciated. He did some interesting character work, turned Buddy into an unlikely cult leader and pushed a lot of radical ideas when they certainly were not mainstream
Yes, I have considered doing the entire run. I do agree that Delano's contribution is overlooked.
@@StrangeBrainParts that would be great! The whole series is so fascinating, as each writer took the series in completely different directions. It's also interesting to study the transition from late 1980's British invasion DC Comic into a Vertigo book, at a time when Vertigo was still establishing its voice. I would love to hear you cover the Milligan-Veitch-Delano-Prouse phases
jack Kirby's 2001 series might be fun to do a short vid about
if only people took this and made comic fun again
Great review. Missed some of those parallels between #5 and the series as a whole before. I did know #5 was something really special at the time though.
Thank you
You are welcome!
This video made me get out my hardcover of Animal Man
Phenomenal video of a phenomenl comic book Run.
9:21 Impliate and Explicate Order
There are so many characters that need this type of treatment
You should do a whole video on the Grant Morrison Animal Man series.
This was supposed to be the introduction to doing the entire series, but it went on much longer than I anticipated. So, I just focused on this one issue. I do reserve the right to return to discussing the metastory and how it emerges through the series.
This posting was worthy in and of itself because of how important this issue is to the entire run of Animal Man. It can either be a stand alone of just the start of a larger examination of an amazing series. As it stands, and excellent review of an important issue of a phenomenal series.
Great work
what does the "10 minutes into the future, in an implicate universe" means?
:-D
I disagree with the premise of this video. F*ck the golden age.
The golden age is overatted tbh.
Like i apreciate wat it did but it was never good tbh
I still dislike the chas troug art. I dont think morrison ever figured out how to write to the strengths of the artist. Other 80s writers like miller or moore are notable bc they tend to lean in to how comics are a visual medium. i dont think morrison ever figures out that synergy. his best work is with quitlely, sure. but i dont think he writes in a way to lean into quietley. also, morrison never consistently works with an artist of that quality and never exploits it.
Really? I think he and Porter were AMAZING on Justice League - granted their best stuff is the first 40 issues or so but hey that's still quite a run
Also try to get Morrison's Batman stuff in Legends - those were artistically done well imho
This was excellent analysis on entertainment, if we look in today’s comics nothing more then political garbage everywhere you know?
this is literally political, Morrison is highly political with the same themes that modern stories.
But what I mean is that the modern political stories in comics is kind of messy and politicals is inaccurate I mean have you read any modern marvel comics and ask yourself this Over exaggerated ?
@@pacotorres5968 I've read modern marvel and the only thing I see is they adapting to their current times one way or another, like they always did. Some stories are forced, others more natural but it's a big umbrella to lump all of it into "modern politics".
Khamala Khan is a great character that some just think as a "checklist" character and things like those "New Warriors" character like "Snowflake" or "Screentime" are just a mismanaged mess like they always had too (same goes for DC)
Ok you do have point I like ms marvel when she is written probably rather then forced you know what I mean ?
@@pacotorres5968 I get what you mean too, but lumping everything together is one of the big problems with the industry today. Every character has forced and unnecessary stories, that's more of a short falling of comics and not the characters imo. Khan and Morales are best examples probably, great characters with a lot of long term potential I think.
Amazing video, The only problem I have with it is Morrison is non binary and your using He/Him pronouns but I feel like that’s just me trying to find something bad.
No disrespect intended towards Mr. Morrison. I genuinely had no idea they are non-binary.
(Edited to get the pronouns right this time.)
@@StrangeBrainParts But they were male at the time. I do not see the problem. It's like the difference between Bruce and Caitlyn jenner.
Grant assumed themselves as male in this comic series, so it's part of their past.
Fuck. You spoiled the ending of the series. Cofronting Morrison wasnt a necessary info to us...