ÒMorrison told the story of a kind-hearted, vegetarian hero who loses his family and is pushed to the brink of insanity before confronting his author in the runÕs extraordinarily meta finale.Ó ÑRolling Stone ÒGrant Morrison overhauled Animal Man in a typically imaginative manner.Ó ÑEntertainment Weekly ÒMorrison quickly became the hottest writer in the industry.Ó ÑComplex Magazine Buddy Baker, a.k.a. Òthe Man with Animal Powers,Ó is a second-rate superhero, devoted father and animal activist. There isnÕt much money in the hero game, and with a wife and kids to support, Buddy soon finds himself torn between trying to make a living through traditional super-heroics and getting more deeply involved in the questionably legal world of animal rights activism. But in todayÕs world, with real-life issues, who really needs Animal ManÕs protection? Is it humankind or the animals? Or is it Buddy himself? From the Eisner Award-winning and New York Times best-selling writer Grant Morrison comes one of his earliest, now classic, works exploring the nature of reality itself through the lens of a down-on-his-luck family-man superhero. This first of two 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition hardcovers collects Animal Man #1-13, the characterÕs dimension-spanning creation tale from Secret Origins #39 and an introduction by Grant Morrison.

From Grant Morrison, creator of The Invisibles and writer of New X-Men and JLA, comes a tale of a man whose struggle to save human lives becomes something more. Buddy Baker draws his powers from animals - now it's time to give them something back.

One of legendary comics writer Grant Morrison’s earliest works took a forgotten, almost laughable DC Comics hero, Animal Man, and reimagined him in a stunning, postmodern series chronicling his bizarre adventures as a second-rate superhero struggling with real-life issues and moral dilemmas. From one of the greatest storytellers of his generation, Grant Morrison’s Animal Man took a forgotten DC Comics character and reimagined him in a groundbreaking, postmodern series that redefined what was possible in superhero comics. Buddy Baker, a.k.a. “the Man with Animal Powers,” is a second-rate superhero, devoted father, and animal activist. There isn’t much money in the hero game, and with a wife and kids to support, Buddy soon finds himself torn between trying to make a living through traditional super-heroics and getting more deeply involved in the questionably legal world of animal rights activism. But in today’s world with real-life issues, who really needs Animal Man’s protection? Is it humankind or the animals? Or is it Buddy himself? Collects Animal Man #14-26.

"Originally published in single magazine form in Animal Man 1-26 and Secret Origins 39."

"In this long-awaited second collection of the groundbreaking series Animal Man, .. questions become more and more troubling-and the answers less and less clear."- p .[4] of cover.

This edition collects the bizarre adventures of Animal Man, a second-rate super hero struggling with real-life issues and moral dilemmas. Buddy Baker is a caring husband, devoted father, animal activist and super-powered being. But as he attempts to live up to all of his roles, he soon finds that there are no black and white situations in life. With a strong focus on storytelling, these thought-provoking and innovative tales make the reader question the actions of Animal Man as well as their own behavior in similar situations. Collects issues #1-9.