Single Issue Spotlight: Animal Man #26 by Grant Morrison and Chas Truog

Deus Ex Machina: “an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.” Also, it is the title of this comic and the driving force behind this grand finale.

The series leading up to this point has seen the slow decay of Buddy Baker’s willpower as he has lost his optimistic view of humanity, his belief in his cause, and, most harrowing, his family. There could be no other saving grace for Animal Man than Grant Morrison, the writer of this very comic. And while Grant Morrison does save him, they also reveal themself to be the source of Buddy’s suffering.

Grant Morrison inserting themselves into their own comic feels like a comforting familiarity at this point, they have always been known to embrace nonconformity in the comics world. Because of Morrison’s desire for strange and unique story elements, their storytelling can often be difficult to truly connect to for me personally. But as peculiar as this issue’s concept is, there is a grounding and humanistic nature to its execution. In this issue, Morrison is reflecting on their work, as well as communicating to their readers the complex burden of being a writer.

As much of an environmental advocate as Morrison is, their reasoning behind writing Buddy’s unending dilemma of a life is of the selfish kind. They desired to subtly imbue the character of Animal Man with their own personal troubles. Perhaps it was an unconscious coping method of theirs, or an emotional release subtly occurring within the story.

However, in this issue, the root of Morrison’s feelings are laid bare for their readers to witness, as they reveal the loss of their pet cat, Jarmara. An intimate detail of Morrison’s life is displayed here, one that instantly forms a connection between them and their cultivated audience.

Buddy, regardless of Morrison’s struggles, does not share our sympathies for them.

Throughout this issue, Buddy is distraught with everything occurring around him; he never fully grasps the figure of whom he is talking with. He does come to understand Morrison’s control over him, but he cannot relate to them as we can.

We as readers know Buddy’s life and emotional well being are purely fictional, and when he is informed of his sole purpose in life, which is to entertain the masses above his world, he chooses not to accept it. Ask yourself, would you accept this truth? Would your ego allow that to be true?

We must take a look at this situation from Buddy’s perspective. Everyone he loves and everything he values have all been taken away from him in a short span of time, and, at this moment, he meets the orchestrator of it all, all of his suffering and pain. “It’s not only a comic! It’s my life!” Buddy cries out, on his knees, beneath his author.

Yes, this is all just fictional writing, but the killing and torturing of these characters for entertainment is questionable in how it speaks to the morality of us and our humanity.

And Morrison acknowledges that.

Their entire story of Animal Man has encompassed the viewpoint of the inherent violence and cruelty of the human race and how it is projected on innocent lives, especially animals. Here, Morrison is confronting their own ideology with themself, and choosing to break free of it.

After Morrison comes to terms with themself, they say goodbye to Buddy, who still does not completely understand the situation. Buddy is transported back to his house, and he immediately forgets his encounter with his creator.

Then, Buddy hears a doorbell ring

So he opens the door..

And it’s his family,

It is also a symbol of Morrison’s redemption, as they chose kindness over cruelty.

While Buddy is beyond excited with his family, we see Morrison finishing the scene, and walking outside of their house out into the night. The line “When I was young,” repeats. We see them, alone within the world of this comic, seeking out his imaginary friend from his childhood. “Stars go out. Streets are empty. Goodbye.” The Grant Morrison in the comic sulks away with the realization of his naivety, but in the real world, our world, Morrison shines a light, a glowing reminder of why we enjoy fiction.