Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: Secret Identities (from the interior) or Lock & Load (from the cover)
Written by: Marc Andreyko
Penciled by: Jesus Saiz
Inked by: Jimmy Palmiotti
Colored by: Steve Buccellato
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Joan Hilty
Publisher: DC Comics
I’m REALLY liking this new series. I’m so liking it that I wondered whether I have some kind of blinding bias. Yes, I remain a fan of both the Archie Goodwin / Walt Simonson 1970’s Manhunter (Paul Kirk) and (an even larger fan of) John Ostrander’s 1980’s Manhunter (Mark Shaw), but the 1990’s Wild Huntsman Manhunter is nowhere on my likability radar. Whew, I’m not a blind lover of all-things-Manhunter and my enjoyment of the new century’s Manhunter is genuine.
Manhunter #4 may actually be the best issue to date. While we don’t get to see our titular vigilante traversing the interior pages in costume (we do get a nice Jae Lee pencilled cover though), this is a very story-driven quiet human issue that reveals more about Kate Spencer. We learn about the depth of her commitment to justice and what lengths she’s willing to go make her Manhunter gig more successful, effective and efficient.
Kate needs a weaponer. James Bond has Q. Manhunter wants… Dylan Battles (if that IS your real name… Mr. Battles)? She can only pillage the evidence locker room for metahuman implements for only so long. She needs someone to fix them when they break and even create some unique weapons as well.
Manhunter #4 is Dylan’s story. He’s a computer and weapons expert who has worked for many a villain. From Batman’s Two-Face to Firestorm’s Killer Frost to Aquaman’s Black Manta to the JLA’s Queen Bee.
He’s now in an informant / witness relocation program and was spied by Kate in a restaurant she frequents early in this series’ run. From flunky to busboy with a jealous girlfriend and baby to boot. What do we learn about Kate? Well, that she’s willing to blackmail to get what she wants. Will Dylan risk having his new identity exposed and have the villains he served come after him or will he be Kate’s Q?
Writer Marc Andreyko is a solid plotter and scripter. He’s given Kate a very dynamic personality. She’s like a two sided-sponge – soft and smooth on one side and rough with a scouring surface on the other. She uses both to “encourage” and “strong-arm” Dylan to her view of things. I’m still irritated by Kate’s constant chain smoking, but that’s a minor quibble.
Jesus Saiz’s pencils really fit the complex jumble of Kate Spencer’s personality and the dynamic world she lives in. His facial features are very expressive and really advances Andreyko’s story visually.
The pastel like colors of Steve Buccellato really conveys the two-sided nature of Kate and this book. Its bright colors contrast the very dark world the story is set in and the dark tactics used by Kate to ensnare Dylan.
Manhunter #4 is a quiet and dynamic issue at the same time and well worth the price of admission.
