Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Four Feet Under
Written by: Marc Andreyko
Penciled by: Jesus Saiz
Inked by: Jimmy Palmiotti
Colored by: Steve Buccellato
Lettered by: Pat Brosseau
Assistant Editor: Rachel Gluckstern
Editor: Joan Hilty
Publisher: DC Comics
Manhunter has been the surprise comic of the last part of 2004. While the early images and previews looked interesting, it wasn’t a book that I was planning on trying out. After the first issue came out and fellow-Nexus writers John Babos and Daron Kappauff sang the title’s praises, I felt compelled to grab issue #1. Boy, were they right! This title has been at the top of my pile every week since. I have personally turned on Mike from Marvel News and my friend Pat to the book, and I continue to broadcast it’s praises to any that will listen.
If you haven’t read the series yet, here’s the skinny on the latest character to bear the name Manhunter in the DC universe. Kate Spencer is a Los Angeles district attorney fed up with the failures of the justice system. After seeing Copperhead escape the death penalty and then, quite literally, escape, Kate raided the evidence room and got a spiffy outfit and a fancy energy weapon. She then proceeded to take down Copperhead with extreme prejudice. Kate’s done some fine work as a superhero, and some not-so-fine work as a mom. One of the ongoing elements is the battle for custody of her child, Ramsey, with her ex-husband. So far, the series has been as interesting with Kate in the costume as it is out.
As I look back on the four issues prior to this one, a factor that has played such a huge part in the success of this book is the fast-paced storytelling. Manhunter has brought major advancement each issue. In a miraculous feat for current comics the first issue actually was an all-in-one origin tale of Kate Spence’s Manhunter, and her first victory over a super-villain. You didn’t read that wrong, an origin and an ass-kicking all in the first issue. That’s more than happens in the first trade paperback of most Marvel Ultimate titles. The forward momentum didn’t stop there. In issues two and three Ramsey is injured, Shadow Thief came calling to revenge Manhunte’s dispatching of Copperhead, and we gained more insight into Kate’s character.
Last issue Kate enlisted the aid of Dylan, an ex-con who’s worked with nearly every major villain in the DCU. This month we begin with Dylan putting Manhunter through a training exercise in Paone’s Western Village just outside of LA. This is the famous location where a number of Hollywood westerns were filmed. Kate has her own showdown with robotic simulations of Cheetah and Solomon Grundy then, sort of, meets up with a previous incarnation of Manhunter. These scenes add a sense of believability to the story. How do “new” heroes get so good at what they do, well Marc Andreyko makes sure you know.
Thankfully this isn’t a “made-for-trade” chapter of the story. Instead, that’s just the beginning. We move forward with some interesting developments in Kate’s custody battle. Then members of the JLA showed up to brief Kate about their search for Shadow Thief, who recently killed Firestorm in the pages of Identity Crisis. Then the scene changes back to “tights” for a showdown between Manhunter and Shadow Thief. This marks the second meeting between the pairâ€â€Manhunter may have an arch-nemesisâ€â€and in a nice twist, the direction appears to be going all “Law and Order” next month.
One other mention that must be made in this review is the work of the art team of Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti. Prior to his work on Manhunter I hadn’t seen much of Saiz’s work, but he’s certainly on my radar now. Writer Marc Andreyko has made certain there’s a lot going on in every issue of Manhunter. From costume-life to real-life, from guest villains to guest heroes, and courtroom antics to rooftop battles, Saiz has captured it all perfectly. This issue continues the string of artistic successes. Special note must be given to the opening training sequence. The western setting and the superhero/villain action were par excellence.
After five issues, I can say unequivocally, Manhunter is the best superhero book on the stands right now.
