Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Mistrial by Fire
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Penciller: Javier Pina
Inker: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Steve Buccellato
Letterer: Jared K Fletcher
Assistant Editor: Rachel Gluckstern
Editor: Joan Hilty
Publisher: DC Comics
Some people say comics are just for kids. Some others say comics are too dark. I agree with none of those people, and I point to this issue as a perfect example of it.
Manhunter is a great exhibit of a very serious, action-packed story that also gives off a very real sense of fun. And that balance is what is missing from most comics these days.
I will not waste time by giving a plot description here. Becuase it’s simply a superhero vs. supervillian(s) tale. That’s all you need to know too. But what I will say is that not a page is wasted. On every page, somethng happens to advance the story and the characters. On every page there is also something fun that happens. A sight gag, a clever line, or a discovery for the main character that makes you smile.
Perhaps not every comic can achieve this balance. And perhaps not every comic should. But it is a testament to the writer and to the character of Manhunter that it can. That is why I love the book so much, and that is what makes it a better comic than most out there.
This is a very satifying conclusion to the story that has been building for months, but it’s also the prelude to an even more interesting tale, weaving together the long past of the name “Manhunter” in DC history.
I am positive that all the great things that made the past 10 issues excellent, will keep me coming back for many more months.
