Manhunter 29 and 30

Manhunter #29
Written by Mark Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

Thank God (Or Bob Wayne) that this isn’t Manhunter’s penultimate issue after all because this is an excellent series. Wonder Woman’s reasoning for not wanting the fact that Superman almost was under Max Lord’s mind control to be publicly known was spot on and perfectly in character. It made me smile. And Manhunter’s fight with Everyman was pretty cool too. I am loving all of the story arcs in this. Oh and these artists draw a beautiful Wonder Woman.

Manhunter #30
Written by Mark Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

This was another fantastic issue of Manhunter. I loved it. This was supposed to be the series’s last issue and it would have made a perfect series finale but I am glad the series is continuing. Wonder Woman is decided to be innocent after all and Dylan saves Cameron Chase’s life (in a way that actually made me like him more) and in the end we get a preview of the next story arc. Looks like it is going to have something to do with an abortion clinic and maybe the Joker? I don’t know but it looks to be great.

Manhunter 27 and 28

Manhunter #27
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

Okay I did not see the shock ending of this issue coming, even with it being given away on the cover. Ted Kord can not be still alive? Could he? This has to be a hoax of some sort. Maybe it is Bruce in disguise. I don’t know, what I do know is this was a great issue. Full of courtroom drama you would expect in a book about a superhero lawyer. And Wonder Woman hasn’t been drawn this good in a long time.

Manhunter #28
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

This is all really intense. First Ted Kord has appeared and says he was alive and well and has no memory of the last 18 months. Wonder Woman’s lasso seems to think he is telling the truth and Batman is doing a blood test on him. (Why didn’t they think of just taking off his mask?) Then Sasha sends Manhunter the real video of Maxwell Lord’s death. This is all really important for the DCU and its sad that more people aren’t reading this. I don’t know whos to blame for this series’s cancellation but the whole thing is sad. Andreko’s a great writer and I hope he gets put on something high profile at DC soon. (Like um…Wonder Woman)

Amazon Legality

Manhunter #26
Written by Mark Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

I really hope this series makes it after Issue 30. Andreyko clearly has a love for the DCU and it shows in his writing. If Manhunter does end with Issue 30, DC should at least have Andreyko write another series, he is a wonderful writer who I could see on lots of other books. After reading this, I think he should take over as Wonder Woman writer after Jodi Picult’s upcoming run. He knows how to write female heroes. This issue is actually pretty important, Wonder Woman has come to Kate, who she knows is Manhunter, for legal defense against the US government who are charging her for the murder of Maxwell Lord. I loved the moments between Manhunter and Wonder Woman and Manhunter basically being in awe of her. The only weakness is the Dylan character, I hate him. I absolutely hate him. He makes my skin crawl. I really wish he would leave this series but I don’t see that happening since Andreyko created him. Anyways, I encourage everyone to pick up this issue. This series is great and it deserves to last.

 

Manhunter 23 - 25

Manhunter #23
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco

Okay I know that most critics love this book, and I did too at the start. But this issue just bored me, I like Manhunter. But I find myself not caring too much about her supporting cast, especially Dylan. Plus, the whole Phantom Lady is Manhunter’s grandmother thing seems a little forced. I mean there is nothing wrong with having a superhero who is not related to another one. But that is just my opinion.

Manhunter #24
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco

Okay this issue was much better than the last. I wasn’t actually bored. The fight between Manhunter and Dr. Psycho was great and even the society notes that Kate can kick ass. I am not sure what Bones is getting at at the end of this issue but I suppose we will find out soon. Oh and Sweeny Todd is certainly becoming an intersting/creepy villain.

Manhunter #25
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco

False alarm, this series is definitely still good. And I hope that it will continue past issue 30. Manhunter is getting famous in L.A. as she fights Sweeny Todd in a club. Oh and Wonder Woman shows up this issue, and it is definitely Diana. Which is weird, because over in her own series Donna is now Wonder Woman. Maybe this takes place after this? Anyways, I look forward to the team up between Wonder Woman and Manhunter next issue.

The Dramatic Return of Kilg%re

Manhunter #22
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco
Cover by Shawn Martinbrough

One thing I really love about this book is that Andreyko really knows his way around the DCU. He keeps bringing old tidbits from DC’s history and that is great. In this issue, he brought in the little know flash villain Kilg%re. I know the character from Mike Baron’s run on the flash and he was a pretty powerful villain then. I wonder if Kate will be able to take him out sucessfully. I don’t know anything about the other villain this issue, the metahuman serial killer Sweeney Todd. I have never heard of him, I wonder if he is new. I should probably do some research to find out. This issue once again balanced action with a healthy does of humor. My favorite moment was the very beginning where Kate says her comment about Giant 4-headed hydra thingies. That actually made me laugh out loud. I am glad that this book is not getting canceled just yet.

Holly Does Not Quite Meow For Me Yet

Catwoman (Volume 3) #54
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez
Cover by Adam Hughes

This issue continues the trend in the DCU of formerly lame villains becoming cool. This time it is Angle Man who gets the treatment. While not on the same level that Cat Man has become cool, Pfieifer does manage to make Angle Man much cooler than he ever was here. I do not think I have ever read anything else where these Lopez guys did the art but I must say I do like it. They should probably get more work. I am not so sure if I like Holly as Catwoman still, she just doesn’t seem Catwoman-like. She is too naieve and innocent, not enough femme fatale in her I guess. But I will give her a change to prove herself. Meanwhile, Selina is being a good mother of a baby whom I am not sure who the father of is. I am less convinced that it is Batman’s kid this time around for some reason. Not sure why I have changed my mind about that. I am excited about the introduction of Film Freak who since reading this I have learned is an old villain. I like him, he is creepy and in a way he reminds me of my love for films and trivia. (Accept I am no villain).

Can You Guess Which Doctor is the Psycho?

Manhunter #21
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco
Cover by Jesus Saiz

The previous issue of this series was reviewed here. This issue was great but man were there some disturbing parts. I mean a woman ripping a body apart and a man putting his arm through someone whoa. Crazy stuff! The court scenes were done well, Marc certainly knows how to write them. The scene where Dr. Midnight talks about how the brains that are psychically posessed are different is something I would have never thought of. Dr. Psycho is just as creepy this issue, especially with the revelation that he gets off on murders! Don’t we all just love that little creepy icky guy. I think its cool that the JSA keeps DNA of all there members, makes sense since they do live in a world where clones and long lost children are abundant. I also never realized till now how cool Dr. Midnight’s costume is, maybe it is the artist or something, but the Doc looks great in this isse.

My favorite psychotic munchkin returns!

Manhunter #20
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco
Cover by Jesus Saiz

I have to say, any book featuring Dr. Psycho at any point is going to be a great read. I mean he is just the creepiest little villain ever. I am glad he has been getting so much exposure lately. I hope that Allan Heinberg will use him in the new Wonder Woman series this summer. Now putting Dr. Psycho aside, this one year later issue leaves us with more one year later questions. Who is this woman Peter has married? How did Cameron and Dylan hook up? And what was Kate talking about when she said there was some kind of big event in Metropolis. I wonder if this event will occur in the forthcoming 52 or in the final issues of Infinite Crisis. I liked this issue because I felt the last few issues have been kind of dull and now I am interested in Kate’s life once again. I also liked how she finally has come to terms with the fact that she is a superhero and not some kind of wannabe.