Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 – Deniz Camp, Writer; Javier Rodriguez, Artist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: This is the only one of the original Absolute books that wasn’t intended to be an ongoing series – it was greenlit for six issues, and the rapturous critical and audience response immediately got it greenlit for an extended run. That means it’ll be taking a hiatus for a few months after next issue as the second arc gets prepped – but it also means that this book feels very separate from the rest of the line. While it definitely feels like a darker reinvention of Martian Manhunter, it also has an off-kilter edge to it that feels like it could have come out of vintage Vertigo. And as Detective John Jones’ life falls apart around him, the city falls with it. Something called the Final Night is descending, seemingly driven by whatever has followed John’s hitchhiker over from Mars – and it’s taken what already lurks in the heart of man and driven it overdrive with acts of practiced cruelty.
Each issue has escalated this threat more and more, but this issue takes it to an extreme level. What started out as acts of violence driven by minor provocations has descended into acts of planned murder. A serial dog killer stalks the streets. A disgruntled diner waitress grounds up glass into her patrons’ burgers. A band of fake paramedics stalks the streets, planning to do twisted surgeries on the injured. And let’s just say you’ll never look at J’onn’s beloved Chocos the same way again after this issue. As John runs himself ragged, trying to follow the trails of psychic hate and stop crimes in their tracks, the threat comes home in a terrifying way that isn’t resolved by the end of the issue. There’s a claustrophobic sense of all-too-familiar horror that pervades this series from the beginning, and this issue dials the tension up to an almost unbearable level as we get to next issue’s climax.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
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