Manhunter continues with its usual taunt storytelling. The trial of Carl Sands doesn’t actually start with this issue. Instead, we get a lot of preliminaries. The big question is: with Shadow Thief facing the death penalty, will he trade information about other villains to save his own skin? This fear sets up this issue’s story, and the next, as concerned villains hire Calculator to kill him.
This issue gives us new insights into Kate Spencer’s background and features her first public fight.
Andreyko writes another example of how an episodic story should be told, with each issue offering something, while serving to further the story arc. Nevertheless, she does dispatch Shrapnel too easily (though the fight itself is well executed). And I have to wonder why he has her bringing the Justice League into the trial of Firestorm’s killer, as they weren’t present at the murder. Finally, in what is a very short list of complaints, while I like the art by Saiz, Palmiotti, and Buccellato, their light touch leaves the League members looking too young. Superman could easily be Superboy and the Flash doesn’t look any older. Likewise, Wonder Woman and Hawkman lack the gravitas usually associated with them. Of course, the reason Shrapnel was taken out so easily may be Calculator’s insistence on hiring the cheapest talent he can find. Just because someone needs work, and will work for peanuts, it doesn’t mean that they are the best person for the job.
The story has a lot of nice touches: the separate incarcerations of Sands and his leotard; the phone conversation between Kate and her ex; Michael Johnson’s visit to the League; and Kate’s concern about the sudden change in her appearance. It’s a wonder we don’t see more heroes with the same problem.
All in all Manhunter continues into 2005 as one of DC’s stronger new titles. Now if it can just find an audience…
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