For a newbie, Kate Spencer has more notches on her proverbial gun than most superheroes can boast. In the first eight issues she took on – and out – Copperhead, Shadow Thief, Shrapnel, and Cheshire. And she is on the radar of the stars on Villains United. We should have asked Andreyko for his thoughts on decompressed storytelling.
With issue nine her list grows to include Phobia, Monocle, and Merlyn – seven in nine issues! Issue nine is one big fight scene as Calculator sends in a crew to take out Carl Sands, the Shadow Thief, because they fear he might cut a deal with the authorities. Calculator must genuinely hate her by now, she has cost him so much. Of course, I can just imagine some sceptics pointing out that these aren’t A list villains, and that’s true. But she isn’t on the A list –with the likes of Batman – herself yet. She has fought her way near to it and with the damage she has done to Calculator’s network (and reputation – because of her he has singularly failed to get rid of Sands), it is only a matter of time before she is facing someone of Deathstroke’s ability.
There are three stories here. The first lays seeds to a personal crisis. The second is an attack on the legacy of Manhunters. This is the next arc, overlapping into this one – again no decompression.
And then there is the main plot: the trial of Carl Sands and Calculator’s attempts to kill him. This time he sends in three villains that many of us met in Identity Crisis: Merlyn, Phobia, and Monocle. Phobia enters the court room as a member of the public and then the guys make a fantastic and dramatic entrance. I don’t want to give too much away, but she does kill for the second time.
Manhunter is a great comic and this issue just soars. If you have never read the comic, this makes for a great introduction. If you tried it and didn’t like it, try it again now. Issue nine offers more than three issues of most titles.
And as a bonus Jesus Saiz returns to give us a great cover.
