Review: MARTIAN MANHUNTER #3
Writer: Rob Williams
Pencils: Eddy Barrows
Inks: Eber Ferreira
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Martian Manhunter debuted as part of the #DCYou initiative, which put an end to the New 52. The #DCYou is putting less emphasis on continuity and a larger focus on telling good stories. Martian Manhunter falls somewhere in the middle. It still has ties to the superhero side of the DC universe (appearances by the Justice League), but the larger story being constructed by Rob Williams, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Gabe Eltaeb, and Tom Napolitano is putting a brand new spin on what we originally thought and knew about J’onn J’onzz.
“The epiphany has begun.” What we have learned from issues one, two, and the free June preview, is that there appears to be a martian invasion on Earth. Secret martian agents have been living among us. All across the world, terrorist attacks have taken place, all at the same time. J’onzz has learned that his whole life is a lie, and he is not coping well with this news. In fact, he’s coping so poorly that last issue he took his own life.
What I Liked
I really like that new dynamics are being introduced to Martian Manhunter’s backstory. Being sent to Earth as the martian’s ultimate weapon has shaken J’onzz to his core. He is having a hard time processing not only that he isn’t the last of his kind, but that he could also be used against the same people he has sworn to protect.
The art team of Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Gabe Eltaeb, and Tom Napolitano do a fabulous job of mixing in superhero action with a tinge of horror and mystery. A new supporting character, Mr. Biscuits, is both parts creepy and loveable. He has a bond with some street kids, most notably a young girl named Alicia. They bring him biscuits and he gives them large coins. Seems like a fair trade to me. I mentioned earlier that Martian Manhunter is now dead. “Dead” being a relative term in comic books, there is a well-drawn panel of J’onzz in ghost form that really makes him look like an extraterrestrial. The colors by Eltaeb remind me of a watercolor look.
Alicia is full of spunk, and she plays well off of Mr. Biscuits. Other supporting characters like F.B.I Agent Wessel and Leo (who is under investigation for killing his mother) continue the larger mystery of what is really going on with the martians. Leo’s situation is unique. He is arrested for strangling his mother, but he has an illness which makes it impossible for him to use his appendages. Plus, he’s one of those characters that “knows things”. Leo is feeding Agent Wessel information, some of which is personal information that Leo should have no way of knowing. Last but not least is a thief in Dubai named Pearl. She witnesses a murder committed by a martian and is now on the run.
The Justice League makes a small appearance, which connects Martian Manhunter to the larger DC shared universe, but their presence doesn’t overpower the story.
There were two small Easter eggs that I noticed in this issue. One was that the album “Up For The Down Stroke” by the Parliment is Wessel’s brother’s favorite album. I wonder if writer Rob Williams is a fan. The second was a scene where Wessel is burning a body to see if it is a martian or not. On the lighter was a small cross. It made me wonder if there was some symbolism there.
The surprise on the final page was something I was starting to wonder about after reading issues one and two. I’ll get to that more in the Summary section below.
What I Didn’t Like
One thing I wondered after reading the free preview issue is whether or not Mr. Biscuits is supposed to be the white martian that J’onzz confronted on the moon. My guess is no, but after seeing that martian in the preview and then Mr. Biscuits on the very first page of issue one, it made me wonder.
I understand J’onzz being conflicted after finding out everything he knows is a lie, but for him to try and kill himself seems like a coward’s way out. He is a hero, and heroes don’t take the easiest solution to a problem.
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
