Manhunter vol 1: Street Justice

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:29 pm

An intriguing premise coupled with a compelling character. This was a great a read.

What makes this character so fascinating is that its not a sad attempt by DC to just try and create a pale imitation of The Punisher and cash in on his success (25 years too late); it's a genuine attempt at creating something different that can stand on its own two feet. For example, unlike the vast majority of heroes/heroines out there, Kate Spencer isn't doing the hero thing because of some personal tragedy. She's not like the dime-a-dozen heroes out there who have some personal connection to a villain - which ultimately led to them donning a pair of spandex. Similarly, she's not doing it for cheap thrills. Spencer is doing the hero thing for purely practical reasons. Her rationale is that the law has failed one too many times and the super villains who get away will kill again unless something is done to prevent it. Enter Manhunter.

Additionally, what makes Kate Spencer so much more appealing is the contradictory nature of...well just about everything about her. She's a lawyer who is a vigilante; a vigilante who kills, a mother and a divorce with a filthy smoking habit who spends more time at her job than with her son - with whom she can barely communicate with.

She's not some stone cold sociopath like Frank Castle who only lives for the mission (not that, that diminishes Castle's character - just that its a marked difference and shows Andreykeyo didn't cop out and make her into a female version of Castle). Spencer has a entire life of her own - admittedly one that is falling apart (atleast socially) but all this sets her apart from so many other heroes.

And Manhunter doesn't dress like a super-whore to boot.

I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. I would highly recommend Manhunter to other people. It's intriguing, entertaining, different and a huge breath of fresh air.

Big kudos to Tragic Angelus for recommending this to me.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:53 pm

See, I didn't let you down!! And really, the edge of the book never disappears. Eventually you do learn about her interconnected nature in the DCU, but they don't start with it. It's revealed over time and in a great way. And the art absolutely fits in with the gritty storytelling style. I'm very glad you liked it!!

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:56 am

Just so all of you are happy, Manhunter will return, as a back-up feature on Detective Comics, written by Greg Rucka. Thus the book will be $3.99.

Damn it!

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:39 pm

daaaamnnn.... I'd love to get it but... I don't want it as just a back up...

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:48 pm

Tragic Angelus wrote:See, I didn't let you down!! And really, the edge of the book never disappears. Eventually you do learn about her interconnected nature in the DCU, but they don't start with it. It's revealed over time and in a great way. And the art absolutely fits in with the gritty storytelling style. I'm very glad you liked it!!

Indeed you did not let me down. Despite the first story being very well written there were a few things that didn't make sense. Spencer obviously has no super powers (strength, speed etc...) yet after she first donned the Manhunter suit she was shown leaping across rooftops. Did the original Manhunter uniform she steal heighten her natural abilities?

Later on in the story her new tech partner gives her suit a power up that give her some physical boosts so that explains her strength and speed at the end but not the begining.

Second, and this may be a bit nit-picky, but Spencer is middle-aged and a habitual smoker. Though she is obviously in shape, with all the running around and jumping she was doing I kept expecting her to be hacking and coughing yet she wasn't even shown to be out of breath and the only damage she took were cuts and bruises at the end of the fight. That part is just a bit too hard to swallow.

Aside from Spencer's physical attributes not matching up with the way she performed as Manhunter, it's still a great read.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:50 pm

XIII wrote:Just so all of you are happy, Manhunter will return, as a back-up feature on Detective Comics, written by Greg Rucka. Thus the book will be $3.99.

Damn it!

This makes sense, considering Spencer is the new DA of Gotham.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:25 pm

Yea, her physical abilities do just kind of come from nowhere but I think initially they're chalked up to the suit. However, it's been a few years since I read that first storyline, and I'd love to re read the series soon as a whole to get more effect from it.

And yea the smoking thing does kind of come and go in terms of health. Sometimes she'll cough and make jokes about needing to cut back while running, but the fact that she's doing all of that while still smoking doesn't make sense.

But if those are the only nitpick things, I'll take it. Mine's just that it constantly came and went in terms of shipping lists.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:40 pm

Wait! Wait!! Hold on!!!
The Manhunter back-up will be in Streets of Gotham, not Detective Comics. Story by Andreyko and art by "Buffy Season 8" George Janty.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:35 pm

....DAMNIT... with that creative team i really might have to look into it..

But see, I was almost excited about it being in Detective so I can follow Renee and Kate's storylines....

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:08 pm

Well, Streets of Gotham is by Paul Dini and Dustin NGuyen. It's not like you'll have to buy a book from a crappy creative team.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:35 pm

that's true... damnit... something's might have to get the ax...

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:55 pm

XIII wrote:Just so all of you are happy, Manhunter will return, as a back-up feature on Detective Comics, written by Greg Rucka. Thus the book will be $3.99.

Damn it!

XIII wrote:Wait! Wait!! Hold on!!!
The Manhunter back-up will be in Streets of Gotham, not Detective Comics. Story by Andreyko and art by "Buffy Season 8" George Janty.

Comic Book Database my ass...

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:26 pm

There must have been a bug in the system or some kind of run time error.