Martian Manhunter #2 Review
Is this the best DC book on shelves?
Over the last few years there has been a massive boom in 'C' and 'B'-list heroes starring in some of the best comics going. Martian Manhunter - for now at least - is no exception.
The basic premise is that there are two main stories occurring at the same time, one with J’onzz on Earth as Detective John Jones and the other being his flashbacks to the final days of Mars, complete with a happy wife and an adorable blob-baby.
At the end of the first issue, on Earth, Jones was in a car crash with his partner, and when the car catches fire, there’s no way he can hide that he’s a shapeshifter even with his fellow officer in the passenger seat next to him. His Martian flashbacks take us back to the wonderful time in a Martian father’s life where his son basically has a Martian Bar or Bat Mitzvah, plus the secret origin of where J’onzz’ caveman brow comes from.
The body horror and alien nature of J’onzz still oozes from the Earth-based investigation, but it becomes so much more in this issue that it’s hard to express just how well Steve Orlando handles this character and his supporting cast without spoiling it. Similarly, the same care taken to perfect that story really creates something special in the flashbacks on Mars.
One of the most difficult things to do for anyone writing a prequel is to make the audience forget about what is happening in the future. Even with the flashbacks taking place only days before the fall of Martian civilization, the way Orlando fleshes out J’onn and his family creates a warmth that makes the reader forget their inevitable tragic fate.
Riley Rossmo, with Juan Plascencia on colors, brings something unique to the equation with the visuals for the book. On Mars, there is a cartoonish proportion to the characters and a bright color scheme that adds to the shapeshifting nature of the species. Alongside the harsher linework and darker color palette during the Earth-side detective mystery, the two styles contrast to a perfect degree.
It's still early days for this new Martian Manhunter series, but #2 manages to nail both aspects of the character perfectly. Five stars.
