DCU Comic Book Reviews

MANHUNTER #35

Forgotten, Part 5:  Unhappy Hunting Grounds

December 2008

Written by Marc Andreyko

Pencils by Michael Gaydos and Carlos Magno

Inks by Michael Gaydos and Carlos Magno

Cover by Liam Sharp

Synopsis

In Los Angeles, Cameron Chases searches for Dylan Battles by questioning his ex-wife’s father.  He tells Cameron that she should ask the Joker for the whereabouts of Dylan.  In the Mexican Desert, two girls run for their life.  They are saved by Manhunter, who is able to defeat the meta humans chasing them.  Manhunter then asks where they had been kept captive until released.  At Vesetech headquarters, the Suicide Squad tell the Crime Doctor they killed Manhunter, which the Crime Doctor knows is false, because of surveillance footage of Manhunter infiltrating the Mexican plant.  At the facility, Manhunter with help from the Birds of Prey are able to defeat the meta humans protecting the place and release all of the captives.  In the process the building explodes.  Huntress states that without the evidence, the authorities have nothing to prove what it was sued for.  Manhunter disagrees.  She has all she needs to take down Vesetch and she won’t have to throw a single punch to do it.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

There are some baffling moments in this issue, which despite them was still very engaging and thoroughly enjoying.  While I don’t think Manhunter is the type of book that should have extended fight scenes (and this issue had two of the them, to boot), it works well enough here that I can’t complain too much.  I also like the fact that Andreyko used both fights as the set-up to the ending rather than ending, saving that (I assume) for the courtroom and the next issue.  Taken on that level, it was an enjoyable read and fits well with the previous issues.  However, I am baffled by a few moments. 

The first is the Suicide Squad, who are rendered useless pretty quickly.  I’ve got to wonder:  why even bother using such well-known characters in the first place.  There is nothing they did in this issue (literally) or the last issue that could not have been portrayed by some faceless character.  So, to do what was done to the Suicide Squad here just devalues the characters and makes them weaker than they should be. 

The second is the brief scene with Ramsey, which didn’t make any sense.  Maybe I’m reading it wrong, but I thought the dog was responsible for stopping the truck.  But it is really Ramsey that did it.  And, if so, wouldn’t you want the kid medically checked-out to see what else he can do?  Kate should have enough contacts to get to Dr. Mid-Nite, if needed.  Hell, Sandra Knight should be able to do it herself.  Instead we get a scene about Manhunter’s identity, which again baffles me:  I thought Sandra knew that Ramsey knew already.  Or I am mis-remembering.  Anyway, I am not sure what the hell is going on; hopefully things will be explained in the upcoming issues. 

ïPREVIOUS	Main		Page	NEXTð

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.