DCU Comic Book Reviews

MANHUNTER #38

Some Years Later, Family Business

February 2009

Written by Marc Andreyko

Pencils by Michael Gaydos, Dennis Calero, Fernando Blanco

Inks by Michael Gaydos, Dennis Calero, Fernando Blanco

Cover by Brad Walker and Livesay

Synopsis

Some years later, Kate Spencer (aka Manhunter) receives a phone call from Dylan Battles, who tells her the item she requested is ready.  Meanwhile, Ramsey is surprised by his friends ready to celebrate his graduation from school.  In downtown Los Angeles, Sweeny Todd tries to assert his control over the body he has possessed:  Director Bones.  In Burbank, Dylan gives Kate her package.  Later, after the graduation ceremony, Kate and Ramsey and their friends are celebrating when Sweeney Todd crashes the party.  Manhunter and the rest of the gang are able to defeat Sweeny and free Director Bones.  Afterwards, Kate gives Ramsey his present:  his own Manhunter costume.    

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As I said in my review of the previous issue, I don’t think shifting the focus of the series ahead 13 or so odd years is the way to end this book and this issue does nothing to change my mind.  It is an interesting look at the characters, but ultimately it doesn’t really mean anything.  Andreyko, I think, was looking to provide an ending for the characters, such as Ramsey becoming a legacy hero in the DC universe, but sadly the script begs a lot of questions than the answers it provides (Where is Damon?  Who is the mother of Obsidian’s children?  What happened to Dylan and Cam?  Why is Kate working with Bones again?).  This may just be me, but I think Andreyko would have been better off positioning the characters where they will be in the current DC rather than taking a peek into the future.  Having said that, this was a good issue and I enjoyed it, especially the end.  I have to admit, as a long time reader of this series, it was a good way to end it.  I’ll miss Manhunter.

Out of all of the places Sweeney Todd could have crashed and he picks the one place where Manhunter, the one who has been chasing him, happens to be at that exact moment?  I might’ve bought the coincidence if there was some vague comment about being drawn to that spot or something along those lines, but it doesn’t appear here.  It just so happens that Sweeney Todd interrupts their party. 

Cameron’s role in this issue is pretty weird.  She arrives at the party to attack Sweeney Todd and that is pretty much it.  Two panels.  Nothing else.    And there is no explanation on why she and Dylan broke up.  And why it took them, what 13 years, to finally break up?  By the way, was there ever a definitive explanation on the baby?  Did she have an abortion or did she go through with it. 

Someone pointed out, but not me, that by putting these final scenes in the future, and showing Kate and company alive and well, is a type of insurance policy to keep DC from killing Kate.  The theory is that Kate is shown alive and well in the future, so how can she die in the past.  I don’t buy it.  The reasoning is simple:  these issues can be retroactively declared out of continuity by DC editorial anytime they want.  Hell, for years DC always said Kingdom Come was never “in continuity” until DC decided it was (as shown in the Justice League of Society series).  So, really, DC can do whatever they want.