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Martian Manhunter #1
"The Others Among Us"
Posted 20 September 2006
Writer: A.J. Lieberman
Artist: Al Barrionuevo
Letters: Travis Lanham
Ink: Bit
Colors: Marta Martinez
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Matt Yocum
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The Martian Manhunter was due for a facelift. I wanted to be the
one to provide that facelift (read here to
understand more about my pitch of a Martian Manhunter limited series
to DC Comics), but that honor went to A. J. Lieberman. I say
honor because the Martian Manhunter has such amazing potential and so
few writers have risen to the challenge of tackling his rich
background and incredible power. Take one of his powers, give it
someone else, and you’ve got yourself a superhero. Flight.
Super strength. Invisibility. Telepathy. Shape changer. And as for
his background: an alien, the last of his people. Watched his entire
race extinguished, including his wife and child. The isolation of
being alone. At least, supposedly alone.
Few writers have risen to the challenge
of tackling the Manhunter’s rich background and incredible
power.
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A. J. Lieberman does what I’d hoped to do — reboot the
Manhunter by allowing the possibility he is no longer alone among the
race of Green Martians. Lieberman takes a different approach than what
I’d offered, but I like it nonetheless. He opens this
miniseries with a mystery as J’onn J’onzz tracks what he
believes to be another Martian and a mysterious organization trying to
recover this Martian who escaped their facility.
Lieberman doesn’t appear afraid of the Manhunter as many
writers are. What I mean is that most writers scale down the level of
the Manhunter’s ability, not certain how to combat what could
arguably be the most powerful of the DC heroes. How do you provide a
sizable enough challenge to a superhero that can do all the Manhunter
can do? Lieberman laces the script with multiple challenges to
J’onn J’onzz including the prospect he’s no longer
alone, the trial of rejection by those he’s protecting, and an
organization that wants him on their side. If I’m sounding
vague with the plot it’s because Lieberman has sufficiently
included multiple mysteries as set-up for what should be a great
miniseries.
As to the art, penciller Al Barrionuevo, inker Bit, and colorist
Marta Martinez provide detail and a dark tone perfect for the book.
This story is conspiracy and conspiracy lies in shadows. The artists
provide those shadows. I also love the redesign in the Martian
Manhunter’s costume (something much needed and something I also
pitched) and his new appearance. For a man with the ability to change
shapes, his Cro-Magnon Man look was not working for me in the past.
The artists also gave the occasional Bryan Hitch feel from
Marvel’s The Ultimates as there were certain scenes with richly
detailed backgrounds.
I give Martian Manhunter a thumbs up. Of course I wish my version
had been selected, but I’m pleased with the result of this
effort. This could be the reboot the Martian Manhunter has needed
for some time to make him a viable, central character to the DC
Universe.
Comments about my comments? Feel free to email me at myocum@comiccritique.com.
—CCdC—
Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
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