Manhunter #20
"Psychobabble" Part One
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Layouts: Javier Pina
Finishes: Fernando Blanco
It's one year later, and we have an amazing book. It's truly a shame that Manhunter is such a low seller, because it is such a consistently brilliant read. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Manhunter has the best supporting cast in comics. Marc continues to add new characters, each of whom are absolutely compelling. It'll be a sad day if this book is ever cancelled.
Unlike Batman and Detective Comics, where things seemed to return to how they were several years ago, as well as other books that don't really feel all that different (Birds of Prey), Manhunter is clearly set quite a while after last issue. Two new relationships are formed, including one with a new character, a formerly powerless hero is now back with powers, and Kate is now more experienced in her role as Manhunter.
Marc also manages to tease a bit of what went on during the "missing" year when he references something having gone down with Manhunter and other heroes in Metropolis. Later on Javier and Fernando manage to show a flashback featuring Dr. Psycho and what looks like Doomsday. I can't wait to find out exactly what happened. We're also handed the first part of a mystery in which someone kills a woman in front of USC. Could it possibly be Mark Shaw, the only member of the cast not accounted for? Only time will tell.
On the artistic side, Javier and Fernando do an excellent job. The art isn't "pretty" like many other books, but it's still well done and suits the book well. Everyone has their own distinct look. Dylan, despite only appearing for one page, is his usual dreamy self.
I sincerely hope that One Year Later boosts Manhunter's sales, because this book definitely deserves it. It is definitely one of the best books to be released by DC and, at least for me personally, is probably my favorite OYL book to date.
Grade: A+
While on a stakeout, Manhunter tries to call Cameron, but she seems distracted. When she hangs up, Cam rolls over in bed and snaps at Dylan for messing with her while she was on the phone. Cam insists that they aren't lovers, just buddies.
Back on patrol, Manhunter wonders why Cam is still sleeping with Dylan, but her thoughts are interrupted when Punch and Jewelee sneak out of an art gallery. Manhunter uses her staff to blast across the rooftops and dropkick Punch, who drops the paintings over the edge of the ceiling. While Jewelee throws a glitterbomb at Manhunter, Punch leaps over the roof after the paintings. On the way down, he and the paintings disappear into some sort of darkness.
Punch finds himself thrown onto the street by Obsidian. As Punch begs for mercy, Obsidian notices Manhunter and Jewelee fighting on the rooftop. Jewelee manages to wrestle the staff from Manhunter, who presses a button on her gauntlet, causing the staff to electrocute Jewelee.
Obsidian throws an unconscious Punch onto the rooftop, where Manhunter inadvertantly calls him by his name. Obsidian tells Manhunter that he came back to town early to surprise Damon for his birthday. When Manhunter tells Obsidian that Julie will be dropping Ramsey off at her place, Obsidian promises to deliver Punch and Jewelee to the police.
Peter and Ramsey watch at filmmakers make a movie based on Peter's book. Peter's pregnant wife Julie shows up to take Ramsey to Kate's.
Kate showers at her place while remembering what happened in Metropolis. She surprises herself when she lumps herself in with the other heroes. After getting dressed Kate discovers a black man in her living room holding her staff. Kate instinctively knocks him down and demands to know who he is. She's startled to discover the man is Director Bones, who she's not used to seeing with skin.
After pretending to have stopped by for a social visit, Bones gives Kate a disc with her next assignment. When Julie and Ramsey arrive, Bones excuses himself. Kate offers Julie something to drink but she politely declines. Kate looks uncomfortable when Ramsey hugs Julie and says goodbye to her and his "baby sister."
Outside the campus of USC a woman is attacked while returning to her car by a man with a wielding knife. As he kills her, he tells her that her soul is damned.
Dressed in Superman pajamas Ramsey asks Kate when they're going to make pajamas of her, pointing out that other heroes have them. When Kate insists she isn't a hero, Ramsey asks why she was dressed in a costume when she rescued him and Peter from Walter. Kate insists that she was just helting Cameron out. She makes Ramsey promise not to talk about that moment any more. After Kate walks off, Ramsey promises not to tell anyone her secret.
Kate looks at the disc and is horrified by her new job. The next day she shows up at a prison for a meeting with Dr. Psycho. When she tries to introduce herself he tells her he already knows who she is. When he asks what she's doing there, she tells him that she's his new defense attorney.
