Manhunter #25
Manhunter #25
October 2006
$2.99
Released August 16th, 2006
"Two Superheroes and a Fed Walk Into a Bar..."
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Layouts: Javier Pina
Finishes: Fernando Blanco
Letterer: Nick J. Nap
Colorist: Jason Wright
The "final" issue of Manhunter is yet another doozy. This series has consistently been brilliant, and this issue is no different. Things didn't gel with me quite as much as they usually do this month, but it's still better than the majority of the books DC continues to puzzle. We get the finish to one storyline, an appearance by a certain grandfather of Kate's, and the most exciting splash page DC has released in quite a while.
I loved this issue when I first read it, but my opinion did lower somewhat upon rereading it. It's still a great read, but there are a few moments that felt off for me. The dialogue in the car scene and our last glimpse of Mark (who I'm sure is heading into Project Karloff territory) didn't feel right, and the fight with Sweeney Todd ended too abruptly for my tastes. I'm not sure how much Andreyko had to change things for the December "relaunch", but the flow of this one didn't really click. I was also disappointed that Obsidian was ineffective against Sweeney, but you can't have another hero stealing the main character's spotlight.
On to the positives...I am falling more and more in love with Kate. To be honest, I didn't really take to the character at first. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't like her either. I loved the story and was intrigued by the supporting cast, but Kate was just sort of "there" for me. That's not the case any more. I'm loving Kate far more than I ever did.
This became really evident towards me during the opening scene with Julie. For some reason I've always been a fan of a person getting along with their ex's new spouse, and so naturally I loved Kate's scenes with Julie. Julie seems like an interesting addition, and I love the fact that she wants Kate to be Violet's godmother. That was incredibly touching.
From there I loved the scene in the bar. The contrast between Kate in this issue and the first one is very apparent. Whereas before Kate didn't seem very close with anyone and spending most of her time focused on her career, now we see Kate out with friends and having a good time. I was actually happy for Kate. She's in a really great place in her life, which I found very endearing.
Until a few months ago I was completely unfamiliar with the character of Iron Munro, but this issue has me quite intrigued. The scene where he barges into Director Bones' office is well done. Iron is not a guy to mess with. Bones' comments to his masseuse were also amusing as well. We may not have gotten to see Peter one last time, but I'm glad that we got to see Bones...though I could have done with a bit less.
And that final page revelation. Whoa! Didn't see that one coming a mile away. Wonder Woman, the real Wonder Woman, makes her first OYL appearance in the pages of Manhunter. How great is that? I can't wait to find out exactly what it is she wants with Kate. Now that is how you take a book on hiatus!
I usually enjoy Pina's pencils, but something felt off about this issue. Things never really clicked the way they usually do for me. It's definitely not bad, and there are moments that look good, but there was something about the artwork this month that didn't really appeal to me.
Grade: B
Iron Munro barges into Director Bones' office, interrupting a massage. Iron tells Bones he wants to talk about Kate.
Kate prepares to go see a band with Damon and Todd. All three heads outside, but Kate runs back into the house to get her suitcase containing her costume.
Near the Hollywood sign, a very weakened Sweeney Todd is rambling about being hungry. As he fools around with his knife, he suddenly gets a sense of where "Sarah" is.
Mark is on a boat heading towards the Russian coast, thinking about how he's taking control of his life for the first time. A friend approaches Mark from behind, and he instinctively throws the friend to the ground. Mark then helps his friend up, and his friend wonders who's chasing Mark.
Kate, Damon, and Todd meet up with Cam and Dylan and head inside the club. Someone calls Cam's cell phone, but she doesn't hear it ring. Kate is approached by a talent agent named Bryan who recognizes her from Court TV. Their conversation is interrupted by Sweeney Todd, who drives his car right through the club's doors.
Todd transforms into Obsidian and tries to take on Sweeney, only to be sliced with Sweeney's psi-blade. Kate rushes to Todd's car and changes into her costume before running in to confront Sweeney. Manhunter blasts him with her staff, but it does no good.
Sweeney spots Cam, who he calls "Sarah", and easily shrugs off her bullets. Manhunter attacks Sweeney from behind, but he grabs her by the throat. Manhunter scratches him in the eyes with her gauntlets and then uses his own psi-blade against him, slitting his throat. Sweeney is consumed by some sort of energy and drops, apparently dead.
Manhunter heads outside the club where the paparazzi are waiting with dozens of questions. Manhunter listens in as the people from the club tell how she saved the day and call her a hero.
A bookkeeper at the Law Offices of Spencer-Matthews finds someone waiting in Kate's office. That someone is Wonder Woman, real name Diana, who informs him that she's in need of Kate's services.
