Absolute Martian Manhunter #7 – Deniz Camp, Writer; Javier Rodriguez, Artist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: The most bizarre and haunting book in the Absolute line picks up again this week for a second arc, and for anyone who hasn’t been reading it, you’re in for a ride. From the minds of Camp and Rodriguez, this title reinvents Martian Manhunter as a federal agent who survives a terror attack, but winds up bonded with the psychic imprint of a psychedelic martian in the process. His new strange visions of a reality beyond our own allow him to face off against an evil psychic entity unraveling the social fabric of the city, but his bizarre behavior destroys his career and family. As the city starts to rebuild after the bizarre supernatural riots it experienced, John Jones finds himself with nothing left. He lives in a motel, drives by his family’s house, and returns to work as a desk jockey with no career prospects. But he does have one friend – and his new hitchhiker is eager to get back to work.
Deniz Camp’s writing is always top-notch here, featuring a unique look at what it’s like to be psychic and share your mind that’s much eerier than the average take. But as always, the secret weapon is Rodriguez’s insane surrealistic style, which uses colors and shapes in a way that consistently makes you feel like you’re inside someone else’s dream. There’s a few-pages segment towards the end of the book that plays with format in a nostalgic way that shows this creative team’s dedication to utilizing the craft of comic books. The reveal that our main villain is still out there isn’t the biggest surprise – after all, there’s a whole volume of the book to go. This title so far seems almost completely disconnected from the rest of the Absolute Universe, with a gonzo sci-fi vibe that doesn’t match the other titles at all. But as long as it’s this good, I can’t imagine anyone else quibbling with that.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
