Absolute Martian Manhunter continues to be the best comic on the shelf. Writer Deniz Camp doubles down on his political leanings, putting them front and center as he dives into the United States’ obsession with war. These themes frame the reunion between John Jones and the Martian, threatening to tear our heroes down.
The United States Government Comes For John Jones
Government operatives have raided John’s new residence at the Starlight Motel. Artist Javier Rodriguez portrays the war zone like a bad acid trip. Bright orange explosions ring out across the panels, while bullets fly and bodies hit the floor. Rodriguez covers most of the soldiers in dark shadows, stripping their identity and reinforcing how the powers that be view them as disposable. The beauty and diversity of the colors clash with the horrific violence being committed, making it shamefully gorgeous. Letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou seamlessly weaves in sound effects, using trippy greens and purples to make them part of the tapestry.
John turns into an action star, taking out multiple enemies as he dives across the page with guns blazing, and escapes thanks to his newly manifested phasing ability. It’s a classic Martian Manhunter power and brilliantly used here for the first time. Soon he’s on a mission to rescue the Martian, bending reality itself in his pursuit. Rodriguez blankets the sky with streaks of color, rendering the scene like a psychedelic version of hyperspace travel. Highways form out of the American flag, with bright red, white, and blue mingling together as they circle a black hole.
You’d think that Despair-the-Zero would be on the outs once our heroes reunite, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It looks like he’ll be coexisting with the Martian in John’s psyche for the meantime. It’s an exciting new dynamic that’s going to bring even more tension into John’s rapidly unravelling life. I’d feel bad for the guy if it weren’t so entertaining.
Deniz Camp’s Thematic Storytelling
Camp’s exploring the horrors of war and the people who commit them. New villain Rainbow comes off like an old hippie, complete with a long beard and curly hair plastered behind a headband, but he’s a soldier through and through. Visions of skulls litter the ground at his feet, visually reinforcing the victims that soldiers always carry with them. He’s a killer, but one that Uncle Sam has endorsed, and that makes all the difference. The crime doesn’t matter as long as the right person authorizes it.
What makes this issue brilliant is also its one weakness. It’s extremely dense. This story is full of metaphors and far-out concepts that make it hard to follow. It demands to be reread to get a full grasp of the experience, and that could turn off readers who are looking for more straightforward storytelling.
Verdict: Is Absolute Martian Manhunter An All-Time Great Comic?
Absolute Martian Manhunter #10 raises the series to new heights. Camp uses Rainbow to show the hypocrisy and bloodlust of the political elite, while Rodriguez makes the violence a work of art. There are two issues left, and it’s time to consider if this book is one of the all-time greats. The next one can’t come out soon enough.
