Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez’s Absolute Martian Manhunter has been a wild journey of high-concept ideas, and issue #6 serves as a breathtaking, explosive finale before a brief hiatus. This issue doesn’t just end an arc; it detonates a bomb of ideas, melts minds, and clashes colors in the darkness behind the eyes of every person on the planet. This is Green Martian versus White Martian, John Jones versus madness itself, as he fights to save his family and the world.
The issue picks up right where the last one left off, with John Jones in a truly sticky situation, a chainsaw inches from his face. The Martian, the powerful entity living inside him, urges him to tap into his full potential, reminding him of his wife, Bridget, and son, Tyler. At the same time, we cut to Bridget and Tyler at home, where a character named Clown is breaking in, spewing nihilistic nonsense about how everything is “a meaningless accumulation of nothing.” This is where the tension truly begins to build.
You feel the danger for John and his family in every panel. Just as Bridget, with a shotgun in hand, seems to put an end to the Clown, his head is replaced by a strange white bulb: the power of the White Martian. This moment of surprise and terror is a fantastic use of suspense. The creative team keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering if John will lose an eye or if his family will make it out unscathed. Just when things look their worst, the Martian inside John finally unleashes his full power. The visual of the Martian popping out of John’s eye like a genie from a bottle is both a little silly and totally awesome, zapping and incapacitating his enemy. The action is fast, furious, and constantly inventive.
DC Comics
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 is packed with so many brilliant, high-concept ideas that it can feel like a lot to take in at once. Yet, Camp and Rodríguez handle the grand scale and high stakes with incredible skill. This is a testament to what happens when creators are given the freedom to be truly creative. The story throws wild concepts at you, like tumors and cures being used as weapons, and you have no choice but to stop and stare in awe at the sheer audacity and flawless execution. It’s a series that reminds me of the best of Doom Patrol, a book that is entirely unafraid to be weird and out there.
Beyond the cosmic battles and mind-bending concepts, the series also delivers powerful character moments. Bridget’s role in this issue is particularly strong. She’s not just a plot device; she’s a living, breathing character who comes through for John when he needs her most.
Javier Rodríguez’s art is a significant highlight throughout the series, and this issue is no exception. He absolutely kills it. The White Martian’s reveal as a terrifying, Slenderman-like figure is perfectly executed, capturing a sense of true dread. The art is consistently inventive, with moments like the Martian stepping into the Clown’s white bulb head to teleport John back to his family, making me giggle with how inventive and silly it is. And the colors! It is literally otherworldly. The pops of red, blue, and orange give the comic a siren-like feel, evoking a sense of danger and chaos unfolding. It’s a beautiful issue of a terrifying night.
The issue culminates in a truly bombastic way. John’s upgraded Martian Vision, a wild victory for the Martian over his counterpart, and people literally getting “high” on each other’s empathy are all brought to life with mesmerizing colors. It’s a beautiful, trippy, and hopeful ending to this arc.
DC Comics
The standout panel for me is the “alien geometry and nonsense emotions.” It looks like something Salvador Dalí would have created, a mind-blowing piece of art that could hang in a museum. And let’s not forget Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering. The way the sound effects of a cutting blade are shown actually slices through the panels, making you feel the imminent danger. It’s these small but brilliant touches that make the whole book a fantastic experience.
There are so many cool moments in this issue that it’s almost impossible to list them all without gushing. At a certain point, you just have to stop trying to analyze everything and simply let the wonderful, chaotic experience wash over you. The series dares to take Martian Manhunter to foreign places while still feeling like a core DC story, and that’s a victory for everyone involved in creating this masterpiece.
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 is everything that makes this series great, a wild ride that leaves you begging for more. It’s a testament to the power of pure, unbridled creativity in comics. This series is a perfect example of what happens when creators go all-in with their vision, and fans are the ones who get to reap the juicy rewards.
‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ #6 Review: Closing out with the Best Kind of Chaos
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 is everything that makes this series great, a wild ride that leaves you begging for more. It’s a testament to the power of pure, unbridled creativity in comics. This series is a perfect example of what happens when creators go all-in with their vision, and fans are the ones who get to reap the juicy rewards.
