Customer Reviews

Manhunter: The Special Edition

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Two legends of the comic field,Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson have created a most masterful, stunning tale. Those who have read Manhunter know that every accolade it has earned is just. Short of Watchmen, Manhunter ranks as my second favourite. The pacing is incredible, packing a great deal of storytelling in a few pages, yet with out overloading us. This story has already become legendary. The art is dynamic, and vibrant. Simonson's pictures flow with Goodwin's words seamlessly. Nothing I can say can do it justice. Manhunter is simply brilliant.

A couple of things that always strike me whenever I read these stories. 1)I'm always amazed at how good Walt Simonson was at the very begining of his career. This was the first major work that he had ever done for one of the "Big Two" and he was turning in work that looked like he had been doing this for years. Of course the scripts by Archie Goodwin weren't bad either. 2)Goodwin and Simonson were able to cram more action, drama, ideas and character developement into 8 pages than most other pros could in 30-40. 3)Considering that this title only ran for 8 installments it sure carried away a slew of Eagle Awards at the time. Still a minor masterpiece after all of these years.

If I have a chance to grab only a few graphic novels in a fire, this is one of them. A story that made a lasting impression and I can still visualist many panels from. A fabulous tale of one man's quest to do right, break his conditioning and stamp out an evil.

It doesn't help to have the help of a beautiful woman, Batman, and a master ninja. There are lots of ninjas and clones around, as well.

Masterful art and storytelling.

It may not be the first but for me it is the first great comic book story. I remember reading the first installment of this series in Detective Comics and hoping there would be more and my wish was granted. I would stop by the book store every day after school looking for the next issue strictly because of the Manhunter stories. I was a Batman fan but I really loved the other stories in Detective Comics but nothing ever like the Manhunter series.

Initially I was not a fan of the art but the writing was amazing and gradually the unique qualities of the art itself became synonymous with the story. I really believe this series was a huge inspiration to up and coming writers that showed there could be great stories in comic books. Another great story that came out a little later was the Iron Fist series in Marvel Premier. Both stories are must reads as some of the first great stories in comic books. A historic comic book story. Highly recommended.

I was too young to appreciate these stories when they appeared in the Detective Comics I bought (for the Batman appearances) as a young kid. But I remembered them because of the artwork, and was really glad to have found this collection recently. While many of the elements that were fresh in 1974 are conventional today, this is still an example of fully dedicated comic book craftsmanship at its very best. Those who loved the clean, detailed, draftsman's approach to finished comic art that Terry Austin once brought to the pencils of John Byrne and Marshall Rogers will find similar satisfaction in Simonson's work here. A really great collection that shouldn't be missed.

This is an excellent "old" comic book. Through this compilation you can see the evolution of Walt Simonson as an artist, guided by the expert hand of Archie Goodwin.
The stories are short, fast and crisp. A real pleasure to see how an able writer can shrink in 8 pages a plot that many others would need a full book or more to develop.
The final chapter is excellent. Simonson doing his best art, and a silent tribute to Goodwin's writing abilities. A must read.

...A must-read for any true comic fan. Some of the best storytelling, reviving the 1940's hero for the modern age. That a story so pure could be told through a series of 8-page back-up tales is a testament to the skills of Archie Goodwin and the newcomer Walter Simonson. A self-contained story, this is one of the best books you can buy today. It is truly a must-have!

You may have heard of the famed 1973 Manhunter mini-series. You may have heard it was a coup for Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson. You may remember it from its original run in Detective Comics as an 8-page back-up feature. If you haven't, you should! The Manhunter tale is something every self-respecting comic book fan should know about, and should appreciate with every fibre of their being. No, I'm not being overly effusive, I'm talking FACT! Manhunter was without a doubt, a bejewelled crown that was rightfully recognized as the best during its own limited time, one that STILL holds up today! This is THE ONE that cemented the reputations of Archie and Walter. Quite frankly, I know of no other comic that has withstood the test of time so superbly. You owe it to yourself to own a copy. You WILL be blown away.