Customer Reviews

Manhunter Vol. 3: Origins (DC Comics)

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The third volume of Marc Andreyko's "Manhunter" series carries on at the same level of quality as the previous two. Kate Spencer, from the start, has been a cross between Marvel Comics' Daredevil (a comparison that becomes even more apt when she leaves her prosecutorial career for a defence attorney's job midway through) and the Punisher (lacking the latter's psychosis). Kate is also a single mother and a recovering smoker, who takes to the streets to execute villains who she cannot stop within the justice system (although after becoming a defence attorney, that angle seems to have receded).

There are a couple of different stories in this volume; first, a one-issue tale that details the origins of Kte's costume, gauntlets, and staff, each tied into a past incident in DC history. Next comes the continuation of the mystery of Kate's father, a metahuman criminal with a violent past, who has need of Kate's young son, and enlists some dangerous allies to get him. This is a very personal story for Kate, but she disposes of her murderous dad with the same extreme prejudice she shows to everyone else. And finally, the series makes the One Year Later time jump with the rest of the DC universe, and we find Kate working as a defence attorney, with her personal life considerably changed in the interim. Well-drawn supporting characters like Dylan Battles, Cameron Chase, Mark Shaw (an earlier Manhunter), and JSA member Obsidian (a well-portrayed gay character) populate the book. The final OYL story does not conclude here, leaving a plotline with the devious Doctor Psycho and the Secret Society of Supervillains to be concluded in the next trade. Highly recommended for fans of witty, street-level heroing.

So the first two Manhunter books were great. Seriously, they brought you into Kate Spencer's world, explained why she is the way she is. Showed you how she made the decision to become a street vigilante, even showed you her trying to quit smoking. So what the hell happened with this third one?
The story doesn't flow, and usually I am the guy that remembers all the parts to these types of books. Yet, for the life of me, I couldn't tell you where it starts and where it ends. My wife likes these stories of a female vig, but even she had a hard time following this.
Its put together from the different comic books that have been written for her, and now I am not sure if that's how the writer tried to make the story but all I got was jumps from one story to the next.
I am excited to see the new one coming out, but I am truly hoping it flows better than this little bedtime story.