charles_cbcpl's review
3.0
Though Manhunter is a revisionist superhero comic (the heroine is a chain-smoking divorcee and a poor mother) it doesn't sucessfully break from other vigilante justice comics in terms of style and content. This heroine has anger issues, is mostly friendless, and pretends that she is motivated by high ideals rather than a love of violence. In terms of craft, the story is well done, but if you're looking for something fresh in the superhero genre, as I was, this will probably dissapoint.
sherpawhale's review
4.0
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book. I wasn't particularly a fan of Andreyko's Batwoman, but I know leading up to it, many were excited for it, based on his work on Manhunter. That and the fact that OMAC figures into this series is about all I knew going in.
This is a fantastic, pulpy read. It's a fairly straightforward concept - Kate Spencer, federal prosecutor whose home life has all but failed, has had it with villains getting away with no sentencing, or little sentencing. So she dons a costume and starts killing them.
Simple, but great. Kate is a true anti-hero, very grey. She tries to do her best, but her stubborn pride gets in the way of that a lot. She's not likable in practice.
Some great little asides here and there. Seeing her gay assistant hit on Hawkman was awesome. And even the advertisements themselves - there was a vintage Smallville ad on the back of one that was a pure mix of 90s drama with 80s romance covers.
All in all, the mood here is perfect. Definitely a series I'm ready to devour more of.
This is a fantastic, pulpy read. It's a fairly straightforward concept - Kate Spencer, federal prosecutor whose home life has all but failed, has had it with villains getting away with no sentencing, or little sentencing. So she dons a costume and starts killing them.
Simple, but great. Kate is a true anti-hero, very grey. She tries to do her best, but her stubborn pride gets in the way of that a lot. She's not likable in practice.
Some great little asides here and there. Seeing her gay assistant hit on Hawkman was awesome. And even the advertisements themselves - there was a vintage Smallville ad on the back of one that was a pure mix of 90s drama with 80s romance covers.
All in all, the mood here is perfect. Definitely a series I'm ready to devour more of.
joelipsett's review
4.0
Aside from some really traditional sexist cover art, Manhunter is pretty decent. It has a Jessica Jones / Alias vibe to it thanks to Kate's dark wit and awkward social interactions, as well as the frequent cameo appearances by famous characters (JLA, Batman, Joker, etc).
Manhunter isn't going to set the world ablaze or anything, but it's a quick and entertaining read.
Manhunter isn't going to set the world ablaze or anything, but it's a quick and entertaining read.
captwinghead's review
3.0
An interesting start!
I like Kate as a character. In the foreword, Andreyko talks about how he never thought DC would allow for a character like Kate Spencer to get a solo book. Mostly because, as he puts it, "she doesn't wear a metal bra, stripper heels or a T-back thong while fighting crime". Instead, she's a famous L.A. lawyer that chainsmokes, maybe isn't the most attentive parent and talks like a sailor (at least, as close as you can get in a DC comic).
Andreyko's right: most female characters were created by straight men that designed costumes that were often impractical. The vibe of this book reminded me of Jessica Jones, except Kate has more of a personality. I like female characters that aren't perfect. Especially the ones that aren't simply reduced to being wives and mothers. And no, I don't mean that I hate all women that get married or have kids: I hate when male writers make those aspects of their lives the only things they've got going for them. So, I really loved that Kate is so dedicated to her job and doesn't let anything stop her from carrying it out.
The art fits the grittier tone of the book. While there weren't a ton of big DC characters in the book, the plot was interesting. The timing of events was a bit confusing at times, but easy enough to follow overall. I'll definitely be reading the next one!
I like Kate as a character. In the foreword, Andreyko talks about how he never thought DC would allow for a character like Kate Spencer to get a solo book. Mostly because, as he puts it, "she doesn't wear a metal bra, stripper heels or a T-back thong while fighting crime". Instead, she's a famous L.A. lawyer that chainsmokes, maybe isn't the most attentive parent and talks like a sailor (at least, as close as you can get in a DC comic).
Andreyko's right: most female characters were created by straight men that designed costumes that were often impractical. The vibe of this book reminded me of Jessica Jones, except Kate has more of a personality. I like female characters that aren't perfect. Especially the ones that aren't simply reduced to being wives and mothers. And no, I don't mean that I hate all women that get married or have kids: I hate when male writers make those aspects of their lives the only things they've got going for them. So, I really loved that Kate is so dedicated to her job and doesn't let anything stop her from carrying it out.
The art fits the grittier tone of the book. While there weren't a ton of big DC characters in the book, the plot was interesting. The timing of events was a bit confusing at times, but easy enough to follow overall. I'll definitely be reading the next one!
noysh's review
4.0
Manhunter is one of my favorite modern superhero comics. This being the first volume, it lays the groundwork for the fascinating and complex character that is Kate Spencer/Manhunter. Prosecuting attorney by day, driven to go after the ones who get away in the courtroom by night.
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