Trial by Fire Part 6: Manhunted
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Artists: Javier Pina(p), Jimmy Palmiotti, Fernando Blanco,(i) Steve Buccellato(c)
Publisher: DC
Manhunter emphasizes the importance of character over plot. Frankly, this is a good solid readable issue of the series and lacks a flaw, but Andreyko's deft ability to characterize pushes it above average.
By keeping Kate true to herself, Andreyko avoids the cliche of villain and hero working together to defeat the greater menace. She will not work with cop killers. Thus, she treats Merlyn and Shadow Thief as two enemies and avoids the inevitable double-cross that Merlyn no doubt had in store for her.
Lorraine Reilly a.k.a. Firehawk was the partner to Firestorm who was stupidly murdered in the The Big Stupid Event: Identity Crisis. Incidentally, the title really said nothing. Sue Dibney was murdered because of Brad Meltzer's inability to research Jean Loring, but if we play by his rules anyway, the whole secret identity issue was not pertinent to the story at all. Because of her relationship with the Atom, Jean Loring was an insider. So what's the point here? The heroes cannot reveal their identities to wives who might divorce them and go crackers? Every time you remove a dumb layer from a Big Stupid Event another dumb layer reveals itself.
Firehawk has a personal stake in seeing the Shadow Thief pay for his crimes, and she giving Manhunter a thumbs up for her methods makes perfect sense. She also displays originality in her thinking. That super-heroes do not have the courage to do what Manhunter does. Kill criminals.
Although Kate kills criminals, she still is without a doubt in my mind a super-hero. Andreyko separates Manhunter from one-dimensional anti-heroes like the Punisher. Kate follows her own code of ethics. If the Shadow Thief escapes the legal system, then he belongs to her alter-ego. She gives the legal system a chance to work. Indeed, she being a federal prosecutor helps it work. When it fails, she "hunts the most dangerous game." Kate's morality gibes more with pulp heroes and original comic book heroes like Bat-Man than the modern day super-hero.
The plot to Manhunter touches upon all the spheres that Andreyko juggles. The lion's share of the book goes to the Shadow Thief's attempted escape. The continuing thread of the serial Manhunter killer evolves to reveal the murderer's identity. The reveal ties in with previous Manhunter history. Though, since this character should be dead, Andreyko must be keeping another sphere in the air. Time is given toward Kate's nicotine addiction as well as her relationships with her ex-husband, her son and Dylan--the career criminal flunkie, who I suspect will stay loyal to Kate and not play into this whole Checkmate nonsense going on in the Out of Their Minds Project.
Javier Pina substitutes ably for Manhunter premiere artist Jesus Saiz. This issue notably drops a few points in artistic focus, but Pina continues to respect character anatomy and scale. It's not real surprising that he would feel a little tired after the completion of last issue's breakneck action, and there's still some outstanding moments of illustration. The ghoulish ragdoll quality to Monocle's body treats readers tired of seeing dead heroes, and mostly stuffed in refrigerators. Pina makes Kate in Buccellato's red action always looks good, and the genuine emotion he infuses to Firehawk impresses.
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