Manhunter # 27 Review
Author: Marc Andreyko
Penciler: Javier Pina
Inker: Robin Riggs
Cover: Howard Chaykin
If you had told me six months ago that I would not only be reading, but highly enjoying a Manhunter book not staring Paul Kirk or Mark Shaw; I would have told you: You are out of your fucking mind! Why would I ever pick up a chick Manhunter book. Luckily for me, I decided to check out what all the talk about Kate Spencer was. Really, I wanted to know why a book that had been saved time and time again from cancellation had that other unfortunate titles didn't. All I have to say is : Damn! I was hooked from issue 5.
Unleashed Part 2 continues and as the cover reveals, it has one of the best cliffhanger endings in my opinion. Although not as pretty as the Arthur Adams Wonder Woman vs. Manhunter cover from last issue, this issue had something to say. Oh yeah, Howard Chaykin drawing Blue fucking Beetle!
Cameron Chase is still planning to rescue her sister from Dr. Trap (no seriously, that's this cat's name). Mark Shaw (hellz yeah, 80's Manhunter) discovers a hidden city in the Himalayas that seems to be occupied by members of the Knights of the Order of Saint Dumas. Hopefully he'll run into Jean Paul there and bring back Azrael. There is another interlude with Checkmate; specifically the Black Queen and Sasha Bordeaux, who heads off to LA. In the meantime Kate is defending Wonder Woman from the Grand Jury that is trying to indict her for the murder of Maxwell Lord As they go and get ready to greet the press the clouds part way for a blue shuttle. By this point I was geeking out of course. The last page is a full page of Ted Cord telling Diana he came to help.
Even though I know better than to believe that this is actually Ted Cord; I am still anxiously awaiting the next issue. The overall story is pretty damn good and the pacing is great. Wonder Woman seems to be handled so much better than her own monthly (cough cough) counterpart that is written by Heinberg. Hell, she is supposed to be acting human and Andreyko shows that humility in some great scenes. The art, although not my cup of tea, is good enough and flows well. This was a great in betweener, almost as good as lettuce! So here is to another year of Manhunter books and to my boy Blue Beetle! B+
I am glad I put this on my pull list. Oh it's Kord by the way. Ted Kord. So what, they got a shape-shifter pretending to be Ted or what? I mean Ted had his brains blown, unless he totally faked Max Lord out and was using a blood squib or something.