BatWolverine
06-25-2006, 02:06 PM
Manhunter #23
Story Title: ‘Psycho Babble’ (Part Four: Phantom Pain)
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Layouts: Javier Pina & Diego Olmos
Finishes: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Jason Wright
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Asst. Editor: Rachel Gluckstein
Editor: Joan Hilty
Published by: DC Comics
Review by: Batman_Wolverine
Not much happens in this issue, that is not much of the ‘superhero’ kind. However, on the ‘family’ front, there are two new entries, one a blast from the past and the second a hope for the future.
There are the obligatory developments in both the crazy maniac with the blade subplot and that of Dr. Psycho and his ongoing case. While the first one seems more of a filler, I can help but feel that before this arc is over and he is apprehended, someone close to Kate is going to get blade-ed. Hope its not Julie, Kate’s ex’es Peter’s new/now wife. Especially not with the new addition to their family, their new born daughter, Violet Elizabeth Robinson.
Point here. As I noted before, I am still not quite sure about how Kate feels towards this. She seems happy for them, but at the same time feels sad…or maybe (-vely) nostalgic about her ‘single’ status.
On the other hand, we have Psycho and what (to me) was a basically panel filler of an appearance by Talia Al Ghul. DC might have made her into a full-fledged villain (or are trying to), but to me, she will always remain Daddy’s little girl, who wouldn’t go to the loo, let alone do anything else that Daddy didn’t want. And unless old Daddy Demon Head shows up again, (either due to the effects of Punch-Boy Prime or the Crisis Wave), she [Talia] is the last of the Al Ghuls, especially with her sister blown away to Kingdom Not-Wel-Come. She might have the society now, but her League of Assassins had also gone the Way of the Cain, Cassandra that is.
The other new addition (to Kate’s family) is her Grandmother. As for her identity and the story behind it, I’ll leave that for now….i.e. no spoilers. But I will say this, it was a nice short flashback, and artwork (Javier Pina, Diego Olmos, Fernando Blanco, Jason Wright) only adds to the experience.
As for the artwork, I will say this, the art is one of the major reasons I took interest and finally stuck with this title. It might not have the buff-polished look of Green Lantern or the sensuousness of Wonder Woman, but it strikes that perfect balance between Bright & Full and Dark & Gritty, that makes just seeing it…a hoot, even more so in this issue.
Conclusion: I hope that this series is extended (after #30), and we get even more stories involving Kate, Cam, Todd, Damon, Kate’s Grandma, young Ramsey, baby Violet (and Julie and Peter)…and yeah, even dumpy Dylan.
RATING: 8.5/10 (Almost 9)
Newsrama Style Rating: Story: B+, Art: A+
Story Title: ‘Psycho Babble’ (Part Four: Phantom Pain)
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Layouts: Javier Pina & Diego Olmos
Finishes: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Jason Wright
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Asst. Editor: Rachel Gluckstein
Editor: Joan Hilty
Published by: DC Comics
Review by: Batman_Wolverine
Not much happens in this issue, that is not much of the ‘superhero’ kind. However, on the ‘family’ front, there are two new entries, one a blast from the past and the second a hope for the future.
There are the obligatory developments in both the crazy maniac with the blade subplot and that of Dr. Psycho and his ongoing case. While the first one seems more of a filler, I can help but feel that before this arc is over and he is apprehended, someone close to Kate is going to get blade-ed. Hope its not Julie, Kate’s ex’es Peter’s new/now wife. Especially not with the new addition to their family, their new born daughter, Violet Elizabeth Robinson.
Point here. As I noted before, I am still not quite sure about how Kate feels towards this. She seems happy for them, but at the same time feels sad…or maybe (-vely) nostalgic about her ‘single’ status.
On the other hand, we have Psycho and what (to me) was a basically panel filler of an appearance by Talia Al Ghul. DC might have made her into a full-fledged villain (or are trying to), but to me, she will always remain Daddy’s little girl, who wouldn’t go to the loo, let alone do anything else that Daddy didn’t want. And unless old Daddy Demon Head shows up again, (either due to the effects of Punch-Boy Prime or the Crisis Wave), she [Talia] is the last of the Al Ghuls, especially with her sister blown away to Kingdom Not-Wel-Come. She might have the society now, but her League of Assassins had also gone the Way of the Cain, Cassandra that is.
The other new addition (to Kate’s family) is her Grandmother. As for her identity and the story behind it, I’ll leave that for now….i.e. no spoilers. But I will say this, it was a nice short flashback, and artwork (Javier Pina, Diego Olmos, Fernando Blanco, Jason Wright) only adds to the experience.
As for the artwork, I will say this, the art is one of the major reasons I took interest and finally stuck with this title. It might not have the buff-polished look of Green Lantern or the sensuousness of Wonder Woman, but it strikes that perfect balance between Bright & Full and Dark & Gritty, that makes just seeing it…a hoot, even more so in this issue.
Conclusion: I hope that this series is extended (after #30), and we get even more stories involving Kate, Cam, Todd, Damon, Kate’s Grandma, young Ramsey, baby Violet (and Julie and Peter)…and yeah, even dumpy Dylan.
RATING: 8.5/10 (Almost 9)
Newsrama Style Rating: Story: B+, Art: A+