REVIEW: ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ Issue 5

Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5 is published by DC Comics and written by Deniz Camp, art and colors by Javier Rodríguez, and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

With a city plumbed into darkness, society quickly falls apart.

This issue sinks into darkness, transforming a city that was tortured already into true insanity. The power stations are down, so there’s no electricity or light in the city, and it’s caused an outbreak of criminality. Gangs and groups have formed, much like those in Lord of the Flies. The city has become like Mad Max, and trying to police it is close to impossible. For Detective Jones, chasing suspects is difficult because he can’t see them to follow.

The pace in Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5 is that slow, inquisitive movement that’s been present throughout the series, simply following Jones and the broader city around him. But there’s still crimes being committed, horrific actions that can make you flinch. As these smaller, individual situations occur, drawing the attention of Jones and the Martian, something larger is happening in the background.

It’s a wider wave of actions working into something that’s so synonymous with the character of Martian Manhunter and is also very close to Jones’ home. There’s no blistering heat of the previous issue, but it’s more sinister and sneaking around in the shadows. The ending is an explosion of action that is confusing and perilous, putting the main character hard on the floor.

The characters are interesting as the comic becomes much quieter. Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5 is reflective and focused on Jones. Most of the script is conveyed through the narration, maintaining the comic’s noir tone. Camp is brilliant at setting a new story quickly every chapter, with a whole new set of circumstances. Here, the darkness is dangerous, and people are terrified and isolated. They can’t see each other.

Jones continues to be emotionless and studious, but there are flickers of frustration as every criminal he encounters is able to escape into the darkness. The darkness is damaging all sense of time or reality, adding to the confusion. The other voice that’s present is the Martian, but even they aren’t speaking much. They discuss the darkness, lending it a more mythical quality. But after that, they’re quiet too.

Part of the mystery within Absolute Martian Manhunter is that question of whether what’s happening is just human nature, or if the White Martian has been responsible for all of it. There are more signs of both inside this chapter, not letting either school of thought win.

The art is stunning, so perfectly pivotal to the storytelling. It’s pretty difficult to see at times, as everything is so dark. Everything is silhouetted, placed against the wall or the floor. The shadows play tricks too, because it’s hard to know if it’s a person or a shadow. The shadows are used in numerous ways as the creepy figures dance along the frames.

In the first couple of pages of Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5, it’s used to create the outline of a body that’s no longer there, before showing flashbacks as the others talk. The absurdist art style remains, especially towards the end. The sudden and violent end is distressing because the chaos suddenly looks more real. It’s not twisting imagery; it’s blood, pain, and broken limbs.

The colors are the complete opposite of the previous chapter. Instead of this intense heat, most of the page plummets into pitch black. Light is scarce, found in flames and single-battery-powered light bulbs. Rodríguez still uses primary and secondary colors, but they’re not as bold when the book is so dark. There’s a lot of blue, and the light shows as yellow, red, or even purple.

There isn’t an abundance of streams of thoughts coming out of characters’ ears either, because it’s hard to know who is a real person and who is a shadow. There are also the cream-colored backgrounds that the page borders are made up of, which suddenly become more stark amid the darkness. Faces barely appear, only half visible, which makes them appear contorted and spooky. The lettering is exceptional. The creativity that Otsmane-Elhaou adds to the word balloons and the SFX is fascinating, proving that it is an art form in its own right.

Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5 continues to reinvent itself. Every edition of this series is a spellbinding experience, truly mesmerizing to behold. It changes how the whole city looks, creating a new story that the Martian wraps itself around. It’s such a terrific study of the comic book medium, bending and breaking rules and traditions. The mind has to work while reading it, which makes it a satisfying adventure.

Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5 is available where comics are sold.