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Manhunter #1
Manhunter, Vol. 1: Street Justice
Volume 1 - 1st printing. "Street Justice!" Collects Manhunter (2004-2009 3rd Series) #1-5.
Written by Marc Andreyko. Art by Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti. Cover by Jae Lee.
When a case she's lost leads to the murder of innocents, prosecutor Kate Spencer rages into the night, tracking the perp who's eluded justice in the courts. She's found her true calling. She is the Manhunter. And she likes it!
Written by Marc Andreyko. Art by Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti. Cover by Jae Lee.
When a case she's lost leads to the murder of innocents, prosecutor Kate Spencer rages into the night, tracking the perp who's eluded justice in the courts. She's found her true calling. She is the Manhunter. And she likes it!
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
413 people want to read
About the author
Marc Andreyko
524 books84 followersMarc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, best known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 1, 2024
Prosecutor Kate Spencer gets fed up with super criminals and takes the law into her own hands as... The Manhunter!
I'd been hearing about this series for half a decade before I finally plunked down some coin and picked it up. Did it live up to the hype?
Sort of. Regular people taking the law into their own hands is nothing new in comics. What is new is Kate Spencer. She's not hot. She smokes. She's divorced with a young son. Her ex-husband is a douche. Intrigued yet? What if I told you Kate took some super powered goodies from the evidence locker, like a Darkstar uniform, to help her fight crime? Yeah, I was interested too...
In this volume, Kate goes about the ropes, learning to be a super hero, with Copperhead and Shadowthief as her primary villains. She does a good job too, all things considered.
Other than Kate's ass-kicking character, the things I liked most about this book were her interactions with the rest of the DC universe, namely Batman and the Justice League. Seeing her gay assistant hit on Hawkman was possibly my favorite non-violent part of the book.
After reading this, I can see how Manhunter became a cult hit in its initial run. It's not like the other comics on the rack, it's very well written, and has a lot of unconventional things going on, especially for a super hero comic. Four stars!
2024 Reread My thoughts on this haven't changed. Still a great book. I'd like to see Andreyko get a Nightwing or Daredevil run.
I'd been hearing about this series for half a decade before I finally plunked down some coin and picked it up. Did it live up to the hype?
Sort of. Regular people taking the law into their own hands is nothing new in comics. What is new is Kate Spencer. She's not hot. She smokes. She's divorced with a young son. Her ex-husband is a douche. Intrigued yet? What if I told you Kate took some super powered goodies from the evidence locker, like a Darkstar uniform, to help her fight crime? Yeah, I was interested too...
In this volume, Kate goes about the ropes, learning to be a super hero, with Copperhead and Shadowthief as her primary villains. She does a good job too, all things considered.
Other than Kate's ass-kicking character, the things I liked most about this book were her interactions with the rest of the DC universe, namely Batman and the Justice League. Seeing her gay assistant hit on Hawkman was possibly my favorite non-violent part of the book.
After reading this, I can see how Manhunter became a cult hit in its initial run. It's not like the other comics on the rack, it's very well written, and has a lot of unconventional things going on, especially for a super hero comic. Four stars!
2024 Reread My thoughts on this haven't changed. Still a great book. I'd like to see Andreyko get a Nightwing or Daredevil run.
February 11, 2020
"Not to split hairs, but isn't killing a conflict of interest with your day job?" -- Dylan, tech wizard
"I like to think of it as overtime." -- Kate 'Manhunter' Spencer, costumed vigilante
Kate Spencer is a hard-nosed federal prosecutor based in Los Angeles. A chain-smoking workaholic with a few strained relationships (an ex-husband and a son), her personal and professional lives have both seen better days. Extremely dissatisfied with lenient sentences being handed down to super-powered criminals, she takes to the streets to exact some decidedly rough justice as MANHUNTER.
Unlike Batman, Spencer has no issues taking the lives of the dangerous and murderous villains that she pursues into the night. (In one chilling sequence, she experiences a nightmare in which the Dark Knight angrily takes her to task for her killings.) Aside from a handful of dated references - Kabbalah and 'Did another 70's actor kill his wife?' both appear on the same page - indicating its original early 21st century publishing date, this was one violent and then sometimes darkly humorous adventure. Spencer can dish out a beatdown as well as any male crimefighter working solo, but can also turn around and internally crack wise - such as her kvetching about L.A.'s spread-out nature as a city, and wishing for the many skyscrapers of Metropolis or Gotham to swing from - to wink at the audience.
"I like to think of it as overtime." -- Kate 'Manhunter' Spencer, costumed vigilante
Kate Spencer is a hard-nosed federal prosecutor based in Los Angeles. A chain-smoking workaholic with a few strained relationships (an ex-husband and a son), her personal and professional lives have both seen better days. Extremely dissatisfied with lenient sentences being handed down to super-powered criminals, she takes to the streets to exact some decidedly rough justice as MANHUNTER.
Unlike Batman, Spencer has no issues taking the lives of the dangerous and murderous villains that she pursues into the night. (In one chilling sequence, she experiences a nightmare in which the Dark Knight angrily takes her to task for her killings.) Aside from a handful of dated references - Kabbalah and 'Did another 70's actor kill his wife?' both appear on the same page - indicating its original early 21st century publishing date, this was one violent and then sometimes darkly humorous adventure. Spencer can dish out a beatdown as well as any male crimefighter working solo, but can also turn around and internally crack wise - such as her kvetching about L.A.'s spread-out nature as a city, and wishing for the many skyscrapers of Metropolis or Gotham to swing from - to wink at the audience.
August 23, 2019
Whoa, Manhunter is way better than I expected.
So it's all about a prosecutorwho has just had enough with criminals getting away with shit. Think Daredevil but she's a lot meaner, and also kills mofos who deserve it. With that she hunters her first victim and deals with him and the next couple of issues are her dealing with trying to be a superhero while taking care of her kid, and showing what type of "hero" she really is.
I like complex heroes. Ones that don't follow the rule. The thing with this volume is you get so many sides to Manhunter that you're not sure if she's good or bad. That to me, makes a compelling main character. Mix that with some good fight scenes and solid art and you have a great start to what could be a great series. A 4 out of 5.
So it's all about a prosecutorwho has just had enough with criminals getting away with shit. Think Daredevil but she's a lot meaner, and also kills mofos who deserve it. With that she hunters her first victim and deals with him and the next couple of issues are her dealing with trying to be a superhero while taking care of her kid, and showing what type of "hero" she really is.
I like complex heroes. Ones that don't follow the rule. The thing with this volume is you get so many sides to Manhunter that you're not sure if she's good or bad. That to me, makes a compelling main character. Mix that with some good fight scenes and solid art and you have a great start to what could be a great series. A 4 out of 5.
June 28, 2013
It's really hard to build a story around an intentionally unlikeable character and keep it a compelling read. And in Manhunter, Andreyko nailed it.
The lead and title character is Kate Spencer. A top prosecutor, she reacts to losing yet another supervillain case by stealing high tech goodies from evidence lockers and turning vigilante herself. Kate is no selfless wonder herself. Her vigilante turn seems to be inspired as much by an inability to accept defeat as by any thoughts of justice. Her personality is abrasive, and she's a terrible mother. And still a compelling character.
It's because Andreyko's writing is so solid, and because Kate's failings are realistic and not too far over the top. And I loved the way Andreyko integrated the rest of the DCU. The Justice League's appearance was spot on. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
The lead and title character is Kate Spencer. A top prosecutor, she reacts to losing yet another supervillain case by stealing high tech goodies from evidence lockers and turning vigilante herself. Kate is no selfless wonder herself. Her vigilante turn seems to be inspired as much by an inability to accept defeat as by any thoughts of justice. Her personality is abrasive, and she's a terrible mother. And still a compelling character.
It's because Andreyko's writing is so solid, and because Kate's failings are realistic and not too far over the top. And I loved the way Andreyko integrated the rest of the DCU. The Justice League's appearance was spot on. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
January 27, 2024
I’m not a big reader of comic books and I couldn’t name more than maybe one writer/artist/inker/etc. if I tried, but I do enjoy reading them.
My only issue is they are so violent. I’m a wuss when it comes to seeing people get hurt and Copperhead was HORRIBLE to his victims.
The MC is…well, she’s an anti-hero maybe? Not likable, a loving if bad and self-involved mother. It’s probably better for her son to be with his father honestly. I get she is passionate about her job, but your kid should come first re: when it’s your turn to have custody.
Not sure about that subplot with the loose lipped nurse…I don’t like it. I hope she gets hers, that’s all I have to say on that matter.
3, it wasn’t bad and I’ll read the next one, stars.
My only issue is they are so violent. I’m a wuss when it comes to seeing people get hurt and Copperhead was HORRIBLE to his victims.
The MC is…well, she’s an anti-hero maybe? Not likable, a loving if bad and self-involved mother. It’s probably better for her son to be with his father honestly. I get she is passionate about her job, but your kid should come first re: when it’s your turn to have custody.
Not sure about that subplot with the loose lipped nurse…I don’t like it. I hope she gets hers, that’s all I have to say on that matter.
3, it wasn’t bad and I’ll read the next one, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2021
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!
May 24, 2023
MANHUNTER: STREET JUSTICE is one of those comic books that I wish had been much more successful because I really like the main character and everything about her. Kate Spencer is one of the more innovative creations in recent decades being a single mom vigilante, a prosecutor, and a ruthless killer. I would have liked to have learned where she got what fighting skills she possesses but the character is a chain smoking jerk and more attractive than a huge number of pin-up models among superheroes just because she seems more approachable. I actually wish this had been a book more than a comic despite how much I love the art. It's a shame the graphic novel is only available in physical form.
September 7, 2008
I really wanted to like this, because I've picked up more recent issues in the series, and found them a lot of fun. However, aside from the great art by Jesus Saiz, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Steve Buccellato (pencils, inks, and colors respectively) I didn't find a lot to love in this book.
Kate Spencer is a prosecutor of 'metahuman crimes,' who apparently flips her gourd when a defendant is found not guilty, by reason of supernatural powers or something -- and then turned loose on the street? I don't know, this makes no sense, either literally or as a metaphor. Anyway, Kate decides to steal some kind of super suit from an evidence locker, calls herself 'Manhunter,' and goes and hunts the bad guy down and kills him. There's certainly a great opportunity here to take a fresh look at the idea of vigilantism in a world with superheroes, but that doesn't happen here. It's just kind of mindless and dumb, and Kate is one of the most unlikeable protagonists I've encountered in a while. She has a kid, to whom she's a manifestly terrible mother, and an ex-husband who she perceives as an annoyance, for whom I had nothing but sympathy.
At some point between this first volume, and the new issues I'm reading now, the story obviously got better, but I'm on the fence about whether I want to invest in the next two collections. I probably will, just so I can figure out what's going on with the current story.
Oh, comics.
Kate Spencer is a prosecutor of 'metahuman crimes,' who apparently flips her gourd when a defendant is found not guilty, by reason of supernatural powers or something -- and then turned loose on the street? I don't know, this makes no sense, either literally or as a metaphor. Anyway, Kate decides to steal some kind of super suit from an evidence locker, calls herself 'Manhunter,' and goes and hunts the bad guy down and kills him. There's certainly a great opportunity here to take a fresh look at the idea of vigilantism in a world with superheroes, but that doesn't happen here. It's just kind of mindless and dumb, and Kate is one of the most unlikeable protagonists I've encountered in a while. She has a kid, to whom she's a manifestly terrible mother, and an ex-husband who she perceives as an annoyance, for whom I had nothing but sympathy.
At some point between this first volume, and the new issues I'm reading now, the story obviously got better, but I'm on the fence about whether I want to invest in the next two collections. I probably will, just so I can figure out what's going on with the current story.
Oh, comics.
July 10, 2009
not what i was expecting, at all. kate takes the title of manhunter (i don't know how she learns the moves, but hey) by kind of stealing the costume from the police evidence lockers, and then blackmailing a dude she put away into fixing her stuff.
did i mention she's a lawyer? a chain-smoking, no-nonsense, actually-will-kill-you lawyer?
yeah, this was new. definitely not your average DCU main title character. the thing was, i liked it, but i didn't love it. and i didn't find myself wanting to care about kate. or really, even caring about kate. i like her, but i don't love her.
i would like to pick up the second volume, just to see how it moves forward, but i can't seem to find it anywhere. the art wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad, either.
did i mention she's a lawyer? a chain-smoking, no-nonsense, actually-will-kill-you lawyer?
yeah, this was new. definitely not your average DCU main title character. the thing was, i liked it, but i didn't love it. and i didn't find myself wanting to care about kate. or really, even caring about kate. i like her, but i don't love her.
i would like to pick up the second volume, just to see how it moves forward, but i can't seem to find it anywhere. the art wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't bad, either.
August 23, 2019
The main character, lawyer Kate Spencer, has just gotten into punishing criminals using a cool constume, but she does so outside the law. It's a conflicting time for her, but the results speak for themselves and she sees a future in it. Her family life is already down the drains, so she tries to do some good in the world another way, even if she attracts the interest of superheroes and villains alike.
Copperhead gets a not guilty verdict when he is put on trial for killing and eating several dozen people. He is later found dead and with the name Manhunter scrawled on the wall above his head.
Copperhead gets a not guilty verdict when he is put on trial for killing and eating several dozen people. He is later found dead and with the name Manhunter scrawled on the wall above his head.
November 20, 2012
Four stars. Barely. Kate is a lawyer who, frustrated with the justice system, decides to just started killing off super-powered bad-guys. Which is kind of nice. The "no killing" rule a lot of superheroes have makes me roll my eyes after a while. Oh, the Joker broke out and is murdering people again? We'll just lock him back up, surely he'll stay locked up this time and not escape again leading to more innocents dying! Anyways. Kate is kind of flawed. She smokes. A lot. Her superhero gear is basically stolen. She blackmails her technical assistant. She has a kind of messy divorce. And she sucks at being a mom. Which makes her kind of fun. Because I really don't like good guys that are too good. I tend to want to punch them.
December 1, 2008
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.
August 4, 2020
Lako i simpatično štivo koje se brzo čita, iako je malo blesavo da protagonstkinja koja je okružni tužitelj samo tako uzme superherojsko oružje i obuče kostim i ubije negativca bez neke malo dublje razrade karaktera. Ako ste u stanju to popušit, ostatak albuma će vam bit skroz okej. Jesus Saiz super crta ljudima lica, ali se dosta štedi na pozadinama, ponekad na štetu izgledu kadra. Kako god, njegov crtež definitivno podiže cijeli strip.
November 29, 2016
The closest thing I can compare this book to is Bendis' "Alias", with Kate Spencer's mess of a life as a protagonist who isn't conventionally likable - except that I enjoy Manhunter more. Kate's sass is entertaining in a way Jessica Jones's personality isn't (in the comics - the show is funny). Where "Alias" sort of dragged on with little character, "Manhunter" steadily chugs along. This is a refreshing take on a flawed superhero, with less sexualization and more attitude. And it works!
October 20, 2023
Apenas publicada, allá por el 2004, "Manhunter" de Mark Andreyko y Jesus Saiz se convirtió en una suerte de comic de culto entre sus elegidos lectores. La serie duró poco menos de 40 números y hasta hoy me lamento que DC no la haya recuperado. Hay que advertir lo siguiente: Manhunters han habido muchos en el universo DC; la Manhunter de Andreyko y Saiz es la abogada Kate Spencer, obsesiva de su trabajo, madre (imperfecta) de un niño, y mujer agotada de las injusticias. Cuando el villano Copperhead es dejado en libertad por un jurado complaciente, Kate decide que ha tenido demasiado. Como abogada tiene acceso a super armas y super trajes que han incautado de casos anteriores. Decide usarlos para hacer ella misma justicia con Copperhead. Y así nace Manhunter.
Hay algo (obvio) de Daredevil en Manhunter; ambos abogados sin superpoderes demasiado ostentosos (en el caso de Kate Spencer, sin super poder alguno), pero Manhunter se diferencia en un asunto no menor: su indignación ante la injusticia es tan fuerte que no tiene reparos con matar. Para que esa premisa funcione los lectores tenemos que "sentir" la misma indignación que Kate, y Andreyko y Saiz se ocupan de eso desde el comienzo: las descripciones y escenas de los crímenes de los villanos son muy explícitas, y explícita también es la violencia que Manhunter ejerce.
El antagonista principal de Manhunter, en este primer tomo (Copperhead era sólo una excusa para presentar al personaje) es Shadow Thief, quien es buscado en todo el mundo por el asesinato de Firestorm ocurrido en la serie "Identity Crisis" (Meltzer, Morales 2004). Kate lo sabe y quiere ser ella la que aplique la justicia, pasando incluso por sobre la JLA, quienes la visitan sin saber aún que ella es Manhunter. Al final del tomo, sin embargo, Kate comprende que no puede desafiar a la JLA y creer que saldrá limpia de ello y los lectores anticipamos que en los números siguientes nuestra heroina deberá rendir cuentas.
"Manhunter" es un comic genial. Andreyko narra con el tono "realista" que reinaba en buena parte de DC en aquella época y que dio obras maestras como la mencionada "Identity Cirsis" o "Gotham Central" (Rucka, Brubaker). Eso implica que junto a los actos heroicos y no tan heroicos de Kate Spencer, se nos muestra su lado B: los problemas con su ex marido o lo desprolija que es ella con el cuidado de su propio hijo. Y también se abordan aspectos que otros comics de superhéroes menos "realistas" sencillamente pasan por alto. Por ejemplo: ¿Qué ocurre con los ayudantes de los supervillanos una vez que estos son derrotados? Pues, si es que coperan con la justicia -se nos dice acá- quedan en libertad condicional o ¡en programas de protección de testigos! Todo ello le sirve a Manhunter, quien, como abogada, conoce el paredero de varios de aquellos "ayudantes", a quienes no tiene problemas en extorsionar para su beneficio.
El arte de Saiz es preciso, con el tono realista adecuado para la historia que Andreyko quiere contar. Ojalá algún día DC recapacite y devuelva a la vida esta joya de comic.
Hay algo (obvio) de Daredevil en Manhunter; ambos abogados sin superpoderes demasiado ostentosos (en el caso de Kate Spencer, sin super poder alguno), pero Manhunter se diferencia en un asunto no menor: su indignación ante la injusticia es tan fuerte que no tiene reparos con matar. Para que esa premisa funcione los lectores tenemos que "sentir" la misma indignación que Kate, y Andreyko y Saiz se ocupan de eso desde el comienzo: las descripciones y escenas de los crímenes de los villanos son muy explícitas, y explícita también es la violencia que Manhunter ejerce.
El antagonista principal de Manhunter, en este primer tomo (Copperhead era sólo una excusa para presentar al personaje) es Shadow Thief, quien es buscado en todo el mundo por el asesinato de Firestorm ocurrido en la serie "Identity Crisis" (Meltzer, Morales 2004). Kate lo sabe y quiere ser ella la que aplique la justicia, pasando incluso por sobre la JLA, quienes la visitan sin saber aún que ella es Manhunter. Al final del tomo, sin embargo, Kate comprende que no puede desafiar a la JLA y creer que saldrá limpia de ello y los lectores anticipamos que en los números siguientes nuestra heroina deberá rendir cuentas.
"Manhunter" es un comic genial. Andreyko narra con el tono "realista" que reinaba en buena parte de DC en aquella época y que dio obras maestras como la mencionada "Identity Cirsis" o "Gotham Central" (Rucka, Brubaker). Eso implica que junto a los actos heroicos y no tan heroicos de Kate Spencer, se nos muestra su lado B: los problemas con su ex marido o lo desprolija que es ella con el cuidado de su propio hijo. Y también se abordan aspectos que otros comics de superhéroes menos "realistas" sencillamente pasan por alto. Por ejemplo: ¿Qué ocurre con los ayudantes de los supervillanos una vez que estos son derrotados? Pues, si es que coperan con la justicia -se nos dice acá- quedan en libertad condicional o ¡en programas de protección de testigos! Todo ello le sirve a Manhunter, quien, como abogada, conoce el paredero de varios de aquellos "ayudantes", a quienes no tiene problemas en extorsionar para su beneficio.
El arte de Saiz es preciso, con el tono realista adecuado para la historia que Andreyko quiere contar. Ojalá algún día DC recapacite y devuelva a la vida esta joya de comic.
February 28, 2018
I bought this on a spontaneous trip to my comic book store. Manhunter was something I noticed on the shelf that I thought I would enjoy. It seems Manhunter is an anti-hero who is similar to a female version of Daredevil. I had never previously heard of Manhunter which made this comic more intriguing to me.
Kate Spencer is an attorney by day who smokes her cigarettes and argues with her ex-husband about custody of their child. As she is prosecuting a meta human named Copperhead, she is angered to find that he is released on the streets. She chooses to don a costume and steel a meta human weapon to fight criminals with.
Kate feels like a different character than Daredevil. She is someone who is hard to like. She's a smoker, she seems like a rather cold person, yet I find this series enjoyable to read. I think the story is great along with the artwork. This comic is from early 2000, but I didn't find it a drag to read through. I have this on my list of series to read and I'm ready to buy and read volume #2.
Kate Spencer is an attorney by day who smokes her cigarettes and argues with her ex-husband about custody of their child. As she is prosecuting a meta human named Copperhead, she is angered to find that he is released on the streets. She chooses to don a costume and steel a meta human weapon to fight criminals with.
Kate feels like a different character than Daredevil. She is someone who is hard to like. She's a smoker, she seems like a rather cold person, yet I find this series enjoyable to read. I think the story is great along with the artwork. This comic is from early 2000, but I didn't find it a drag to read through. I have this on my list of series to read and I'm ready to buy and read volume #2.
April 15, 2024
This trade paperback has been gathering dust on my shelves for literally years and I'm sorry for that because this first volume collecting the first 5 issues of the 'new' Manhunter is all kinds of awesome.
Frustrated that supervillains who deserve the death penalty are given lesser sentences instead, public prosecutor Kate Spencer 'borrows' equipment from the evidence locker and kills the villians for the good of society. In the DC universe where heroes don't kill no matter what, this is a fresh change. It also helps that she doesn't go around dressed in fishnets, XS mini skirt or a bikini to hunt criminals.
Of course the villains she will pursue in future collections will no doubt be the expendable ones (you can't kill the Joker, obviously) but it's still an interesting, grittier look at the costumed vigilante world. Since they don't follow the rule of law why should they follow the moral code as well? But by killing super powered psychopaths, does that mean that the vigilante is no different than the villains themselves? Interesting debate.
Frustrated that supervillains who deserve the death penalty are given lesser sentences instead, public prosecutor Kate Spencer 'borrows' equipment from the evidence locker and kills the villians for the good of society. In the DC universe where heroes don't kill no matter what, this is a fresh change. It also helps that she doesn't go around dressed in fishnets, XS mini skirt or a bikini to hunt criminals.
Of course the villains she will pursue in future collections will no doubt be the expendable ones (you can't kill the Joker, obviously) but it's still an interesting, grittier look at the costumed vigilante world. Since they don't follow the rule of law why should they follow the moral code as well? But by killing super powered psychopaths, does that mean that the vigilante is no different than the villains themselves? Interesting debate.
December 26, 2020
Heard this was a sleeper hit, and it totally is! It follows a lawyer who prosecuted super-criminals, and after one of them gets off after a heinous crime, she sneaks into an evidence locker and takes justice into her own hands.
It seems like we enter the story after Kate has done this a few times, but isn’t a bonified superhero yet. She doesn’t have any powers, just some gear (presumably) from locked up villains, including a blaster-staff-thing. She’s sharp, a fighter, a self-loathing, chain-smoking attorney, and a part-time mom. She’s likeable, but also not. You have to respect her, and you’re rooting for her, but she’s a terrible mother. Like real bad. She’s not always in the right, but she’s trying to make a difference.
The art is gritty and matches the story really well. It’s written deftly, and I’ve been eating it up so far. Definitely check this out if you haven’t already, and like gritty imperfection.
It seems like we enter the story after Kate has done this a few times, but isn’t a bonified superhero yet. She doesn’t have any powers, just some gear (presumably) from locked up villains, including a blaster-staff-thing. She’s sharp, a fighter, a self-loathing, chain-smoking attorney, and a part-time mom. She’s likeable, but also not. You have to respect her, and you’re rooting for her, but she’s a terrible mother. Like real bad. She’s not always in the right, but she’s trying to make a difference.
The art is gritty and matches the story really well. It’s written deftly, and I’ve been eating it up so far. Definitely check this out if you haven’t already, and like gritty imperfection.
December 24, 2019
3.5 stars. The DC Universe, with its costumed vigilante heroes and metahumans, moves to Los Angeles in this series about Kate Spencer, a federal prosecutor whose day job is putting super-villains behind bars. When she loses a case, and "Copperhead" escapes to kill again, she takes matters into her own hands by raiding confiscated metahuman technology from an evidence locker and donning the secret identity of Manhunter. This first trade paperback volume collects issues #1-5.
The California setting in this series is nicely rendered. Kate Spencer eats with her young son at a Mel's Diner and gets stuck in freeway traffic. In chapter 5, as Manhunter surveys her city from below the Hollywood sign, she offers up a typically SoCal observation: "Now I know why there are so few active metahumans in L.A. Everything is so damn spread out. It's not like I can swing from skyscraper to skyscraper."
The California setting in this series is nicely rendered. Kate Spencer eats with her young son at a Mel's Diner and gets stuck in freeway traffic. In chapter 5, as Manhunter surveys her city from below the Hollywood sign, she offers up a typically SoCal observation: "Now I know why there are so few active metahumans in L.A. Everything is so damn spread out. It's not like I can swing from skyscraper to skyscraper."
February 7, 2024
This book has been my shelf for a long time, but I hadn't gotten around to reading it. I liked it. I liked it enough that I'll probably read more of the series, but I didn't love it.
Kate seems like a collection of external characteristics rather than a person to me. She does things, but I can't really tell what's motivating her or how she feels about doing them. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I struggled with black boxes with red words in them to tell me Kate's thoughts. That probably didn't help.
I appreciate the effort to give me a female hero who isn't nice or even necessarily likeable. She's not a good mother and we don't really see her interact positively with anyone in this first volume. But in the end, she didn't feel like a person to me. At least not yet.
Kate seems like a collection of external characteristics rather than a person to me. She does things, but I can't really tell what's motivating her or how she feels about doing them. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I struggled with black boxes with red words in them to tell me Kate's thoughts. That probably didn't help.
I appreciate the effort to give me a female hero who isn't nice or even necessarily likeable. She's not a good mother and we don't really see her interact positively with anyone in this first volume. But in the end, she didn't feel like a person to me. At least not yet.
June 26, 2019
Volume 1 collects issues 1 - 5. Los Angeles federal prosecutor Kate Spencer is divorced with a young 6-year son. She is tired of seeing criminals get off. When villian / metahuman Copperhead gets off after killing multiple people, Kate takes justice into her own hands. She takes a weapons suit from custody and becomes a vigilante who has no problem killing villains. Appearances by Copperhead, Carl Sands/The Shadow Thief, JLA members J'onn J'ones the Martian Manhunter, Vixen, Green Lantern John Stewart, and former JLA now JSA member Hawkman. Well written by Marc Andreyko and illustrated by Javier Pina, and Jesus Saiz. A great series! Recommended.
June 8, 2019
Criminal prosecutor by day, vigilante by night, been there done that before, except not. Manhunter may sound as a knock-of of material like Daredevil and Vigilante, but what Marc Andreyko and Jesus Saiz does is giving us a fleshed out character that happens to take justice by her hands. Even time after, material like kick-ass could not crack the formula like this comic did. Is a hidden gem lacking of the necessary reprints for othe people to appreciate. Product of a time in which DC was taking legacy character names and revamping them, this was one of the best.
April 7, 2020
I think had I read Manhunter at its inception, I would have enjoyed it more. Now I see Kate as very one-note, and the way she takes the disgusting verbal abuse from her ex--and agrees with him--feels less like a woman conflicted by society's messages about who she should be versus who she is as a man writing a little outside of his experiences. That one note is "bitch" and, while it never feels misogynistic, it never feels real or personal either. Just...there, always moving forward. Like I will with the series, but without the enthusiasm I was hoping for.
April 15, 2019
I first read these issues about 15 years ago and was curious to see if they still held up. They do!
Federal Prosecutor Kate Spencer is tired of superhuman criminals getting off on technicalities, so she does the only reasonable thing she can think of: raid the evidence locker for old bits of superhero tech, put together a costume, and put the bad guys down herself...permanently. Good story, good art, and a good character all in one five issue trade.
Federal Prosecutor Kate Spencer is tired of superhuman criminals getting off on technicalities, so she does the only reasonable thing she can think of: raid the evidence locker for old bits of superhero tech, put together a costume, and put the bad guys down herself...permanently. Good story, good art, and a good character all in one five issue trade.
July 17, 2019
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
August 9, 2017
as someone with a legal background, I really appreciated a female lawyer and part time super hero. I love that the character is not only intelligent, but also strong. I hope she will one day get her own TV show or film.
July 17, 2023
I’ve really enjoyed this whole run. And the introduction of a female superhero who is fully clothed is unique. Plus her bad attitude really does give her a certain charm. It really makes me want to check out Andreyko’s other books.
May 13, 2017
This is an old read and I wish I had read it earlier. Kate Spencer is an interesting character and she has a very different approach to being a hero.
August 11, 2018
It’s not that this isn’t good, it is. I just get really strong Alias vibes. But it’s not as good as Alias. You know? It try’s to be dark without really quite getting their.
October 26, 2019
I got in the mood to read more Manhunter comics and found out that DC Comics had produced a series in the early 2000's. Good stuff Maynard.
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