Review by Ian Keogh
Given his low level commercial success, Martian Manhunter may not seem like an early candidate for reworking among a line of recreated DC superheroes, but under Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez he’s an extremely welcome addition.
In the ‘regular’ continuity Martian J’onn J’onzz uses his race’s shapeshifting abilities to masquerade as dead Denver policeman John Jones. Camp’s version is different. Here Jones remains healthy until he realises his mind has been invaded by a different consciousness.
It’s a good idea, but it’s likely it wouldn’t have worked as well without the startling creativity Rodríguez supplies. Responsible for colour as well as drawing, he creates bright, hallucinogenic experiences, first small blobs, then larger shapes before a full blown miasma. The colour attracts the attention, but it’s on a foundation of skilled illustration and storytelling as Jones can now experience the thoughts and feelings of people he’s interviewing, which is a great boost to the day job. Unfortunately for him, it’s accompanied by confusion and paranoia, both presented with equal proficiency by Rodríguez, who also supplies great illustrations of switched identities. His Manhunter differs from the usual friendly green bald man, being more alien looking with a large central cyclopean eye, which is a simple change, yet distinctly unsettling.
Following things requires concentration as Martian Manhunter’s communication with Jones is fragmentary and concerned with feelings and impressions rather than being sentences in full English. Camp ensures a melding of two completely different cultures and understandings doesn’t come easy, even after Jones accepts what’s happening, yet does so without alienating if attention is paid.
Overall, weirdness prevails, not only for Jones, but for everyone in what becomes a compulsive accumulation of random madness assaulting humanity. All the distance and communication problems feed into Camp conveying a very human story about alienation, and it’s brilliantly unsettling.
