“Martian Manhunter” #9 continues the inventive and exciting saga that writer Rob Williams has been building since the first issue. However, with multiple artists on this issue, there is some slight distraction.
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Eddie Barrows, Ronan Cliquet, and RB SilvaIt’s all-out war on Mars when an enraged J’onn J’onzz takes the fight to the despot Ma’alefa’ak. Meanwhile, Ms. Martian, Mr. Biscuits and the others try to save the Martian people from annihilation by transforming a city into a cosmic lifeboat before the red planet collides with Earth!
Rob Williams continues to tell a science fictional tale in a very human way with “Martian Manhunter” #1. By separating J’onn J’onzz’s self into multiple parts, Williams’ story could have veered into an incoherent mess. Instead, he juggles multiple “characters” and a plot involving the collision of Mars and Earth with ease and obvious devotion to character and heart. Excitement builds with this issue and, although we still don’t have everything explained quite yet, there is a tension that comes from being invested in Williams’ storytelling skills.
With J’onn having been one of the founding members of the Justice League of America, he has been deserving of a quality title for quite some time. “Martian Manhunter” #9 continues to demonstrate Williams’ ability to show reverence for a classic character while reinventing him. By separating J’onn’s character into his individual essences, Williams is able to dissect the character in an inventive and very untraditional way. While executing that aspect of the story extremely well, Williams also infuses this issue with compelling and dramatic action. The perfect marriage of action and characterization comes in one scene when J’onn transforms into a certain entity. Williams is sure to invoke excitable air punches with this transformation.
Eddie Barrows has been the primary artist on “Martian Manhunter” since issue one. With this ninth issue, it appears he only supplies the art for the first four pages. Those pages, however, only feature a cameo and not J’onn himself. The other artists on the issue are Ronan Cliquet and RB Silva. Barrows has a distinct artistic style that is evident on the first four pages which are gorgeously colored by Gabe Eltaeb. The rest of the issue is difficult to discern between Cliquet and Silve, with the issue only slightly suffering because of the inconsistent art.
The artistic highlights of this issue come during the action scenes and in the splash page where J’onn is revealed as the previously mentioned entity. Mr. Biscuits dangling from a precipice is dynamic fun, with the panel work lending a sense of chaos and uncertainty. This Mars is a world where the unexpected is around every curve. Cliquet and Silva are able to successfully evoke that feeling in some of their pages, yet not in every aspect.
There is a rushed quality to certain scenes and panels, where facial expressions and backgrounds don’t receive enough attention. This could be the result of multiple inkers, which include Eber Ferreira, Marc Deering, and Andy Owens. The coloring prowess by Gabe Eltaeb is identifiable no matter who the artist is on any given page and is the one consistent trait of “Martian Manhunter” #9. The New York City skyline in the opening pages is colored in such a way that stands out from the rest of the art. It appears as if it was painted on the page by Eltaeb. The bold greens and yellows in certain scenes lend an ethereal and otherworldly aspect to the art that is appropriate for the story. Eltaeb deserves credit for giving the issue a consistency that might not have been there because of the three artists involved in its creation.
“Martian Manhunter” #9, despite its reliance on three pencillers, is another solid chapter in the new status quo-building of J’onn J’onzz. This series is an ideal jumping on point for anyone that has heard of the Martian Manhunter but has yet to read any of his adventures. Rob Williams clearly has an affinity for this character and is building upon J’onn’s origin and characterization in such a way that is intimate and almost feels like a revamp. The stakes are high for J’onn and we can’t wait to see where he goes next. That sense of the unexpected permeates this issue and the ones before.
Final Verdict: 7.9 – Despite some flaws in the art, “Martian Manhunter” #9 is an essential chapter in this compelling ongoing series featuring a seminal character.
