Turning Up The Heat — Reviewing ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ #4

Temperatures are boiling over, scalding Earth and tempers alike. The human race is on the precipice of a breaking point, not just in this particular comic book.

Right now, though, all focus is on Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 and how the plans of the White Martian plunge humanity to darker depths. A white-hot chapter comes from Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Can you feel the heat?

Rodriguez sure makes sure that is the case in another inspired visual endeavor. He allows the human element to run wild within this expressive detailed and dynamic artwork. Panel choices are on point, allowing the moments to reach maximum impact. There is a true sense of weight that can be felt from start to finish, never shying away from the hard reality of elements of this story.

It’s truly a brilliant choice to use lots of whites and far lighter colors, alongside the fierier reds and oranges, along the way as filter and framing palette choices. This plays into the overwhelming sun and the heat driving so many to the edge of sanity and violence.

At the same time, the flashier vibrant colors we come to think of with the Manhunter are there. The greens, blues, reds, and others are still packing that powerful punch. Each, though, is tied to and tempered by the sunshiny palette.

So many colors and wild aspects make this title what it is, pushing beyond boundaries and any senses of the norm or normalcy. Otsmane-Elhaou taps into that feeling too so that the lettering matches the rest of the artwork.

He allows the voices to have their distinct uniqueness both in visual and overall ‘sound.’ The fonts and bubbles shift, among other things, at the drop of a hat. This brings colors and other elements into play even as the overall visuals are abundantly about the whiter and yellower aspects.

There is so much happening in this issue.

As noted in the introduction, Camp taps into a lot of what is happening around us, bringing the anger, the reactionary situations, the feeling that humanity is on some sort of brink. While it’s Martian-controlled here, the relatability of the story doesn’t fade any. There is power to showing relevant matters in our fiction, something that has been part of every type of art forever

At the same time, there is the all too human and intimate situation happening. That being the crumbling of John Jones’ marriage and dealing with his wife Bridget’s perfectly logical emotions about his erratic and questionable behaviors. Both stories fit perfectly together, dealing with anger and fears, dovetailing brilliantly for the ending that sets up the next issue and step from the White Martian.

There is no doubt this is the Absolute line’s most ‘alien’ or out there book, yet it’s still one of the most human. Really focusing on the heart core and foundation that makes up the human condition.

Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 is now available from DC Comics.