It’s unbearably hot in Istanbul, and I’m cooling off with a comic I can’t put down: Absolute Martian Manhunter, a modern classic in the making, and arguably one of DC’s most underrated current projects.
Compared to the hype surrounding James Gunn’s Superman (which I’ve watched and thoroughly enjoyed), Absolute Martian Manhunter is flying far under the radar. And that’s a shame, because this book deserves the spotlight.
What Is the Absolute Universe?
For those unfamiliar, The Absolute Universe is a bold new initiative from DC Comics. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Marvel’s Ultimate line from years past. The idea? Reboot DC’s most iconic heroes by stripping them down to their core essence and then rebuilding them with fresh, radical reinterpretations.
In this universe, we meet:
- A Batman who isn’t rich,
- A Superman who arrived on Earth as a grown teenager,
- A Wonder Woman raised in Hell, literally.
These titles offer daring new takes on legendary characters without losing the essence of what makes them who they are. But Absolute Martian Manhunter stands apart from even these reimaginings.
A Psychedelic Cosmic Horror
Written by Deniz Camp and brought to life by Javier Rodriguez’s strikingly inventive art, this version of Martian Manhunter is unlike anything I’ve read before.
Here, John Jones is no longer the calm, noble detective we know. Instead, he’s a deeply apathetic police officer with strained relationships, who, through strange and unsettling circumstances, becomes possessed (for lack of a better term) by a truly alien cosmic entity.
The result? A story that’s part identity crisis, part reality breakdown. Our “hero” is disoriented and terrified as his perception of the world warps beyond recognition, while the titular Martian itself, abstract and otherworldly, tries to communicate with him, struggling to adapt to the simplicity of human interaction.
Camp’s take is nothing short of brilliant. He reimagines Martian Manhunter as what I can only call, a psychedelic cosmic horror tale, one that’s eerie, mind-bending, and yet beautifully cohesive in its madness. There’s a strange poetic consistency to the chaos, a deliberate “insanity” that never feels random.
A Feast for the Eyes
Javier Rodriguez’s art elevates the story even further. His bold, experimental use of shape, color, and visual abstraction perfectly complements a narrative seen through the eyes of someone perceiving reality, and even abstract concepts as tangible forms. The panels feel alive, shifting between clarity and dreamlike disorientation.
Why You Should Read It
Every now and then, you stumble upon something that feels important, like you’re reading a future classic as it’s being born.
Absolute Martian Manhunter is exactly that.
It’s daring. It’s strange. It’s unforgettable.
Don’t sleep on this book. You’ll want to say you read it when it first landed.
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