Manhunter in the 80s

So,we now jump ahead to the late 80s, when Steve Engelhart decided to revisit the Manhunters, giving us the crossover event, Millennium.



The story basically involved a Guardian and a Zamaron stopping by Earth to let them know they were going to pick some Earthlings to be New Guardians; but, the Manhunter androids have heard of this and are going to try to stop them, via their sleeper agents. So, for two months, we get weekly installments and interrupt the stories going on in most of the DC books. I'm not going to go too deep into the whole thing; I was pretty underwhelmed with it at the time and it hasn't aged well. We got all kinds of characters turning up as surprise Manhunter sleepers, though half ogf them weren't actually sleeper agents and it just didn't really work, as a whole. There were good moments. During one week, we had an excellent mini-storyline that crossed between Captain Atom, Batman, The Spectre and Suicide Squad, complete with linking covers. In fact, the Suicide Squad issue was excellent, with Mark Shaw dug out of cold storage, still in his Privateer gear, to aid the Squad. The hook was whether or not Shaw could be trusted, having been a former Manhunter. Was he still under their sway or had he been truly deprogrammed?



Mark proves his worth and earns his pardon, letting him back into the outside world. Thankfully, he decided to dump the eyepatch and cape for more practical togs. More on that in a minute.



Another highpoint of Millennium was Secret Origins #22, the Manhunters. Roy Thomas had the dubious task of trying to sort out the whole Manhunter family tree, in the post-Crisis world. He did a pretty darn good job, with input from Engelhart and excellent art by Howard Simpson. We learn of the Manhunters and their origin on Oa, their corruption and rebellion, their acting in secret and coming to Earth. There, they are mixed into the history of the Shan cult, that Jack Kirby created. They acted in secret, manipulating world events and often rearing their heads during times of great conflict. When World War 2 comes, they decide the time is right for a new Manhunter and approach police rookie Dan Richards. Richards is investigating the frame-up of a mobster and the Manhunters offer him a way to do it, with a costume and a dog for a sidekick. He goes out and catches the real crooks, then continues as a mystery man. The Manhunters aren't satisfied with this and set up Paul Kirk to become a Manhunter. We see Paul in his first adventure (instead of Rick Nelson) fighting a costumed killer, called the Buzzard. Simpson really shines here, as he revamps Simon & Kirby's original desing, adds some touches from Marvel's Vulture, then gives him a truly frightening mask.



Kirk proves too independent for the Manhunters and he goes his merry way, eventually abandoning his identity and then carrying on with the events in Archie & Walt's story. We then get Howard Simpson channeling Jack Kirby, retelling First Issue Special #5, then JLA 140 and 141. That brings the story back to the present. Roy ties it all together rather nicely and it was one of the better revamps performed within Secret origins. If you are interested, check out the Secret Origins Podcast, episode 22. Host Ryan Daly and I covered this issue and the history of the various versions of Manhunter. (Yes, My secret identity is revealed there)

secretoriginspodcast.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/secret-origins-22-the-manhunters/

Another excellent component of all of this was Young All-Stars #8.



Manhunters Dan Richards and Paul Kirk meet for the first time (even though they sort of meet in All-Star Squadron, a couple of years before) and pair up to fight Nazis for an issue. I didn't really get into Young All-Stars, despite loving the All-Star Squadron; but, this is a really good issue. The story would be revisited, after a fashion, in the the James Robinson JSA mini-series (Justice Society returns), that preceded the revived JSA comic (with Ditko's Stalker, as the villain). There, we see the wartime Paul kirk, working with Tigress (the future original Huntress), to destroy a Nazi base in Africa.



Getting back to the 80s. With Millennium completed, it was time to trot out the new spin-off comics, as that is a pre-requisite to any crossover event. New Guardians isn't worth revisiting, so we will go to the more relevant Manhunter.



This series gave Mark Shaw a chance to finally be a hero, using the Manhunter name. The premise was that Shaw was free, pardoned for his role in Suicide Squad, and now working as a super-bounty hunter, in Chicago. The hook was supposed to be that the criminals he catches would be filtered into the Suicide Squad. it didn't exactly work out that way, though. The series started with a bang, with John Ostrander (and wife, Kim Yale) and artist Doug Rice (of First Comics' Dynamo Joe) introducing us to Mark's new world. We see Manhunter go after Captain Cold, using Shaw's prison knowledge that Leonard Snart is a Cubs fan (which fit, given their history in baseball) and always attends a game, when he is in town. Manhunter tracks him down to the El train, and a fight ensues, where we get a glimpse of Manhunters new baton. Shaw makes quick work of Snart, then also takes in the Penguin, catching him in the bathtub.

The series was a great mix of superhero and private eye, adding touches of tv detectives, like Jim Rockford. Shaw isn't liked by the police, as both an ex-con and a vigilante. however, a female cop, who specializes in computer work, finds him attractive. we also meet Mark's family, who are a mainstay of the series. And, we met Dumas. Dumas was a masterstroke, an assassin obsessed with masks (Man in the Iron mask, anyone?), who is hunting for Mark Shaw's mask, to deliver to a private collector. The story rages over the first 4 issues, and from the US to Japan, where Rice gets to indulge his love of manga and anime. The whole thing climaxes in a final battle between Dumas and Manhunter. Unfortunately, it also kind of climaxes the series.

The series spends quite a while spinning its wheels. It doesn't help that things are interrupted twice, by the Invasion crossover and the Janus Directive mini-crossover. Doug Rice checked out of the series and the artistic level never reaches the same level, despite some fine work by Grant Miehn. Ostrander brings back Dumas for the finale; but, the plug was pulled after two years. It's a shame, as those first 4 issues are fantastic and showed a series that would combine wall to wall action, some interesting and unique characters, some intrigue and mystery, and a sense of humor. The next few issues help to establish some of the supporting cast. Then the brakes come on. I met Doug Rice twice, at a local convention, and spoke at length with him, about the series. he says that it was pitched to him and DC as an action series, pure and simple; but, after the initial arc, more and more time was spent on character moments, especially Mark Shaw's family. It led to a lot of scenes of people standing around and talking. From a writing and character standpoint this is fine; but, it doesn't lend itself to great visuals. Rice said he got bored and decided to leave the series. I have to say, I did too, though I stuck it out to the end, hoping against hope that things would pick up to that same level. The final battle with Dumas was close; but, not quite.



Now, just a few words about Mark Shaw's new costume, designed by doug Rice: Awesome! Fantastic! Unique! Rice came up with something different, something that spoke to Paul Kirk, the android Manhunters, the Kirby story and a new start. The costuming was unique, for American comics, with jodpurs and boots, suggesting pulp adventure, the chestiece, with the samurai stylings, to invoke Paul Kirk, yet with the designwork that spoke to Kirby and Mark Shaw's past. Then, there is the swashbuckling scarf, the hood, and the almost robotic mask. I asked Doug Rice about his inspiration and he pointed to the Japanese tv hero, Kamen Rider:



Kamen Rider was a series, much like Ultraman, with a hero who fights an evil organization. there have been multiple Kamen Riders over the years; but, the basic design uis usually consistent, with the bug-like face mask, a scarf, and body-armor like costume, plus heavy boots. These costumes always look excellent on screen (as did many of the other heroe shows, like the super sentai shows, that spawned the Power Rangers) and Rice took their cues to give Manhunter a modern, yet unique look.

After Manhunter was cancelled, Mark Shaw lay low, until he was part of a group of cannon fodder sent to face Eclipso, along with the female Dr Midnight and Wildcat and the Will Payton Starman. That would be the end of Mark Shaw.

Until he got better.