Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 Broke my brain (and my heart)

Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 is here! 

This time as we catch up with John Jones we pickup immediately where we left off last time. This are getting weird, is it all in his head? Is any of this real? He feels the thoughts and feelings of everyone he meets flowing into him, but there’s something else. Something that is finally able to communicate with him. And its here we meet our other main character in this paranormal buddy cop, the Martian himself. 

I’ve know the Martian for only two seconds so far but I already love him so much. He reveals while he isn’t necessarily from mars, and he’s really only referring to himself as that by concept only. He’s weird and strange and from a world we can’t even begin to understand, but instead of being some kinda of alien invader, he seems to be a force for good. 

He wants to help. 

In this issue we tackle themes of mental health, racism, and terrorism. But as this happens we don’t feel like this is an overly bleak or dark book, and I think that’s something the Absolute light has been doing as a whole. Even in this world of madness and violence, there’s hope. There’s good people and aliens who just want to help.

This book is like a paranormal, psychological buddy cop and I mean that as a sincere compliment. Javier Rodriguez’s art is weird and colorful and vibrant. He makes these insane panel layouts that really take advantage of the comic medium. I loved his art in the first issue but honestly I think this was better. 

When we meet our villain for the issue, its a tale unfortunately too familiar. It’s a man with mental health issues who develops these strange concepts of paranoia, and views immigrants moving into town as an alien invasion, even bringing up the the great replacement theory. He’s hurt and lashing out and doesn’t understand the humanity of the people around him. 

The Martian and John jump into action, and while the Martian literally is trying to heal his mind, John tries to talk him down, to reason with him. He could have jumped in and start shooting, but John wants to understand him. John wants to help him. 

Deniz Camp is vastly becoming my favorite writer, he blends themes of modern day politics and real world issues into these fantastical scenarios that feel as real as the scenarios they are based on. 

This book is becoming one of my all time favorite comics, and I can’t wait to see where this takes us next.