Just finished reading MANHUNTER 1 & 4-6. I'm a fan of noir tales, especially those of Raymond Chandler.  This series has that feeling to me and since the setting is the same as that of Chandler's character Philip Marlowe (and my current home) Los Angeles, I have an instant connection to it.  I like Kate Spencer, the lead character.  She's a hard-boiled attorney, not unlike the hardboiled detectives found in 40s pulp novels, yet she's different...well...because she's a "she."  Strong, tough, independent to a fault, Kate is unique in a comic world filled with big busted beauties who have little to offer beyond killer looks and super-heroics.  Kate's night job is being Manhunter, in addition to being a prosecuting attorney and divorced mother. This character has a lot going on. 

The issues I read were violent.  Not as violent as your standard issue of THE ULTIMATES, but violent nonetheless.  I don't mind that at all, but it does bear mentioning.  The violence isn't gratuitous, however, and is only used to advance the plot.  This is especially evident in the first issue and the character of Copperhead. 

I wish my shop had issues 2 & 3 because I wanted to read about the near-death struggle Manhunter had with the Shadow Thief.  Imagining the action in those two issues, it would make sense to have a breather issue with # 4.  Not to spoil anything for anyone, all I'll say is Kate takes action to repair her damaged uniform by taking advantage of her position and seeking the "aid" of someone who has passed through her office. It was a nice character story, setting up what I'm sure will be a supporting player in her book.

I really enjoy the artwork by Jesus Saiz.  I've never seen his work before, but it's got a Vertigo-esque quality to it while firmly grounding the characters in the DCU.  I liked the way he rendered the JLA in # 5, with Hawkman's face almost always in shadow and Wonder Woman looking more real and less "Power Girl" than she has looked recently (specifically, she looked as a woman looks and not the wish fulfillment, fanboy image of what some less-than-adult artists make female superhero characters out to be).  And hey!  Batman actually smiles and tells a joke!  The covers by Jae Lee are really nice.  He's perfectly suited for the tone of this series.

I'm glad I picked this book up and have the issues that weren't available on backorder.  I'll definitely return next month to see where Kate's story takes her. If Marc Andreyko likes DP as much as I enjoyed his series, we'll have made a successful swap!

Mark McKay wrote: BTW, I'm up for another swap, if anyone wants to by an issue of Doom Patrol, I'll check out and issue of their comic if I'm not getting it already. -Mark

Glad you liked MANHUNTER too, Mark.  I'm glad I made the swap 'cause I probably wouldn't have added yet another book to my already large weekly purchases!  Oh well, it's tough to complain about too much quality!

I'm with Mark here as well.  I'm up for another swap.  It might be tough, however, as I already buy quite a bit.  But, if someone has something I don't already read I'll be willing to pick it up pending their purchase of DP # 7.

I decided the truest (?) way to do this swap was to pick up the most recent issue. I haven't ruled out picking up the first TPB, but here is my review of issue #19:

I'd never read this title before, but had heard some good things. Well, I was pretty underwhelmed.

The first couple pages alone had me a bit confused. Has some guy named Rus been replaced by a shape-changing alien or is this the guy's powers? Strange for the first two pages of a book. The alien is not seen again this ish nor is Rus referred to. Huh? Would have been good for the last two pages of the previous ish perhaps. Next, some guy in his underwear hitting on a cute chick on his couch. She's irritated. Huh? Next, the hero of the book (I think) wakes up his Mom who is in bed drunk and her room is a shambles. They have a conversation about something or other. Huh? What happened to that room? Why isn't the son concerned? Eventually, we get to some superhero stuff. Generic fisticuffs ensue.

I don't know. There is some stuff here that seems interesting, but all in all, this reminds me of an Image book from the early 90's. Not a Liefeld, but maybe a Savage Dragon kind of thing. Maybe that's because of the weird collection of villains with goofy names or the group of heroes that suddenly arrive to save the day without anyone telling the reader who the heck they are. This wasn't bad, but came across kind of simple and weak. 4/10