After a lot of quietness and neglect from my part, DC really came back with a vengeance this year with their DC You relaunch. It was a really tough choice to choose a favorite, given not only the competition from other publishers but the quality of books within their own line-up. In the end, it was a really close call between this and Midnighter, but for me this just barely edged it out (I’m sorry Steve Orlando, I’ll make it up to you somehow).
Rob Williams returns to this list for a second time with a book that is intelligent, horrifying and just plain awesome. It’s equal parts psychological thriller and 80s monster horror movie in a fantastic new take on J’onn J’onzz. The book throws in big questions about the character including identity and humanity, while finding creative new uses for his mind bending powers. Saying too much would give away a lot of the best twists and surprises, so just take my word for it and check it out for yourself.
Of course, Eddy Barrows gives the book a lot of its horror elements, something really hard to pull off in comics, so he should be commended for it. He gives a very retro feeling with its horror, lots of terrifying monsters and body horror pulled off “beautifully”.
Martian Manhunter definitely feels like a sleeper hit of the DC You, so if you haven’t tried it yet, open your mind and let it in.
