Absolute Martian Manhunter #6, by DC Comics on 8/27/25, concludes the latest battle with the “White Martian” when John must overcome a possessed city to save his wife and son.
This issue is an emotional mess. The story seems to lack any kind of cohesive narrative, leaving the reader with no anchor to grasp. It’s a challenging and ultimately frustrating experience. It’s clear Deniz Camp is using John as a self insert to air out his personal ideas about human connection through the lens of getting high, but self-important musings don’t make for a compelling comic.
Recap
In Absolute Martian Manhunter #5, Middleton City was plunged into darkness after an attack on its power stations. As the blackout took hold, the city descended into madness. People’s shadows became sentient and acted as negative influences, leading to widespread chaos and crime. Martian Manhunter, in his human guise as Detective John Jones, worked to stop the escalating violence, which included people poisoning food with broken glass and a family’s dog being killed. The issue ended with John Jones being run over by an ambulance, with a gleeful doctor and the White Martian inside, setting up a perilous cliffhanger.
Plot Analysis
The comic opens with John Jones/Martian Manhunter being attacked by an anti-life force. He struggles to focus while an entity bombards him with thoughts of despair and pain. He attempts to find stability in memories of a family, but the mental assault continues to wear him down.
The scene then shifts to a house where his wife and son, Bridget and Tyler, are being confronted by a masked intruder. The intruder, who states that nothing can touch him, is a swirling mass of shadowy forms. The intruder rambles about the truth he learned from someone named Bob (the “White Martian”), saying that everything is empty space. Bridget shoots the intruder and blows his head off, but the “White Martian” entity from a white sphere to replace the intruder’s head and continues the attack on Bridget and Tyler.
Martian Manhunter, now appearing as John Jones, arrives at the house and confronts the intruder. He announces that he has backup, and a crowd of people with torches and infected by the “White Martian” appears outside.
The narrative then becomes even more obscure. It discusses how a meaningful universe is made of meaningless pieces. The issue ends with the the “Green Martian” using metaphorical ideas to defeat the “White Martian” across the city after John opens his heart and his mind to his wife… or something like that. The issue ends with a new dawn but the hint that Tyler is at the heart of the next challenge.
Detailed Review
Writing
The writing is the most significant flaw in this issue. The dialogue is full of abstract, philosophical ramblings that do not advance the plot or provide any clarity. Characters speak in riddles that are meant to sound profound but instead come across as nonsensical. There is no clear plot progression or narrative arc. The comic is a series of unrelated scenes that do not build on one another, making it a chore to read and understand.
Art
The art in this comic is stylized and abstract. The colors are often clashing and do not create a cohesive visual experience. The panel layouts are chaotic and disorienting, adding to the overall confusion of the narrative. While some of the individual panels are visually interesting, the art as a whole sacrifices clarity for style, which hinders the already weak storytelling.
Characters
The characters feel less like people and more like mouthpieces for the writer’s abstract ideas. Their motivations are not clear, and their actions are difficult to rationalize. Martian Manhunter’s presence is confusing, as he simply appears in a scene without any context. The antagonists are introduced without any explanation, making it impossible to understand their goals or why they are even in the comic.
Positives
The standout aspect of this comic is its willingness to take a chance. It completely abandons the traditional superhero narrative to explore complex, philosophical ideas. The creative team is not afraid to challenge the reader with a unique art style and an unconventional story structure. While the execution is flawed, the boldness and ambition of the creative direction are commendable. It’s an interesting experiment that, while unsuccessful, shows a desire to push the boundaries of the medium.
Negatives
The worst aspects of this comic are the nonsensical plot and the confusing narration. The story is a disjointed mess that fails to establish a clear purpose. The dialogue is so abstract that it is impossible to follow the characters’ train of thought. As a result, the comic feels like a series of random events without a central point. The reader is left with no reason to care about the characters or what is happening to them. It is a frustrating and unrewarding experience.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 is an absolute train wreck. What it lacks in a coherent plot it tries to make up for in a baffling artistic style and overly philosophical dialogue. It’s a frustrating read that feels like a bunch of random ideas thrown together on a page. The narrative is so scattered that you’ll have no idea what’s happening or why it matters. Don’t waste your time trying to make sense of this one.
4/10
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