By Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson (DC Comics)
ISBN: 1-56389-374-6
One of the most celebrated superhero series in comics history, Manhunter catapulted young Walt Simonson to the front ranks of creators, revolutionised the way dramatic adventures were told and still remains the most lauded back-up strip ever produced. Concocted by genial genius Archie Goodwin as a support strip in Detective Comics (#437-443, October-November 1973 to October-November 1974) the seven episodes – a mere 68 pages – won six Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards during its far too brief run.
In case you’re wondering: Best Writer of the Year 1973 – Archie Goodwin,
Best Short Story of the Year 1973 ‘The Himalayan Incident’,
Outstanding New Talent of the Year 1973 – Walter Simonson,
Best Short Story of the Year 1974 ‘Cathedral Perilous’,
Best Feature Length Story of the Year 1974 ‘Götterdämmerung’ and
Best Writer of the Year 1973 – Archie Goodwin.
Paul Kirk was a big game hunter and part-time costumed mystery man before and during World War II. Becoming a dirty jobs specialist for the Allies, he lost all love of life and died in a hunting accident in 1946. Decades later he seemingly resurfaced, and came to the attention of Interpol agent Christine St. Clair. Thinking him no more than an identity thief she soon uncovered an incredible plot by a cadre of the World’s greatest scientists who had combined into an organisation to assume control of the planet once they realised that man now had the means to destroy it.
Since the end of the War the Council had infiltrated all corridors of power, making huge technological advances (such as stealing the hero’s individuality by cloning him into an army of superior soldiers), slowly achieving their goals with no-one the wiser, but the returned Paul Kirk had upset their plans and was intent on thwarting their ultimate goals…
This slim volume reprints the much-missed Mr. Goodwin’s foreword from the 1979 black and white album Manhunter: the Complete Saga and gathers in one spiffy single collection Kirk’s entire tragic quest to regain his humanity and dignity. Coloured by Klaus Janson and lettered by Ben Oda, Joe Letterese, Alan Kupperberg & Annette Kawecki, it tells of St. Clair and Kirk’s first meeting in ‘The Himalayan Incident’, her realisation that all is not as it seems in ‘The Manhunter File’ and their revelatory alliance in ‘The Resurrection of Paul Kirk.’
Now fully a part of Kirk’s crusade Christine discovered just how wide and deep the Council’s influence ran in ‘Rebellion!’ before beginning the end-game in the incredible ‘Cathedral Perilous’ and gathering one last ally in ‘To Duel the Master’…
With all the pieces in play for a cataclysmic confrontation, events take a strange misstep as Batman stumbles into the plot and threatens to inadvertently hand the Council ultimate victory. ‘Götterdämmerung’ fully lived up to its title and perfectly wrapped up the saga of Paul Kirk – which was a superb triumph and perplexing conundrum for decades to come.
In an industry notorious for putting profit before aesthetics the pressure to revive such a well-beloved character was enormous, but Goodwin and Simonson were adamant that unless they could come up with an idea that remained true to the spirit and conclusion of the original, Manhunter would not be seen again.
Although the creators were as good as word DC did weaken a few times and Kirk clones featured in the Secret Society of Super-Villains and the Power Company, but they were mere shabby exploitations of the original. Eventually however, an idea occurred and the old conspirators concocted something that was usable and didn’t debase the original saga. Archie provided a plot, and Walter began to prepare the strip.
And after years of valiant struggle Archie finally succumbed to the cancer that had been killing him. Anybody who had ever met Archie Goodwin will understand the void his death created. He was irreplaceable.
Without a script the project seemed doomed until Simonson’s wife Louise suggested that it be drawn and run without words: a silent tribute and the last hurrah for a true hero. Manhunter: the Final Chapter reunites all the characters and brings the sublime epic to a perfect resolution. Now it really is all over…
With a touching afterword from Walter and a couple of pin-ups thrown in, this book represents a perfect moment of creative brilliance and an undisputed zenith in comics storytelling. This is a tale no comic fan can afford to be without.
© 1973, 1974, 1999 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.