In this review of Absolute Martian Manhunter #3, things begin to get a bit heated…but is the fire the true concern, or is it something else?
ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #3
Written by DENIZ CAMP
Art and Main Cover by JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ
Variant Covers: IAN BERTRAM, DAN PANOSIAN, RILEY ROSSMO, SHAWN CRYSTAL
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 28, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 opens with a homeless guy (Big Al) being set on fire. As John, Detective Mayweather, and the Martian investigate, they learn that Big Al is only one of 24 victims; 24 separate homeless people had been set ablaze at the exact same time by 24 different people. The only true connecting factor between these perps? A white cloud hovering around each one’s head.
As they drive home, The Martian explains the destruction White Martian would bring in the best way he knows how: with trippy visuals. At home, it’s made clear that John and his wife have a lot they should talk about…but they hold back. Barely talk to each other.
John initially goes to talk with his son, when he gets a call about more fires in town. The whole epidemic is called “The Emancipation Of The Immolated”, wherein someone’s idea of home (like, say, themselves if they’re on the street, or a favorite playground, or literal home) is fire-bait.
The next target: the Sunnyside Hotel. John calls for backup as he and Martian go to deal with this. The Martian enables John to move through the building unharmed by the flames, as he deals with the manifestations of negativity that are plaguing those within the shelter.
As they start to get things a bit more under control, an emissary of the White Martian arrives, informing them that 1) White Martian knows that the Green One is hiding in a meat suit, 2) it loves an audience, and 3) it’s not the flames that are the issue…it’s the smoke.
Analysis
Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 gets into quite a bit of psychological baggage. Given how The Martian’s been operating in this title, that makes sense. But this time seemed to hit especially hard. The scene where John is sitting in the living room with his wife is palpably tense, the pair on opposite ends of the couch with The Martian right there between them, looking up at the multiple clouds of thought containing everything they hold off on saying to each other, all of the stuff they don’t want to discuss.
Then there’s the influx of negativity at Sunnyside, with the colored smoke taking on the forms of those that’d hurt the residents, driving them to the shelter in the first place (needles and syringes for an addict, an abuser in one case, bigoted parent in another…), when these people are already trying to escape the flames currently engulfing the only home they have at the moment.
With what’s revealed about the White Martian, it being responsible for people attacking the concept of home (complete with the noticeably white smoke and the part about it not being the fire, but the smoke) only makes sense. This is an entity that thrives on causing destruction and negativity, and all.
Art-wise, Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 has not disappointed me so far, and this month is no exception. Some of the compositions in particular are extremely eye-catching, especially that last page. The White Martian’s emissary takes on the form of a woman comprised of white flames, which already makes for a striking design. But utilizing some of these flames as a frame of sorts on a black field? Gorgeous.
The colored thought-smoke makes for some very fun visuals, particularly when it takes on various shapes to harass people and has to be dealt with by The Martian. His solid green against the various colors of this smoke turn this fight into a true visual treat.
Final Thoughts
This story is definitely heating up with Absolute Martian Manhunter #3, and the visuals continue to be a wonderful mind-screw. If you want to feel something, be it empathy or maybe a bit high, this may be right up your alley.
