In this review of Absolute Martian Manhunter #6, the battle between two Martians comes to a mind-blowing end. But is it really the end?
ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #6
Written by DENIZ CAMP
Art and Main Cover: JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ
Variant Covers: AMY REEDER, MITCH GERADS, RILEY ROSSMO, MARK CHIARELLO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 8/27/25
This review contains spoilers
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 begins with John and the “doctor” that’s been trying to vivisect him. The Martian is trying to get reconnected with John before it’s too late, reminding him of what’s real, and that his family needs him ASAP.
With his family, Bridget has grabbed the shotgun, ready to defend herself, her son, and their home from this deranged intruder in the clown jacket. She fires a shot, and it hits its mark…but in place of his human head? White Martian orb.
Both Bridget and John, in their respective struggles, are being bombarded with nihilistic messaging from the White Martian. But John and Green Martian officially reconnect, with Green Martian making short work of the “doctor” and ambulance driver. Green Martian takes a shortcut through the White Martian orb of the ambulance driver, causing John to turn up back home in time to help his family.
He fights the assailant, as Green Martian and White Martian battle it out with each other. John claims Green Martian as his backup, White Martian has those they’ve infected at their disposal.
Tyler, having been taken to his room to stay out of the chaotic fray, plays with his toys and goes to eat some of the Chocos he’d snagged in the last issue. He apparently drops from the poison…
After the battle, Green Martian appears victorious! The sun rises again, and Tyler is…seemingly okay! But as the Martian Vision feature shows, there’s a strong possibility he’s been possessed by the White Martian…
Well… If Absolute Martian Manhunter was trippy as hell before, Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 really pulls out all the stops. It’s mentioned in the narration that the Martian fight is more metaphorical and abstract in nature, while the street-level fight is a lot more straightforward. That said, the abstract fight was a sight to behold, with one combatant weaponizing a kid’s illness against the city (only to be countered with the cure that another kid will work toward developing in the future).
The abstract vs literal aspects of the fight are even reflected in the artwork. As the two Martians are duking it out, their forms are rendered in a very 2D graphic aesthetic, whereas John, Bridget, and the guy in the clown jacket have a bit more detail to them. From the color work to the panel composition, this issue is just plain frickin’ gorgeous.
There are a few panels in Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 with the more true-to-life color schemes, but for the most part, we get stuff like the blue/red/orange palette at the start that really helps to push the tension of John’s situation. When we get some green in the equation, it’s clear that the Martian and John are back together and ready to do this.The more accurate colors don’t come back into things until John arrives back home. It’s where he’s supposed to be, with the family he’s supposed to back up. Everything’s not really right again yet…but it’s that biggest step along the path.
The whole Martian fight may be a bit difficult to sum up in a literal sense, but this title has been weird since page one, so it’s honestly sort of a perfect way to wrap things up. But at the same time, it leaves one hell of a loose end in the strong implication that the White Martian has infected Tyler. It could be a means of saying that the ills that White Martian brings about are never truly done, how they never really go away… But the last words seen on the page are “To Be Continued”, so on that note, I look forward to seeing where things go from here.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 is a brain-melting (and possibly thought-provoking) conclusion to the current storyline, but it kicks the door for the next chapter wide open. If it’s an absolute trip you’re looking for, this is it. It’s sheer madness, but it wears that madness well.
