Manhunter by Walter Simonson et al
It remains one of the greatest character re-imaginings in American comics. Manhunter, a relatively obscure Golden Age character in 1973, was updated with elements of international intrigue, martial arts, a touch of science fiction, and a more realistic view of violence than in your average super-hero comic.
Archie Goodwin, writer/editor and Walter Simonson, artist produced six short chapters so dense with story and action that the pair created a new language of storytelling to fit it all in. “Gotterdammerung,” the final 20-page story that teamed Manhunter with Batman, showed just how far Simonson in particular had come, creating a lasting place for himself in the world of comic book professionals.
This time up we have a passel of single Manhunter pieces done by Simonson over the years, plus a couple of items by others. We’re also going to look at the beginnings of Manhunter in the Golden Age.
Colour and packaging by me.
PAUL KIRK — MANHUNTER, 1941
The first Manhunter was merely a lawman who hunted down criminals – a man hunter – and brought them to justice in six-page stories in Adventure Comics Nos. 58 to 72. Paul Kirk had no origin story, but he was a snappy dresser in his green suit. And he had an abundance of ability to solve his mysteries neatly in a short page count. Ed Moore had some nice panels of art here and there, but nothing about the strip really stood out. It was typical fare for the era and was quickly discarded due to the emerging demand for super-heroes.
Below is a story from near the end of its run.
From Adventure Comics No. 70. “Paul Kirk – Manhunter” by Ed Moore. A typical story of the series.
RICK NELSON — MANHUNTER, 1942
I’m a travelin’ man and I’ve made a lot of stops
All over the world
– Ricky Nelson
The second Manhunter debuted in Adventure Comics No. 73 and was created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby. Rick Nelson was a wealthy young sportsman fresh from a hunting trip in Africa. Having returned to Empire City he puts on a red costume to fight the menace of super-villain the Buzzard after he kills Nelson’s friend Inspector Donavan. That’s it, folks. That’s as deep as his origin goes.
Simon and Kirby did come up with the first version of Manhunter’s tagline: “He stalks the world’s most cunning and dangerous game… man!” later shortened to “He stalks the world’s most dangerous game.”
Simon & Kirby stayed with the series until No. 80 and the strip was cancelled after No. 90 due to wartime paper shortages. Once more, Manhunter had failed to make the cut.
Adventure Comics No. 73. The debut of Simon & Kirby’s Manhunter.
Adventure Comics No. 79. The only other time Manhunter appeared on the cover.
PAUL KIRK — MANHUNTER, PART II, 1942
Rick Nelson as the Manhunter only lasted that one issue – No. 73 – of Adventure Comics. In No. 74, the character was renamed to Paul Kirk by an editor. Intentionally or by mistake thinking the two very different Manhunters were the same character? I don’t know. I wasn’t there because I wasn’t born yet.
Below is the last Simon & Kirby Manhunter story.
From Adventure Comics No. 80. “Man-Trap Island” by Simon & Kirby.
PAUL KIRK — MANHUNTER, PART III, 1973
Goodwin. Simonson. This version still resonates. Yadda yadda yadda. Plenty of articles on this subject.
I know. You know. Just get to the art.
MANHUNTER STORY PAGE, 1973 – Art by Walter Simonson
The first page of the first Manhunter story “The Himalayan Incident”. Story by Archie Goodwin. Lettering by Ben Oda.
Scan from Manhunter & Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
SINGLE FIGURE, 1973 – Art by Walter Simonson
An early pin-up drawing of Paul Kirk that’s been used in a number of places.
Scan from Manhunter The Complete Saga.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
DETECTIVE COMICS NO. 443, 1974 – Cover art by Jim Aparo
During Manhunter’s original run the only cover he had was this one, and he had to have his back to the audience so Batman would stand out. And Simonson didn’t get to draw it. Not that there’s anything wrong with Jim Aparo drawing anythng. It’s still a pretty great cover.
As published.
Original art scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready. Trade dress stripped out. Missing art bits drawn in.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
DETECTIVE COMICS NO. 443, 1974 – Title page art by Walter Simonson
As published.
Scan from Manhunter Baxter edition, 1984.
New colour version.
RAMHUNTER, 1978 – Cover art by Walter Simonson
Illustration done in 1978 by Walter Simonson for the cover of The Investors Newsletter published by Sparkle City Comics. Their advertising mascots were sheep and so the head is a ram.
Original art scan from the web.
Colour version.
MANHUNTER BAXTER EDITION, 1984 – House ad art by Walter Simonson
In the early 80s DC was revitalised after a number of years of struggle. They began to experiment with better printing and soon came up with what became known as the Baxter books. Inside, a heavier, white uncoated stock printed clearly and had vibrant colour, while a heavier coated stock on the cover gave the books a more substantial feel. This format was popular when reprinting mini-series of classic material.
This ad appeared on the back cover of Green Lantern – Green Arrow No. 7 (reprinting the O’Neil/Adams issues from the early 1970s).
As published.
Scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
Layout re-created.
MANHUNTER BAXTER EDITION, 1984 – Cover art by Walter Simonson
With less than 100 pages, the Baxter edition reprinting the original seven stories needed only one volume.
As published.
Scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
New trade dress added.
MANHUNTER BAXTER EDITION, 1984 – Back cover art by Walter Simonson
On the back cover was a small, expressive sketch of Manhunter. Great stuff.
As published.
Art scanned at a very high resolution off the cover and then converted to black & white.
Colour version.
WHO’S WHO IN THE DC UNIVERSE, 1986 – Art by Walter Simonson
In the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC published an encyclopædia of all their characters and how their origins had changed because of Crisis (don’t ask). Thankfully Manhunter emerged unscathed.
As published.
Scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
Layout re-created.
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT NO. 100, 1997 – Art by Walter Simonson
One of the pin-ups in that issue’s gallery section. In 2021 it was also used for the cover of Manhunter The Deluxe Edition.
As published.
Scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
New colour version.
New trade dress added.
COMIC BOOK PROFILES – A Tribute to Archie Goodwin, 1999 – Art by Walter Simonson
In 1998, Archie Goodwin succumbed to cancer. The next year Comic Book Profiles did this tribute issue to him, and of course Simonson did the cover.
As published.
Original art scan posted online by Walter Simonson.
Colour version.
A new tribute version.
DETECTIVE COMICS NO. 443, 2009 – Alternate cover art by Walter Simonson
In 2009, Simonson revisited the cover of Detective 443 he never got to draw. He came up with this.
Scan from Manhunter and Other Stories Artist’s Edition.
Art made production ready.
Colour version.
Re-created trade dress added for the 60¢ edition.
Re-created trade dress added for the 20¢ edition.
MANHUNTER COMMISSION, 2024 – Art by Jackson ‘Butch’ Guice
This is the piece that started this series of Manhunter colour work. I saw it on Instagram and it just leapt off the page at me.
On seeing it, Walter Simonson said, “One of the best drawings of Manhunter I’ve seen that wasn’t by me!”
To which Mr. Guice replied, “A very humble, very sincere thank you, Walter. I need to sit down now until my world stops spinning.”
Let us hope he’s since recovered.
Scan of the pencils.
Scan of the final art.
Art made production ready.
Colour version.
Trade dress added.
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION C-65, 1978 – Art by Walter Simonson
3-D DIORAMA
Print at 100% on 8.5×11 or A4 card stock. For personal use only.
Related
Marvel & DC Present The Uncanny X-Men & The New Teen Titans
The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans. The biggest super-hero blockbuster of 1982. New colour version by Scott Dutton.
Detective Comics No. 168, Batgirl and The Killing Joke
It's been a long road for Barbara Batgirl Gordon. Long live Batwoman. Colour and packaging by Scott Dutton.
The Four Blue Beetles
The Blue Beetle is one of the oldest characters in American super-hero comics. Surviving multiple publishers, his adventures continue today.
The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman – The Covers
Two of the most-popular shows and stars in the mid-70s with young people meant that their shows were heavily licensed, including comics from Charlton publications. Colour and packaging by Scott Dutton.
This is the best thing you ever done for forever fan-favorite Manhunter.
Cheers,
Nicholas
The history of Goodwin and Simonson’s publication is full of nostalgia for me as I first discovered the initial story in a Batman reprint comic in the early 80s and eventually managed to buy the black and while collection of the full saga, which I then supplemented with the full colour baxter edition (which used exactly the same back cover [above] as the complete saga). Lastly I purchased the recent collection with the newly drawn story by Simonson based on the unfinished, wordless Goodwin story, although the paper was very poor, definitely a backwards step in quality, but alas was too late to buy the recent hardback collection on better paper to replace them all. So thanks for this great trek down memory lane from buying comics in my local newsagent in England (wholly dependant on what appeared magically at random intervals), to ordering through tiny printed catalogues I sent prepaid envelopes for, to online ordering now.