Manhunter #16 is an issue of the series Manhunter (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1989.
Synopsis for "Outlaw"
John Henry Martin rides his motorcycle towards his home of Dawson, Georgia and reflects on his life in general and relatively recent events in particular. After numerous run-ins with the law, John was ultimately framed by elected officials, specifically Haskell Weckler, for the killing of a policeman. He was in prison when the gene bomb exploded and he was granted superhuman strength and bodily protection, both of which he had poor control over. He inadvertantly injures a prison guard and busts through the fourth-story wall landing on top of other guards. He attacks some guards on a catwalk who were shooting unsuccessfully at him and the catwalk buckles under his new weight. This fall somehow knocks him out and he wakens in a make-shift hospital for gene-bomb metahuman victims. From there he was sent to Belle Reve prison where he was treated and tested but, since they could no longer find evidence of his powers, he was sent back to his original prison. However, John could tell the powers were still present and, as his transport neared the Georgia/Florida border, he activated them and escaped into the swamplands. He made his way to the home of Brody, an old friend. There he heard on the radio that Manhunter had joined in the search for him and he realized that time was running out as he knew Manhunter from prison and knew him to be clever. Brody gives him a motorcycle and, after they reinforce it to handle his new weight, John sets off for Dawson.
He stops at his father's farm where he is quickly found by Manhunter, who remembered John speaking about the farm. Manhunter listens to John's story of being framed and he offers to help him clear his name if he voluntarily returns to prison with him. John refuses but asks Manhunter to let him walk. Manhunter refuses and the two fight until Haskell Weckler and numerous police officers arrive. Manhunter protects John announcing the presence of a wire and the back-up of several state police officers. John and Manhunter take down the locals but Officer Dunhill drives off. John rides after him and Manhunter chases them both. They reach Maddox Bridge where the state police have set up a roadblock and John Manages to get Dunhill in his grasp. Despite Manhunter's pleas John snaps Dunhill's neck and leaps off the bridge while being shot about a dozen times. The state police find evidence supporting Weckler's drug-related crimes and arrest those involved. They ask Manhunter to help search for John Henry's body but Manhunter refuses finding a river death to be honorable.
Appearing in "Outlaw"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Numerous Unnamed Police Officers
Antagonists:
- Outlaw (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Dunhill (Single appearance; dies)
- Haskell Weckler (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Brody
Locations:
- Louisiana
- Belle Reve (Flashback only)
- Georgia
- Unnamed Prison (Flashback only)
- Dawson
- Martin Farm
- Maddox Bridge
Items:
- Manhunter's Mask
- Manhunter's Power Baton
- Gene Bomb (Flashback only)
Vehicles:
- Outlaw's Motorcycle
See Also