Martian Manhunter #8 Review

Writer: Steve Orlando / Artist: Riley Rossmo / DC Comics I am always sad after reading an issue of this series. Issue #8 was no exception. It’s a good kind of sad, though. If that makes sense. It’s the kind of sad that comes after resonating with something. After feeling seen. After falling into moments from the story that remind you about moments from your own life.  As most of the issues have done so far, this issue utilizes a story from the past to help enlighten some things about the present. A lot of the flashbacks we’ve gotten– maybe all of them– have been from J’onn’s perspective either on Mars or in his early days on Earth. But this time around, we’ve got a sneak into Meade’s past and her relationship to the real John Jones.  Meade is bisexual, and we find out about a relationship she had at her last precinct that went sour and led to her relocating to Midleton. I’m not sure when this story is exactly supposed to take place, but it doesn’t really matter. Meade was subjected to what a lot of people of the LGBTQ+ community have to deal with every day. Her sexuality was something that compromised her livelihood, and she was forced to choose between living authentically or losing her job. You can probably guess what she did. But it was that decision that led her to where she is now, and I think she’d say that it was a good choice to make. 

Not only was the flashback such a powerful one that highlights so much about Meade that we didn’t know, but I also love the way tha…