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THE LEGACY OF MANHUNTER

It was believed that with the death of Paul Kirk, that was the end of the tale of Manhunter...but that was simply not to be.
When Manhunter died destroying The Council, it was also believed that all of the clones of Paul Kirk died with them but evidence over the years has proven this not to be as well.

This is now no longer Paul Kirk's story, but their story...they are, unfortunately, the living legacy to Paul Kirk. They are...The Clones Of Manhunter!

A few years after the death of Paul Kirk, one of his clones surfaces. It is still unclear where he came from or how he escaped from The Council but this clone was apparently chosen to be the leader of the newly-formed, SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS.
It is also learned that the mysterious benefactor behind this new group is none other than the malevolent New God from the planet Apokalips, Darksied.
Manhunter chose to confide with member, Captain Comet, telling him he's one of the many clones of Manhunter, that they were all evil and destroyed, that he was the only 'good' one and that his plan as leader of the secret society was to infiltrate and stop the villains and their benefactor. Captain Comet believed Manhunter as his secret plan was similar to Manhunter's, by taking down this group from the inside. Unbeknownst to Darkseid, at first, Manhunter was able to convince the other members of this new super villains team that Darkseid is a danger more important than their petty concerns and must be stopped at all cost. Now, with most of the members in tow, Manhunter leads them on an assault against Darkseid and his minions.
In the final showdown between the secret society and Darkseid, Manhunter goes after Darkseid just as he summons a,"boom-tube" to escape. Manhunter then yells that he is rigged with internal explosives and follows Darkseid inside the boom tube. Suddenly, a large explosion follows, seemingly killing both Darkseid and Manhunter...

Story originally printed in Secret Society Of Super Villains #1-5 May 1976-Feb 1977

Note: It is already known that Darkseid survives the blast, thus being able to continue his never-ending, diabolical conquest for the Earth and the universe. The true fate of that Manhunter clone still remains a mystery, although it is widely believed that he didn't survive the blast...

KENYA- Costumed crime fighter Nightwing is on the trail of a stolen plutonium shipment from one of the former Soviet states. The trail leads him to a mercenary by the name of Kirk DePaul, who's linked to a number of highjackings in Africa. An elusive man, DePaul has made money from brokering stolen goods and other such ways as a merc, which has made him a wealthy man. When Nightwing confronted DePaul about the stolen plutonium, they came to blows and discovers there's something familiar to him. He asks DePaul about the name, Paul Kirk. After denying ever hearing of such a person, DePaul went about his way. Later that evening, following a lead to the trail of the stolen plutonium, Nightwing was soon discovered by a costumed DePaul, calling himself...MANHUNTER!

It then becomes clear to Nightwing that DePaul is a clone of Paul Kirk. The two costumed men come to blows once again, with Manhunter besting Nightwing and escaping. Later, after Nightwing finds the stolen plutonium, he defeats the band of criminals who held it and much to his chagrin, finds that afterwards, the plutonium was stolen once again. Much later, Manhunter shows up with the plutonium. Manhunter then tells Nightwing that he was paid to steal the plutonium by the band of criminals who he stole it back from, double-crossing them. He then claimed that he didn't do it out of a sense of nobility or justice and claims he's not trying to live up to Paul Kirk's memory. Nightwing is, of course, far from convinced.


Story originally printed in The Power Company: Manhunter #1 March 2002: "A Well-Respected Man..."


EPILOGUE: Kirk DePaul as Manhunter, was subsequently approached by corporate attorney Josiah Power to become a parnter in his new metahuman security firm called, The Power Company.
(The Power Company #1-on.)

When asked about the similarities of himself to Paul Kirk as Manhunter, DePaul vocally makes it clear about who he is and what he's all about:
Manhunter's presence in the high-profile agnecy immediately caught the attention of none other than ex-Interpol agent Christine St. Clair, who then contacts ninja master Asano Nitobe, and they then proceed to hunt him down. (The Power Company #4 July 2002:"Public and Private")

SAN FRANCISCO- One afternoon while shopping in a men's clothing store, DePaul discover's he's being followed by a mysterious woman. He then recognizes the woman to be Christine St. Clair. Convinced she's in town to kill him, DePaul exits the store in haste. Now in his costume, Manhunter then tails St. Clair from the rooftops when he is attacked by Asano Nitobe.

Manhunter of course recognizes him as his former teacher and the two battle. As they fight upon the rooftop, Manhunter is suddenly shot from a distance and he goes tumbling down into an alley. The bullet wounds him only in the shoulder and he plays dead in hopes to throw off his assassins but is instantly busted when they ascend upon him. Now face to face with both Christine St. Clair and Asano Nitobe, they attempt to make sense of Manhunter's ways.

Still unsure about why this Manhunter clone is so different from all the others they killed, they blast him for usurping Paul Kirk's identity and memory. Manhunter once again justifys that he's not trying to be anything like him and is only trying to make a living and that he doesn't give a damn about Paul Kirk or his memory. Convinced that now they found him and that they are going to kill him anyway, in a bold move, Manhunter takes a single bullet from the clip of his 1916 Mauser pistol and hands it to Christine St. Clair, telling her that if they are going to kill him, do so, but if not, leave him be. Manhunter then turns around and exits the alley, leaving St. Clair and Nitobe to ponder more about his true motives...
Story printed in The Power Company #5 Aug 2002:"Shadows Linger"

Since that last encounter with Manhunter, Christine St. Clair and Asano Nitobe decide to stay in town and keep him under constant surveillance, hoping to catch him in some illegal activity. It is also during this time that Manhunter takes over operational control of The Power Company, while boss Josiah Power is recovering in the hospital. (The Power Company #12 March 2003:"Crocodiles In the Water")

The Power Company soon discover that S.T.A.R. Labs is under siege by the evil Dr. Polaris and the criminal organization, The Cadre. Manhunter, acting as boss, forbids the company to get involved in such an expensive Pro-Bono case and instead wants them to fly with him to Los Angeles to meet a potential new client, which can promise a huge pay day for the company. The other members decide to go to S.T.A.R. labs anyway, leaving Manhunter to go to L.A., solo. Christine St. Clair and Asano Nitobe soon show up to S.T.A.R. Labs, hoping to lend a hand to The Power Company with the situation.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, Kirk DePaul is at the office of the company's potenetial new client, preparing for the meeting when he catches coverage of the situation at S.T.A.R. Labs on television. Before the meeting could start, DePaul bolts out of the office to join his comrades at S.T.A.R. Labs. (The Power Company #13 April 2003:"Saving The World")

When Manhunter shows up on the scene at S.T.A.R. Labs in the Power Company skycraft, he's caught inside a magnetic barrier created by Dr. Polaris, that traps him from getting any closer to the conflict. He is then forced to leap from the skycraft while still suspended in the air. He sustains some injury from the high fall but thanks to his rapid-healing factor, he manages to get around with no problem. Manhunter then comes across Charlie Lau, ex-S.T.A.R. Labs scientist and associate of Power Company member Striker Z and he gives him a field-disrupting harness, which can help Manhunter navigate through the magnetic barrier. During the ensuing battle, the field-disrupting harness that Manhunter wore, begins to malfunction, causing him to be stuck once again. Christine St. Clair and Asano Nitobe find Manhunter stuck in the field. At first hesitant, St. Clair decides to help him escape from the barrier by shooting at it, creating a small rift for him to slip through. Once free, Manhunter then joins his fellow Power Company comrades and defeat Dr. Polaris and The Cadre.

Convinced that Christine St. Clair has finally changed her opinion of him after witnessing his heroic actions, Manhunter hoped that her acceptance could mean he can continue his work without her scrutinizing his every move but much to his chagrin, she still isn't convinced he's an upstanding hero. St. Clair warns him that she still carries the bullet he gave her, hoping to one day catch him slipping up and showing his true colors, which she will then take the proper action...

Story printed in The Power Company #14 May 2003: "The 'Bobo The Kitten' Gambit"

TO BE CONTINUED!