Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
213,909
edits
Martian Manhunter: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
m (update links) |
No edit summary |
||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{
[[File:MartianManhunter350_904.jpg|frame|There's nothing ''little'' about this [[Little Green Men|Green Man.]]]]
{{quote|
'''Martian Manhunter''' is one of [[The DCU|the DC Universe]]'s odd men out. On the one hand vastly powerful and a member of pretty much every version of the [[Justice League of America]], yet on the other, writers just don't seem to know what to do with him. His past has been [[Retcon|Retconned]] several times, his personality [[Depending on the Writer|varies by writer]], and since he has more powers than [[Superman]], he suffers from occasional [[A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read|mind squicks]], frequent bouts of [[Plot Induced Stupidity]] and [[Mind Over Manners]] to keep him from resolving plots too quickly.
He first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #225 (November, 1955), created by Joe Samachson and Joe Certa. An alien teleported to Earth by a [[Freak Lab Accident]], J'onn J'onzz
Factors that have [[Multiple Choice Past|varied greatly over the decades]] include whether he is actually the [[Last of His Kind]], whether J'onn J'onzz is his real name, whether the green [[Rubber Forehead Aliens|humanoid]] form he normally assumes in public is his true appearance, whether his memories of Mars are real or [[Fake Memories|fake]], and whether his [[Weaksauce Weakness]] to fire is psychological or physical.
His powers vary tremendously, even within a single incarnation. In his earliest proto-[[Silver Age]] appearances, he worked mainly with [[Psychic Powers]] (and writers kept coming up with [[New Powers as the Plot Demands|newer and sillier applications]] as the Age got more Silvery -- like mental ice cream creation and sonic finger-snapping). Since then he's mainly been treated as a [[Flying Brick]] with a [[Flight, Strength, Heart|few extras]].
In his solo series from 1998, writer [[John Ostrander]] [[Retcon|revealed]] that J'onn largely functioned as the "Superman" of the Southern hemisphere, operating as its most recognizable hero ([[Fridge Brilliance|which makes a lot of sense when you think about it]]<ref>J'onn is Superman-class powerful, but also figuratively & literally empathic, pan-cultural and used to changing to adapt to his surroundings; it's easy to see why people might relate to him more than "American Way" Supes</ref>), as well as maintaining numerous assumed identities the world over, including being a regular cab driver for Clark Kent.
To the non-comic-geek public, he is best known for his role on the ''[[Justice League]]'' and ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' animated series, where he was voiced by Carl Lumbly.
Note that from [[Final Crisis|2008]] to [[Blackest Night|2010]] J'onn [[Death Is Cheap|was dead]], but now he's back. With pants!
As part of The [[DC Comics]] [[Cosmic Retcon|relaunch]], he became one of the central characters of [[Stormwatch]] and has lost most of his friendliness, relationship to other DC characters, and love of Oreos.
If you're looking instead for the ''[[Veronica Mars]]/[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' crossover [[Fanfic]] of the same name, go [[Martian Manhunter (fanfic)|here]].
----
Powers used by the Martian Manhunter are a [[Superpower Lottery|mixed bag]] with [[Combo-Platter Powers|no cohesion]] that nonetheless makes him [[Story-Breaker Power|very formidable]]; the ones common to most incarnations are:
Line 30 ⟶ 32:
** [[Flight, Strength, Heart|Also the ability to create]] ''[[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|ice cream with his mind]]''.
* [[Nigh Invulnerability]], except to fire, his [[Kryptonite Factor]].
* [[Eye Beams]]
* [[Invisibility]]
* [[Intangible Man|Intangibility]], for brief periods.
Line 36 ⟶ 38:
Note that all these are subject to change without notice; the telefilm J'onn could just barely shapeshift and demonstrated no other powers (it was a ''very'' low budget show) but had no problem with heat. The ''[[Smallville]]'' Manhunter can't heal within Earth's atmosphere and remains almost exclusively in human form. On ''[[The Batman]]'', he has [[Mind Over Matter|telekinesis]]. The ''[[Justice League Unlimited|JLU]]'' version lacked [[Super Speed|speed]], [[Invisibility]], [[Eye Beams]] and [[Kryptonite Factor|weakness to fire]] was only implied. And so forth.
{{creatortropes}}
* [[A Form You Are Comfortable With]]: For the last fifteen or so years its been established that J'onn's familiar green skinned muscleman form is a compromise between a human form and his true natural form (which is gaunt, finned, and significantly less human looking.) The reason he doesn't go all the way with this trope is because he can more comfortably maintain this form for longer periods of time.
* [[Alien Among Us]]: How much he has to hide his heritage varies [[Depending on the Writer|from writer to writer]].
** While part of the [[Justice League International]] this was dropped altogether. In fact, [[Batman]] nominated J'onn his successor as leader because he felt that J'onn had a better public image.
Line 48 ⟶ 50:
* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]: Generally [[The Quiet One]] of the Justice League, and way, way down low on the "will use extreme violence" list. But actually piss him off, and you'll quickly remember that he's on equal footing with [[Superman]] for all-around power, plus he can transform into ANYTHING he wills, and one of his basic abilities is [[Mind Rape]].
* [[Cain and Abel]]: J'onn's archenemy is his fraternal twin brother, in [[Post-Crisis]] continuity.
* [[The Cape (trope)]]
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Jupiter, J'onn's dog who was introduced in one early story and then completely forgotten.
* [[Civil War]]: Mars has been engaged in a few. Pre-Crisis, J'onn was actually a leader in the Martian Civil War, leading the Desert Dwellers against Commander Blanx's Pole Dwellers for control of the Blue Flame of Mars.
* [[Combat Pragmatist]]: Commander Blanx. He's always got a gun hidden on him somewhere, cheerfully attacks from hiding, and brings in an ally to club J'onn from behind in their duel.
* [[The Comically Serious]]: Except during the Detroit era, when he became something of a [[Deadpan Snarker]]. Lampshaded by [[Firestorm]] during ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' of all things:
{{quote|
'''Martian Manhunter''': Martians feel no cold. Why do you ask?
'''Firestorm''': Geez, Mars doesn't need women. It needs a sense of humor. }}
** An alternative interpretation is that he's ''always'' a [[Deadpan Snarker]], but most of the time (including in the example above) nobody notices.
Line 82 ⟶ 84:
* [[The Heart]]: Of the Justice League.
* [[I Always Wanted to Say That]]: In ''Martian Manhunter Annual #2'' (Oct. 1999): "You're probably '''wondering''' why I've '''called''' you all here today..." Thinking to himself: "Call me whimsical if you '''must''', but I've waited '''years''' for the appropriate time and place to say that."
* [[Immortality]]: Type II. He can certainly be killed, but if Martians age at all, it must be incredibly slowly.
* [[Insufferable Genius]]: Prof. Hugo, a pre-Crisis [[Mad Scientist]] who demanded recognition from the world.
* [[It's Personal]]: With Blanx pre-Crisis, with Despero and Malefic in the later years.
Line 100 ⟶ 102:
* [[Psychic Radar]]: The Manhunter can use his telepathy to pinpoint the location of a desired individual, at some pretty fantastic ranges. Just as well, since he generally has to fly up into orbit in order to not get confused by all the ambient thinking.
* [[The Power of Hate]]: Despero runs on it.
* [[Race Lift]]: A trend has been to make his standard civilian forms black. As J'onzz is a shapeshifter and and John Jones never had a remotely consistent appearance this has gone over better than most examples (his DCAU and Young Justice voice actors, Carl Lumbly Kevin Michael Richardson, both being black doesn't hurt).
* [[Secret Identity]]: In the Silver Age, J'onn J'onzz masqueraded as mind-mannered John Jones, a name [[Sarcasm Mode|no one could have possibly guessed]].
* [[Shout-Out]]: Just [http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr157/antpogo/HinoRei.jpg one throwaway line], but it's to ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' of all things...
Line 107 ⟶ 110:
** He's also surprisingly funny and whimsical, according to Martian standards, anyway.
* [[Superpower Lottery]]: Although the extent of his powers varies depending on the writer, J'onn is usually portrayed as one of the half dozen or so heroes considered more powerful than Superman.
* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Know ''why'' J'onn and all Green Martians have a fear of fire? Well...it's s psychic block implanted by the Guardians of the Universe to keep their extremely powerful, extremely evil Burning Martian selves held in check.
* [[The Syndicate]]: Vulture, a criminal conspiracy from the sixties, led by the enigmatic [[Diabolical Mastermind|Mr. V]]. It had agents scattered throughout Europe, and regularly stole weapons technology, missile codes, and top-secret documents in addition to the standard gold, jewels, etc. The organisation was broken up into cells, with each cell being led by one of Mr. V's [[Body Double|Body Doubles]].
* [[Telepathy]]: J'onn's most frequently used power these days. It's shared by all other Green & White Martians (save [[Evil Twin|Malefic]]), and by Despero, who also features [[Mind Over Matter]], [[Playing with Fire]], and [[Reality Warper]] abilities.
* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319081325/http://www.fortunecity.com/tatooine/niven/142/img/rb3503.jpg Oreos] - or rather, [[Brand X|Chocos]].
* [[Unfinished Business]]: J'onn with Malefic, Despero with J'onn.▼
* [[Weaksauce Weakness]]: Fear of fire. Martians are actually '''less''' vulnerable to fire than humans, and because of their shapeshifting abilities, can recover very quickly from any injury that they survive. The problem with fire is that they are terrified of it, and just being near a lighter can render them helpless.
** J'onn J'onzz himself has been on earth for decades, and no longer has such an extreme reaction to it.
** I don't think anyone remembers this, but the fear of fire is actually a psychic barrier the Guardians of the Universe put into the Green Martians to stop their [[Super-Powered Evil Side|psychotically powerful Burning Martian selves]] from taking over the universe. J'onn's is called Fernus, and he was capable of nearly killing the entire Justice League all on his own, with J'onn mystically chained inside his head.
** Alternatively, J'onn's fear of fire is caused by him having witnessed his entire family being burnt to death, and is therefore not a [[Weaksauce Weakness]] but a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
** It is pointed out that this weakness is not physical at all when his version of ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' - which is ostensibly the same as his mainstream one, except without the whole heroic path his life took - mentions that he used to be doused with fire by the Russian soldiers who kept him in captivity. This was so frequent that he eventually found out the fire didn't really cause him any harm, and when he did... Well, let's just say it didn't end well for the Ruskies.
▲* [[Unfinished Business]]: J'onn with Malefic, Despero with J'onn.
{{reflist}}
{{IGN Top 100 Heroes}}
[[Category:DC Comics Characters]]
[[Category:The Fifties]]
[[Category:The DCU]]
▲[[Category:Martian Manhunter]]
| |||