Saturday, May 31, 2008

Martian Manhunter in the 1960s



At the dawn of the 1960's, the existence of a Manhunter from Mars became public knowledge, and the strip itself drifted ever further from its roots as a sci-fi police drama. The Martian Manhunter served as a founding member of the enormously popular Justice League of America, fully embracing his new status as a super-hero. J'onn J'onzz also became one-half of the first super-hero "team-up" in "The Brave and the Bold." However, in the midst of this revival, the Manhunter's home title, Detective Comics, slipped closer to cancellation. Julius Schwartz took over editing duties on the book, and replaced the Manhunter from Mars feature with Ralph Dibney, the Elongated Man.

Outgoing editor Jack Schiff took the former Batman villain Professor Arnold Hugo and new Manhunter sidekick Zook with him to "House of Mystery," where J'onn J'onzz would star. The Detective John Jones identity was "killed-off," with J'onn J'onzz taking on the crusade of tracking down the elusive Diabolu Idol-Head. When that failed to reach an audience, Robby Reed and "Dial 'H' for Hero" pushed J'onn J'onzz to back-up status once again. J'onzz assumed the new identity of "Marco Xavier," and pursued the international criminal organization VULTURE. By the end of the decade, both Reed and J'onzz had been evicted from "House of Mystery." Further, the Martian Manhunter had been written out of "Justice League of America," and was left with nowhere to go but into obscurity.

1960

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#28: "Starro The Conqueror!"
#29: “Challenge of the Weapons Master!”
#30: “Case of the Stolen Super Powers!”

DETECTIVE COMICS
#276: “The Crimes of J'onn J'onzz”
#277: "The Menace of Mr. Moth"
#279: "The Impossible Inventions"
#280: "Bodyguard to a Bandit"

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#1: “The World of No Return!”


1962

DETECTIVE COMICS
#306: “The Last Days of J’onn J’onzz”


1963

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#50: "Wanted--The Capsule Master!"

DETECTIVE COMICS
#322: "The Man Who Destroyed J'onn J'onzz"


1964

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
>>>Idol-Head in the House of Mystery
#144: "The Weird World of Gilgana"
#145: "Secret of the Purple People"
#146: "The Doom Shadow"
#147: "The Orchestra of Doom!"

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#31: "Riddle of the Runaway Room"


1965

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
#148: "The Beings in the Color Rings"
#149: "The Man-Thing That Unearthed Secrets"
#150: "The Supernatural Masterpieces!"
#152: "Iwangis--Creature King"
#153: "The Giants Who Slept 1,000,000 Years”
#154: "The Mirror Martian Manhunter"
#155: "The Giant Genie of Gensu"

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#33: "Enemy From The Timeless World!"
#36: "The Case of the Disabled Justice League"
#37-38: "Crisis On Earth-A"


1966

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
#157: "Manhunter, World's Greatest Clown!"
#158: "The Origin of the Diabolu Idol-Head"
#159: "The Devil Men of Pluto!"
>>>Xavier... Marco Xavier...
#160: "Manhunter's New Secret Identity"
#161: “The Unmasking of Marco Xavier!”
#162: “The Lair of Mr. V!”
#163 "The Doomed Captive!"

1967

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
#164: "Marco Vs. Manhunter”
#165" “The Deadly Martian!”
#166: "Vulture’s Crime Goliaths!"
#167: "Marco Xavier, Manhunter's Ally!"
#168: "Thantos-- the 3-In-1 Man!"
#169: "The Manhunter Monster!"
#170: "The Martian Double-Cross!"
#171: "The Martian Marauders"


1968

ACTION COMICS
#365: "Superman's Funeral!"
#366: "The Substitute Superman!"

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
#172: "Manhunter's Stolen Identity!"
#173: "So You're Faceless!"

THE INFERIOR FIVE
#6: "How To Make A Bomb"

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#61: “OPERATION: Jail the JUSTICE LEAGUE!”


1969

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#71: "...And So My World Ends!"

Current as of 4/22/10

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