I haven't looked at the Martian Manhunter's Wikipedia page in a few months, but while surfing the net for Vile Menagerie-related content, I was directed there by, of all people, B'enn B'urnzz. You see, someone finally edited in a Rogues Gallery into the piece, and it's not terrible.
I have high hopes for J'Onn J'Onzz's probable resurrection and possible correct usage. I'm counting on you Geoff Johns, because if you pass it to Tomasi, everything prior to 1985 stays in limbo! Should neither step up to bat, a list like this could help the next writer on our favorite Martian to do the job right this time. Also, someone finally Wiki'd up Zook, God bless 'em, especially for neglecting to reference his few unflattering modern appearances. Do please feel free to add a Zook image from this blog, eh?
Anyway, here's Wikipedia's Rogues, with my edits in italics. Seeing as this blog still receives no Wikipedia link love, and few of these guys have Wiki pages, I provided links where able:
Rogues Gallery
- B'enn B'urnzz- A Martian criminal who was hiding on Earth in 2062 and then came back to the present time to wreak havoc.
- B'rett- A Martian convict who escaped captivity to Earth by stowing away in an experimental missile that overshot its mark. He landed in Middletown, U.S.A., where he immediately went on a destructive rampage. He carries a Martian Ray Gun that destroys most things it hits.
- Cay'an- Cay'an brainwashed a group of White Martians to attack the Martian Manhunter.
- Commander [Ben] Blanx- Leader of the polar-dwelling White Martians, enemies of the desert-dwelling Green Martians. He was a Pale Martian, and looking at Whites, I suspect there may be a difference. Also, where does "Ben" come from. Have I missed that somewhere?
- The Headmen- A robotic military group led by The Headmaster.
- The Human Flame- A villain who wore a special suit that allowed him to project fire, which is the weakness of the Martian Manhunter.
- Malefic- The Martian Manhunter's arch enemy and evil twin brother.
- The Marshal- A Green Martian who tried to conquer Earth. A tad vague, right?
- The Master Gardener- The Master Gardener and his shape-shifting Lizard Man came to Earth during World War II, and took advantage of the terror and confusion of the time to infiltrate governments and communications cartels. They grew plants bearing fungus that bonded to the human nervous system, allowing them to control the very words they spoke under threat of spontaneous combustion.Wow, that's a nice, concise entry. That's better than what I got, and such an obscure character besides.
- Professor Hugo- An evil genius.
Now, three of these ten villains received less than 15% of your votes in a poll on this blog of interesting foils. Six of them have only appeared in one story ever, and several in only one comic book, period. There are some disagreeable absences (I can allow for Despero, but Cay'an over Bel Juz and Headmaster over Bette Noir?) Still, I've seen much worse...
9 comments:
I created, and abandoned, that Zook page months ago. I hope someone else can finish/fix it. I'm busy with other stuff. (Some of it Martian Manhunter stuff.)
That Wiki entry for the Master Gardener reminds me of how much untapped potential there is with that character.
Are you listening, Mr. Johns?! Please say "yes." I mean, if you're going to have three books set in the 30's playing up the crime stories of the Golden Age, Cold War paranoia is within reach.
Hugo gets three words? Frank, you gotta fix that.
Tom: A-ha!
Liss: Poor Hugo. It's kind of appropriate, though. That would be clearer if I'd finally do a write-up of his debut...
And another thing... Human Flame. I say again I think he's got great archetypal (sp?) potential as the lower/middle class malcontent to MM's "intelligensia" elite. Not to say that Martian Manhunter is definitely liberal, in fact, I would place his philosophies in a more alien light. Regardless, the dynamic is there. Stopping myself before I go entirely of the deep end, let me just say, Libra totally equals Karl Rove in this scenario.
I'm not saying the Human Flame is MM's Joker (Malefic?) or Brainiac (Despero? Mongul?) or Luthor (HUGO). I think Human Flame is rather unique in villiandom.
End rant.
And while I'm filling up your comments, that "crystal cage" thing that Malefic is in is one of the cooler visuals Mandrake came up with.
M.C., I will repeat-- your argument for the Human Flame is winning. I still need to read "Run," though.
I do like the cage, even if he's about to be sentenced to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El.
Hmmm...having a villain of average/low intelligence. That's interesting. I'm trying to work this out in my head to see if that elevates or lowers the premise of the Martian Manhunter. Now I've got to make a list of other thuggish "non-criminal mastermind" villains for other heroes.
Start with Marvel Comics, then. It'll save time.
Alright, I'll quit harping. I just get in a fever sometimes!
:p
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