March Madness: All Divisions: Final Round

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Ma'alefa'ak was absolutely ruthless, attacking from all directions. His body shapeshifted into blades and blunts. His eyes burned with Laser Vision. Parts turned immaterial, then solidified, rending muscle and cracking bone. The Martian Manhunter would have never fought in this manner, without hesitation, even relishing the violence inflicted. Still, "Malefic" lacked the full range of J'Onzz's powers, which have never proven a match to the Kalanorian since his rebirth in the Flame of Py'tar.

The Devil Men of Pluto had a fine run. They always do. They're unrepentantly evil, uncompromising even when individual members are threatened, and unwaveringly intent on their goal. Of course, so was their opposition, who had ravaged his own home world purely for personal gain. The Martian overpowered and outclassed them completely, beating and robbing them in barely any time at all.


Commander Blanx had the teleportation sphere and a devious plan. He transported himself and one other back to the Iron City... at least, in part. Despero's genetic make-up had been programmed into the sphere, but in his original form from earlier in his career. The Kalanorian was still a force to be reckoned with, and the Martian had even more limitations on his powers than the fallen brother of their mutual nemesis, J'onn J'onzz. Who will be the ultimate victor?

Final Round
Despero vs. Commander Blanx

2010-2011 The Justice League of America 100 Project charity art by Patrick Scherberger

Click To Expand & Enlarge


Patrick Scherberger is one of the most notable artists to flash up Marvel Comics' all-ages superhero titles, which might explain his anachronistic JLA. Superman, Batman, the Barry Flash, and Wonder Woman (that we can see of her) are on model, but then Hal Jordan shows up in his rookie Green Lantern costume. There's an otherwise classic Aquaman with a bushy beard, and then Brightest Day Martian Manhunter. It's anarchy, but forgivable because it looks so nice.

In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.


ALL 104 JUSTICE LEAGUE #50 ORIGINALS…NOW ON DISPLAY!

Please enjoy this gallery of ALL 104 original Justice League of America #50 Hero Initiative covers!

Hardcover and softcover versions of a book collecting all the covers will be available in December, 2011. AND all the originals will be auctioned off according to the following schedule:

• December 3, 2011, Meltdown Comics, Los Angeles, CA: Display of all 104 covers and auction of first one-third
• Jan. 20-22, 2012, Tate's Comics, Lauderhill, FL (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area): Display of remaining covers and auction of second one-third.
• Feb. 17-19, 2012: Orlando MegaCon, Orlando, FL: Display and auction of final one-third.

All covers will be sold via LIVE AUCTION on-site at the venues above. If you cannot attend but wish to bid, proxy bidding is available.
Contact Joe Davidson at: yensid4disney@gmail.com
Deadlines for each grouping are below, and each cover carries a minimum bid of $100.

Special thanks to Firestorm Fan for the notice!

March Madness: All Divisions: Round Six

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Mongul was on the verge of another cerebral hemorrhage. Battling countless phantom Lobos, and taking on physical damage from the telepathically concealed Despero, he soon succumbed to a blast of the Kalanorian's mutant third eye. Turning his gaze out through the Silver Sauna, intent on ambushing whoever else yet survived, Despero sensed the presence of a Martian all too reminiscent of J'Onn J'Onzz. It was his evil twin brother Ma'alefa'ak, who had fought Despero in two contested matches last year. Despero was confident things would favor him this year, since Malefic had just worn himself out against a Darkseid far less than the Old 52 one Despero had demolished in the first VM March Madness...


B'enn B'urnzz, worn out and in ragged, ill-fitting armor, made a break for it. Commander Blanx ruthlessly shot B'enn in the back, then watched the Desert Dweller float along down the creek. Flying onward, the alabaster annihilator found himself back at the rain shadow. A ways down its steep decline, the Human Squirrel lay on his back, his fur matted with blood and sweat, a leg twitching. The Devil Men of Pluto were at the top, in possession of the teleportation sphere and ready to defend their claim against all comers...

Round Six
Despero vs. Malefic
Commander Blanx vs. The Devil Men of Pluto

2008 “One Year Later” Jeff Johnson-Jim Smash-Up

Click To Enlarge

My second greatest DC New 52 pet peeve* is that seven months in, we still haven't seen a Martian Manhunter design sketch, or even a credit to the artist responsible for the reworking. I actually like it and have generally positive things to say about it (for once,) but a year in, DC just keeps spitting up godawful Jim Lee costumes that are as out of touch as anything in Nightwing's closet. Anyway, I suspect blogger Jim Smash!!! had similar frustration over José Ladrönn's Martian Manhunter redesign following Infinite Crisis in 2006. Six years later, and I've yet to see any of Ladrönn's actual art for the project, with web searches triggering an echo effect back to this blog's previous requests to see said art. Al Barrionuevo's art on the mini-series that featured it favored squat, skinny panels and obscuring angles that rarely showcased the design clearly, and other artists tended to tweak the design in books as it suited them. In 2008, Jim was driven to take one of my favorite Martian Manhunter images, a Jeff Johnson splash from 1996's Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #2 and work it over in Photoshop with the "Coneheadhunter" suit. The result is pretty freakin' sweet, and I echo Jim's sentiment about how we should have gotten Johnson on a solo series after this! Say Jim-- you ever consider doing this again, DCnÜ stylee?

*After "Why is Wonder Woman running around with a sword, chopping people up?" Then again, that's been a problem since before any of us ever heard of Dan Didio.

March Madness: All Divisions: Round Five

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

There was a time when the Lord of Apokolips was every bit the grim New God he was conceived to become. His craggy flesh crackling with power, his schemes were Machiavellian on an interdimensional scale, and he was the nexus of all evil. Creatures like Malefic once wrapped their arms around his ankles and prostrated under his skirt for blessings. However, today there exists a DCnÜniverse in which Darkseid is a simple thug. Offended by the travesty that exists in the place of his former deity, Ma'alefa'ak simply gouged its eyes out with razor-sharp fingers that penetrated its brain. Darkseid was left to sink in the molten platinum flow of the Golden Hell...



Lobo charged Mongul with such speed and ferocity, no alternative to a physical altercation could be brought to bear. The struggle was raw and bloody, as the colossal combatants threw each other into every bladed "foliage" and artificially animated trap the Silver Sauna had to offer. In the end, despite great proficiency and strength, the Main Man lacked the raw planet-punching power of a titan who could outmatch even Pre-Crisis Superman in hand-to-hand combat. Mongul grabbed a handful of the last Czarnian's greasy hair and used it to swing his body against innumerable objects until 'Bo could offer no further resistance. Just as Mongul prepared to press on, he turned back to see an army of Lobos regenerating from every drop of the Czarnian's blood spilled. At least, that's what the telepathic third eye of Despero wished him to see...

A flaming B'enn B'urnzz waded into a stream of copper. Further back were the mangled forms of the Lizard Men, foolhardy enough to attack a Martian, even with the advantage of his vulnerability to flames. B'enn came out of the stream cooled, but his greatest challenge was stood on the before him. Commander Blanx had been searching the area for Professor Ivo's teleportation sphere, and decided it would be best if this world had one less Desert Dweller with the distinct likeness of his greatest enemy running around...



L'lex Xanadar couldn't believe that Mr. Moth had put up such a fight for a nutcase in a cheap suit with an Earthling pistol. One of his men was dead, and another was bleeding badly. This was clearly not the finest moment in the history of The Devil Men of Pluto. Down in the sands of the Bronze Desert, The Human Squirrel had managed to evade the automaton of Professor Ivo until it inadvertently shocked its master. Given more time and better materials, a protocol would have been in place to prevent such an embarrassing turn of events, but as it was, the aerosaltant cosplayer Ben Stoves had the teleportation sphere, and managed to trigger it to jump him to its last destination atop the rain shadow...

Round Five
Despero vs. Mongul
Commander Blanx vs. B'enn B'urnzz
The Devil Men of Pluto vs. The Human Squirrel

2011 “Miss Martian 2099” art by Manuel Aguilera

Click To Enlarge


This one puts a bit more "Mrs." in Miss Martian...

This was originally for Comic Vine.
People seemed to give the rough so I just had to finish it.

It's based on the Martian Manhunter redesign I created a while ago. It works well for a grown up version of the current character.

Updated with a slightly less manish face and brighter colors.

Aguilera also played with three alternate designs. One was so radical, it fit the "Lizard-Beth Salamander" take I had in mind for the character during the McKeever days, before the Young Justice cartoon solidified her characterization as manga-sweet. There's a gladiator and Legion of Super-Heroes take too, which you can check out here!

March Madness: Bronze & Iron Divisions: Round Four

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

The wars were nearly over in the Iron City. Its "boss," Mister V, had already been defeated. Professor Hugo had managed to capture Bette Noir's psychic self, but when he had the idea to weaponize this entity (as Dr. Trap had done once before,) it backfired on him. Bette latched onto Vandal Savage, whose centuries of immorality outstripped any horrors that she had ever known. The telepathic backlash impacted on Hugo's big brain, and all fell down.

Mr. Moth was either skilled or blessed enough for his shot to ricochet off the side of the tank, then graze the invisible flesh on Mister Bones' noggin. When Bones slumped back through the port, his own gun misfired, triggering a blast from the tank. Striking a support for the overpass, the aging structure collapsed into the subway station underneath. This result was likely related to the vibrations of the Invaders from the Space Warp, once their rifles proved ineffective against the robot sentry.

As debris rained down, Professor Ivo decided it best to escape to a more stable environ. He was not aware that he had taken on an extra passenger on a ride with the teleportation sphere...



The Human Squirrel wasn't sniffing around for Dr. Light's corpse. In all the excitement, Ben Stoves had missed being hot as an oven when his costume caught fire, and the stink had reached past his own body odor. Bel taking pot shots was just one more worry, but an immediate one. The Squirrel leapt at Bel and rapidly drove his flaming furry fists into her face. Having walloped the Jezebel with her weakness, Ben stopped, dropped and rolled. The fire out, and nearly exhausted, Ben sighed when he spied electricity swirling a few hundred yards away. After a brief detour, the teleporting Professor Anthony Ivo had found purchase upon the sand of the Bronze Desert...

L'lex Xanadar wasn't one to ask questions, shooting first before the wizard Diabolu could unleash any more horrors from his idol-head. The Devil Men of Pluto ventured onward and upward, emerging from the cave network up on the rain shadow. There they found Professor Amos Fortune, flat on his back. Mr. Moth was not his foe, but he'd failed to escape this particular hot spot when Ivo had continued without his stowaway. Now, he was caught between the devils and the deep barbed slope into the Silver Sauna, dividing the regions...

Iron & Bronze Desert: Round Four
The Devil Men of Pluto vs. Mister Moth
The Human Squirrel vs. Professor Anthony Ivo

March Madness: Gold & Silver Division: Round Four

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

The Omega Effect disintegrated Doomsday, casting him to far off points unknown, or perhaps simply removing him from corporeal existence altogether. "Let's see him punch his way out of that." Doomsday might have been better off though, as the constant, devastating explosions from combat had rendered the Golden Hell's name fully manifest. Platinum lava ran the lengths of the islands body, and flames were everywhere. Surely this had not helped B'rett in his bid to cut down an opponent invisibly, but it was a trifling matter for Monarch, who survived an initial ray blast intact and throttled the Yellow Martian into submission. Looking at what remained of the battlefield, Mongul activated his personal teleportation device...

Ma'alefa'ak flew down from the volcanos to greet Darkseid. "You were once my master, oh Lord of Apokolips, but I am ever the iconoclast..."

Golden Hell Round Four
Darkseid vs. Malefic



Despero looked on. There were many pieces still in motion, but he was confident that he would ultimately win the game...

A byproduct of all this molten metal was oil, the natural weakness of the Saturnian Criminal, and he was soaking in it. Despite a grand show, the Saturnian was bludgeoned unconscious by B'enn B'urnzz and left in a pool of black ick. B'urnzz trudged on through the jungle, and was forced to evade animated barbed steel creeper vines seizing any lifeforms in its reach. Thantos had proven less agile, and as he was dragged deep into the murderous forest, The Lizard Men men burned and batted at him with their flamethrowers. Suddenly, B'enn was keenly aware that he was also covered in highly flammable petroleum...

Gorilla Grodd begged "...no more..." as Lobo dragged him through the bloodletting fields from a chain tied to his bike. A flash of light announced the arrival of Mongul, who was immediately spanked by the monkey in motion. Indignant, Mongul held fast to the passing ape, and the sudden shift in weight sent the Main Man's bike careening to the ground. Some bastich was going to pay for that...

Silver Sauna Round Four
Mongul vs. Lobo
B'enn B'urnzz vs. The Lizard Men

2010-2011 The Justice League of America 100 Project charity art by Craig Rousseau

Click To Expand & Enlarge


The Silver Age Founding Five Justice League in the ginchy-good animated style!

In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.


ALL 104 JUSTICE LEAGUE #50 ORIGINALS…NOW ON DISPLAY!

Please enjoy this gallery of ALL 104 original Justice League of America #50 Hero Initiative covers!

Hardcover and softcover versions of a book collecting all the covers will be available in December, 2011. AND all the originals will be auctioned off according to the following schedule:

• December 3, 2011, Meltdown Comics, Los Angeles, CA: Display of all 104 covers and auction of first one-third
• Jan. 20-22, 2012, Tate's Comics, Lauderhill, FL (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area): Display of remaining covers and auction of second one-third.
• Feb. 17-19, 2012: Orlando MegaCon, Orlando, FL: Display and auction of final one-third.

All covers will be sold via LIVE AUCTION on-site at the venues above. If you cannot attend but wish to bid, proxy bidding is available.
Contact Joe Davidson at: yensid4disney@gmail.com
Deadlines for each grouping are below, and each cover carries a minimum bid of $100.

Special thanks to Firestorm Fan for the notice!

2011 "Martian Manhunter: Speed Drawing" Video

March Madness: Bronze & Iron Divisions: Round Three

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Dr. Light had a leering eyeful of Bel Juz, so he noticed the ray gun drawn from behind her back, but was surprised when it was cast aside unfired. Bel had seen the lightshow, and suspected her own weapon might be used against her. Instead, Bel turned herself into the instrument of Arthur Light's demise, drawing him close and snapping his scrawny little neck with a twist of her seemingly delicate fingers. Meanwhile, N’orr Cott was swinging his sword in vain, unable to connect with the leaping Human Squirrel. By the same token, the Squirrel went back up the ridge, and tossed a large rock that missed N'or by a mile. Well, N'orr perhaps, but not several weak points in the ridge, causing a rockslide to bury the Martian. The Squirrel tread carefully through the dust and debris, pausing to note Dr. Light's corpse...

The mound of Martian Mandrills had blocked the cave exit, so The Devil Men of Pluto had no choice but to venture further into the network of caves. In a cavern, they discovered another mound of monsters not of their making, under which was buried the Prophet. Climbing over the mass, L'lex Xanadar found a little old man in a robe waiting on the other side. Diabolu seemed to be holding something...

Malador had bitten off more than he could chew, as his magic could not outpace the energy rifles of the Invaders from the Space Warp, who progressed long and hard up an incline. Eventually, they found themselves atop the rain shadow, high above the Bronze Desert, in the domain of Commander Blanx...



Strolling out of the Iron City's garbage dump, Mr. Moth made a mental note to himself that as impressive as Nemesus' sorcery was, magic isn't nearly as well known for its speed and ease of use as firearms. Hearing a rumbling coming from the overpass, Mr. Moth spotted a tank rolling along with what appeared to be a Falcon-head pinata mounted to the front. Despite having none of the comforts or resources his position as DEO Director provided, the driver was doing alright for himself. Stopping the tank, Mister Bones climbed out of the porthole to survey the area...

Monty Moran couldn't steer his getaway car off the subway tracks, and slammed violently into a curve that his vehicle was not equipped for. The impact collapsed a nearby wall, revealing an automaton dragging the limp Captain Destiny by his ankle. Professor Amos Fortune's eyes fixed on Professor Anthony Ivo past the opening, finalizing his next project. Before Fortune could find favor, he was struck by a test beam, teleporting him atop the rain shadow of the Bronze Desert...

The Vulture thugs who were still conscious were a luminescent green. Professor Arnold Hugo followed the glow as they raced back to their Faceless master for help in the city's underbelly. There would be no respite found there, as Mister V proved much too slow in arming himself, and Vandal Savage struck him down with one of King Zeus' former lightning bolts. Vandal Savage inspected Faceless' cold machine gun, a nice enough if outdated bit of hardware. Vulture afforded the opportunity to see how the weapon held up in action, and Savage was pleased at how swiftly it dropped the hoods. Stalking down a hallway, plotting his response, the Wizard of 1,000 Menaces remained unimpressed...

Bronze Desert: Round Three
Bel Juz vs. The Human Squirrel
The Devil Men of Pluto vs. Diabolu
Commander Blanx vs. Professor Amos Fortune

Iron City Round Three
Mister Moth vs. Mister Bones
The Invaders From the Space Warp vs. Professor Anthony Ivo
Vandal Savage vs. Professor Arnold Hugo

Stormwatch #6 (April, 2012)

The Eye of the Storm, the headquarters of Stormwatch, went boom. Some of the debris was promised to hit Earth in an upcoming issue of Superman. Having left Hyperspace and entered the regular kind, military authorities became aware of the spaceship's presence. Jenny Quantum created a forcefield bubble around herself, the Engineer, Jack Hawksmoor and Martian Manhunter, the latter having established a telepathic link for communication. Midnighter was blown out into space, but was rescued by Apollo, who flew him back to Jenny's bubble. "God, you're hot."

The Eye was large enough to qualify as a city, so Jack Hawksmoor made contact with its avatar, an irate Daemonite. "--You humans stole me-- bound me. And made me into a slave!" J'Onn J'Onzz maintained a mental rapport, and painfully acknowledged of the artificial intelligence consciousness, "He has woken it! Its psychic presence-- it is enormous!" It had been switched off since Stormwatch "stole" the station, and would "joyfully die" in service to the "holy cause" of killing these jerks. The Engineer somehow powered-up Jack's synapses, making his consciousness strong enough to rival the Daemonite's. Instead of a brawl, Jack convinced the intelligence to "repurpose the millions of tiny forcefields that keep the station running" to "haul it back together." As a reward, the Daemonite would not be shut down again, and would have opportunities to aid its people. "Worthless unbeliever. I shall be your "city"-- but remember, you are parasites to me."

The Eye restored and in Hyperspace, Midnighter needed medical assistance, but demanded it for Jenny first. The Engineer wanted Harry Tanner's blood, as did Midnighter, who agreed to join Stormwatch with her as leader. As for Apollo, "Oh, if I join up-- he will too."

J'Onn J'Onzz did not know how to contact the redubbed "Shadow Lords" with Adam One gone. "I presume the Projectionist would have been told, being our new leader. She might know now. Which is worrying. But it is the way things have been done for centuries." J'Onzz was stressed over his inability to decipher what the horn was, and the betrayal of Tanner. "I considered him a friend. This is what he used to kill us. The Projectionist, whom he took to hide himself and limit us-- I was starting to enjoy her company a great deal. She is a warrior. If she can, she will contact us." J'Onzz noted Apollo, "said I was 'with the Justice League'-- a shorthand for 'public hero' that many humans use. But I have never actually attempted to join them. Because then I would have to keep secrets from them-- because the part of my life in Stormwatch means I would have to betray them!"

The U.S. military locked into the space sector where the Eye had appeared, intent on attacking it and taking its Hyperspace technology should the opportunity present itself again.

A meeting was called. For the first time, Stormwatch was on its own, and put leadership to a vote. Jack abstained with a caveat about loyalty to Adam One, while J'Onzz would support the consensus in this time of crisis. Apollo, Midnighter and Jenny approved the Engineer's nomination of herself. Their new mission: Securing alien artifacts and other objects of power previously known only to Adam One, but now accessible to the Eminence of Blades for his own plans. "To find them, we're going to need to become... explorers of what might have been."

Meanwhile, Harry Tanner held a sword to the Projectionist's throat, ordering her to cover their tracks from Stormwatch. Accessing media from another world through this realm's amplification of her powers, she noted that the team would be busy saving the universe from an upcoming threat...

"The Dark Side: Finale" was by Paul Cornell and Miguel Sepulveda. Talk about ending with a whimper. It was also something how all the forward momentum of an already limp plot petered out halfway through the issue, so that readers were treated to whole pages of random army guys at computers talking over coffee. It's such a treat to see Jack Hawksmoor look at grid coordinates for another full page. Yeah, you super heroes sit at that conference table like you really mean it.

New 52's Day

• The Huntress #5 (April, 2012) @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Aquaman #6 (April, 2012) @ Justice League Detroit

March Madness: Gold & Silver Divisions: Round Three

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Ma'alefa'ak had worked with thermal energy for years, and was nearer to the flame than virtually any other Martian. Yet, he was forced to take cover, as one of the ancients was now no more, and the Golden Hell redoubled the truth in its name...

The dual explosions of Brimstone and Fernus nearly shattered the island itself. Caught inside a maelstrom, Doomsday sensed something familiar within his atavistic brain. "Apo-ko-lips..." Through the flames, he spied a figure whose dimensions were nearly as impressive as his own. Twin beams of red cut through the inferno, as Darkseid pronounced, "Come then. You are not what you once were, and I will ever be your master..."

B'rett was still in the trenches, blasting at what remained of the Bloodworms of Mars after the firestorm. He could feel his powers ebbing, so near to his elemental weakness. B'rett staggered toward the beach, and saw the shores ran read with the blood of the Swarm. Mongul had triumphed, but had not escaped unscathed. B'rett turned invisible, and wondered how close he could get to Mongul without needing access to his other powers...

"The balls," grinned Lobo. It might make a "god" extra angry, but with the right amount of force even they would be doubled over in agony. No surprise that the Justice League had more trouble with Korge, since they're less inclined to aim for the gooch and let rip the castration. Of course, it took a meat hook, a length of chain, and full throttle on the Main Man's ride, until the sudden slack sent the space bike flying out of control...



Despero spotted a rocket in the sky above the Silver Sauna, and sensed it heralded the arrival of one known to him...

Cay'an was ill-advised to take the direct approach. B'enn B'urnzz proved more resilient than one might have expected from a Desert Dweller, his stolen armor taking the brunt of a pulse beam. Recognizing the Marshal's gear as a benefit in combat and a liability should he choose to run, B'enn broke his stance to return Cay'an's charge. She attempted to retreat and perhaps regain momentum, but B'urnzz overtook her too swiftly and with far less conscience than would have been expected from J'Onn J'Onzz. Worse, Scorch's battered body came flying through the air, setting a path of flames as she rolled on the ground, her trail crossing the unprotected Cay'an. B'enn had no intention of being burned, and mercilessly stamped out the flames covering both women. The Saturnian Criminal did not take rejection well, nor apprehension, and this armored Martian before him was the spitting image of the jerk that helped Saturnine authorities in his previous capture on Earth...

With his amazing power, Thantos caught the Cosmic Creature in its rampage and wrestled it efficiently to the ground. With a tremendous follow-up blow, the reign of the dinosaur ended. However, the beast had created a passable route followed by the Lizard Men, who found the Martian Marauders poorly adaptable to combat against flamethrowers. The 3-In-1 Man looked to be made of sturdier stuff, so they set their saurian hounds upon him...

Weapons Master barely noticed the telepathic attack through his resistant skullcap, but Super-Gorilla Grodd's assault was swift, punishing, and calculated. Before he could call up any advantage, Weapons Master's armor was in shreds, and his mind soon followed. Grodd had taken some injuries from the machete stalks, but he could easily return to the trees and fling himself toward a path cleared earlier. However, a rocket resembling a motorcycle treated it as his personal landing strip. Lobo landed roughly, but intact and ready to give a frag...

Golden Hell Round Three
B'rett vs. Mongul
Darkseid vs. Doomsday

Silver Sauna Round Three
Gorilla Grodd vs. Lobo
The Lizard Men vs. Thantos, the 3-In-1 Man
B'enn B'urnzz vs. The Saturninan Criminal

2010-2011 The Justice League of America 100 Project charity art by Tony Parker

Click To Expand & Enlarge


The Brightest Day cabochon and the JMS Wonder Woman make appearances on this painterly (but penciled) piece.

In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.


ALL 104 JUSTICE LEAGUE #50 ORIGINALS…NOW ON DISPLAY!

Please enjoy this gallery of ALL 104 original Justice League of America #50 Hero Initiative covers!

Hardcover and softcover versions of a book collecting all the covers will be available in December, 2011. AND all the originals will be auctioned off according to the following schedule:

• December 3, 2011, Meltdown Comics, Los Angeles, CA: Display of all 104 covers and auction of first one-third
• Jan. 20-22, 2012, Tate's Comics, Lauderhill, FL (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area): Display of remaining covers and auction of second one-third.
• Feb. 17-19, 2012: Orlando MegaCon, Orlando, FL: Display and auction of final one-third.

All covers will be sold via LIVE AUCTION on-site at the venues above. If you cannot attend but wish to bid, proxy bidding is available.
Contact Joe Davidson at: yensid4disney@gmail.com
Deadlines for each grouping are below, and each cover carries a minimum bid of $100.

Special thanks to Firestorm Fan for the notice!

March Madness: Iron Division: Round Two

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

From his underground bunker, Mister V observed this Iron City through surveillance equipment set up by his Vulture goons. All was going according to plan. Faceless' opposition would tire themselves out in two and three party brawls, while Vulture would prevent any of these mad scientists and sorcerers snooping ahead. The worst case scenario might see the final two above confront Mr. V at his full strength, and at best he might convince some to join him in seeking out his fellow end bossess...

Professor Arnold Hugo beamed with pride as Bette Noir's psychic projection swirled around in his Telepathy Trap. The Wizard of 1,000 Menaces had put this little number together in anticipation of a rematch with the modern model Martian Manhunter, but had been repurposed to allow him to topple one of his more recent foes. With that out of the way, he could continue his progression toward the bowels of the city, to take back his prize as greatest Silver Age J'onn J'onzz foe from that fashion victim Mr. V. En route, Hugo stumbled upon a gang of Vulture thugs, whose hi-tech tools had brought low the overconfident Osprey...

Amidst the garbage dump, Mr. Moth's feet seemed to flutter as he deftly evaded a slew of lethal lures. Doctor Trap watched from afar, frustrated as this moronic thief strolled out of sight. Trap gave chase, and clearing a pile of scrap, caught sight of Mister Moth's ridiculous headgear. Moth turned to fire a single shot, well clear of the doctor... but in direct line with one of his traps. It was sprung, the doc was undone, and the Moth carried on his way, mentally noting a mixed metaphor about moths and butterflies he'd overheard. Mr. Moth reached an overpass, where a nebbish named Wiley Dalbert stood shivering, his bushy hair turned white. The sorcerer Nemesus didn't know quite what to make of this bug-headed man, but knew how to deal with such irritants...

"I've met deities before, " said Vandal Savage to King Zeus. "Their guts tend to be filled with gravel, not moussaka and baklava." Savage shifted Zeus' soiled toga to reach one of his energy weapons, which he used to activate a door in the spire. Savage stepped through into the unknown...

Professor Anthony Ivo couldn't help but smile as his makeshift robot burst through a wall and shocked Alex Dunster unconscious. Ivo then continued the work begun on Dunster's teleportation sphere, and almost missed Captain Horatio Destiny stumbling in. The Captain was still trying to get his bearings after uncovering and clobbering the Conjurer, and wasn't necessarily prepared for the automaton sentry...

What were the odds that Baron Voto would end up swallowing his own ring? If Professor Amos Fortune has any sway, and he does, surprisingly good. Of course, the startling sonic boom of wrenching metal from a nearby collision had to help. The irresistible roadster of a getaway mastermind had plowed right through Professor Proxon's Crime College, and now Monty Moran was gunning for Amos...

The Falcon's plane had struck something in the air, and though Porto's falling form went unnoticed, enough damage was done to require an immediate landing. Falcon luckily spotted a landing strip where military vehicles were located. Upon landing, the Falcon spotted a uniformed figure lying near a tank, a purple-clad General. Concerned, he turned to scan the area, and found himself face-to-skull with Mister Bones.

Mr. V heard a "swooshing" sound, like a pneumatic device in operation. A panel opened in the room, and out stepped Vandal Savage. It was not a social call, and things were no longer going according to plan...

Iron City Round Two
Vandal Savage vs. Mister V
Professor Arnold Hugo vs. VULTURE
Mr. Moth vs. Nemesus
Professor Amos Fortune vs. Monty Moran, the Getaway King
Professor Anthony Ivo vs. Captain Horatio Destiny
The Human Falcon vs. DEO Director Bones

Martian Sightings for June, 2012

Before we even get started on the books, what the hell is this? There was a party to celebrate the unveiling of the latest DC Entertainment logo a couple of months ago, but I never noticed the enormous mural featuring New 52 versions of DC heroes, including a heretofore unseen Martian Manhunter that appears to be from the pen of Patrick Gleason. You can see more of it at Co.CREATE, and if someone out there could direct me to the full piece, I'd appreciate it.

GREEN LANTERN: RED LANTERNS #10
PETER MILLIGAN
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• Welcome new artist MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
• Continued from last month’s STORMWATCH #9!
• BLEEZ and the rest of the surviving RED LANTERNS head for ZAMARON to confront the STAR SAPPHIRES about their role in the poisoning of the RED POWER LANTERN.

Let me get this straight: The new writer of Stormwatch starts his run with the first part of a story that crosses over into a better selling title he launched that just lost its hot artist, who is being replaced by the former artist of Stormwatch that was helping to buoy its sales. Is this mean to broaden Stormwatch's audience or cannibalize it? Also, I don't really want to read about the Red Lanterns at all ever. Frig.

STORMWATCH #10
PETER MILLIGAN
Art by IGNACIO CALERO and SEAN PARSONS
Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
• Welcoming the art team of IGNACIO CALERO and SEAN PARSONS as a new epic begins!
• HARRY TANNER returns to take on STORMWATCH!
• More secrets of the team’s past are revealed!

I haven't received the new issue yet, but I'm seeing and hearing good things. Maybe a completely new creative team will leave us with a book closer to what many of us hoped for in the beginning. At least the covers have gone back to including Martian Manhunter as part of a core trinity (for now.) I'm surprised they're going back to the Harry Tanner well so soon, though.

JLA VOL. 2 TP
GRANT MORRISON
Art by HOWARD PORTER, GARY FRANK and others
Cover by HOWARD PORTER and JOHN DELL
On sale JULY 11 • 320 pg, FC, $24.99 US
• The JUSTICE LEAGUE facing off against LEX LUTHOR’S newly assembled INJUSTICE GANG while the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance.
• Collects JLA #10-17, PROMETHEUS #1 and JLA/WILDCATS #1.

This one's got "Rock of Ages," the Prometheus two-(3?) parter, and an amusing (then) intercompany crossover. J'Onn's got his moments here.

Miss Martian

YOUNG JUSTICE #17
KEVIN HOPPS and GREG WEISMAN
Art and cover by CHRISTOPHER JONES
On sale JUNE 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E
• KOBRA is back – and he’s scheming to become a god!
• Don’t miss the action as ROBIN, KID FLASH and ARTEMIS tackle MAMMOTH and SHIMMER!
• Guest-starring BATMAN, THE FLASH and GREEN ARROW!

Vandal Savage

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #10
JAMES ROBINSON
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale JUNE 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• In part two of this three-part tale, KASS works with her father – convicted serial killer VANDAL SAVAGE – to catch a killer before it’s too late!
• Is there any way to solve the case without setting Vandal Savage free?

I'm really not comfortable with the way DC seems to be assigning writers full authorial credit with that meek little art credit for the guys who do the heavy lifting.

March Madness: Bronze Division: Round Two

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Commander Blanx was amused by the sight of a Martian Criminal frantically trying to deactivate his Guard Belt as he floated skyward. Blanx recognized the handiwork of a seductress already gazing at his stars from the gutter...

As his luck would demand, Triumph met resistance in his bid to tap this battle world's electromagnetic spectrum, and Doctor Light hit him square between the eyes with a laser beam. Emboldened by his easy win, Arthur looked to the green pastures of Bel Juz...

Doctor Samedi leapt from the shadows of the cave at The Devil Men of Pluto. Landing on the back of Nar, Samedi took control of the Plutonian scientist's body. L'lex Xanadar gunned Nar/Samedi down without hesitation, and his remorseless comrades nodded their approval. However, the gunfire had brought the attention of the Martian Mandrills, still in an aggressive posture over the recently discontinued presence of the Renegades of Mars...

For all his armaments, Tybalt Bak'sar was merely a sentient. His aerial evasion could not continue forever, and he was bound to be struck by an energy blast eventually. The Prophet was a tireless, relentless vessel of some divine power, and his hammer dropped swiftly upon this terrorist. He did not gloat, for there were more unholy deviants to smite. Although that pathetic slave of Darkseid called Libra had already fallen to some abomination released from a craven idol-head, its black magic master Diabolu was begging to feel his righteous fury...

The Mercurian was swiftly buried under the copper sand, and not wishing to share his fate, the Invaders from the Space Warp sought sanctuary in the caves. There was no safety to be found there. Strega left nothing of value for Malador following her defeat. Now the wizard wondered if these otherdimensional creatures might have more to offer...

The Human Flame could handle his own fires, and his suit braced him against the twins suns above, but the combination was overwhelming. He was nearly blind from the sting of his own sweat dripping in his goggles, and woozy from the firestorm surrounding him. Mike just could not draw a solid bead on the wily Human Squirrel, who brushed past him. As the varmint scampered back up the rocky ridge, the Flame considered blowing the whole thing up to end the matter. The Squirrel had the same thought, as Mike realized when he smelled his own fuel leaking. The Squirrel went down the other side of the ridge, offering cover from the explosion, but right into a whole new mess of trouble. N’orr Cott was bludgeoning his former co-conspirator Re's Eda with his sword hilt, and did not appreciate the interruption...

Bronze Desert: Round Two
Bel Juz vs. Doctor Light
The Martian Mandrills vs. The Devil Men of Pluto
The Prophet vs. Diabolu
Malador vs. The Invaders From the Space Warp
N’orr Cott vs. The Human Squirrel

2012 Martian Manhunter Movie Fan Casting: Jon Bernthal as B'rett

Sometime between 1999 and 2001, I wrote up a fan casting for MARTIAN MANHUNTER: The Motion Picture for my late fan site The Rock of the JLA. Besides being terribly out of date, my casting of heroes and villains skewed very much toward the relatively recent Modern Age. Since the Martian Manhunter was in something like 150 solo adventure strips over thirty years before that period, and about a third as many in the fifteen years I focused on, I essentially cast the Manhunter-centric Justice League movie. I'd like to rectify that...



B'rett is one of my favorite, and trickiest, rogues to cast. As I've mentioned in the past, he's basically an old west rowdy. B'rett rolls into town, busts stuff up, talks crap, steals, and waves his pistol around. Then, the first true opposition he faces, the guy feigns friendship and plots a swift, sneaky demise. Jack Palance was great at that kind of thing back in the day, so I wanted a contemporary equivalent.

I've been trying to cast younger for my 2012 list, but J'Onn J'Onzz and his foes just don't fit the PYT mainstream one would expect from a more popular property. My first choice, who made it all the way to an unpublished write-up with picture back in July of last year, was Michael Rooker. The Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer star is in his mid-50s, and I'd voice cast him in a heartbeat for animation. He's still got a physical presence, based on his turn as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, but I'd rather not place a short shelf life on a casting decision. As an alternative, I considered Adam Baldwin, who's been playing this type of rawhide sumbch for decades, most memorable as Jayne on Firefly. The thing is, he's too classically handsome for B'rett, plus Baldwin just turned fifty his own self.

Thankfully, in the time between my initial casting thoughts and finally publishing, Rooker's castmate Jon Bernthal took the character of Shane Walsh to a whole 'nother level on The Walking Dead. Between his shaved head, solid build and jacked-up nose, Bernthal became the spitting image of B'rett. When you break it down, Dead is an undercover western, as pilgrims make their way through a savage land with danger on all sides and justice delivered out the barrel of a gun. Shane's brutal, conscienceless pragmatism, clumsy manipulations, and base motivations in season two are exactly the sort of thing I'd expect from our favorite xanthic bandit. Tell me I'm wrong!



Diabolic Movie Fan Casting

• The Cheetah @ Diana Prince
• Gypsy @ Justice League Detroit
• Jean Loring @ Power of the Atom
• Plastic Man @ DC Bloodlines

March Madness: Silver Division: Round Two

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Despero stalked through the Silver Sauna, his three eyes observing the mounting casualties...

B'enn B'urnzz fought the law and crime won. "I'm the future of Mars, Marshal. I never even heard of you in the history books." Despite the impressive size of the genetically-engineered Martian, B'urnzz took the man and stripped him bare to make use of his protective armor in the brush. Trekking forward, he came upon a mound of unconscious Saturnians that had once formed Cabal. Cay'an stood defiantly to one side, and looked B'enn up and down in his ill-fitting gear. "J'Onn J'Onzz..." she snarled, readying to pounce...

The aluminum bush dripped with D'Kay as Thantos stood victorious. However, a great rumble had been heard in the distance, around the time the Cosmic Creature had trampled over Marlon's Beast. Its stampede continued, straight for the 3-In-1 Man...

The Martian Marauders' ambush successfully downed Vulkor's capsule craft, and his men fell under it like pins against a bowling ball. As the Marauders worked their way out of the sword patch and through the hull, the commotion attracted a troop of Lizard Men, fresh from barbecuing some Thythen with their flamethrowers...

Weapons Master had chosen wisely. His Jovian Flesh-Melter finished liquifying the Headman while cracked bits of Headmaster sparked on the ground. His body armor continuing to shield him from the fields of waist high machete stalks, Weapons Master caught a familar scent-- some sort of ape. He stepped over what appeared to be a meters long pale green serpent, not recognizing its Martian origins as the Master Gardener. From the trees above, Super-Gorilla Grodd wondered if this hunter had any psychic shields...

S'vor's momentary indecision cost him dearly, as he was struck from behind by Ryx's battered unconscious body, and both were flung into the deadly drink. The impact caught Scorch's attention as a similarly red-hued figure jogged toward her smiling. Wading into the silvery pools of melted metal, The Saturnian Criminal asked her, "Slide over here, and give me a moment. Your moves are so raw, and you look like one of my kind..."

Silver Sauna Round Two
Gorilla Grodd vs. Weapons Master
The Martian Marauders vs. The Lizard Men
Scorch vs. The Saturninan Criminal
B'enn B'urnzz vs. Cay'an
The Cosmic Creature vs. Thantos, the 3-In-1 Man

2012 Miss Martian as White Martian art by Antonia Leiva

Click To Enlarge


M'gann M'orzz is a little ticked that she hasn't gotten her Miss Martian Monday in a while. In the spirit of Martian Manhunter Menagerie March Madness, here she is in her scary natural White Martian form!

March Madness: Gold Division: Round Two

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

The Golden Hell was awash with blazes, and Ma'alefa'ak was pleased with the chaos...

Asmodel lay in a heap, having proven that an angel can bleed under the punishment of the interplanetary ultra-beast Doomsday. Antares had similarly descended from the stars, only to be brought low by Brimstone. Having conquered heaven, Doomsday set his sights on hell...

Nonplussed, Mongul projected a Cube-Trap around TOR, whose massive metal frame could not evade in time. The construct was sent far out into the ocean and released, to trouble no more. Meanwhile, the Pyre burned bright, but was overwhelmed and snuffed out by The Swarm. The alien scavengers pressed on toward the beach, as Mongul grimaced and girded himself...

Effigy's charred husk fell to the side of the volcano and rolled half a kilometer, bits of the villain flying off as it went. Far away, having failed to overwhelm through raw power, the Hyperclan had lifted Darkseid off the beach and gambled on tossing him down the fiery pit of the very same volcano. It was an ill-advised gambit, as the flames diminished their power, allowing the Lord of Apokolips to easily detect and pick off the disguised White Martians. Those left collapsed in the presence of Fernus, still hungry for death after his appetizer. Apokolips was ready to collide with Mars once more...

The Scary Monsters slashed at their squirming foes, but lacked the time and vessels to overcome
The Bloodworms of Mars before Fernus' nova blast immolated the lot. Far from immune themselves, the Bloodworms made their way toward the cool glittering rock along an inactive volcano. In a crevice, B'rett had used the reduced visibility to turn the tables on Kanto. The master assassin of the New Gods employed stealth and strategy, but a simple drop and roll saw him take the business end of a ray blast. Stunned, Kanto's superior skill could not be brought to bear against the xanthic bandit's raw power. However, just as B'rett had overcome one threat, the throng of Bloodworms posed another...

Korge had simply picked up Rott and devoured him, then awoke from his brief sojourn through another plane with the slightest touch of heartburn. Meanwhile, Lobo had just finished pounding Inflict into the very ground. One look across the battlefield confirmed that the Main Man and the Last Angry God were of a kind-- the fighting kind...

Golden Hell Round Two
Korge vs. Lobo
B'rett vs. The Bloodworms of Mars
Darkseid vs. Fernus the Burning Martian
Doomsday vs. Brimstone
Mongul vs. The Swarm

Geoff Johns & Mike Carlin on Martian Manhunter in Justice League: Doom (2012)

In an unusual move, the Blu-Ray exclusive commentary track for the animated film Justice League: Doom features DC Comics bigwigs Geoff Johns and Mike Carlin instead of members of the cartoon creative team. It comes as little surprise that Cyborg's inclusion in a movie adaptation that leaves out major characters from the source material like Plastic Man and Aquaman was motivated by DC's long term internal plans to elevate Victor Stone. On the other hand, Johns and Carlin have a fair amount more to say about our own J'Onn J'Onzz, including thoughts on past and future solo series. Here are some transcribed excerpts...

Geoff Johns: "Martian Manhunter gets really messed up in this whole movie, doesn't he?"
Mike Carlin: "Yep, they're really kind of mean to him... But he can take it. What I like about him in this movie is they actually make him really cool, uh, and very different than Superman. In the comics a lot he's kind of like Superman but he can be invisible. Uh, so he's got one more power than Superman. But here he's..."
Geoff Johns: "He's very alien, and one of the great things, I think, about this animated feature compared to some of the others of the Justice League is that we get a really great glimpse at their personal lives... And even Martian Manhunter's, who you don't really... see often..."
Mike Carlin: "You don't know a lot about him."
Geoff Johns: "We were actually talking to Dwayne (McDuffie) about writing a Martian Manhunter comic book before he passed away."
Mike Carlin: "Oh, that would've been cool."
Geoff Johns: "Yeah."
Mike Carlin: "I did not know that... You can always learn something on these commentaries."

On Ma'alefa'ak and the new Legion of Doom:
Geoff Johns: "I thought this was an interesting group..."
Mike Carlin: "...Not the usual Legion of Doom... It's got a lot of the newer takes on characters, which is great."
Geoff Johns: "...This character right here (Malefic)"
Mike Carlin: "First time in a cartoon."
Geoff Johns: "Created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake for the Martian Manhunter series, I believe."
Geoff Johns: "Mallah-fah-ack!"
Mike Carlin: "I like they figured out the pronunciation of that for us."

They continue in a scene where Ma'alefa'ak poisons John Jones in a bar while in the form of an attractive blond woman...
Geoff Johns: "I think it shows the... psychological profile of this villain here... this is how they decide to get at John... So there's obviously some kind of hatred and love... battling there."
Mike Carlin: "The last two survivors of the Martian community."

On John Jones:
Mike Carlin: "Oh, this is really interesting."
Geoff Johns: "We had talked about, uh, Martian Manhunter. Detective, uh... John Jones... and uh, the really cool... seeing a scene with him."
Mike Carlin: "Yeah, you don't see the private life of Martian Manhunter... at all in Justice League comics."
Geoff Johns: "And it's very different from Clark Kent or anyone else because..."
Mike Carlin: "Yeah, he's not the rich guy."
Geoff Johns: "Well he's just... he's alien. You can see it..."
Mike Carlin: "He doesn't know how to act with people."
Geoff Johns: "Yeah, it's just a brilliant take. Like... I'm not sure that the books have ever really captured on that, because even in the short lived little series he had in the nineties..."
Mike Carlin: "Ostrander had a cool take on the Manhunter, but it also kept him from becoming completely human like Superman has. Uh, Superman has really integrated himself as a human in human society. And Martian Manhunter had not just one secret identity but thousands all around the world. Which is a cool idea, but you don't get settled in that way. And you certainly don't learn how to, uh, interact."
Geoff Johns: "One thing I love about this scene is that it shows that, you know, obviously the League's been together for quite a while here. But, he's still not acclimated to our world... and I think that definitely does separate him from Clark Kent and Superman, who grew up here. But it also does make him unique... because you know he does have similar powers to Superman and..."
Mike Carlin: "...He gives a different flavor to this, uh, mix... which is great."

On the JLA:
Geoff Johns: "Now, he was a member of the Justice League a lot when you were overseeing editorial, right?"
Mike Carlin: "Yeah, there was a point where Martian Manhunter was the only member of every incarnation of the Justice League. I don't know if that's true anymore."
Geoff Johns: "Not anymore."
Mike Carlin: "...It took him long enough. He got his own comic. Then he doesn't have to be in the Justice League anymore.
Geoff Johns: "He'll be back, though."

On the Vile Menagerie:
Mike Carlin: "Yeah, cause Martian Manhunter had very few if any villains of his own. He was always just a Justice League guy.
Geoff Johns: "Well, when you don't have your own series... How many villains does Aquaman have?"

Johns later notes that people clamor for the Martian Manhunter to be in the League because he is more clearly alien than anyone else, including Superman, making him unique. Carlin likes the cool gross creepiness of his shapeshifting powers. Johns also enjoys the shapeshifting battle between Manhunter and Malefic, especially the Starro cameo.

March Madness: Iron Division: Round One

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Iron City was a ghost metropolis of abandoned alien structures. Mister V had the advantage of exploration, working his way deep into its bowels. His agents had set up surveillance equipment and would defend the crimelord from the scientists and madmen crawling the streets...

Professor Arnold Hugo was certainly among the most brilliant minds here, and he had arrived with a cache of 1,000 menacing gadgets to support his campaign of cognitive conquest. However, there was more under the cobalt moons than was known to science, as Bette Noir began wrapping herself around Hugo's over-sized mind...

King Zeus wasn't used to working without minions, but he possessed the tools and determination to make this city a new domain for his collection. However, having worked his way up a twisted xenomorph skyscraper, he had found the immortal Vandal Savage lying in wait. He was a mere caveman, so what concern was he to a god...?

The Osprey would normally soar above even these grand fellows, but he was enough of a plotter to recognize the underground tunnels was where the real action could be found. That set the armored avian on a collision course with Mr.V's international criminal organization Vulture, and all their wonderful toys...

Mr. Moth climbed over another mound of debris in the dumping ground, picking through it for tools he could use against his foes. He ought to be careful, because Doctor Trap had also been busily working through the waste. His inventive mind was locked into insuring a butterfly would never emerge from the shell left when he finished his work...

Alex Dunster didn't see the profit in death duals, and worked busily to ready his teleportation sphere to set out for greener pastures. The sphere was enough of a prize to inspire the deathless Professor Anthony Ivo to shed a bit more blood if necessary, and he was near to completing fruitful work of his own...

Lady luck always favored Professor Amos Fortune, at least if he had anything to say about it. He had brought along a probability adjustor for insurance, and he'd need it against medieval villain Baron Voto, whose magical ring had previously won him the European nation of Lavonia. The man lived in a castle, and doesn't the house always win?

The Falcon flew above the city, searching for a place to land or a foe to ambush. Porto had the same idea, and among "The Man of 1,000 Disguises'" costumes included a functional bird-man suit. As the Falcon's plane flew near, Porto leapt from his spire concealment bound for a blind spot...

Wiley Dalbert was seeking out basic resources from his underpass hidey-hole when he came upon unusual markings. His superior future education informed him that they were mystic sigils dating back 2,5000 years from the present (per current Earth time.) There was magic afoot here, and Dalbert had his hands full defending himself from Nemesus. Still, Wiley had earned his name against the likes of Batman, Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold and Goldstar, so may the better man win...

Professor Proxon directed the present students of his Crime College into reconstructing alien technology found in what appeared to be some sort of subway network. Screeching tires caught their attention, as an armored vehicle with a whirling drill mounted to the grill began barreling towards them. Monty Moran was on the scene with his getaway gang in tow, and the mastermind would pit more than wits against these rivals...

The Dreaded General may have been the self-appointed leader of a criminal army on Earth, but he was on his own in a deserted airfield. Behind his tank lurked a regional director of the Department of Extranormal Operations. He might ride a desk these days, but in another life, his transparent skin and cyanide touch led him to villainy as Mister Bones. The General would be the one to know dread, if Bones reached him before he reached a machine gun...

Captain Horatio Destiny hadn't signed up for an adventure without his crew of intergalactic mercenaries, but the swashbuckler intended to survive in their absence. A shame then that the criminal Conjurer had already been using his parlor tricks to misdirect the captain right where he wanted him...

Iron City Round One
Professor Arnold Hugo vs. Bette Noir
King Zeus vs. Vandal Savage
The Osprey vs. VULTURE
Mr. Moth vs. Doctor Trap
Alex Dunster vs. Professor Anthony Ivo
Professor Amos Fortune vs. Baron Voto
The Human Falcon vs. Porto
Nemesus vs. Wiley Dalbert
Professor Proxon vs. Monty Moran, the Getaway King
The Dreaded General vs. DEO Director Bones
The Conjurer vs. Captain Horatio Destiny

The Vile Menagerie: THE DREADED GENERAL

Alter Ego: Unknown
Occupation: General of personal army
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operations: A deserted marshland outside Middletown, U.S.A.
First Appearance: Detective Comics #254 (April, 1958)

History:
The mysterious General, through unrevealed means, hand-picked a troop of men and outfitted them to act as a unique criminal military force. Employing weapons smuggled into the country, the plundering platoon organized itself along military lines for profit. The little criminal corps' first recorded heist involved robbing a vault with the aid of a tank. The crime force next looted the payroll of Apex Paint, but the crook-soldiers involved were arrested with the covert assistance of the Manhunter from Mars. The General had many other highly trained units, allowing his uniformed gangmen to besiege Middletown, U.S.A.

A trap was laid by the local police force, setting up Detective John Jones as bait, but spies allowed Jones to be captured without concern. However, the Manhunter from Mars could not be contained, and invisibly blitzed the crime-corps during a brazen daytime robbery. Despite their weaponry, the crime army was no match for the Martian Manhunter, and was taken into custody.

Powers & Weapons:
The General displayed no exceptional physical attributes, and relied on a lieutenant for much of his work. The General commanded dozens of troops armed with the latest military weapons of their day. The criminal corps' arsenal included machine guns, grenades, smoke shells, flamethrowers, several tanks, and a fighter jet.

Quote: "We waged a good battle today, gentlemen, but we must strike again, swiftly, before enemy troops-- the police-- have a chance to counter-attack!"

Created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa

March Madness: Bronze Division: Round One

The cosmic buttinsky known as The Interferer has broken out of the back issue of The Omega Men that he had been trapped in for decades, thanks to the Flash's mommy issues or something. Shortly before the Post-Crisis DC Universe collapsed into Flashpoint, the Interferer read the Salvation Run trade paperback, and thought it was too cool. The Interferer tried to find Salvation, but failing that, landed in a back issue of Showcase with a joint similar enough to have some fun. Figuring nobody would miss them, the Interferer took all of the Martian Manhunter's rogues gallery to a battle planet inspired by Manhunter 2070. It would have been rad to kill J'Onn J'Onzz again, but he ended up in The Outsider, so we'll have to make do...

Commander Blanx stood defiantly atop the rain shadow, his cape blowing in the breeze, head covered in Persian garb like something out of Lawrence of Arabia. He gazed upon the Bronze Desert, and recalled past glories. His Pole Dwellers had conquered the green-skins in their land, much like this. Even alone, against such opposition, he saw no reason why he couldn't repeat his accomplishment...

Far below, The Martian Criminal raced across the sands. He relished his freedom, and welcomed familiar terrain, even as he feared recapture. On Earth, he had been called a "Magician-Thief" because of the super-powers he had gained there. He could feel that strength returning, but his telescopic vision seemed to betray him. He appeared that he would soon reach an oasis, and under a palm tree near a crystal clear pool lounged the beautiful seductress Bel Juz...

The Renegades of Mars desperately needed such a respite, as their ancient Martian souls remained trapped in fragile human bodies. They found much needed water in a patch of cacti, but out from behind the prickly flora came a most unusual sight, aggressive Martian Mandrills whose nostril snorts managed to make the air all the more sultry. Little pink humans like these had once mind-controlled the beasts, and they all looked alike to the simians...

Tybalt Bak'sar fretted over the engines in his jet pack potentially clogging from sand whipped up below, but the area was crawling with despicable Martians like the one who helped stop his crusade against the Green Lantern Corps. The Prophet was also in the air, and his very religion had been injured by the Manhunter from Mars. However, his potential for sharing revenge with Bak'sar was tempered by his awareness that the alien terrorist was no less a heretic in need of inquisition...

Malador was a wizard of no small power, but he savored thoughts of what he could do with an artifact like the Diabolu Idol-Head. His sorcery led him to a network of caves, but he learned that there were many other majiks at work here. Like Malador, Strega had once faced the Martian Manhunter, but he was joined by The Divine's force of vengeance, not an otherdimensional imp. She wondered if perhaps Malador had his own artifacts worth pilfering...

The Devil Men of Pluto suffered as much as anyone
out where the river broke. They were used to the icy wastes of their dwarf planet far removed from the sun, not the blood wood and the desert oak. Passing holden wrecks and boiling diesels, they escaped the steaming forty five degrees to the shade of the caves. In the darkness lay darker magics, as Doctor Samedi clung to a side wall, awaiting his prey like a spider in its web...

Doctor Light found no shortage of his namesake under the white hot twin suns, and he fully intended to use it to his advantage. However, his adversary was Triumph, who didn't necessarily need vision to attack with the might of this planet's electromagnetic field. Triumph had put together a team that would eventually form the nucleus of the Justice League. Both men now had cause to hate the group, but for the moment, their anger would be directed at one another...

N’orr Cott awoke on the burning sand, not so different from the suffering that was his time on Mars II. He might have been the Commander of the Martian Army, but he would have happily traded that elevation in status for a better life elsewhere. That's how he was convinced by R’es Eda to frame J'onn J'onzz for treason and march the military to conquer the city of Baltaz. A shame that N'orr's last memory was of dying, his flesh mottled by Baltaz's toxic atmosphere. Cott had been given a second life, and here was the author of his demise, R'es Eda, approaching with sword drawn. Perhaps there would be a different fatality in this draft of the story...

Libra felt a pang of despair from the sense of being near to his lord god Darkseid, but too far to feel the soothing chill of his presence in this barren, dusky land. Closer were a slew of villains who could perhaps be swayed to join him in service, but the more immediate concern was shelter. Approaching a cave, Libra saw a robed, elderly figure emerge. The Wizard Diabolu was master of his own menagerie of monstrocities, and had no interest in Libra's evangelism. With the turn of a key, Diabolu opened his Idol-Head...

The Mercurian felt no discomfort under the desert heat, as you've never seen fire until you've seen Mercury rise. Still, the bloody winds blew copper sand that blinded and scoured flesh. The ground became unsteady under his feet, as twin aliens of a similar red hue over a dune attempted to force back the assault on their large, vulnerable eyes. Jeepers creepers, the Mercurian wondered how these Invaders from the Space Warp would react to ray blast between them...

The Human Squirrel scampered across the sands toward a rocky ridge. He never once considered shedding his suit, so impractical but essential to his identity. His fur was damp with sweat, and things were about to get hotter. Mike Miller was just as married to his suit, at least as long as it sheltered him from the environment. He might not be the biggest or best super-villain, but he figured The Human Flame could at least roast an oversized rodent...

Round One
Bel Juz vs. The Martian Criminal
The Renegades of Mars vs. The Martian Mandrills
Tybalt Bak'sar vs. The Prophet
Malador vs. Strega
Doctor Samedi vs. The Devil Men of Pluto
Doctor Light vs. Triumph
N’orr Cott vs. R’es Eda
Libra vs. Diabolu the Wizard and his Idol-Head
The Mercurian vs. The Invaders From the Space Warp
The Human Squirrel vs. The Human Flame