In 2007, a six page origin sequence was put together for a Paradise Press JLU Coloring And Activity Book for Martian Manhunter. It was the first of two, the other starring Batman.
J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, is the last survivor of an ancient Martian race. The Martian Manhunter can read minds and use his shape-shifting power to turn himself into anyone-- or thing!-- he chooses.
To illustrate the point, Manhunter was shown turning into a three-headed tiger and a little old lady.
By controlling the density of the atoms in his body, he can even walk through solid walls!
Manhunter passed immaterially through a vault ceiling while Lex Luthor and the Joker pointed comically oversized firearms at him.
J'onn came to Earth to warn us of an invasion by the evil race that wiped out his own people on Mars.
Having emerged and made distance from a crashed and burning rocket ship, the natural form Martian pointed to the skies and barked as terrified onlookers in '50s garb.
J'onn helped to form a group of heroes who could fight off the invaders. This group was the Justice League!
All of the cartoon's founder but Batman were pictured, most following a Kirbyesque Manhunter's lead, but with Wonder Woman obtrusively in the foreground.
After the invaders were defeated, J'onn, his own home gone, remained on Earth.
A sorrowful J'onzz, his lip seemingly quivering, thought of his wife and daughter. A terrestrial bridge merged with memories of comet streaked night skies on Mars.
Written by Brian Augustyn, Jason Hernandez Rosenblatt and Bob Rozakis. Illustrated by Jason Armstrong, Dan Davis, Mike DeCarlo, John Delaney, Craig Rousseau and Joe Staton.
Isn't it incredible how much better everything sounds with exclamation points after it?
ReplyDeleteI like how the origin story adds (a little bit) to the story set down in the cartoon rather than repeat it.
Besides you, I wonder how many other people who bought this coloring book recognized the reference to a certain 30-year-old JLA story.
ReplyDeleteVery few would recognize this, but I do think that this was a great introduction to J'Onn for kids. (It even gets to the core tragedies of his life -- the loss of his family and his world.)
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