Barry Clark

Alter Ego: Barry Clark
Occupation: Impersonator
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Mobile
First Appearance: Detective Comics #298 (December, 1961)

History:
Barry Clark was once a famous impersonator whose own celebrity had faded. Hoping to make a comeback, Clark staged a new show in which he would not only impersonate the Manhunter from Mars, but appear to perform mighty feats beyond human ability. As with a magic show, this was all to be performed through trick props and slight of hand.

The night of his debut, Clark met with the real Martian Manhunter before the show, discussing his techniques as he applied make-up and costume. Clark tripped and sprained his ankle in his trailer, so J'onn J'onzz agreed to go on in his stead, relying on props rather than his Martian powers. The performance was well received, but J'onzz was put in a bind when robbers showed up at a nearby exhibit of rare royal crowns. To save the lives of security officers, J'onzz discretely foiled the crooks in their heist and attempted retreat. The gang took refuge in Barry Clark's trailer, and figuring out who stood in for the injured actor, threaten to expose Clark's fraud if he didn't provide assistance. Instead, the Alien Atlas made it appear as if Barry Clark was the "real" Martian Manhunter, and knocked out the band of thugs with none the wiser.

Powers & Weapons:
Barry Clark used numerous elaborate props to present a facsimile of Martian marvels. Clark could appear to pass through a solid block of steel intangible, but the block was really made from a self-sealing plastic. Clark could seem to fly via a thin, virtually invisible cable attached to his belt. Finally, Clark could replicate Martian Lung Power by "blowing" inflated dummies into a paddy wagon that concealed stagehands reeling them in.

Quote: "This was to be my big chance, Manhunter! I--I may as well give up forever!"

Created by Jack Miller & Joe Certa