tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620698560611640068.post7937964208194763211..comments2024-03-21T06:36:04.196-05:00Comments on The Idol-Head of Diabolu, a Martian Manhunter blog: 2010 When Words Collide: THE SUPERHERO PANTHEON: PART TWODiabolu Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685199809207954223noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620698560611640068.post-35841345720501517382010-08-26T22:07:48.199-05:002010-08-26T22:07:48.199-05:00Great analysis! Thanks for referencing my discussi...Great analysis! Thanks for referencing my discussion with Tim Callahan on CBR. You've definitely given me much to think about regarding the "soul" of the JLA.<br /><br />Steven Withrow<br />http://cracklesofspeech.blogspot.comSteven Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424518148189688086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620698560611640068.post-30661137157447171572010-08-26T12:04:08.017-05:002010-08-26T12:04:08.017-05:00I think that it would take a radical rethinking to...I think that it would take a radical rethinking to get J'Onn up to the iconic level. Perhaps there needs to be equal emphasis on his alien nature, his powers, and his personality. For example, J'Onn is very compassionate, but has been able to take down some very powerful figures in the DC Universe. In addition to a redesign (not sure what would work), a few moments of awesomeness might be required. One could be proving that he is as sharp as Batman. Another could be telling a possessed Superman: "You are my friend and I hate doing this, but someone has to stop you. NOW!!" and then beats the Man of Steel senseless -- or back into his old self.<br /><br />J'Onn is a challenge, but there is such a wealth of material to work with that a truly talented writer and artist team could do something remarkable. I am not sure that it will happen.will_in_chicagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01468337654400802576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620698560611640068.post-55423391082741076612010-08-26T10:40:09.042-05:002010-08-26T10:40:09.042-05:00I think your earlier post about his being the patr...I think your earlier post about his being the patron saint of loser superheroes is very applicable here. Not everyone needs to be Bruce Willis or George Clooney. Some can be William H Macy or Jason Statham. <br /><br />The pantheon of gods in most traditions is filled with many lesser gods. No reason our modern pantheon would be any different.mathematicscorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439579069513071094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620698560611640068.post-71144666992086173472010-08-26T01:00:10.395-05:002010-08-26T01:00:10.395-05:00Cool article, Frank, and insightful as usual.
Of ...Cool article, Frank, and insightful as usual.<br /><br />Of course part of the problem is that nobody can define who the Martian Manhunter really is. I've tried, but I think it's just as impossible as traveling faster than light. Part of the reason is that, I'm guessing, when he was created he probably wasn't meant to have that much mileage, and he just kind of hung around because he was there.<br /><br />But I'm wondering if the setting for J'onn's exploits were different, if that would somehow focus his character a bit more. The colonizing Mars comment is what made me think of that. Then I thought of Darwyn Cooke's interpretation of the naive do-gooder who basically up and decides to be a good guy just for the sake of being good. Even though that's admirable (how many of us decide to be good and follow through with it on a daily basis?) that doesn't seem all that Earth-shattering, since it was easy for him to be a cop with the ability to pass as human.<br /><br />Okay, so then I started thinking American Secrets, and not to beat a dead horse because I always bring that series up, if the setting is tweaked to the 1950's height-of-the-Cold-War (the same era that produced the Twilight Zone), things change a little. It's still easy for him to <i>choose</i> to be a good guy, but it's harder to <i>execute</i> if he's always watching his back. If the sci-fi/fantastical element was pumped up a bit to a Twilight Zone-esque morality play reflecting the nature of humanity (i.e. people are rotten to one another) vs. the nature of a Martian (a pretty decent guy), then I think J'onzz could shine a little brighter. I just don't think people like to be reminded of how crummy we are as a species, and J'onn just reminds us of that. (Somehow Superman gets a pass and is still what we aspire to be.)<br /><br />I"m still not sure if he could break the archetypal glass ceiling even with the right tone/setting. I'm not sure if his concept is focused enough for that. But I'm thinking really strict Joseph Campbell-esque when I say "archetypal." Only Batman and Superman make the cut with those kind of standards, which is why they're part of our culture.LissBirdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17059648604602469375noreply@blogger.com