JLA #119 (Late Nov. 2005)

The JLA appeared from nowhere to pile on Despero, but Black Canery was the first of several to join the Alien Atlas in putting Superman in a choke hold, or the Dark Knight in slugging Hal Jordan. All but Catwoman, Hawkman, and Superman were possessed, with the latter wavering. A reconstructed Red Tornado came to the rescue, followed by a Zatanna whose resolve in the necessity of her actions had been girded by Wonder Woman after a brief spell on Paradise Island. The League was freed and Despero frozen in place by Zee's power.

The Manhunter asked, “How should we proceed?”
“I’ll get John Stewart. We’ll take Despero to Oa for containment.”
“I think J’Onn meant in terms of the League.”
“The League? I don’t know about you, Superman, but from what I’ve seen...?”
Green Lantern critiqued, “...there is no League. Or if there is... this isn’t it.”
Manhunter unsurprisingly protested, “That was Despero’s influence, Hal.”
“Despero took advantage of the situation, but the damage was done a long time ago. Now Batman’s quit. Wonder Woman’s not coming back. Arthur, Ollie, Dinah, Red Tornado and I haven’t been members in years. And Carter works with the J.S.A. As of now, the League is you, John Stewart, Wally, and Superman.”

The notation prompted the Flash to quit on the spot, thinking in light of all this trouble and the recent birth of his twins, he needed time away. Manhunter was clearly troubled, but Superman asserted, “You’ve managed to rebuild the team more than once, J’Onn. And when you do, I’ll be there. Until then, if you need me...”
“It’s never a matter of ‘if,’ my friends... it’s always ‘when.’”

J’Onn had been in this place before-- of seeking out heroes without enough experience or power enough to take on world class threats without casualty... because the supposed “Big Guns” were too hung up on their own problems to serve the greater good. Perhaps that was why he invisibly snuck back into the Batcave...

“You might as well show yourself, J’Onn. I can hear your breathing.”
“I’m sorry to intrude... but I had to know the truth. This wasn’t just about you, was it? This was about her.”
You see, Catowoman had briefly been a member of the Secret Society, suddenly becoming an ally and more to the Dark Knight in the years that followed...
“I thought she’d changed, but... maybe it wasn’t her choice.”
Catwoman would later learn from Zatanna that in fact, no, it wasn’t entirely her decision, though mostly so.

Manhunter returned to the Watchtower, where he held a teleconference with Green Lantern John Stewart while scrutinizing monitors displaying League candidates. Zauriel, Nightwing, Vixen, Fire, Gypsy, Metamorpho, Huntress, Firestorm, Booster Gold, Hawkgirl, and Animal Man were all up, clearly showing J’Onn unwilling to compromise the League because of his own aversions. The list of options seemed to be arrived at in a past time, however, as J’Onn had to refile Blue Beetle as “deceased.”
“Ted should be here. Like a fool, I didn’t take his warnings seriously, and now... we’re being attacked by super-powered centurions... our longtime adversaries have been organized into an army... an intergalactic war has broken out... and the world of magic has been corrupted... Ted believed there was a conspiracy at work. Maybe he was right. Maybe none of this is coincidence. But who could have been powerful enough to have orchestrated--?”

At that moment, a figure arrived in the teleportation tubes the computers registered as, “Superman... I’m glad you’re here. We need to reorganize... I think there’s a possibility everything we’re facing is connected--“
“I know.”

Manhunter turned, “Wait... you’re...” J’Onzz raised his hands up in fear as energy erupted around him-- the Watchtower exploding entirely. The Infinite Crisis had begun...

"Crisis of Conscience, Conclusion" by Geoff Johns & Allan Heinberg/Chris Batista & Mark Farmer.

2003 Bill Willingham Convention Piece

Click To Enlarge

Bill Willingham got his start on The Elementals, and by 1987 was working at DC on books like Justice League Annual #1 (1987) He's currently writing Justice Society of America, as well as his popular Fables series.

Willingham did nice work on the first couple of JLI annuals, but didn't get to handle J'Onn J'Onzz during the "Bwah-hah-hah" years, so this is a look at what could have been. As an aside, I met Willingham in the mid-90s at a con, and we had a pleasant conversation about his recent work on the Huntress and Green Lantern. Good guy. His pencils here were embellished by fan inker Roland Reedy.

"Total Justice in Total Teamwork" Coloring Book: Martian Maze (1997)

I've been having fun with the mixed-up printing order in this coloring book, but I have to point out there is something of a linear story intended. While I was having scheduling issues last week, the book's writer, Richie Narvaez, left the following comment:

I actually wrote that book and may have some copies still. The gist is that the Justice League, including MM, upgrades their powers using "fractal armor." In this book, they fight Despero and Darkseid. Many hours of coloring fun ensue. There are also puzzle books and a series of children's books. The stories all tie in to each other. That's all I can remember for now.

To back him up, here's the text from this activity on page 21:

Help the Total Justice team. Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter have to save Steel and stop Darkseid. Show them the way through the Martian maze.

The team of Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Steel, as I'd guessed, landed on Mars/Mars II. Unseen here, Steel used an ocular sensor to detect the lord of Apokolips, then burrowed into the soil. Steel found his foe, but was caught at the waist by Darkseid's fractal pincer and knocked out. That's why GL and MM had to navigate the above maze, then burst in on Darkseid, who blasted Manhunter with eyebeams. So simple in hindsight, no?

JLA #117-118 (Oct.-Early Nov. 2005)

Despero used his mind-controlling third eye to force Manhunter into his natural Martian form, then drew blood when he raked J’Onn’s chest with his claws. J’Onzz knew he was outmatched, and fled the Watchtower under his own power. As I long suspected, Despero too possessed some degree of flight, and trailed the Manhunter to terra firma.

Manhunter was aflame from the friction of reentry, plaintively casting out telepathically, “Are you there...? Can you hear me? I need assistance. He is coming.” J’Onzz struck ground in San Diego with terrific impact. Despero palmed the back of J’Onn’s head and lifted him off the ground. “Why cry for help when you know I’m the only one who can hear you? Even if I weren’t dampening your telepathy, there is no one to answer the call. The League is distracted. Too busy betraying one another and protecting their own to worry about the likes of you.” Despero dug his talons into the flesh of J’Onn’s face, then locked J’Onn’s arm within the vice grip of his other hand. “Face it J’Onn... there is no one left to save you. In response, a metal rod from a construction yard speared Despero’s right shoulder. Aquaman claimed, "That’s funny Despero... I was about to say the same to you."

Despero rent Aquaman’s flesh, but the Sea King hurled him through the bow of a boat into the bay, commanding “Make. Him. Bleed.” Despero was beset by sharks, their visage and ferocity a seeming match for his own. In his element, Aquaman went for Despero’s throat, and slammed the fiend into the midst of Sub Diego. Aquaman remained focused, despite mental communication with the extant Martian Manhunter.
“Arthur.”
“J’Onn... Where’s the rest of the League?”
“Out of range. I was barely able to contact you. Remember... Despero is a telepath. If he can’t subdue you physically... he will do everything in his power to take over your mind.”
“Let him try.”

As Despero’s third eye energy blast scythed the water, Aquaman pulled his fist back for a blow that sent the destroyer back up to the surface.

The Sea King rejoined the Manhunter. “You all right?”
“I will be, once we’ve disabled Despero.”
“Just tell me how.”
“We have to shut his mind down. That’s why I came to find you. Together, our combined psionic abilities might be enough to overpower him.”
The Destroyer of Worlds challenged, “Let’s find out, shall we?”
Our pair of heroes launched their stratagem, while the Leaguers who had been “distracted” by the Secret Society of Super-Villains returned home to find the Watchtower wrecked.

J’Onn J’Onzz had seen a lot of combat in the panel gutters, which might explain why, when he and Arthur next appeared in the Batcave, they were in thrall to Despero. “I have my king... I have my rook... and now... I have my knight. Let the game begin.”

Catwoman’s claws revealed a “third eye” beneath the cowl of the suddenly adversarial Caped Crusader. “Batman is under my influence. Just like the others. Their conflicting emotions have left their minds fractured and vulnerable. Like yours, Selina Kyle. You’re fighting on the wrong side.”

“Gee, a chance to team up with an alien dictator? As tempting as that sounds-- I think I’ll pass.”
Selina managed to signal the League via the Batcomputer. Meanwhile, “I’m going to have Batman do things to you... that he never knew he was capable of. “

"Crisis of Conscience, Parts Three & Four" by Geoff Johns & Allan Heinberg/Chris Batista & Mark Farmer.

"Total Justice in Total Teamwork" Coloring Book: Fear To Tread (1997)

Page 70: Presumably, Steel had gone off alone after Darkseid on Mars, leaving the Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner shocked/concerned/etc.

2008 "The League: Past & Present" by Marcio Takara

Click To Enlarge

Art by Marcio Takara. The artist is currently working on BOOM! Studios take on Disney/Pixar's The Invincibles. Pictured (right to left) J'Onn J'Onzz, Batman, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond,) Superman, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, a particularly nice Aquaman, the Flash, and the Atom (Ray Palmer.)

JLA #115-116 (8-9/2005)

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Belle Reve Prison.
Frenchwoman Deborah Camille Darnell has lain here in a coma since her short stint as Star Sapphire ended with the Secret Society’s mindwipes. Red eyes appeared in the darkness of her room, a blue-caped figure commanding her, “Wake up.” Her costume and consciousness psychically restored, the villainess had her own demand. “You!?! Tell me! Who did this to us?”

Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. Red Tornado was nearly destroyed by animated plant life.

Opal City, Maryland. Ralph Dibney was pulled from his home before it collapsed in on him.

Gotham City. An invisible Martian inadvertently comes between Batman and a flirtatious Catwoman, in the literal sense. After apologizing, J’Onn explained, “We need to talk.”

Bodies of Justice League members that had arrived on scene to the aforementioned hot spots fell limply from the sky to the trio’s feet. Sapphire, Felix Fault, the Wizard, the Floronic Man, Chronos, and Matter Master had arrived to continue their reunion tour, with a vengeance! Batman shielded a Manhunter set on telepathically reviving his fellows while Catwoman wielded a convenient flamethrower against the Secret Society of Super-Villains. J’Onzz accomplished his task, but between Zatanna’s revelations and attacks from the Society’s warlocks against him and his, the Manhunter proclaimed, “There will be no more magic today,” eyes ablaze. “One last trick,” Felix Faust assured. “Now you see us... now you don’t.” The Society vanished without even a psychic trace. Green Arrow bemoaned the effect of even more magic there, but Manhunter wasn’t so sure.

Batman took off for the Batcave with an injured Catwoman, and was none too pleased when he was followed by a Martian and League set on making things right for the betrayal against the Darknight Detective. Batman was unforgiving, going so far as to slug Hawkman for attempting to vindicate their actions. Clearly failing here, the Leaguers suddenly remembered the threat posed by a team of superhuman criminals who knew their secret identities. “You should all go home to your loved ones. We’ll regroup later at the----Watchtower.” Manhunter’s voice had trailed off, aware of the horror of Red Tornado lying in pieces before him.

Returning to the moon, Manhunter found a terrible, corrupting presence waiting in the Monitor Womb. “J’Onn. I’m so glad you’re here. Someone has given the Secret Society their memories back. I wonder who that could’ve been...”
“DESPERO.”

“I know what you’re thinking. How could the Justice League----the people trusted more than anyone in the world----how could they have altered someone’s mind? Even I’m disappointed. After all these years of trying to destroy the League... the League will end up destroying itself. And this time, you won’t be around to fix it.”

“You underestimate me, Despero. You underestimate the League... You have from the very beginning.”

“...You violated my mind the same way Zatanna did Dr. Light’s.”

“I didn’t alter your mind. I allowed you to see what you wanted to see.”

“No need to be defensive, J’Onn... Don’t bother trying to get inside my head. Or contacting the League telepathically. I’m ready for you this time, J’Onn. And I’ve made sure your friends are otherwise engaged. So, now... it’s just you and me.”

"Crisis of Conscience, Part Two" by Geoff Johns & Allan Heinberg/Chris Batista & Mark Farmer.

Reabsorb The Absorbascon

Over a year ago, we took a look at The Absorbascon blog, and more specifically, its author Scipio's many posts related to the Martian Manhunter. Scipio has been all over Showcase Presents: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2, collecting the last solo stories of the Silver Age, since its release in May. Based on the sheer quantity of material relating to the Alien Atlas since our last visit, I figured it was about time for another link post here at the Idol-Head to direct ya'll.

Do NOT read Showcase Presents Martian Manhunter Vol. 2!
Vol. 2, and remember, you were warned!

Compassion is a human emotion, referencing House of Mystery #161.

Zook Gets No Love, which is true. The stinkin' Human Flame, who appeared in only one story for nearly fifty years, has a Wikipedia page. Zook, co-star of dozens on Silver Age tales, does not.

The Human Flame has a Mike Miller LE custom Heroclix figure. Zook does not. Instead, we have just Haikuesday with Zook.

The Story of the Human Flame, an hilarious, multi-part over-analysis of Detective Comics #274. This is so great, I've refused to do my own write-up to date.

"You think I'm scared of you?" A look at the Human Flame in Final Crisis: Run! #1.

The Villainous Tarot, a collection of a character's villains who assume specific roles that help secure the hero's place in the comic book pantheon. Basically, the opposite of Scipio's Theory of Dynastic Centerpiece. I drafted my own Tarot here, as well as a Martian Manhunter Dynasty.

Martian Manhunter Demostrates Some Heroclix Powers for You

Where in the World is the Martian Manhunter? Scipio had his conclusions about the location of J'onn's Silver Age base of operations, while I had mine.

Apex City: The Martian Manhunter Heroclix Map

The Justice League of Arcana, placing Dr. Occult in Manhunter's boots.

The Martian Manhunter is a Skrull.

The Real Reason J'onn J'onzz will Die, illustrated with flow charts.

Harvey "Two-Face" Dent argues both sides in the trial for the life of the Martian Manhunter:
The Case for Mr. Jones
The Case Against Mr. Jones

Meteorology in Apex City, a.k.a. Middletown, which suffered from a terrific amount of phenomena in the 1950s. Continued in Weather for J'onn's Funeral Services.

"Total Justice in Total Teamwork" Coloring Book: Dark Backside (1997)

Page 45: Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner plow through something earthy to catch Darkseid from behind, as the Lord of Apokolips surveys a treasure chest in some sort of cave/underground temple. I expect the duo first landed from above, possibly as part of a team featuring Steel. This may eventually involve fire, or perhaps J'Onn getting blasted with eyebeams.

It's all starting to come together now, isn't it?

JLA #115 (8/05)

“Mars.

Home.

A long time ago, my family--my entire race--was wiped out by a psychokinetic plague. I keep coming back here--searching for some trace, some remnant of my past.”

J’Onn J’Onzz stopped walking the barren red wasteland, knelt down, and scooped up a handful of sand. Rising to his feet, he allowed the granules to slip through his fingers. “But Mars doesn’t feel like home anymore. My home is somewhere else now.”

At the JLA Watchtower, Hawkman and Green Arrow were ready to come to blows. Since the death of Sue Dibney, an increasing number of people were learning of abuses carried out by the Satellite Era league, specifically as it stood from the induction of the sorceress Zatanna until that of the young and naive Firestorm. When a villain knew too much, crossed a certain line, this group would vote on performing magical alterations of personality, or worse, virtual lobotomies and forced comas. Catwoman and Flash villain the Top became “heroes” for a time due to this process. Dr. Light, on the other hand, was turned from a brilliant threat to a bungling idiot. Now, this fact had come back to Light, and by extension members of the now more far reaching Society of evil-doers. Other heroes, like the third generation Flash and Green Lantern, were also becoming accomplices after the fact as they learned the truth about their forebears. The Batman had discovered the conspiracy as it was performed on Dr. Light, and he too fell victim to a “mindwipe” of his knowledge. Wally West, after much consideration, could no longer accept that. He called most of those complicit in this string of human rights violations, and declared “...if you’re not going to tell Batman... I am.”

From the doorway of the meeting room, a Martian queried “Tell Batman what?” Hawkman tersely replied, “Nothing.” Too late, as the Manhunter suspected, “It doesn’t sound like nothing.” Flash relented, “Read our minds, J’Onn. You tell us.” His eyes pinpricks through the shadow cast by his brow, J’Onzz paused, then grimaced. “I can’t. Why?”

From out of nowhere, Hal Jordan’s voice answered, “Magic.” This Green Lantern hadn’t been a member of the Justice League since the Parallax entity had possessed him, launching him on a mass killing spree. At one point, Jordan as Parallax nearly allowed entropy to destroy the known universe as part of his plan to “fix” everything. Now free from the parasite’s influence, Green Lantern had not only returned to his original position against the mindwipes, but reconsidered his part in the conspiracy to keep the practice secret regardless.

For those keeping score, the original vote had Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Black Canary against; Zatanna, Hawkman, and the Atom for; with Flash Barry Allen breaking the tie in favor. Elongated Man abstained to care for his wife, while latecomer Batman clearly objected with batarang in hand. Retroactive continuity clouds matters a bit, as Wonder Woman would have been involved as a member at the time, but her 1987 “reboot” had the character arrive in “Man’s World” well after the stories took place. Further, in actual publishing history, J’Onn J’Onzz had quit the League (and pretty much all comics appearances) nearly a hundred issues before these events took place, but had “always” been a member Post-Crisis. How to handle the inconsistency? Bless their hearts, Zatanna’s magic kept the Manhunter in the dark and far from blame. She was an established member alongside J’Onn right through to the end of that series. J’Onzz rarely had contact with conspiracy Leaguers for another decade, and the reformed “JLA” consisted of newer or mostly unrelated teammates. High five for all the fans of characters kept clear of this moral boondoggle!

Back to the story, an increasingly agitated Manhunter demanded, “What did you have to do?” Hal told J’Onn everything, including the mass mindwipe of a whole incarnation of the Secret Society of Super-Villains who had discovered the heroes’ secret identities. Zatanna, head hung low, confessed, “But it didn’t end there. Batman tried to stop us...”
“So you did it to him, too. And to me?”
“We knew you’d never read our minds without our consent--“
Hawkman interrupted, “But we couldn’t risk your picking up the stray thoughts of some of our weaker minds...”
“So you hid the memories from me.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“And we didn’t want you undoing what we did.”
“I would never alter another person’s mind. There is no greater violation--“
Hawkman offered justification without apology, while Flash noted Batman’s increasing alienation. “We have to tell him before--“
Manhunter grimly asserted, “He knows.”
Canary found her voice to ask, “J’Onn, what are you going to do?”
“Fix it.”

"Crisis of Conscience, Part One" by Geoff Johns & Allan Heinberg/Chris Batista & Mark Farmer

"Total Justice in Total Teamwork" Coloring Book: Landing (1997)

Page 39: Martian Manhunter, his weak sauce fractal tech armor, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, and Steel at an unidentified location. Based on the two moons floating the sky though, I'm going to guess Mars II, even if it was a dozen years out of continuity by that point.

DC Challenge #8 (6/1986)

Note: In the absence of Martian Manhunter-related material in DC Challenge #7, it was not covered on this blog. You can read the full length synopsis here, or a streamlined version highlighting Detroit-Era JLA members here.

Finally, after eight issues, Batman said plain exactly what the heck had been going on. "Earth and the planet Rann are under attack by mystical forces... demons inhabiting long-dead human beings, and creatures risen out of ancient mythology. At the same time, Earth is being invaded by aliens from some cosmic organization called the Greater Galaxies... I found three 8-figure numbers scrawled on a wall at a power plant... I ran these numbers through my computer here in the Batcave... and got a result that seemed to spell a formula to bring about the end of the world. The numbers, decoded, are electro-magnetic vibrational frequencies... [if] put into operation... the resulting wave-front could crack the Earth like an eggshell." The Dark Knight Detective knew demons were involved, and headed in his Batplane for their nearest concentration point, Metropolis...

Unbeknownst to the Dark Knight, his nemesis the Joker had helped orchestrate attacks on Earth's heroes with the Greater Galaxies organization. The Clown Prince of Crime worked under the turbaned alien Kaz with the promise of kingship over Earth. Kaz explained the situation as follows:

"Project X involves the disruption of physical reality... the merging of this reality-plane with that of the netherworld. Bork and his fellow renegades of the Black Council have discovered a weakening of the cosmic fabric here in this locus... on the world you call Earth. A similar, parallel weakening is taking place on the planet Rann, of the star-system Alpha Centauri.

Bork has developed a device known as the Probability Disruptor, which feeds on red sun radiation, relayed to this world from a base on Earth's satellite, Luna. The Disruptor is destroying the protective barrier between realities at this locus. The result is an increase in the manifestation of demons on Earth... manifestations that occur normally at this locus, at periodic intervals related to phases of the moon. Bork's disruptor, however, has increased the number of manifestations a thousandfold.

Project X is upsetting the natural cosmic balance... a balance we of Molanto have worked long and hard to maintain. To save reality, Molanto, in conjunction with the Greater Galaxies organization, have invaded Earth. We have done this for the simple reason of expedience. Bork must be found. Project X must be halted. The fastest, simplest way to accomplish this is through the conquest of Earth."

Earth's super-heroes were likely to interfere, so Kaz engaged the Joker to assist in distracting them. The Joker stated, "Capturing all the heroes who'd been born off world, like Superman and J'onn J'onzz, among others-- and threatening to execute them as traitors to the Greater Galaxies-- that was my lovely idea. See, it's what we call a red herring. Now all the other heroes will be wondering what the alien heroes have to do with the alien invaders. It'll drive 'em nuts, giving us time to strike! Which brings me, oddly enough, to my final plan... I need three million tons of rubber cement, Kaz..." The Joker wanted to gum up the works in Washington. D.C., but Kaz was done with this insanity, and had the Joker locked away.

Meanwhile, Space Cabby and his passenger had made their way to Earth's moon with a message from Alanna and Sardath of Rann. The cab was struck by an energy blast, and skipped roughly across the lunar surface. Mongul then lifted the downed space cab over his head and demanded, "You will explain who sent you, human, and how you discovered the rebuilt relay station. Answer quickly... or you risk the wrath of Mongul, Master of Worlds!"

The narrator noted that without air to carry sound, it was understandable Mongul wouldn't hear a Boom Tube opening behind him. Mongul shouted, "Lies, lies! You say you come from Rann with a message for Earth-- do you take Mongul for a fool?" From behind, Metron argued, "Only a fool would disbelieve an obvious truth, Mongul. Ergo, you are a fool." The merciless former monarch asked, "Who are you?" His reply came in two forms; physically being knocked over the side of a ledge, and verbally: "I am Lightray of the New Gods, Mongul. Hello... good-bye!" A third member of the New Genesian party, Orion, caught the falling space cab with the aid of his astro-harness. Metron noted that his calculations had led the heroes to this relay station, which functioned similarly to a boom tube and allowed New Gods passage through the disrupted Plane of Holes. The group had arrived too late, however, as Earth was doomed to be shaken apart by the already broadcast destruction frequency.

"If This Is Love, Why Do My Teeth Hurt" was by Gerry Conway, Rick Hoberg, Dick Giordano and Arnie Starr. This synopsis has been edited for Martian Manhunter fans. The unabridged version is available here.

Return to DC Challenge #5 (2/1986)

"Total Justice in Total Teamwork" Coloring Book: Blasted by Darkseid (1997)

It's been 32 pages since the Manhunter from Mars valiantly attempted to hose down a flame. It's been twenty pages since that didn't pan out. Seven pages passed since J'Onn postured for Oracle with Steel and Green Lantern. Now, finally, the Alien Atlas is going to show what a Martian Miracle Man can do by... getting shot with the Omega Effect by Darkside? Yay? Completely understandable reaction from the Lord of Apokolips though, seeing as he's holding the remains of the largest Oreo ever made in his hand, and J'Onn's always up for a Choco binge!

2005 John Watson VS Trading Card Original Painted Art

I'm playing catch-up on my blog and others' since my computer went down over the weekend. Rob at The Aquaman Shrine posted a neat image of the Sea King fighting the Ocean Master by John Watson, and one inspired Google search later, I found the above Martian Manhunter piece. This was for the Upper Deck VS collectible card game, and features a nice homage to Darwyn Cooke's natural form Martian splash page from the previous year's DC: The New Frontier #2 (2004) Here's what Watson had to say:

A strong, heroic looking image. I've always thought the Martian Manhunter was a nice green.

I opted for a basic design as cards are small and often the images on them don't stand out.

For more, visit The Watson Website!

Martian Sightings for August, 2009

COSMIC ODYSSEY TP NEW PRINTING
Written by Jim Starlin
Art by Mike Mignola and Carlos Garzon
Cover by Mike Mignola
Don’t miss this new printing of the classic 1988 miniseries from Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola! COSMIC ODYSSEY assembles Superman, Batman, Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, The Demon and others — at the behest of Darkseid!
Advance-solicited; on sale September 2 • 200 pg, FC, $19.99 US

The only classic Martian Manhunter appearance this month, but it's a great one from 1988. Still a favorite of mine, even if the overall story was only so-so. J'Onn's interactions with Green Lantern John Stewart are priceless, and I really wish their relationship had been expanded afterward.

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY: THE WEDDING ALBUM TP
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang, Amanda Conner and André Coehlo
Cover by Cliff Chiang
Green Arrow and Black Canary are ready to exchange vows — but can they make it down the aisle alive? This new trade paperback collects the GA/BC WEDDING SPECIAL and the first five issues of the happy couple's monthly series and guest-stars the Justice League of America.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 16 • 176 pg, FC, $17.99 US

Conehead cameo filled with meh.

BLACKEST NIGHT

BLACKEST NIGHT #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Mauro Cacioli
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
The event of the summer continues! The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them. What are the Black Lanterns? What do they want? Will Earth's greatest heroes survive long enough to find out – or will they join the Black Lantern Corps?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Mauro Cascioli). For every 200 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 12 • 2 of 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

GREEN LANTERN #45
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Francis Manapul
BLACKEST NIGHT continues! The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires’ homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The Human Flame

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN! #4
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Freddie E. Williams II
Cover by KAKO
In this issue, someone dies! Actually, in this issue, tons of people die! If you thought RUN! was full of trashy humor and unnecessary violence before this issue – you ain’t seen nothing yet! We cause more property damage and hideous disfigurement in the first half of this issue than any other comic you’ll read this year (besides RUN! #5 and #6, because those are pretty ridiculous too). Join in the fun!
On sale August 5 • 4 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Miss Martian

TEEN TITANS #74
Written by Bryan Q. Miller; co-feature written by Sean McKeever
Art by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson; co-feature art by Yildiray Cinar & Júlio Ferreira
Cover by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
The assault against the Teen Titans continues this issue as the team struggles to even the odds. Will they be defeated by a foe with superior leadership?
And in the co-feature, Ravager is attacked in her arctic hideaway. Who wants her dead? That’s what she wants to know…
On sale August 26 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

WEDNESDAY COMICS #5-8
WEDNESDAY COMICS, DC’s spectacular 12-issue weekly series, continues to offer a comics experience unlike any other this August. In its second month, don’t miss the action in these continuing features:
• THE METAL MEN encounter a deadly guest-villain in a story written by Dan DiDio with art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.
• THE FLASH battles Gorilla Grodd and tries to date Iris West in a story written by Karl Kerschl (TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE, THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE) and Brenden Fletcher with art by Karl Kerschl.
• SUPERGIRL attempts to deal with Streaky and Krypto gone bad in a story written by Jimmy Palmiotti (JONAH HEX) with art by Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL).
• GREEN LANTERN must help a fellow test pilot whose space mission has transformed him into a monster in a story written by Kurt Busiek (TRINITY, ASTRO CITY) with art by Joe Quiñones (TEEN TITANS GO!).
• SUPERMAN questions his heroic mission while on a trip to Smallville in a story written by John Arcudi (The Mask) with art by Lee Bermejo (JOKER).
• ADAM STRANGE takes a truly twisted journey into space in a story by writer/artist Paul Pope (BATMAN: YEAR 100).
• WONDER WOMAN is lost in a dream world in search of her lost tiara, bracelets and magic lasso in a story written and illustrated by Ben Caldwell (Dare Detectives).
• THE TEEN TITANS are attacked by Trident in a story written by Eddie Berganza with art by Sean Galloway.

Plus:
• BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS’ weekly cover feature, by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso.
• METAMORPHO, written by New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman with art by Eisner Award-winner Michael Allred (Madman).
• THE DEMON AND CATWOMAN, written by Walter Simonson (Thor, MANHUNTER) with art by famed DC cover artist Brian Stelfreeze.
• DEADMAN, written by Dave Bullock and Vinton Heuck, art by Dave Bullock.
• KAMANDI, written by Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS) with art by Ryan Sook (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL).
• HAWKMAN, written and illustrated by Kyle Baker (PLASTIC MAN, Special Forces).
• SGT. ROCK, written by Adam Kubert (SUPERMAN: LAST SON), ilustrated by legendary comics artist Joe Kubert.
WEDNESDAY COMICS will arrive in stores folded twice to 7” x 10”.
Issue #5 on sale August 5; Issue #6 on sale August 12; Issue #7 on sale August 19; Issue #8 on sale August 26 5-8 of 12 • 7” x 10”, 16 pg, FC, $3.99 US