Breach #4 (June, 2005)

Following energy eruptions detected in South Africa, Superman and the Martian Manhunter were surprised to find themselves surrounded by U.S. Army troops pointing guns at them. Captain Yoshiba asked what the heroes were doing in the area, and while Superman explained, J'Onn J'Onzz reached out telepathically to Major Tim Zanetti, a primary source of the unusual energy.

Zanetti had lost decades of his life after coming into contact with other-dimensional forces that fundamentally altered his being. Zanetti mocked the heroes, who had emerged during his coma. In the first of several instances, J'Onn J'Onzz's telepathic eavesdropping was represented visually through the Martian pantomiming the Major's motions a panel apart. Superman was clearly stalling as he tried to reason with the intractable Captain Yoshiba. J'Onzz asked about "that being," and Dr. Paul Chambers began to answer "Mr. Manhunter, sir--" but was silenced by the captain. "That is classified information, sir. And JLA or not, it will remain classified." Superman didn't figure Captain Yoshiba liked him much, and in the absence of a clear threat, the JLA would have to leave. Batman, sneaking about in the distance, found traces of a prior battle with the terrorist organization Kobra.



The Martian Manhunter was concerned about this being touched by the breach. "A hidden threat is often the most lethal. I tell you... something is going on here. And it centers on that individual. From the moment we arrived, I sensed powerful thoughts, thoughts that concern me. At times, unfocused, on the edge of perception. But then moments of frightening clarity... that sears like fire." As the Manhunter flew off without warning back toward the army, Superman shouted "J'ONN!" Yoshiba started freaking out, demanding to contact General McClellan about the situation.

Zanetti's fellow breach casualty, the malevolent Herdsman, opened a wormhole that the Major could sense. Zanetti reacted very badly to the dimensional shift, and could not be calmed by his handlers. A voice was heard amongst the soldiers surrounding Zanetti, and a translucent blue cape slowly began to appear, until the form of the Manhunter from Mars stood between them and the Major. "So. As I suspected... you were the source of the energy disturbance we detected. Intriguing. Your thoughts burn brightly through you. I feel their heat. They are chaotic, a mass of conflict and pain. They do not... belong. Thus, I ask you... before anyone is injured... stop."

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The Major somehow knew the Herdsman wasn't dead, "I know he has brought others with him. And I know this refugee from a bad drive-in movie wants to stop me. Which makes him my enemy. And enemies are to be-- destroyed!" Tim halfway liquified the Alien Atlas with an energy blast. "You said you felt my thoughts? And you still wanted to stop me? What kind of monster are you!?" The kind whose injury would justify the Man of Steel popping Tim in the kisser. A battle ensued, and though Zanetti performed well, Superman ultimately reined him in.

Batman draped a cape over a haggard looking Natural form Martian, and Kal-El asked if he was all right. "I am... coalescing." As for Tim, "I could not read him precisely, my friend. I only know beneath the intense chaos of his thoughts... there is a dark core that threatens to grow and overwhelm him." Regardless, the Flash radioed Batman to tell the team the Pentagon had ordered their immediate evacuation. Superman planned to keep an eye on the operation though, as "They're in over their heads..."

"Heroes" was by Bob Harras, Marcos Martin and Alvaro Lopez. Where Captain Atom was Steve Ditko at his earliest and most commercially mainstream, Martin does an excellent job of gently tapping the vein of divine weirdness Ditko mastered in the late Silver and Bronze Ages. He also works a fine looking on-model Martian Manhunter. Harras does a great job of making everyone on the scene wrong and right, really testing the loyalties of the reader. A good issue all around, and if you'd like to read more, check out Breach @ Power of the Atom.

Martian Sightings for November, 2011

STORMWATCH #3
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA and AL BARRIONUEVO
Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
On sale NOVEMBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The moon has declared war on Earth, and now its emissaries have landed. All over the world these lunar antibodies have absorbed our buildings, our pets and our neighbors, crafting monstrous bodies to tear our world apart. Fighting on the front lines: new recruits Apollo and Midnighter. Plus, Harry Tanner – the Eminence of Blades – makes a play for power that threatens to cut Stormwatch in two!

I really enjoyed last issue's cover, and ripped into Chris Burnham's recently unveiled redux of #1, so you might figure I'd hate this. Well, I don't, aside from the tonal inconsistency and tendency of Burnham to push J'Onn J'Onzz way into the background.

DC COMICS PRESENTS: ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT #1
Written by CHUCK DIXON, KYLE BAKER and others
Art by KYLE BAKER, AARON LOPRESTI and others
Cover by TY TEMPLETON
On sale NOVEMBER 30 • 96 pg, FC, $7.99 US
A legendary “lost” comic is back! Don’t miss President Superman confronting the indignities of “Scandalgate,” the return of the Super- Sons, the Birds of Prey newspaper comic strip, the adventures of Superman’s babysitter, a classic KINGDOM COME parody, and more!

Now here's one nobody saw coming: the Eisner award winning yet pulped special from the late '90s finally in print, including the never before seen cover featured Martian Manhunter as Ziggy Stardust story.

CHASE TP
Written by D. CURTIS JOHNSON and J.H. WILLIAMS III
Art by J.H. WILLIAMS III, MICK GRAY, CHARLIE ADLARD, YANICK PAQUETTE, BOB HALL, ERIC CANETE, EDUARDO BARRETO, RICK BURCHETT, GREG SCOTT and others
Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale DECEMBER 21 • 352 pg, FC, • $29.99 US

Collecting a cult favorite series from the 1990s spotlighting the amazing artwork of J.H. Williams III, CHASE stars Agent Cameron Chase. On field assignment for the Department of Extranormal Operations, a government agency with jurisdiction over superhuman activity, she’s about to encounter some unexpected surprises, as her own mysterious powers come into play – powers she doesn’t fully understand.

This spectacular collection includes appearances by Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Martian Manhunter, Teen Titans, the Justice Society of America and more, in stories from CHASE #1-9 and #1,000,000, BATMAN #550, #1-9, DC UNIVERSE SECRET FILES #1, SECRET FILES GUIDE TO THE DC UNIVERSE 2000 #31, SUPERMAN: OUR WORLDS AT WAR SECRET FILES #1, JSA SECRET FILES #2, THE FLASH SECRET FILES #3, THE JOKER: LAST LAUGH SECRET FILES #1, BATGIRL SECRET FILES #1 and HAWKMAN SECRET FILES #1.

Wow, that is a seriously comprehensive collection of a cult favorite. I need to get back to covering these stories. Why isn't D. Curtis Johnson working, by the way?

BRIGHTEST DAY VOL. 1 TP
Written by GEOFF JOHNS and PETER J. TOMASI
Art by PATRICK GLEASON, IVAN REIS, ARDIAN SYAF and others
Cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 256 pg, FC, $19.99 US
Once dead, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Deadman, Jade, Osiris, Hawk, Captain Boomerang and Zoom must discover the mysterious reason behind their return and uncover the secret that binds them all in this title collecting issues #0-7.

Awesome! The totally irrelevant and poorly thought bestseller lead-in to nothingness is finally available is softcover!

Miss Martian

YOUNG JUSTICE #10
Written by GREG WEISMAN and KEVIN HOPS
Art and cover by CHRISTOPHER JONES
On sale NOVEMBER 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E
Captain Atom’s cold-case assignment is definitely heating up: The true killer has resurfaced to target anyone who might expose the truth about the murder of General Lemar back in 1968 – and that includes each and every member of the Team!

TINY TITANS #46
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
On sale NOVEMBER 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E
What happens when Robin is called away on a secret mission with Batman? The team will need a replacement! Enter: The Protector! Will he be welcomed with open arms? Or will someone like, say, Talon, have something to say about it? And where does Nightwing fit into all this?

TINY TITANS: THE TREEHOUSE AND BEYOND TP
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 128 pg, FC, $12.99 US
In this new collection of issues #33-38, the Tiny Titans take a look at look-alikes, meet their counterparts from another world, travel to the center of the Earth and more!
A 2011 EISNER AWARD WINNER!

SUPERGIRL: GOOD-LOOKING CORPSE TP
Written by NICK SPENCER and JAMES PEATY
Art by BERNARD CHANG, CHRISCROSS and MARC DEERING
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 176 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Someone is trying to kill the young heroes of the DC Universe in these stories from SUPERGIRL #60-67! Who is this villain, and how can Supergirl stop him? Maybe her friends can help – namely, Batgirl, Blue Beetle, Miss Martian, Static and Robin!

2011 Spitballin' Comics Miss Martian Week

What Is Spitballin' Comics?

We are a Toronto based artist collective, chalk full of comic book enthusiasts and professionals. Every week one of our members will choose a new character and each of us will provide our own interpretation of the chosen subject. We will be adding more contributors over the next few weeks and presenting you with a wide variety of subject matter. Enjoy the art.

-Michael

It's Miss Martian week, and with the relaunched Teen Titans seeing her benched and the loss of relevance that comes with Manhunter's JLA founder status being written out of continuity, It feels like an appropriate time to show Megan Morse some love.

This week, we're also welcoming our newest member, Ryan Bullard. Good to have you aboard Ryan!

-Ken

MISS MARTIAN by Ken House

MISS MARTIAN by David Cutler

MISS MARTIAN by Michael Walsh

MISS MARTIAN by meaghan carter!

MISS MARTIAN - Neil Tavares

MISS MARTIAN by Selena Goulding

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2011 Martian Manhunter Movie Fan Casting: Lance Reddick as J'Onn J'Onzz

Sometimes 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. Surprisingly little from that original forum made the transition to this blog, but I did break that one piece up into two posts back in 2007 for heroes and villains. Even in 2000, most of the actors I offered were long in the tooth, so today it's like an Octogenarian Society of America. I figure with the blog winding its way toward its fourth anniversary, and lacking the time/energy to finish up my fake 1967 Manhunter from Mars Movie or its planned sequel in the immediate future, I might stall with a fresh casting of a 2011 model.



My first duty is to recast J'Onn J'Onzz, what with my longtime favorite Avery Brooks now in his sixties. I don't know if I'll ever hear a voice besides Brooks' in my head when I read Martian Manhunter dialogue, but outside of animation, there's absolutely no way I'll ever hear it anyplace else. I've spent the last decade poo-pooing other people's selections for the role. Wizard Magazine liked Arnold Vosloo because he's tall and bald and they had no imagination. Vin Diesel comes up a lot, probably for similar reasons, but also because J'Onn J'Onzz is about the only "classic" super-hero Diesel could play. Vin should do a super-hero sometime, but I think he's too self-conscious to do it well, and he still fairly drips guido even after all these years. Hugh Keays-Byrne actually got himself cast in that Justice League 90210 thing that never got made. More recently, Jon Hamm has come up a lot, who I love, especially in period clothes. Still, I think he lacks the intensity needed for John Jones, much less a Manhunter from Mars, and there's the aspect of getting Superman's casting scraps that I don't appreciate. Someone should point out to Zack Snyder what a perfect Lex Luthor Hamm would make, though.

I thought I'd finally found a Martian Manhunter after the one-two punch of seeing Idris Elba in Kenneth Branagh's Thor and Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla. One showed the gravitas and physical presence needed for J'Onn J'Onzz, and the other the dry British humor too often neglected in the character. I also thought about the demographics, with Elba's being British helping in Europe, and the black audience he's cultivated in the States through stuff like The Wire and Obsessed. Even as I started this post, Elba was my man, until I did a bit more research.

At just under 6'3" and about 215 lbs., Idris Elba is a big guy, and I expect he could bulk up if needed, but there's still an unavoidable softness to his face. I suppose that could work for a shape-shifter, but the guy is pushing '40, and he kind of looks it. My main hang-up though was the voice. In every video clip I could find, despite clear effort, I kept hearing the limey in his American accents. Further, he seemed to try to compensate with a heavy Eastern Seaboard vibe, which wasn't doing it for me.

I finally decided to go with an internet favorite, Lance Reddick. He's actually a few years older than Elba, but the dude is cut so tight that he's got that weird indeterminate age thing going on that's vaguely alien in itself. The build is also reminiscent of both the Silver Age take on the Alien Atlas and Adam Benson's excellent suggestion of Woody Strode for a '60s movie. Reddick's voice is a bit close to Justice League Unlimited's Carl Lumbly's, which would be a plus in many books, but is thankfully not so close as to become a black mark in mine. Reddick has presence and is unnerving in his laser-focus intensity. The guy looks great in a suit, and I bet his appearance would translate very well to CGI. Most importantly, I see him working as both John Jones and J'Onn J'Onzz. I think he's the guy.

Diabolic Movie Fan Casting

• Aquaman 2011 @ Justice League Detroit
• The Atom (Ray Palmer) 2011 @ Power of the Atom
• The Huntress 2011 @ DC Bloodlines
• Wonder Woman 2011 @ Diana Prince

Post-Pointal Discussion: The Cover To Stormwatch #1 Revealed

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

By David Hyde

When we first released the covers for DC Comics-The New 52, we held off on unveiling the STORMWATCH #1 cover to maintain the mystery of who was on the Stormwatch team.

Now, take an exclusive first look at Chris Burnham’s cover for STORMWATCH #1. The issue will be available in stores and digitally on September 7th.

I think the burning question on all our minds, and this relates to the whole of the New 52, is "Why?" Also, often, "what were they thinking?"

You see, I was intrigued by the prospect of the Martian Manhunter joining Stormwatch, a United Nations sanctioned super team that was something like a serious version of the JLI. Especially once it was revealed that the Manhunter-less Justice League would flash backwards five years to the new origin of the team, it would have been neat for Stormwatch to follow suit. J'Onn working alongside Winter and Fahrenheit and Fuji and the rest, with maybe a Global Guardian or two thrown in for flavor. Then you could flash forward to the new status quo with J'Onn recruiting Wildstorm heavy hitters Apollo and Midnighter to the team. We already knew Jack Hawksmoor was team leader, and since all three started out in Stormwatch before forming the Authority, you already had a ready made spin-off in the works. If the Martian Manhunter is more of a by-the-book, peaceful heroic type against the fascist socialism of the other leads, we would be bound to see a schism into two teams eventually. It makes sense to launch Stormwatch with Wildstorm's most popular characters, then evolve from there. Plus, it made for a very solid cover that would naturally appeal to fans of guys like Bryan Hitch and Frank Quitely.



As rendered, Midnighter's horrible new costume was downright tolerable, even with that ridiculous spike on his chin. Now look at the top image. It isn't terrible, and as third issue covers go, it's kind of cute. However, it sucks as a debut cover, especially following up on the solicited image. If I ordered one of those cover portfolio packages DC was soliciting, I would be pissed. Either because the advertised art was excluded, or because it was included but not the actual comic cover art, you're screwed one way or the other. Further, the first two covers as solicited match the grim tone of the interior art by Miguel Sepulveda and Al Barrionuevo, neither of whose names I will spell check by Google at my peril. The "revealed" cover sharply contrasts with not only the interiors and marketing to date, but also is garish in a way sure to display their base of Authority fans. Those guys like an air of sophistication, whereas this looks like a Marvel seriocomic mini-series starring former members of the Defenders or Champions thrown together with irony.

By the way, I don't believe I've mentioned this, but Wildstorm fans are kind of ticked off about this merger. Midnighter and Apollo were a married couple helping to raise Jenny Quantum, and now they're just meeting with the prospect of Midnighter being closeted being dangled. Wildstorm continuity is totally getting boned here, which is not endearing anyone.



Setting aside the fanboy complaints and the aesthetic dissonance this new cover represents, another excellent question is what exactly DC was trying to hide in not revealing this image. When Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1 was solicited, they tried (in vain) not to tip off the fact that Kyle Rayner was leading a group of already familiar power ring wielders. We still didn't know that Hal Boredon was going to once again lose his ring to Sinetro (or basically any opposition besides Guy Gardner,) and maybe somebody cares that the Star Sapphire rep appears to be Fatality instead of Carol Ferris. Point being, there was a reason to conceal the art and membership. With Stormwatch, why? We knew Apollo, Midnighter, Martian Manhunter, and Jack Hawksmoor was on the team straight out of the gate. The cover confirms the Engineer, Jenny Quantum, and a new character. So? We knew this from interviews and the cover to #2, which expands the membership anyway. The second cover image was also a far better debut prospect, I might add.



What do we gain from the switch in covers? Retailer and reader animosity at the deception? Guaranteed returnability at the distributor level? A less aesthetically appealing cover that turns away potential readers through art less indicative of the actual content? The revelation of a goofier looking team than promised, and a better look at J'Onn J'Onzz's increasingly worse costume? Is this just artistic license, or is DC screwing with the shape of J'Onn's head again, and what is with the endoskeletal forearm gauntlets? Dude is tucking his harem pants into his boots, which I guess kind of goes with the dhoti, but GTFO with that whole angle. Somehow, cavalier boots and trunks are seeming less hokey, y'know?

All I know is that I've been sold a bill of goods, which I have paid for in advance and spoken well of in a public forum. I'd prefer DC make this a variant, but the same art style looks to be on the third cover. It's a better piece, and I have nothing against artist Chris Burnham in general. I'm just going to be really unhappy if I have two issues of this story in a very distinctive, moody style, only to go straight super-hero with the third. It will be yet another indication that DC has made massive, controversial changes without the forethought to do the job right.

Gypsy: Her Best Covers

This one here? Not one of them...

I have a great deal of affection for Gypsy, the smart-mouthed teen runaway turned tragic figure turned Gen-X slacker. I never forgave the '90s Martian Manhunter series for not using her more, but it does seem like the lack of long-lived DC heroines not directly tied to pre-existing male heroic franchises has helped bring Gypsy to the fore. Yet, despite running three blogs that could serve as her home, Gypsy coverage always seems to fall between the cracks.

In my defense, like Vibe, there's a lot to be embarrassed about with regards to this heroine. From her slanderous m.o. to her ill-defined powers to her vague-to-dreadful costumes to her bare feet to her sleeping with a best friend's much older ex... not to mention her general lack of traction with regard to a super-hero career over the last 26 years. Still, I dig her, and despite a slew of not too appealing covers I'll be linking to, there are some bright spots.

7) Justice League Task Force #33 (March, 1996)


For some reason, I always think of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em when I see this cover. I could see M.C. Hammer wearing that JLTF uniform. Gypsy was stuck in Kitty Pryde mode by joining the "Young Adult JLA" after having served at the grown-ups table, including the crappy '90s school uniforms. Unlike Kitty Pryde, puberty seemed to punch her in the chest mighty damned hard, and the ridiculousness of them torpedos nearkly sent this cover into the dishonorables.

6) Justice League Task Force #20 (June, 1995)


This one misses the mark of a top 5 favorite because Gypsy is out of costume (which some would mark as being in her favor.) Also, it was kind of a drag that one of the most important storylines devoted to expanding Gypsy's backstory was a swipe/parody of Bram Stoker's Dracula (as in the amusingly awful Francis Ford Coppola movie, not the book.)

5) Justice League Unlimited #22 (August, 2006)


Only at Johnny DC could this happen, but still, it's terrible-original-costume Gypsy hiding behind a wall. It managed to land on the right side of the honorable/dishonorable divide, but still...

4) Birds of Prey #93 (June, 2006)


On the one hand, here's a solo Gypsy on a BoP cover. On the other, everyone, even Gypsy fans, wondered what the hell she was doing on a BoP cover. Further, she's in a stripped down version of her JSA: Classified costume, which was vague to begin with. Taking away the more eccentric aspects, Gypsy is barely recognizable, and even then not as a proper super-heroine.

3) Justice League Task Force #1 (June, 1993)


On a cover with a contorted, howling Martian Manhunter and the Flash racing away, your eyes go directly to Gypsy's exposed caramel-colored skin. God bless colorist Glenn Whitmore for sustaining the heat begun by Sal Velluto!

2) Justice League of America #259 (February, 1987)


Yes, it's Gypsy being gut shot from a sniper's bullet, but you've got to admit it's striking, and ultimately her own fault for wearing those rags.

1) Justice League Task Force #4 (September, 1993)


Not only do I love this cover, but Gypsy fights Lady Shiva inside. How's that for moving up in the world? Also, while still leaving something to be desired, this is my favorite of her many bad costumes.

Dishonorable Mentions: Justice League Task Force #20, Justice League of America #249, Justice League Task Force #32

The Vile Menagerie: CAY'AN

Real Name: Cay'an
Alter Ego: Sara Moore
Occupation: Manipulator
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: None named
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Mobile
First Appearance: Martian Manhunter #3 (as Sara Moore); Martian Manhunter #8 (full)
Height: Variable (As Sara, approximately 5'7"; As Cay'an, approximately 6'3")
Build: Athletic
Weight: Variable
Eyes: Red (as Sara, blue)
Hair: None (as Sara, red)

History:
Cay'an was a Green Martian who through unknown means survived the plague that struck down almost all sentient life on her home world, including her entire family. Cay'an recognized that Ma'alefa'ak was behind the engineered tragedy, but he was presumed dead after a final confrontation with his brother, J'Onn J'Onzz. Since J'Onzz was a Manhunter, responsible for protecting the people of Mars, Cay'an held him accountable as his brother's keeper. However, J'Onzz was teleported against his will to the planet Earth, robbing Cay'an of her planned vengeance.

Cay'an spent years searching, and upon learning J'Onn J'Onzz was on Earth, lay in wait. She began developing and implementing a massively complex scheme to draw out and isolate the Martian Manhunter. Cay'an stealthily captured a group of White Martians at some point, presumably from amongst the numbers released from the Still Zone in recent years following millenia imprisoned in the other-dimensional limbo. She then managed to brainwash the Whites into believing themselves to be Green Martians with the aid of Kuru pendants. Cay'an assumed an unknown number of human identities, including that of a rogue agent who sold the "Green" White Martians to a clandestine U.S. government research project. Cay'an's best known identity was that of Sara Moore, a scientist with S.T.A.R. Labs who secretly became romantically involved with a fellow researcher, Alex Ferguson. Whether Moore was an invented identity or a living human replaced by Cay'an is unknown.



At a point when the Justice League of America had disbanded, and the heroes Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin and Nightwing had disappeared, Cay'an initiated her plot. Above an Arizona desert research site presided over by Ferguson, Cay'an planted a Kuru Pendant inside a meteorite, and tossed it to Earth. The pendant was discovered by Ferguson, who had been in contact with D.E.O. agent William Dyer, a cover identity of J'Onn J'Onzz. Cay'an then presumably tipped her primary government contact, the head of Homeland Security. Keane sent his agent Rio Ferdinand to acquire the pendant and eliminate any obstacles with extreme prejudice. On the run from this assassin, Ferguson contacted Dyer and gave him the pendant before eventually being killed.

J'Onzz launched an investigation, but was briefly sidetracked by a battle with the mad dictator Black Adam. During their conflict, J'Onzz's psyche was fractured by a mental assault, which caused him to radically alter his public persona to more closely resemble his natural form. J'Onzz began acting erratically, expressing anti-human sentiment, and generally displaying aggressive, obsessive behavior. This caused unease among the humans J'Onzz once protected, and even his fellow super-heroes, a boon to Cay'an's plans.

The Kuru pendant led J'Onzz to the clandestine project, where he liberated the five captive Martians whom he believed were survivors of his own race. Cay'an then used her hold over the "Green" Martians to track and manipulate the Martian Manhunter, setting him directly against his former heroic allies in service to protecting the Martians. Further, Cay'an had herself placed is seeming peril in her Sara Moore persona, allowing herself to be "rescued" by the Martian Manhunter and drawn into his collective of refugees. Alienated from Earth's heroes, J'Onzz also had to contend with the reemergence of the White Martians' true identities, that being participants in a race war against J'Onzz's own. One of the White Martians was unintentionally killed, and the rest subdued by the Martian Manhunter.

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Till'all, the youngest and most idealistic of the White Martian group, retained a psychic connection to Cay'an, which J'Onzz used to lure her from out of hiding. Confronted by J'Onn J'Onzz while flying in her Sara Moore form, Cay'an finally revealed herself and her plans, before attempting to destroy J'Onzz directly. After a brief battle, Cay'an vanished following the explosion of J'Onzz's and her psionic pulses impacting against one another.

Powers:
Cay'an has exhibited the powers of telepathy, flight, shape-shifting, a superhuman physique, and a devastating psionic pulse of destructive telekinetic force out the palm of her hand. Cay'an would presumably possess the full compliment of Green Martian abilities, including invisibility, intangibility, and heightened Martian senses.

Weaknesses:
Although not been demonstrated in Cay'an, Martians generally suffer from ataxia, overwhelming fatigue, decline in powers, and potential death in the presence of open flame.

Quote: "It was your brother who unleashed the plague. Your brother who wiped out our entire civilization. You could've stopped it. You could've prevented it all... Because he was your brother, you extended him a trust that was unearned and unwise! ...Your obligation was to your people, not your brother! ...YOU SHOULD'VE KILLED HIM WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE!"

Created by A.J. Lieberman & Al Barrionuevo

Breach #3 (May, 2005)

In 2005, DC Comics had planned to offer a revised and modernized version of the old Charlton Comics character Captain Atom, whom they had purchased in the early '80s and had previously headlined a five year long solo series for the company. As seems to happen a lot when creators attempt a "mature" take on those characters (see also: Watchmen,) DC decided to go another way and have the creators simply work on a thinly disguised analog instead. Along came Breach, who soon attracted attention...

From the Watchtower on the moon, the Martian Manhunter observed, "Amazing. This is the third unidentifiable energy signature emerging out of South Africa in two days. The Pentagon told us the initial two were from an operation they were conducting. But this one is far more powerful." Batman had thought that notification was odd. "I agree. There were indications here of time/space distortion that current military technologies could not hope to achieve." Batman thought this warranted further investigation, and Superman agreed.

"The Beacon" was by Bob Harras, Marcos Martin and Alvaro Lopez. There was not a single straight on shot of the JLA heroes during this sequence, recalling how the super-heroes were treated in an old Alan Moore issue of Swamp Thing. In fact, Harras and Martin seem to be doing their level best to make the Breach series something more sophisticated and ambitious than the norm. They don't quite pull it off, landing more in the vicinity of overly self-serious, but it's still a good looking book that reads well. I plan to cover the entire run at Power of the Atom, so if this taste piques your interest, check it out.

2011 Bel Juz Commission by Brian Denham

Comicpalooza 2010 was an experience... I half remember. From the Ethan Van Sciver Zook to Humberto Ramos' and David Malki's Professor Arnold Hugo to Marat Mychaels' Commander Blanx and finally Andy Kuhn's Doctor Trap, I'm really glad my aging brain recorded some of the finer details of that con in print before flickering out on aspects. I've misspoken about a bunch of these pieces at times, so I'll have to remind myself to reference before discussing them in the future.

The reason I was looking over those posts was because I wanted to talk about the one that almost got away. As I've said many times, I was learning about the process of commissions one at a time that day. What I came to realize was that as much as I enjoyed the headshots, I was often frustrated by them, as well. When I look at that EVS Zook, for instance, I want to see the other arm, and the tummy, and the legs. Just the head and the one arm makes the piece feel incomplete. Sometimes that works, as Mychaels' Blanx looks like a presidential portrait in a nightmare Martian Oval Office, but I had the feeling that in general I'd rather pay to get more. I spent a lot of time figuring out from whom and for how much, but the only full figure I managed to score that day was Kuhn's Trap, which sounds like a euphemism, but anyway... Thanks to my indecision, I ran out of time to get a commission from Brian Denham.

Denham got his start in the mid '90s as part of Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios, but soon moved over to the Texas-based Antarctic Press, where he continues to contribute to this day. Denham has also done work for most every publisher in the game, my favorite being his pairing with Adam Warren on Iron Man: Hypervelocity. After he finished up his last pieces of the day, we chatted for a bit about his career and such. We also talked about my Vile Menagerie art project, and I showed him reference for Bel Juz, Commander Blanx, and the Marshal in anticipation of a future commission. It was not to be that year though, and we had a similar scheduling conflict at Comicpalooza 2011. Still, we kept in contact via email, resulting in this lovely $100 Bel Juz piece.

Bel Juz is of course a play on Jezebel, the "Harlot Queen." Like a lot of infamous women of history and myth, Jezebel has benefited from feminist reconsideration in the last century. Folks have sought to clarify gross misrepresentations and see the Jezebel figure through a more sympathetic light. Still, culturally a "Jezebel" remains synonymous with a woman of ill repute who leads people astray from god toward false idols and sexual immortality. That's quite a colorful interpretation of scripture, as Jezebel was a pagan queen of Israel who ran afoul of the prophet Elisha, leading to the loss of a son, a reign, and Jezebel's death by defenestration. Elisha was the prophet who wished for the deaths of 42 children via mauling by bears because they mocked his baldness. Aside from that bit of extreme prejudice, Elisha was portrayed as having incredible powers that he used for the good of the peasant against unjust authority, and held a good deal of political sway.

I mention all of this because it makes for an interesting parallel between Bel Juz and J'onn J'onzz. In her first appearance, Bel tried to lure the Moses/Christ analog Superman and the Martian Manhunter into the same slavery of alien tyrants that had befallen her fellow exiled survivors of Mars. When she reappeared years later, she was the manipulative power behind the rule of The Marshal of the Red Brotherhood, but their reign was ended and her treachery exposed by J'onn J'onzz. Perhaps it's this mirror of ancient tales passed down through the millenia that makes Bel Juz the third most important Martian Manhunter villain, and one of my personal favorites.

I've wanted a Bel Juz piece for a long time, but it needed to be from the right artist, and I feel Brian Denham was the man for the job. Denham has perfectly captured Bel Juz at her most ideal-- a mid-60s throwback to Playboy chic with cat-eye mascara, full lips, and fuller hips. Between a deceptively innocent quality and that va-va-va-voom, it's no wonder she wraps Martian leaders around her gloved fingers and sees wars fought in her name. I spent hours trying to manage a quality representation of this piece for the internet, but whether it was the subtle fine line detail or the hand coloring, I cannot do it justice here. Suffice to say that Bel Juz is definitely the Queen of the Vile Menagerie, and among my finest commissions. She was well worth the wait.

For more work by Brian Denham, look to his deviantART page.

2011 San Diego Comic-Con International Miss Martian and Artemis Cosplay

Martian Manhunter #5 (February, 2007)

Over New York City, Giggs' helicopter was shot down by Martian Vision a psychic pulse, but made a crash landing in water...

Three days later, in rural Pennsylvania, DEO agents Forlon and Kewell appeared to be murdered for a package they were carrying.

Elsewhere in the woods, the surviving Green Martians were in hiding. While J'Onn J'Onzz meditated, Dal'en had wandered off to take in the local fauna. "...The diversification in this area is incredible." Mica'kel mocked, "The first thing you find remarkable on this planet is the plant life? Maybe we should leave him?" J'Onzz led the group to an isolated, abandoned housing project. Even though this was a ready made neighborhood, J'Onn insisted that no one knew of its existence. Not even, as Telok'Telar put it, "...the one who flies, with the cape?"

Sara Moore was furious over being dragged through all the crap she'd seen only to be killed out in the middle of nowhere by these "freaks," and in reply, the Martians left her alone in a spacious bathroom to cool down. Meanwhile, the group discussed Sara, with the usual parties suspicious of her of being a spy who led the military right to their doorstep. Even Dal'en expressed concern, so that only Till'all gave the full benefit of the doubt. "I think she's overwhelmed... and scared. I think she lost someone she cared for, and now she's confused. And I think we should follow J'Onn's guidance-- until she proves she can't be trusted." J'Onzz considered the matter settled, because the child sided with him against three adults. Which is worse-- J'Onn's idea of democracy or no one's willingness to just scan Moore's mind to learn the truth after so many other psychic violations have already taken place.



The Martian Manhunter announced that he would be leaving for a few hours to reclaim the body of the deceased member of their party, Jornell, to perform Ter'Ya'Moa. Well, except I don't recall Roh'kar getting that treatment. Also, Jornell was called J'orneel in the issue where he died, but was as of this issue referred to as Sy'rann. The spirit of Jack Miller was clearly alive and well.

At the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., Rio told Keane that Giggs was dead. Keane refused to believe it without a body, but he was less motivated by optimism than paranoia. "...It means he's gone rogue... Giggs would only go missing if he chose to."

J'Onzz returned to his skyscraper penthouse, where of course the Martian's body was gone, and of course Coneheadhunter waxed on about the 22 Martian words for "home" and the 27 ones for "friend" and nowhere near enough for "maudlin."

Middleton Woods Estates Housing Development. In Pennsylvania. Yes, really. The Martian Manhunter had gagged Giggs, bound him to a chair, and beaten him enough for blood to have splattered around his mouth and turtleneck. J'Onzz wanted to know where his dear friend Jornell Sy'rann's body was, and if Giggs held out, "the amount of pain I can inflict while still keeping you alive-- is considerably more than you could ever imagine." Hold up, Dick Chicanery-- haven't we already established that J'Onzz can break through the mental conditioning of these secret agents telepathically? This book is so dumb.

J'Onzz floated up through the floor to find Mica'kel and Telok'Telar menacing Sara Moore after finding a transmitter on her. Sara swore ignorance, and J'Onzz added that the woman who had approached Moore (Rio) during an attempt to reach the media could easily have planted the device without her knowledge. Regardless, Mica'kel warned, "We put our lives in your hands, J'Onn. Now two of us are dead. You want our trust, start earning it."



Giggs managed to break loose, and demanded reciprocity for his information. Mica'kel flew Giggs through the roof. That loosened his lips. Still, everyone but J'Onn thought Sullivan Imports would be a trap. J'Onzz figured only a Martian would know about Ter'Ya'Moa, and on finding his dear friend J'orneel Sy'rann's body, was too overwhelmed to notice the trap closing. J'Onzz barely dodged the internal combustion bullets in time, then young Till'all of all people pulled him away to safety. See, even the kid faulted J'Onn's logic. The spirit of Denny O'Neil also lives on.

The Martians held another meeting at Middleton Woods Estates, where the transmitter should have led Homeland Security already, but for story contrivance. Giggs couldn't have tipped anyone to J'Onn's mission, so Dal'en offered Sara as a suspect, but J'Onn trusted her. J'Onzz wondered if perhaps the Martians had been coerced somehow while in captivity. Till'all urged him to begin Ter'Ya'Moa, but that would have to wait until after the autopsy. J'Onzz pointed out that Sy'rann's chest cavity had reacted differently to the flames than other parts of his body, indicating that he was infected with H'ronmeer's Plague. After 53 straight days of setting purification fires for the dead of Mars, J'Onzz knew the signs well. J'Onn chalked it up to part of the experiments the group had been subjected to, possibly to develop a strain of the plague that would work on J'Onn J'Onzz.

Mica'kel and Till'all had enough of this bull, and wanted to bug off to another world. "The longer we remain on this planet, the more danger we're in. This is not out home." Being with his people reminded J'Onn it wasn't his either, but he felt he owed it to the good people of Earth to stick around, conscripting the rest of the Martians into doing the same. J'Onzz also wanted Dal'en to perform tests to determine who amongst them might be infected, or have the antidote within themselves. "What? No, I'm an academic. Maybe I could formulate a theory, but to actually synthesize a working antidote... I'm not capable." However, Sara Moore knew someone who perhaps could.



J'Onn J'Onzz and Till'all went for a walk in the woods, and the elder congratulated the junior's bravery in standing up to Mica'kel and Telok'Telar in defense of Sara. "Till'all, it's no secret Sy'rann was the voice of reason among the group. With him gone, I am going to need to know I can count on you." Y'know, the kid, who I can't recall whether it's yet been established is Mica'kel son. No mention of Dal'en, an even-tempered adult, perhaps because any mature mind would recognize that J'Onzz had not made a single good decision since freeing the group. Anyway, J'Onn was impressed that the boy still had a good heart. Till'all replied, "Growing up I heard stories of you. Now that I know you, I know they must all be true." You mean, like all the ones where he folds like a card table to make Superman look good?

Intuition suddenly struck the Martian Detective, "The most human of traits... It's what makes Bruce so effective as Batman." No longer blinded by what he didn't want to face, J'Onn reasoned that all the information in the world wouldn't matter without someone intimately knowledgeable in all things Martian. "Someone who knew me like no one else on Earth. Scorch."

Scorch?

Scorch.

Really... Scorch?

Scorch. Really.

God, this series is so dumb.



S.T.A.R. Labs Eastern Metahuman Detention/Research Facility. The Green Martian posse rolled up, only to learn the DEO had ordered her transfer "last night." In her place was the tossed together Justice League that skipped an issue after their cliffhanger appearance, which I don't think is how that sort of thing is supposed to work. Anyway, it's the Vixen, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Zatanna and Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Two people who nearly got J'Onn killed when he was unjustly accused in JLA: Year One. Another two who were among the survivors of the duration of Justice League Detroit, at least one of which having formed a close bond with J'Onn. Finally, Oliver Queen, one of J'Onn's biggest cheerleaders over the years, and the anti-Big Brother ultraliberal acting as an errand boy for Homeland Security. Totally makes sense as a Martian Manhunter hunting party.

These dear friends gave J'Onn exactly three panels as a chance to "explain himself" before one attacked without provocation... Vixen, whom J'Onn had previously hugged it out with during a Justice League International/Suicide Squad slugfest. His last words were "I'm not protecting them... I rescued them." Let's not forget that Vixen would be well aware that she has vixen powers, while the Martian Manhunter has Superman powers that make him pretty much impervious to any devastating "scratching" attacks. The Justice League followed through on this imbecility, and their group was defeated by the Martians... off-panel. Same Martians with well known flame weaknesses who were too weak to fend off some military helicopters. "...The battle is short, the injuries minimal. Little comfort though that brings me." Yeah, me neither. I'd trade in this entire moronic mini-series to see this one fight play out. But hey, it's not like you built it up for two issues and made it the cover feature on one. Oh, wait...

As it turned out, Scorch was the package carried by the two murdered DEO agents, and even though they had been immolated, Scorch was not the culprit. The Sleuth from Outer Space determined that it was instead the work of a Green Martian. I always knew Scorch was red, and this is the second time she's also been a herring. I love her being eliminated through the scientific process of "'cuz." Meanwhile, back at Middleton Woods Estates, Giggs got loose and made a break for it. Since this series' artist loves to use obscuring angles, you would be forgiven for not noticing that only J'Onn, Mica'kel and Telok'Telar had gone to beat up a Justice League. Giggs ran toward a large fire where Keane appeared to be standing. It turned out to be Dal'en, and he didn't look too friendly...

"The Others Among Us Part 5" was by A.J. Lieberman, Al Barrionuevo and Bit. Scorch? Will not come up again. Dal'en standing next to a fire? Nope. Story logic? After five issues of paranoid dream logic, you should know better...

Brave New World

• Doom Patrol #5 (February, 2010) @ DC Bloodlines
• Wonder Woman Annual #1 (November, 2007) @ Diana Prince
• Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #45 (November, 2006) @ Justice League Detroit
• Breach #5 (July, 2005) @ Power of the Atom
• The All New Atom #5 @ The Tiny Titan

Zatara in Action Comics #16 (September, 1939)

"Walking in the country one night, Zatara and Tong pause to look at a man who stands in the moonlight..." They noticed that any part of the farmer that came in contact with a moonbeam was turned to mist, and suddenly the fellow was being swept off the Earth against his will. Zatara conjured magic hands through backward speech to catch the farmer, then questioned the man. The farmer was disoriented, having been immaterial, but never losing his senses during the change. Zatara decided that they should consult his scientist friend Djersinsky, who was aware that Harron in England was experimenting with such a principle. The idea was to convert a man to "cosmic molecules" and transfer the weightless being across planets, but it was only theoretical. Zatara thought this was unreal, "but adventurous," and vowed to investigate fully.

Back at the farm the next night, Tong was shot in the shoulder by a would-be assassin looking to deal with these "meddlers." Zatara caused his arms to freakishly extend and "sic" the gunman. Zatara then made the goon see visions of ghouls surrounding him as a means of extorting information. Zatara was magically able to see what happened as the man spoke. The gunman had been confronted by a glowing triangular being that communicated directly with his mind. "You want to be given food- or else you'll burn me to a crisp by a touch of your queer body!" The gunman directed Zatara to the observatory where the alien had first arrived, and from which he had sent food to some elsewhere.



Zatara met with Gorla, the triangle creature, who demanded obedience. The Master Magician tried to read its mind, but was left reeling as if struck by a physical blow. For centuries, Gorla's planetmen had been forming a small pool that would help the aliens transmit themselves anywhere in the universe. Zatara was placed in this pool, and sent to the mother planet Saturn, where he would serve as a sample Earthman for their ruler Ool. The method of transport was beyond Zatara's knowledge or ability to affect, so he passively traveled to Saturn.

Once there, Zatara was bound by a green alien with "A lasso! This is something I can understand, at least." Zatara commanded "Ossal flesruoy," and the alien was himself lassoed, rather than the magician. Poora was surprised Gorla had sent such a dangerous Earthling back home, but agreed to take Zatara to Ool. "He will know how to handle you!"

Poora revealed that Saturn had once been covered in water and navigated by great sailors, but since drying up was left as nothing but sandy sea bottom. Tests were being conducted to determine if Earth was inhabitable, and if so, all of Saturn would migrate there. The "grand and noble" city of Ool yet stood. "Look how its walls and towers gleam in the sun!" Zatara released Poora so that he could command the city's guards to clear a path to his father. Poora was concerned about Ool's anger should they catch him in the midst of one of his experiments.



Ool was in contact with Gorla, and although surprised by his strange appearance, was pleased the scout could confirm Earth's habitability. A guard then alerted mighty Ool of his son's arrival with Zatara, and the ruler looked forward to meeting a foolish Earthling. Zatara tried to negotiate a peace pact, but Ool mocked the magician and proclaimed, "Know that I, Ool, command- and you obey!" The Saturnians are really big on dominance and S&M imagery, something that would turn up again in Jemm, Son of Saturn.

Zatara continued trying to make nice with Ool, but upon threat of imprisonment, turned the tables on the ruler of Saturn. When reversed words caused the city of Ool to disappear, the leader yet refused to relent. "I- I'll have your blood for this, Earthman!" Zatara showed Ool visions of a revived Saturn, and Ool tried to stab the magician to death. Zatara simply vanished, and Poora attempted to sooth his father's fury. Ool cursed Gorla for sending such a powerful opponent, and when Zatara and the city reappeared, Ool continued his attempts on the magician's life through a guard's chucked spear.



Zatara had enough of this nonsense, and proceeded to initiate a protracted regimen of humiliation and demonstration to finally cow Ool into accepting his defeat, ending with a vision of Saturn's destruction. Ool ordered Gorla's return from Earth and the cessation of all activities there. Upon returning, Gorla reverted back to his normal form. Ool saw Zatara as a "god like friend" after the magician constructed an "irrigation canal system" to help Saturn produce vegetation anew, as well as instruction on how to build more. Zatara then bid Saturn adieu, returning to his wounded manservant Tong, who was still laying in the grass. Zatara figured Djersinsky would never believe his tale, but thought he might share it with his more accepting readers in "Action Comics!"

"Zatara the Master Magician and the Terror from Saturn" was produced by Fred Guardineer.

More Blasts From The Past

• Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #3 (March, 1940)
• Wonder Woman in Sensation Comics #1 (January, 1942)

DCnÜ Domino Dancing: Bloodwynd

It's really hard not to throw an umlaut at Bloodwynd when I have one ready to copy and paste. Blüdwynd! I realize that would actually convert it phonetically to "Blued-wind," but it isn't as if the "y" doesn't already render that terrible name extra ridiculous. By the way, if any more websites want to steal the top image (you're welcome BTW,) please be aware of what should be obvious: that it was hacked together out of multiple Bart Sears images and some really shoddy MS Paint action as an April Fool's gag. There was even a CBR thread at one point wondering why the series hadn't ever come out. Poor bastards.

I'll save the relative lack of merits of Bloodwynd for another time, though. The reason I bring him up is because a thought occurred to me this week following response to my posting a Comicpalooza 2011 commission of the dude. See, beginning with the Zero Hour timeline established in the mid-90s, the modern DC "heroic age" began with the first appearance of Superman something like 12 to 15 years ago on a sliding scale. That's a bit much, and was mostly due to excesses like delaying Robin's debut until three years in and the entire year everyone took off during 52. The timeline was in need of Slimfast to get it down to below a decade, but the sequence of events was fair enough. DCnÜ promises that Superman's entire career now only spans five years, which casts serious doubts over huge swaths of old DC history in hopes of a shiny nÜ one. We're not even sure if Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and/or Tim Drake ever served as a Robin, so what are the odds a derivative, forgettable character like Bloodwynd even exists anymore?

Pretty decent, surprisingly. When asked about which Superman stories were still in the cannon, a senior editor (Eddie Berganza?) stated only one tale outside the most basic mythos, "The Death of Superman." I'm sure a relatively recent direct-to-DVD animated movie and its being one of the best selling comic stories of all time played into that. In fact, one of Bloodwynd's saving graces is that he became among the most visible black super-heroes by virtue of his relatively prominent appearance in that story, courtesy of creator Dan Jurgens. Of course, seeing as this is the DCnÜ, can we look forward to a Post-Flashpoint revision in the manner that so many major reworkings of Pre-Crisis stories played out? Was it now our own Martian Manhunter standing with Superman near the end (before conveniently vanishing to "recover from injuries" until Doomsday was dead?) Seeing as we have a DCnÜ Justice League International title by (once again) Dan Jurgens, there's something of an inside source with a vested interest in preserving the story as is. Still, worth pondering. Do you think "The Death of Superman" as presented is immutable, and if not, how do you see it playing out in nÜ-vision?

1999 Fanzing Interview With John Ostrander

Fanzing was an online DC fan "magazine" from 1997-2003.

John Ostrander:
The Interview
by Michael Hutchison

Fanzing: First of all, John, thanks for the interview! Let's start off with questions about your current project, Martian Manhunter. What made you want to handle the green guy as your next commitment after your run on Spectre?

John Ostrander: The fact that he was green helped. Tom and I seem to have decided to only work on characters that are green. Okay, I'll get serious. Well, a LITTLE more serious. Tom and I wanted to do something completely different from the Spectre; we didn't want readers thinking we were just a one-trick pony. We also wanted to do a superhero; we hadn't done a straight forward superhero in a while. J'Onn was intriguing because he was a major player in the JLA yet, at the same time, seemed undefined in many ways. Not everything was cut and dried about his continuity. We felt we had room to add something to the character. And he is one of the most powerful beings in the DCU. So we lobbied for him and got him.

Fanzing: Martian Manhunter is rather unique in that, so far, there is NO supporting cast, just guest stars like the JLA and Agent Cameron Chase. Is that intentional (in keeping with the solitary nature of the hero) or are you planning to bring in some characters in the future?

John Ostrander: No, we definitely plan to have a supporting cast for him in the not too distant future. It's been a little tough because he has all these alter-egos. Do you build a supporting cast for each one? Do you focus only on a few? We've had the JLA really be J'Onn's supporting cast for awhile but it's time we got him one of his own.

Fanzing: JLA's Rock of Ages featured the new Injustice Gang which seemed to unintentionally highlight the fact that J'onn has never had an arch-enemy. One of the remarkable aspects of your series is the introduction of a Martian Manhunter Rogue's Gallery. Is this a priority for you in developing the book?

John Ostrander: Absolutely. To me, it's been one of the flaws of the character over the years -- his lack of his own Rogues' Gallery. Good villains define the hero and J'Onn needs his -- especially an archenemy. I think Malefic came pretty close to this.

Fanzing: Is J'onn immortal?

John Ostrander: Complicated question. Certainly, we've seen him merge with the planet and he seems to be long lived, probably part of being a shapechanger. Is his merging with the planet Mars a result of his contact with the Source? I would say yes. J'Onn is certainly long lived but that doesn't mean he couldn't be killed, in my opinion.

Fanzing: For once and for all…can J'onn breathe in space or can't he?

John Ostrander:does J'Onn need to breathe?

Fanzing: Good point…and in thinking about it, probably a moot one. I was thinking of J'onn's old origins in which he was trapped on Earth without a way back to Mars, which was thriving at the time. At that time, IF he could fly and survive in space, it's odd that he wouldn't have just flown home. And he has been shown wearing a spacesuit in the past. But none of that really gibes with the current series.

John Ostrander: The real question then would be not can J'Onn BREATHE in sapce but can he FLY in space without a spaceship? We have seen him use a spaceship to get to Mars. The answer would seem to be -- he can't or not far. Actually, Tom and I have postulated that his ability to fly is based more on manipulation of a planet's magnetic fields but that hasn't appeared in the book yet so you could say it isn't canonical. Yet.

Fanzing: By the way, Dr. Erdel (and he was John Erdel and Saul Erdel…I don't remember his current name) was revealed to have survived in the first MM mini-series and reunited with J'onn. The current version collapsed; did he die or will he be showing up?

John Ostrander: I like him. Expect him back.

Fanzing: What do you have planned for this next year of Martian Manhunter?

John Ostrander: Well, following two fill-in stories in issues 10 and 11 (fill in artists; I'm still writing), issue 12 ties in with the Day of Judgment crossover, and then we launch on a four part story called THE RINGS OF SATURN. Very space opera type stuff and featuring Jemm, Son of Saturn. Then we'll resolve the whole DEO storyline. Beyond that I can't really say without giving other things away.

Fanzing: On the one hand, you've delved into a lot of DC history such as Argent, Suicide Squad, Mark Shaw, etc. On the other hand, you told me in an earlier e-mail that you felt free to contradict Martian Manhunter's earlier mini-series because it was published in 1987. How important to you is a comic character's history?

John Ostrander: It's always important to a certain degree but I don't want it to be stifling. I like to weave ELEMENTS of a character's history into my stories; in so doing, I think I play fair with the old readers. However, I also insist on re-interpreting some of the old data, see what new light it can shed on the character. I'm more interested in a character making sense than in a slavish devotion to past continuity. They told their stories; I'm telling mine.

Fanzing: Like the Zo'ok, a plant which makes up J'onn's costume, but is obviously an homage to Zook, his old pal in the Detective Comics?

John Ostrander: Essentially, that's as much Zook as you're going to get in this series but -- yes, it's a homage.

Fanzing: But don't you think this is something of a disservice to the readers who have stuck with a character for longer than a year or two as well as to the writers who came before you, whether the subject is Hawkman or Spectre or Martian Manhunter or Firestorm? Couldn't you more or less do your "take" without wiping out what's gone before? I can appreciate that it is sometimes necessary if the previous history is wildly inconsistent, but this isn't always the case.

John Ostrander: My first obligation to the reader is a good story and sometimes that means breaking with past continuity. I don't HATE continuity; actually, I've been very good with it overall. Better than many other writers have been or are willing to be. I try to keep faith with past continuity without letting it tie my hands. Slavish devotion to continuity is like cultivating kudzu; it's going to strangle everything ele you do. With SPECTRE, which continuity do I keep with? The Fleischer/Aparo one? The Moench/Whoever one? Keep in mind that they all got canceled. What I tried to do was use ELEMENTS of each while making a cohesive whole. With Firestorm, I kept to continuity but developed the storyline. With Hawkman -- well, that was an editorial decision that was out of my hands and a given before I came on the book. I later tried to reconcile the continuity as best I could. So I'm respectful of it and past fans but I don't worship it and I won't be hung by it and I think that's playing fair. I was a fan before I was a writer and I go way back so I appreciate the old fan and their concerns but sacrificing new readers to satisfy continuity is, I feel, a big mistake. So I choose a middle path as best I can.

Doom Patrol #2 (September, 2004)

Flashback: That part where the enlarged Rita fell through a wall? Happened again. The new kids joined the fight, with Vortex being clever enough to create a portal toward a solar light source. Unfortunately, while in possession of metahuman bodies, the vampires were safe from the sun.

Presently: The Chief explained to Nudge and Faith how to separate the vampires from the metahumans, the sun hit the bloodsuckers, and they erupted in flames. The punk kid teleported to Castle Crucifer with Negative Man in pursuit. Larry continued talking amongst the Patrol about the stuff he was doing as Negative Man, until the pain of separation caused the energy wraith to go crazy. The Doom Patrol followed up, and found Green Lantern John Stewart trying to contain Negative Man while Batman saw to Martian Manhunter. With Larry's arrival, the wraith settled down, and returned to Trainor. Larry was concerned about the attack on Manhunter. "Fortunately, I was able to render myself intangible just at the moment he struck at me. He did no damage." Come to think of it, most of that was still a flashback, after all.



The punk kid wormhole guy tossed Batman aside and tried to escape, but Rita Farr had figured him out through subtle clues, and killed the vampire with sunlight. The Sleuth from Outer Space offered, "Excellent deductive reasoning, Miss Farr. My compliments." Trainor apologized for the attack on J'Onzz, and everyone went their separate ways on good terms. Bruce Wayne later blew twelve million dollars buying Castle Crucifer and having Green Lantern tear it down.

In the aftermath, Faith remained to train Nudge in the use of her powers, and Rita told the Chief that her group had decided not to rat him out for using Nudge as bait. "It's not something you are ever going to do again."

"Hearts of Darkness" was by John Byrne with Doug Hazelwood. The book remained all exposition, yet little plot and no soul. Byrne's trying to be clever with the timeline by visiting different areas at different points, but it just feels like two issues of wheels spinning.