Artists of the Decades

At the right of this column you'll see button links to story synopsis I've written for Martian Manhunter comics of the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and aughts. All were considered "canonical" at the time they were published, as I plan to create separate sections for "Imaginary Stories." I also added too-long overviews of each decade of the Manhunter from Mars' history. To try to capture these eras, I chose a snapshot from the defining artist on the character for each decade. I thought I'd share the process...

• 50's: There was never really any doubt Joe Certa was taking this slot. The guy originated the character, defining and redefining him over his 13 years on Manhunter duty.
• 60's: Much trickier. More people were exposed to Mike Sekowsky's drawings of J'onn J'onzz than ever read a Certa story. The Justice League of America penciller definately would take it in the popular vote. However, Joe Certa spent the 60's introducing Zook, VULTURE, Marco Xavier, the Diabolu Idol-Head, and playing with his style to cover several more interpretations of his lead character. Also, while I like Sekowsky's work in general, his rendition of the Martian Manhunter is about the worst of all the Leaguers.
• 70's: A showdown between just two men-- Dick Dillon drew the first Pale Martian when he designed Commander Blanx. However, that was technically still the 60's, and his only 70's contributions to the cannon were Bel Juz, the Last Angry God, and a number of special appearances. Michael Nasser only designed N'or Cott and Re's Eda, neither of which took. However, he was responsible for both restoring the beetle-brow of J'onn's earliest appearances and his dignity as a solo character that inspired audiences. Nasser's work made Manhunter look better than ever, and readers took notice, earning him the slot.
• 80's: I gave in here. A slew of artists drew Martian Manhunter in this decade to varying degrees of success, but I could not pick one that stood head and shoulders above the rest. Mark Badger drew the first Martian Manhunter solo book ever, and designed the Natural Martian. Unfortunately, if you return to that mini-series, you'll note his abstractions so ill-defined the "Gumby" Martian, variations began to crop up immediately. Also, he drew four issues of a mini-series largely disliked by fandom. Kevin Maguire had the best shot at work gaining a huge following for the character, but he made no new contributions. Maguire's Manhunter was simply on-model, and he himself radically altered his depiction of Manhunter in later years based on his successors' innovations. Failing to select one artist, I made a nod toward Maguire & Oreo cookies, but replaced Badger with Tim Gula, who's idiosyncratic style and Natural Martian were closer to how fans remembered the mini-series than anything the actual artist produced.
• 90's: I entered this decade assuming Eduardo Barreto was a lock, seeing as he was "the" Martian Manhunter artist for most of the decade. Most of the character's solo appearances were under his pen, and he also produced models used in merchandising. However, there really aren't many pages by Barreto featuring the Martian Manhunter available, as he mostly drew John Jones, and never was a pin-up artist besides. Adam Hughes and Bart Sears influenced later artists, but worked with J'Onzz on short stints that didn't associate them overly much with the character. Sal Velluto and Mike Collins also spent a lot of time producing comic pages and card art, but their long-term impact was slight. Ultimately, I chose Howard Porter, as the sum of all these artists, plus his role in propelling the character to newfound heights later in the decade. Very tough call, though.
• 00's: The only real concern here was whether to allow Bruce Timm's animated designs in the running. I decided to stick with the comics, which meant the primary Martian Manhunter solo series artist Tom Mandrake would get the nod. Blessedly, he was tapped to draw an origin sequence for the character after Jose Ladronne redesigned Martian Manhunter for a hated mini-series. The new look had guys like Al Barrionuevo and Ethan Van Sciver in the running, but neither had the merits to rate as "the" Manhunter artist.

So, what do you folks think? Did someone get the shaft, or was I fair?

House of Mystery #158 (4/66)

"At last, J'onn J'onzz, Manhunter from Mars, catches up with the sinister Idol-Head of Diabolu! But this fateful find leads to the most astonishing adventure of his career, as he tries to thwart one and the same creature centuries apart in time-- and winds up with his own live at stake..."

"One night, the full moon, like a giant searchlight, illuminates the earth below..." Manhunter and Zook raced across a remote beach, to reach the Idol-Head before it could again open, to release another wretch from its vile menagerie! It was that time of the month again, but the pair couldn't halt a red stream emitting from the cursed box! For some unfathomable reason, Manhunter tried to manually push the crimson smoke back into the Idol-Head, rather than employ the Martian lungpower that appeared in virtually every Silver Age Justice League of America comic. "HEE! HEE! That great Manhunter-- you pushing evil thing right back where it came from!" To the dismay of both, the Martian Marvel was himself drawn into the Idol-Head with the immaterial monstrosity!

Manhunter awoke on a desolate cliffside: "Huh? Wh-where am I? Hmm... the architecture of that town over there is-- is that of Ancient Babylonia-- centuries ago!" From afar, he spied a fully-formed furry fuscia foe of the sort he'd prevented from emerging in his time. The mammoth launched explosive bolts from its triangular snout at a huddled mass of villagers! "Hold tight to your belongings, friends-- I'll get you out of here!" Manhunter bored under the ground, then carried the chunk of earth upon which the people stood to safer mooring! "I--I thought such things occurred only in our folk-legends! ...Such power! He must be one of the ancient gods!" Manhunter returned to trade blows with the beast, eventually knocking it into a ravine! "Fire away buddy-- you'll need bigger bombs than that to stop me!"

The Alien Atlas returned to the villagers, who prostrated themselves! "Do not bow before me-- I am not one of your gods!" One of the men explained to J'onzz that the creature was just one of many set upon them by Diabolu the Wizard! The man had served as the wicked sorcerer's apprentice, and tried to destroy his most dreadful construct of evil, an Idol-Head that would haunt the world even after Diabolu's passing! "You're telling me! And if I destroy the Idol-Head now, I will be stranded here forever! ...But hold on-- the Idol-Head did appear in my own time-- which means I did not destroy it? Why?" The Sleuth from Outer Space received his answer: "If you destroy the Idol-Head now-- before Diabolu has locked it up and uttered his secret incantation-- it will release all the evils inside!" The villagers returned to their homes, while J'onzz merely longed for his.

From his cave, the wizard Diabolu cursed the interloper that interfered with his plans, and intended to release another immense horror from the Idol-Head. However, the "cannon on legs" clawed its way back up from the ravine. "Ha! Ha! My creature is not finished yet!" Diabolu pumped his fist and cheered his terror on, until it appeared victorious! It began destroying the "deserted stone dwellings of the abandoned village," seemingly bringing a tear to Diabolu's eye!

"Ha, ha! He is carrying out my commands... Just as he and the other evils in the Idol-Head will wreck and destroy in the future! Enough! Before I die, I must imprison you in the Idol-Head! But hurry! Sidarre-- Omnere-- In you go... And now to seal the Idol-Head! ...Widdicare, randicott, medicott, lendicott... Now-- I-- Can-- Die-- OH-h-h-h-h-!" So the great evils were sealed into the Idol-Head by invoking the names of insurance companies and HMOs? Appropriate! "All is quiet now... a terrifying silence broken only by the slight thump made by Diabolu's head as it falls upon the table..."

Back in the present, Zook held his head in hand as he gazed into the empty Idol-Head. "Poor Manhunter! What I ever do without you? Where you now?" Sadness turned to shock as scarlet smoke billowed from the Idol-Head of Diabolu! Zook ran as the cannon creature formed and stumbled after him. "But Zook's fright turns into joyous relief" when the creature changed form into the Manhunter! "Poor Zook! I'm afraid I fooled you as completely as I tricked Diabolu into imprisoning me in the Idol-Head-- after I destroyed his creature and took its place! It was the only way I knew of returning to my own time!" Manhunter was set to tell his little friend all about it, but only after he "crunched" the Idol-Head in his bare hands! "Wheee! I never think I live to see this day, Manhunter!"

Editorial had a final statement: "Is this really the end of the Idol-Head of Diabolu? It seems so-- but you, the readers, can bring it back, if enough of you wish hard enough! Write and let us know!" I guess someone, somewhere must have clapped their hands-- because right here, the Idol-Head of Diabolu returned and continues on the daily, never mind the full moon!

"The Origin of the Diabolu Idol-Head" was written by Jack Miller and drawn by Joe Certa.

Martian Manhunter Memorial Moratorium

I've been terrible about posts the last week or so, both here and at sister blogs. Part of the problem is a physically demanding new job, as well as a slew of computer and internet complications I still haven't recovered from. However, the Idol-Head specifically has been killing my blogging enthusiasm.

The idea for the memorial month was synopsis of what I feel were among the best Martian Manhunter stories not already covered, or wrapped-up in restrictive continuity. I hope I pretty much accomplished that already. However, there was some juggling of synopsis that had complications that prevented me from posting them, and my own stupidity at not calling it a day at the end of June. In trying to tack on a "humor" week and end on a specific "House of Mystery" story, I've stretched myself too thin and caused daily posts to sputter and skip here. I'm sorry about that.

My current plan is to take a few days this week to multi-post, then spread them through the archives to plug any holes. Regardless, Monday should be the last day of synopsis posts here for a few weeks. They take a lot of time to research and write-up, get few replies, and have been known to cause hits to decrease. I'm glad that wasn't the case this month, and hope everyone enjoyed the time for remembrance. The thing is though, synopsis are a time for me to "talk," and most everyone else just "listens." DC Comics killed off a favorite character of folks who visit here, and everyone should have opportunities, if they're so inclined, to speak up about it. I'll hopefully have some more interactive fare to open up the dialogue a bit more upcoming.

Also, I hope I can work the bugs out of my scanning. My scan-fu was once strong, but I lost some components to my software that really has hobbled me. I just didn't appreciate TWAIN until it was gone, like many with their Martian Manhunter.

Anyway, this is the official "comment on Memorial Month" post, and I'll have more goodness for you on Sunday and thereafter...

1997 JLA Gallery Martian Manhunter Pin-Up by Simon Coleby

You might not think of J'Onn J'Onzz as a patriotic character, but consider this:

• Anglicized name to "John Jones" without pause.
• Though he walked the Earth in his first appearance, chose to settle here.
• Immediately looked for gainful employment as a tax-paying police officer, mostly with the civic service in mind.
• Despite repeated opportunities to return to Mars, chose to remain in Middletown, U.S.A.
• Starred in a mini-series with "American" in the title.
• Joined "Justice League of America," and remained with that branch even as the team went international.
• Spent a few years in the 60's as an expatriot, but returned to the U.S. for good.
  

Wasn't Simon Coleby a Marvel U.K. artist (I know he's done work for Wildstorm?) Goes to show that while we treat the Manhunter from Mars as just another dark-skinned immigrant, the rest of the world recognizes an American hero. That, or he's jerking our freakin' flag the heck out of his native soil. He gets uptight about that sort of thing...

Justice League America #51 (6/91)

G'nort Esplanade Gneesmacher, the dumbest doggy Green Lantern in all the Corps, had returned to Earth "after that Antarctica mess" to visit his former "teammates" in the Justice League. The team's robot servant L-Ron detected the intruder, and alerted J'Onn J'Onzz. "...there's still time to electrocute him, Your Greenness. I can switch the security system back on and--"
"No, L-Ron-- just let him in. G'nort may be a clumsy, inept imbecile, but he has his good points."
"Such as, M'lord J'Onzz--?"
"Such as... uh... ah... Turn it back on, L-Ron--"
"Too late, your Alienosity-- he's in."

G'nort ran into General Glory's pet bulldog, the only being in the immediate vicinity more stupid than G'nort himself. Manhunter interrogated the GL:
"G'nort-- what are you doing here?!"
"I came for the surprise party!"
"What surprise party?"
"My 'welcome home' surprise party!"
"How in the world could we plan a 'welcome home' surprise party-- if we didn't know you were coming?!"
"Ah-- y'can't fool me, J'Onny! You're a telepath! You could sense me comin'-- and then you got everybody together an' they're probably all hidin' in a closet now an'--"
"G'nort-- read my lips: No... Party."
"Whaddaya mean there's no party?!?!"
"Look G'nort: Everyone but Kilowog is busy today. I've set the afternoon aside for meditation and spiritual re-evaluation... This is a private and personal matter, sacred to my people--"
"But you're not a 'people'-- you're a Martian!"
"Why don't you go watch some television? I'll be down in an hour or so..."

Exasperated at trying to convince G'nort there was no party, J'Onzz withdrew himself, unaware that a very bored Kilowog would greet his former fellow Lantern with massive, open arms. "...I tried t'get J'Onn t'play poker with me-- but y'know what a stick-in-the-mud he is!" Kilowog eventually told L-Ron "Tell the Martian that me an' my homeboy G'nort are gonna go out an' paint the town red!"

The Natural Martian was in his room, blissfully hovering, when the knock came on the door. "I'm merging with creation, L-Ron-- can't it wait?" The robot explained the situation from outside the door, but was dismissed until later. J'Onzz continued his mediation, which caused him to meditate on Kilowog and G'nort on the streets of New York. His features turned to panic as he shifted to fighting form. "KILOWOG AND G'NORT HAVE WHAT?!?!" In full costume, he caught their taxi in the driveway. "WAIT! Get out of the cab... NOW!" Kilowog and the Martian Manhunter argued, until the driver complained, "Hey, Mr. Green Genes-- let's not take all night!"
"Is your meter running?"
"Yeah!"
"Then watch your personal fortune grow-- and keep out of this!"

G'nort thought all three of them were brother aliens on Earth, and should have a night out together. Kilowog still figured J'Onzz for "such a wet noodle," but the pair finally persuaded John Jones to play chaperone. After G'nort and Kilowog were outfitted with new suits at the tailor, Jones made sure his charges committed to dinner and a Broadway show only. Still, G'nort wondered why John assumed human form, who cited it as an old habit from the xenophobic 50's. Kilowog chided, "Well, get with the program, J'Onzzy! Those days are gone! Say it loud, brother-- I'm an A.L.F. and I'm proud!"

Back at the embassy, recently resigned member Booster Gold paid a visit, only to find no one but L-Ron home. "His Martianness has gone out to dinner and a play with Kilowog and G'nort..." Booster decided to wait around for the inevitable call from the police. L-Ron bet Booster twenty bucks "the Green Guy" could keep the lot out of the clink.

John Jones was livid as he led his cohorts out of a production of "Cats" predictably ruined by G'nort, and declared the night over. Kilowog complained that the deal included dinner, and he shouldn't be punished for someone else's misconduct. Jones continued to resist, but eventually gave in. At the restaurant, Kilowog pressured J'Onzzy to get with "the theme of the evenin'... Show your true colors, brother! ...Be yourself."
"On Mars, our private selves are not to be flaunted--"
"... Just drop the facade... Cheez-- yer such a stiff!"
G'nort chimed in, "C'mon J'Onny! Show a little solidarity! Just for one little toast-- then you can go all white-bread again--"

J'Onzz relented, setting off the once and future Black Hand, a super-villain that suffered from an acute "hero-phobia" who happened to be dining in the same restaurant that evening. Manhunter ducked as the plain-clothed villain lunged at the table, sending himself and G'nort through a window. The Martian Marvel dove to rescue the pair, though he noted Black Hand's mind had shut down from the stress. In their absence, Kilowog brawled with Black Hand's lackeys until the police arrived.

Blue Beetle had by this point returned home, and joined his best friend in waiting for the call. Booster Gold gloated, "For once, I wanna be the one bailing J'Onn out!" L-Ron annunciated, "Uh... sirs?" Booster would return later for his winnings...

As G'nort left Earth, he pondered, "...I never knew anyone could yell for six straight hours! Boy! Those Martians sure have lung power!" He remarked on Booster and Beetle's demeanor at their hearing, "I bet the judge woulda thrown 'em outta the courtroom if she wasn't so busy tryin' t'get J'Onn t'stop screamin'! He's really gotta work on that temper! I can't believe he threw me through the roof just 'cause I asked him if I could have a signal device! That boy just doesn't appreciate a good time! Guess some of us just aren't born t'swing! Ah, well-- six or eight months o'meditation an' he'll get over it--"

His great shoulders hunched, the Manhunter humbly trod back toward his room at the embassy. "...I am a Martian. My mind and heart are in balance. My soul is as still as a frozen lake... As peaceful as a-- a... BEETLE!!!" You see, the front page of that morning's newspaper was taped to his door, its headline being: "J.L.A. IN WINDOWS ON WORLD FIASCO!"

I doubt any other comic in history has featured more nicknames for the Manhunter from Mars; served up by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Adam Hughes, Joe Rubinstein, all those letters smooshed in by Bob Lappan, swell colors by Gene D'Angelo, and edits by Andy Helfer (assisted by Kevin Dooley.)

Justice League Task Force #8 (1/94)

Martian Manhunter: Unable to locate the briefcase containing the virus, the transgendered extraterrestrial opted to marry the queen of the Daals and be taken to the "holy place" where it was stored. "Your request to consummate our mating at the holy place is most unusual, Joan. But your happiness in my preeminent desire." J'Onzz argued that he/she had little choice in the matter, and resented not being consulted on much of anything. Her-Who-Must-Be-Served began to cry, thinking "Joan" hated her, and forced the Martian to sooth her wounded heart. At the holy place, J'Onzz again asked for the briefcase. "I shall tell you afterwards, Joan. Nothing shall distract me from this moment, which I have so long anticipated. Look upon me, Joan J'Onzz. Look at her who loves you, in all her glory." Her glory, it seemed, included a penis.

"Every generation, there is a Daal who is half male, half female. Thus is our species perpetuated... Relax, Joan J'Onzz, it is our time of joining." As this wasn't a hentai comic, our Martian transformed into his usual masculine self. "...all right, that's it! There's only so far I'm going with this!" In a moment of (perhaps understandable) homophobia, J'Onzz grabbed Her-Who-Must-Be-Served's swinging arm and forced it behind her back, then used his other fist to ball a handful of hair and position Her's privates in the opposite direction. The case was located, and everyone exited out of an active volcano... with much hesitation...

"My fear of fire... it's psychosomatic. I... I shouldn't... but it's just so.. so hot... I can do this! Just... don't look down!" While the otherworldly wuss waffled, Her-Who-Must-Be-Served snuck up behind him, and leapt on his back! "It was a lie! You were laughing at me! All the time, secretly laughing! I thought I loved you, but there was nothing there to love! You don't care about me! You never--!" In her scorned fit, Her-Who-Must-Be-Served failed to notice the trouble Martian Manhunter was having remaining aloft, though he dove to rescue Her from the lava after she took a tumble. "Her... I am... I am truly sorry. I am sorry to have deceived you. But I was never laughing at you. I..." Her-Who-Must-Be-Served wiped away her tears, and said, "I don't want your apologies. You've saved my life. The least I can do... is give you back yours." J'Onzz became "Joan" one more time, and kissed Her-Who-Must-Be-Served on the cheek. "If you ever change your mind, Joan J'Onzz... I shall be here."

J'Onn J'Onzz confided in Gypsy, "There is a tempting simplicity in the notion of shirking everything... living in a 'romantic' underground world. But I think our physical relationship would be... strained." Gypsy figured that was his call, as he could become "Joan" at will. "Perhaps, but not a decision I choose to make."

Dolphin: Perhaps anxious about her speaking streak, kept quiet for most of the issue. Cried at the wedding of J'Onzz to Her-Who-Must-Be-Served, then trailed the pair from a river. Found the briefcase containing the virus anchored to the river bottom. Both were carried to safety by the Manhunter.

Maxima: Found all this lesbianism disgusting and unnatural. Sneered at the Daals and hauled Vixen around. Used a psionic field to block the Daals pursuit of the group through the cavern of exit. Demanded of J'Onn J'Onzz as he struggled with his then-psychosomatic weakness to fire, "For God's sake, stop your simpering... and act like a woman!"

Wonder Woman: Asked "Who are you to say, Maxima, what means of satisfaction is appropriate for a woman?" As for how the Amazons of Themyscira dealt with the lack of men, "All I'll say is... We don't call it 'Paradise Island' for nothing." When a drunken Luta tried to take out her murderous rage at her queen's marrying someone other than her on the captive agent, Diana came to the rescue to free the male. Rejoined her team to fly those unable out of the underground city.

Vixen: Had girl talk with her teammates during the downtime. Joked of Wonder Woman's home "I always figured not having men around was enough reason for it to be paradise." Called on powers of the bird to follow J'Onzz and Her-Who-Must-Be-Served in the air. Upon the queen's big reveal, "Wow. Y'know, I guessed the secret of 'The Crying Game,' but this I never saw coming!" Fought the Daals again, and was stabbed in the leg while protecting Maxima. Carried by Maxima in return for the rest of the mission. Thought the theory of the Daals coming from outer space was dumb.

Gypsy: After "Joan" was bathed by courtesans, she ordered everyone out, then turned attention elsewhere. "Gypsy... your camouflage powers don't hide you from me. I was quite specific that I didn't want any of you in here during this... farce... If you ever...I mean ever...tell Blue Beetle...or Guy...or Booster..." Gypsy offered J'Onzz two Midol, then tailed Luta to the "Only Man" as directed. "And Batman! For God's sake, don't tell Batman!" Hit a guard on the head, then identified herself to the captive. "'Gypsy'? Like the stripper?" Our heroine responded, "In your dreams, pal." She noted that since he didn't know where his briefcase with the virus was taken, he'd have to stay in jail until after the wedding of "Joan" to Her-Who-Must-Be-Served. Invisibly tracked the newlyweds, then found a cave leading back to the surface world. When Gypsy agreed with Vixen's criticism of J'Onn's alien theory as far-fetched, one look at him made her reconsider. "Sorry. What was I thinking?" After J'Onzz shared his reflection on the opportunity Her-Who-Must-Be-Served offered, Gypsy surmised, "Hey, J'Onn... life sure is a vi--"
"That's enough Gypsy... Quite enough."

The Creators: Peter David really got away with some liberal naughty talk here, but made sure to repeatedly assert the Martian Manhunter was all man. Seeing how J'Onn started assuming female identities irregularly in the "JLA" years, sometimes in the presence of guys like Batman, one assumes he either became more comfortable, or even "comfortable," in heels. I do kind of hope his aversion to teh peener remained in place, if only because the "Manhunter" jokes would grow ever so tiresome. I seem to recall David mentioning in an interview that he wasn't allowed to show J'Onn kiss Her-Who-Must-Be-Served, as Sal never drew the lips making contact (though the breast rubbing that replaced it seems even more titillating.) What's funny is that it's a lesbian, gay, bi and transsexual kiss simultaneously, completing the LGBT BLT...

J’Onn J’Onzz’s Nicknames of the Issue: "Joan" -Gypsy
"J'Onn" -Gypsy, Maxima
"Joan J'Onzz, the Martian Womanhunter" -Narrator

Justice League Task Force #7 (12/93)

Hannibal Martin: In remote Africa, a government operative carrying a deadly canister filled with viral agents found himself trapped in a hidden underground city. Though captured by green-skinned amazons called The Daal, he was allowed to send word to the outside world. Only fellow females would be allowed to reclaim this male agent, so Wonder Woman, Vixen, Dolphin, Maxima, and Gypsy were gathered for the job. J'Onn's leadership was still required in Martin's eyes: "Besides, you saw... they're green... and don't think you can spend the whole time invisible. I want you at the forefront of this group!"

Martian Manhunter: "Considering that I am male, how do you propose I... I... oh, you can't be serious!" J'Onzz considered his pre-operative options in solitude, then refused to come out. Martin threatened to drag him out. "'Drag' is an... unfortunate choice of words... A leader cannot lead if he appears ludicrous to those who would follow him... You'll laugh... Very well. I'm trusting you to be mature about this." Out stepped Martian Manhunter in very female form, his chest straps converted to a bra, plus a thong to replace his usual banana hammock, plus thigh-high boots. Everyone did laugh at him, but Martin consoled, "For what it's worth... I think you look adorable!" J'Onzz rolled her eyes and pushed off with his team in a submarine.

Wonder Woman: Sobbed over Manhunter's selection of "An Affair To Remember" as a movie to entertain the ladies before the mission briefing. "What a noble woman she is. So proud and self-sacrificing..." Promised she wouldn't make fun of J'Onn's gender-bending, but stifled a smile. Paired off with J'Onzz when exiting the submersible. Caught an arrow in midair that nearly struck Maxima, then blocked a great many more with her lighting swift bracelets.

Gypsy: Went "Bwa-hah-ha" at J'Onzz's choice of a pre-briefing movie. "This is the dopiest thing I've ever seen... why did you think we'd like this film?" Wondered where J'Onn got the femmes who fell for the flick. Asked, "J'Onn, what's the deal? We know you're a shapeshifter. One shape should be like another to you. You're worried about nothing." Among the loudest to laugh at the Martian Womanhunter. While J'Onzz captained the underwater vessel, opined "We won't get lost. I mean, now that you're a woman, you'd stop and ask for directions, right?" Stuffed Dolphin in a torpedo tube. Repeatedly mocked Wonder Woman, and even threw Mari a bit of shade. Knocked out Daals while invisible.

Dolphin: Sniffled during the movie with Diana. Laughed at the gender change. Revealed, probably for the first time in her long but spotty existence, that she could speak. Drew piranha that could eat through metal away from the sub, then guided her teammates to safety ashore.

Maxima: When J'Onzz explained his rental with, "Blue Beetle said he'd heard women found it moving," replied quite irritably that only her stomach was moved. "I will never understand women... not that I'll ever understand humans as a whole, but women are especially perplexing!" Scolded J'Onzz at his apprehension over assuming "womanhood," but made sport of him all the same. Shocked when Dolphin spoke, then noted that once she got going, she wouldn't shut up. Couldn't keep the damaged sub together, but rescued Gypsy in an air bubble. Guided along with teammates by the High Priestess Luta to the queen of the Daals, Her-Who-Must-Be-Served.

Vixen: Said of the movie, "Maxima's right, J'Onn. This is really pathetic." Announced at the transformation, "Oh, God... it's JOAN J'ONZZ!" Continued through the mission, to which the subject pleaded, "don't call me Joan!" Helped Gypsy and Maxima get to shore with the abilities of a fish. Joined team in battling Daals, as they were having their mettle tested in preparation for meeting the queen. Saw her dubbing of "Joan" mimicked by Wonder Woman in introducing J'Onzz to Her-Who-Must-Be-Served, who declared the Martian the one she's waited her life for as a worthy mate.

The Creators: As soon as you hear "McGuffin Virus," you know pun-happy comics humorist Peter David can't be far. David had a ball with the Burroughs-inspired amazons and the female cast, especially Gypsy's sarcasm and the more transgressive elements. Sal Velluto and Jeff Albrecht fulfilled the cover promise, "The Martian Manhunter as you've never seen him!" Velluto was still in his transition between the coarseness of his Marvel work and his slicker Neal Adams look to come, so the quality varied by the panel. Still, "Joan" was stunning, and Sal seemed to relish the opportunity to present so many strong and lovely heroines.

J’Onn J’Onzz’s Nicknames of the Issue: "Joan J'onzz" -Vixen
"Joan" -Vixen and Wonder Woman
"J'Onn" -Gypsy, Vixen & Wonder Woman
"J'Onzz"- Hannibal Martin

Manhunter from Mars #300 (July, 1989)

"Emperors... Czars... Presidents... ultimately all are mere vultures pecking at the carrion in my wake."

This tricentennial issue picked up from last month's big revelation that not only was VULTURE behind J'Onn J'Onzz's recent trials, but the original Mr. V was none other than Vandal Savage! It seemed "VULTURE," often mistaken for either an acronym or a spy agency, was in fact Vandar Adg's first attempt at a dictatorial government. Realizing that even he could not be in all places at once, the earliest evolution of the immortal Savage selected the most brutal lieutenants available to control what he knew of the world through intimidation. Modern readers may have noted the appearance of members of this Cro-Magnon Mafia in the recent "Final Crisis #1," where they were confronted by Anthro. The name "VULTURE" was simply the closest approximation to his concept the developing Vandar Adg could articulate, and it stuck through the ages.

A couple of years prior to this issue, Vandal Savage regained memories lost to him for some time-- including the nature of VULTURE-- and began rebuilding in Central City (funded by the Velocity-9 drug.) Savage also remembered the international crime operation's still active cells, as well as his ability to wield magic to some degree. Years prior, VULTURE had captured Manhunter's pet/sidekick Zook, and tortured him into revealing the secret mountain location of the Martian Marvel's abandoned hideout. There, they uncovered the Book of Diabolu, and began assembling what pieces of the Idol-Head they could locate.

Savage unleashed the mentally ravaged Zook on Manhunter, a malformed adulteration of the lovable imp Silver Age fans knew and loved. Zook taunted his former friend in a sick recreation of his "baby talk," just the sort of perversion one would expect from the late 80's (especially edited by Andy Helfer.) While J'Onn J'Onzz attempted to address the unhinged Zook as carefully as possible, Savage began reading incantations from the Book of Diabolu over the Idol-Stones, releasing a slew of classic menaces. While the Alien Atlas pinned Zook to a wall with Martian lungpower (hampering flames that were triggering his then-psychosomatic vulnerability,) he was confronted by Mike Mignola's distinctive renditions of the Doom Shadow, the Venomee, and more. However, the terrors originally sealed in the Idol-Head were never intended to work in unison, and began attacking one another. This allowed the Manhunter the opportunity to turn this mess around.

"Vandal Savage-- you have harmed my friends, violated my home, and compromised the integrity of dear Zook's mind. By your own abhorrent actions, you have surrendered the sanctity of your psyche to my will. I am now assuming custody..." Through Savage's eyes and voice, the Sleuth From Outer Space began to read spells from the Book of Diabolu to recapture the monsters within the Idol-Stones. However, poor Zook was absorbed by the Being In The Color Rings before it was re incarcerated. Filled with hurt and rage, the Manhunter had Savage cast one last spell-- sending the immortal menace into an Idol-Stone of his own!

Later, J'Onzz brought the Book of Diabolu to former teammate Zatanna, after ruling out Dr. Fate (in the face of Kent Nelson's departure from his long held role as the dominant sorcerous super-hero.) Zee was apprehensive, but J'Onn was convincing. "I understand you have begun to turn away from the harrowing world we once shared, and I do not wish to trouble you or impede your progress. However, there is a great deal of power locked between the covers of this nefarious tome, and you are one of the very few people I feel I can trust with its stewardship." Zatanna smiled, politely agreed to house the book, and watched the Manhunter from Mars' lonely ascent to parts unknown...

With the over-booked J.M. DeMatteis forced to resign from "Manhunter from Mars" shortly after his Post-Crisis reboot of the character in a separate "Martian Manhunter" mini-series, DC was hard-pressed to find a gifted replacement. Peter Milligan was still fairly new to the company at this point, but I think he acquitted himself nicely by both honoring the dark new direction and the silly past of the Martian Marvel. It was also great to see Mike Mignola work his magic here, if only for four issues. It would have been nice if the book had gotten the 64-page treatment of the Superman and Batman anniversaries, instead of a flimsy standard issue... but if the character were to receive any respect, it just wouldn't be the Manhunter, would it? DC even launched a second "Manhunter" title, completely unrelated, to compete with their own market recognition! DC loves aiming for their feet, and anyway, that title only squeeked by for two years with future "Martian Manhunter" scribe John Ostrander.

Martian Manhunter #24 (11/00)

"And then there was the time during the Justice League International Era when I lost my cookies."

Blue Beetle and Booster Gold snickered as J'Onn J'Onzz left the common area to indulge in some Chocos cookies. Fire asked, "What are you two juvenile delinquents up to?" The pair had stolen J'Onn's cookies, and bought out every store in the area within a mile radius of the New York embassy. "J'Onn is crazy for those Chocos! He had bags of 'em, stuffed all over the embassy! It's like he's addicted!" Fire, Guy, and Ice protested their foolishness, but "No no no! J'Onn wants us to do things like this! We're teaching him to be a regular guy!"

J'Onzz was clearly furious when he quizzed fellow Leaguers about the whereabouts of his snacks, but coming up empty handed, forced a smile. "No big deal. I will just go out and get some more. No problem. It is... okay." Not so, as the Blue and the Gold spied from a store security camera J'Onn's increasing hostility as he failed to purchase any double stuff goodness. The pair were getting a hearty laugh until the Manhunter transformed into a near mindless rampaging hulk, screaming "MARS NEEDS CHOCOS!" Dumbfounded, Booster suspected, "We're going to get yelled at again, aren't we?"

Crowds fled and cars flew as the incredible hophead pleaded, "J'Onn don't want stupid pastry wafers! J'Onn want Chocos! BRING J'ONN COOKIES!" Slowly, the Blue & the Gold approached. "You got cookies, friendz? J'Onn can't find his cookies! *snif*" A penitent Blue Beetle rubbed the Martian's marble, saying "Geez, J'Onn-- we're sorry. Had we known this was going to happen, we'd never have taken them in the first place." An angry red eye popped open. "Whoopsie." The addicted Alien Atlas tried to crush Beetle and Booster, leaping after the pair as they flew from his wrath. "Well, that would be a lot easier to accomplish if I wasn't lugging all this dead weight! You sure you aren't getting fat again?"

Meanwhile, Maxwell Lord was in a meeting with a United Nations official who questioned his stewardship of the U.N.-sanctioned League. Under the circumstances, Max had a mild nosebleed, "Just a slight cerebral hemorrhage I get when exercising mind control on toads like you." Out the broad windows, Beetle could be seen riding Booster's back like a jokey, as the Jade Giant continued his jumping pursuit, screaming "KOOO-KIEEE!!" A shock wave caused the windows to shatter, with everyone at meeting remaining calmly seated. Blood poured from Max's nose, until finally erupting like the hero of a Japanese sex comedy seeing a girl in her panties. The Cookie Monster from Mars was led to the warehouse where all the Chocos were stored, and began mainlining the junk. A terribly agitated Max Lord, undoubtedly in need of a cookie himself after all that blood loss, arrived to find Martian Manhunter covered in crumbs and denial.

Everyone convened at the embassy for an intervention. "Nonsense! I like Chocos, certainly. What is not to like? But one does not really get an addiction to them. They are not a drug." Batman joined in teleconference, refuting with, "Not for humans. But you're a Martian. Your body chemistry is different-- and it reacts to the specific combinations of ingredients and chemicals in the cookie in much the same way that the human body responds to highly addictive drugs. At Max's request, I ran some tests, J'Onn. You're a junkie. A Chocos junkie!" J'Onzz continued his dismissal, until Max left a Choco on his desk in front of the Manhunter. Six panels later, four of them a silent static shot, J'Onn fired his tongue like a frog to snare the cookie. "Okay. Maybe I have a small problem."

Ice believed it was much worse than that, as a simple telepathic scan could have revealed the location of the cookies. "On some level, you know you didn't have the right control. You were afraid of what you might do telepathically if you didn't have control. Isn't that right?" Agreeing, J'Onzz used his shapeshifting ability to expel the addicted cells from his body. "Forcing it away literally took a great deal out of me." The cells retained both mass and semi-sentience, which it used to possess several Leaguers in turn. Ice craved baby seals, Guy wanted to crawl back into the womb, while Fire demanded constant attention and Max wanted everyone to do as he said. "I want Superman to do my errands and Batman to respect me and Wonder Woman to... I want Wonder Woman to... OH HOW I WANT WONDER WOMAN TO!" Beetle and Booster weren't possessed, but they did take notes.

The Martian Manhunter psychically demanded his animated craving to settle down, then obliterated it with Martian Vision. "I now end your pseudo-existence... Booster... Beetle... I suppose I should thank you. You helped me save me from myself... Do not do anything like that again."

Time shifted, and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner was asked the lesson of this story at the JLA Watchtower. "Just say 'no' to cookies? Refined white sugar will kill somebody? What?" The Manhunter explained, "Different things can prove addictive for different people. For some, drugs are the addiction. For others-- sex. For others-- alcohol. Or food. Or TV. Or shopping. It can be anything. For Hal Jordan, as well as others, it became power. The point is-- anything can become addictive behavior. The point is-- be aware of it in yourself." Kyle was impressed by the insight and wandered off, while onlooker Wonder Woman remained. "J'Onn, I was a member of the Justice League back around then and I don't remember anything like that story happening!"

"It does not matter. It was an amusing story and it had a point to make. A good tale is its own justification-- true or not. Got a cookie?"

I could be mistaken, but I do believe this was the first use of the "Chocos" brand in place of "Oreos." No surprise given the nature of their usage here, and the increasing number of clashing conglomerates that force the mention of name brands out of even comic book stories these days.

Back when this number came out, I was part of a group of message board posters who, among I believe many others, hounded writer John Ostrander over the course of this series. Where's J'Onn's JLI friends? "Where's the history? Where's the humor? Where's the Oreos?" This one tall tale seemed intent on addressing as many of those demands as possible in one fell swoop, though it was also part of a "Revelations" series that delved into Manhunter's past. With the constant gripes of my fellows and I, I've often wondered if J'Onn's final observation was meta-textually directed at the lot of us. We would have been just the sort to note that Diana was only a member of JLI for one issue several years before the setting of this story. No matter, as I felt most of Ostrander's stories failed on their own lack of merit, as when he had Ice question why J'Onn didn't just mindrape his teammates over something as trivial as cookies, with no foreknowledge of their involvement in the petty theft.

Anyhow, this was a breath of fresh air in a series I generally hated, even if the story was based on an idea Keith Giffen originated over a decade prior, but was prevented from pursuing. Pencils were by Doug Mahnke, clearly scratching his itch to draw the Hulk, but also confirming his enjoyment of plain ol' J'Onn. Mahnke took on many more opportunities to depict the Martian Manhunter, including the "Requiem" memorial story following his murder in "Final Crisis." A new kid named Pat Gleason inked the issue, and would go on to become a star penciller in his own right, influenced by Mahnke while moving progressively out of his shadow. The intricate cover was by series regular Tom Mandrake, and has proven a fan favorite over the years.

Martian Manhunter in the 2000s

It was the best of times, it was the sometimes-not-okayist of times. Martian Manhunter entered the new millennium with an ongoing solo series and a co-starring role in the wealth of top-selling JLA titles. The "Justice League" series was launched on the Cartoon Network, in which J'onn J'onzz was voiced by Carl Lumbly, and appeared in more episodes than any other character. The sheer volume of licensing featuring J'onzz related to that show would be difficult to catalog, but included another monthly comic book series. The Alien Atlas even began making guest appearances on other cartoons, "StaticShock" and "The Batman" (the latter realized by actor Dorian Harewood.) In the video game "Justice League Heroes," Daniel Riordan assumed the role. Phil Morris portrayed John Jones in a reoccurring role on the popular "Smallville" television series. Miguel Ferrer lent his vocals to the character in the direct-to-dvd animated adaptation of "The New Frontier," a critically acclaimed mini-series by Darwyn Cooke, in which the Martian took a prominent role. Australian actor Hugh Keays-Byrne was cast in a proposed Justice League live action film. The Martian Manhunter was finally responsible for a proper spin-off character, the heroine Miss Martian. Thanks to the DC Direct line of niche merchandising and other licensing, the Martian Manhunter appeared on more "stuff" than ever before, and quite possibly ever again.

Conversely, while Phil Morris aspired to a spin-off series, he only appeared on five episodes of "Smallville." The "Justice League" movie has been placed on indefinite hold. The animated series and its product lines ended. The "Martian Manhunter" comic was cancelled after three years, having found a lukewarm reception and little impact on the character beyond the revelation of his evil brother "Malefic." J'Onn J'Onzz was written out of "JLA," sat out the mega-crossover "Infinite Crisis," and was not invited to join novelist Brad Meltzer's relaunched "Justice League of America." The character was part of a widely distributed $1 anthology special called "Brave New World," intended to introduce a variety of series, from which not a single hit was produced. Among these losers emerged an eight-issue "Martian Manhunter" mini-series by a little known or regarded creative team tasked with a massive reworking of the hero. Respected Mexican illustrator José Ladrönn turned in a sweeping redesigned of the Martian Marvel for the project. The book itself, by A.J. Lieberman and Al Barrionuevo was treated to general disinterest; essentially revisiting the reactionary, antagonistic take of the 70's O'Neil/Nasser short stories.

The new Martian Manhunter was set to join a new super-team, but even the Outsiders would not have him. After several issues had been produced but not released, they were scrapped for a whole new creative team and direction, limiting the Manhunter to a two-issue guest stint. More appearances followed, here and there, but it had been decided Martian Manhunter would serve as the sacrificial lamb of the 2008 mega-crossover "Final Crisis." Murdered with little fanfare by the obscure 70's super-villain Libra, whom J'Onn J'Onzz had himself never met, it seems likely the hero will remain in limbo for at least the rest of the decade. All that fame from the early aughts had made the Manhunter from Mars a major enough character for his first major death in comics to have an impact...

1999
Legends of the DCU: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1

2000
Action Comics #764
Adventures of Superman #578
Aquaman #65-69
Martian Manhunter #24
Secret Files & Origins Guide To The DC Universe 2000 Vol.1, Part 1, Part 2
Silver Age #1, Silver Age Secret Files & Origins #1, Silver Age: Justice League of America #1, Silver Age: Dial H for Hero #1
, Silver Age 80-Page Giant #1 (July, 2000) Sins of Youth Part One: Young Justice, Part Two: JLA Jr.
Superman: Emperor Joker
Superman: The Man of Steel #96
Superman Y2K #1

2001
Adventures of Superman #596
Action Comics #780
Adventures of Superman #596
JLA: Black Baptism #1, #2, #3, #4
JLA: Incarnations #5 (Detroit League Story), (Barry Allen Story) (Tully Reed Story)
JLA: Our Worlds At War
JLA/Haven: Arrival
Our Worlds At War In A Nutshell
Superman: Our Worlds At War Secret Files & Origins #1
Wonder Woman #174, #175
World's Finest: Our World's At War #1

2002
Haven: The Broken City #1
Justice League of America: Secret Origins: Martian Manhunter
Superman #179
Wonder Woman #177

2003
JLA #83
JLA: Scary Monsters #1, #2, #3 #4, #5, #6
JLA/JSA Secret Files & Origins #1 (Lead Story)

2004
Doom Patrol #1, #2,
Firestorm #4, #6
Flash #208-209
Identity Crisis #1, #2-5
JLA #90, #94, #95, #96, #97, #98, #99
JSA #54

2005
Action Comics #821-824 (1-4/05)
Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1 (11/05)
Identity Crisis #6,#7
JLA #115A, #115B-116, #117-118, #119
JLA/Cyberforce

2006
JLA Classified: "The Hypothetical Woman" #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21
JLA Classified: "A Game of Chance" 22,23,24,25
JLA Classified: "Cold Steel" #1, #2
Justice League of America #0


2007
52
Week Fifty

52/WW III
Part One: A Call To Arms #1
Part Two: The Valiant #1
Part Three: Hell Is For Heroes #1
Part Four: United We Stand #1
Batman and the Outsiders #1

Breach
#3, #4

DCU: Brave New World #1

Justice League of America Wedding Special #1

Martian Manhunter
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8


2008
Batman and the Outsiders
#1, #2, #3-4

Black Adam: The Dark Age
#4, #6

JLA Classified #49

Salvation Run
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6-7

2009
Blackest Night #0, #1, #2, #3
Green Lantern #43, #44
Justice League: Cry for Justice #1, #3, #4


Current as of 5/4/19

Justice League International #8 (12/87)

What we have here is another landmark issue in my personal road to Martian Manhunter fandom. The first Martian Manhunter comic I ever owned was the awful number packaged with his "Super Powers" action figure, which left no impression. My first "real" comic of his was Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, in which I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my favorite toys taking part in action illustrated by George Pérez. Again though, J'Onn J'Onzz did nothing in the book itself that made him exceptional. Finally, I bought a damaged copy of JLI #8 from the cheapie rack at a comic shop in Texas, and read it in the bed of a pick-up truck headed for Nevada. Finally, I had a Martian Manhunter story in which the character did something to make me like him outside the context of an action figure.

The Justice League had just achieved "International" status as a United Nations-sanctioned outfit, and begun setting up embassies across the globe. J'Onn J'Onzz was in charge of the New York branch, which proved to be the poorest example of them all. While moving men worked their way through crowds of onlookers and media, J'Onzz directed their actions. One questioned the Martian as to why there was a crate of "Oreos" among the items being handled. "Captain Marvel introduced me to them. I like them." The mover protested, "But you're from Mars!" J'Onzz explained, "Martians do eat, you know. In fact, we had 'Burger King' and 'McDonald's' long before you had them on Earth."
"You're jokin', right?"
"Joking? Martians don't joke."

The crate of Oreos proved too heavy for mortal movers to heft upstairs to J'Onn's room. "No need-- I'll do it. Do you see what a man is capable of-- when he has his milk and cookies every day?" Martian Strength is of little use, however, if stairs in disrepair give underfoot. The Alien Atlas fell straight through the new hole into the room below, his arms still upright, though his load remained well above him. The movers decided to take a break. "I know where we can get our hands on a ton of Double-Cream 'Oreos.'"

"J'Onn...?"
"Yes, Captain Atom?"
"I couldn't help noticing that you just fell through the ceiling!"
"Oh. Is that what happened?"

Atom was trying to help Mr. Miracle install the security system, so Martian Manhunter excused himself to allow them to continue. J'Onzz's departure instead gave Captain Atom the opportunity to express his concerns about the Manhunter from Mars. "Y'know, I can't figure him out. He seems so cold-- and yet, I can't help feeling that underneath it all he's enjoying some very private joke." Scott Free replied, "The Manhunter's a complicated guy. I've given up trying to understand it. I just relax and enjoy him." Unfortunately for the New God, the Captain then took undesirable initiative that ruined hours of his Miracle work. J'Onn J'Onzz called down through the his hole, "What was that explosion? Are we under attack?"
"In a manner of speaking."

Scott Free stormed out, leaving J'Onzz to discuss the situation with Captain Atom and Mr. Miracle's little friend, Oberon. "Captain Atom aside-- this building is a badly-constructed nightmare! The walls are cardboard... the wiring is faulty... certainly in all of New York, the U.N. could have found--" Oberon tried to calm things down. "J'Onn, J'Onn, J'Onn-- don't get so emotional! It's not like you!" Just then, the power for the building cut out. "I just hope the others are having an easier time than we are. But, of course, they'd have to be."

Later, the quantum-powered bungler managed to raise the lights, prompting Manhunter to commend, "My compliments, Captain Atom-- you've more than atoned for your earlier sin."
"Hey, thanks, J.J. I think."

In a turnabout, Mr. Miracle returned to the New York embassy with a new team aircraft supplied by S.T.A.R. Labs, only to find the roof he landed it on could not support the weight. J'Onzz sighed, "You'll have to excuse me for a moment, Captain."
"Where are you going?"
"I need to find a quiet room in which to practice an ancient Martian meditation technique."
"Oh really? What is it?"
"It's called screaming."
"Oh yeah-- I know that one. Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."

The League's first international mission came over the wire, sending them to Bonn, Germany. "No rest for the weary..." Mister Miracle was off to prep the new ship, though Martian Manhunter made it clear Blue Beetle would be the pilot for the next week or two. This prompted "juvenile snickering," and when asked by Manhunter to stop he mumbled, "Team leader for two days-- and already he's sounding like Batman!"
"I heard that!"

While J'Onn J'Onzz was technically the straight man for the increasingly humorous new League, his dry wit allowed him some of the best lines and biggest laughs. This issue and the many more I've enjoyed since endeared me to J'Onn J'Onzz and less-than-serious super-heroics. It's a real shame there doesn't seem to be a place for such simple pleasures in the modern DCU.

Back to Justice League International #7 (11/1987)

Forward to Martian Manhunter in the 1980's Index

JLA Annual #1 (1997)

"Somewhere in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, a strange visitor from another planet met with a very unfriendly and fatal welcome... when three would-be hunters bagged more bear than they bargained for. The men said that the frightening thing had come from some unknown world to invade and subjugate Earth..." a presumed scout for alien forces routed by Winchesters. These men were clearly heroes, especially Owen Jeffers, a state senator turned gubernatorial candidate. "Beyond innocent, the hunters were judged righteous in their actions... no one doubted them... and no one shed a tear for the passing of an unknown and unwelcome guest..."

"The Justice League wasn't interested when I brought the case to their attention..." and in fact seemed openly hostile. Of the all male members present, only Connor Hawke showed any sympathy. The Green Arrow agreed with J'Onn J'Onzz that something smelled "fishy," prompting unwarranted rebuke from Aquaman. These heroes felt the Manhunter from Mars lacked "perspective," even an all-too-human Kryptonian. J'Onzz noting the irony only seemed to provoke Superman, as Flash and Green Lantern tried to persuade the Martian that he was perhaps crossing a thin blue line. "It was justifiable homicide... if such a term can even be applied to this creature," asserted the Dark Knight Detective. "...I was seeing all too clearly. They were washing their hands and trying to talk me into doing the same. They didn't care, and yet, for reasons I can't explain, I cared too much." Batman suggested J'Onzz discreetly conduct his own unofficial inquiry, to settle his mind.



As "U.N. Investigator" Martin Smith, J'Onzz was immediately stonewalled, harassed, and eventually assaulted by citizens and authorities of the rural town of Hadley in the Cascade Mountains. Smith was unusually surly, looking like Violent Marv in a nice suit. This was surely a reflection of J'Onzz's distaste at the town's exploitation of the killing and disdain for their secretive, xenophobic attitudes. "Why on Earth did I want to be one of these creatures?" Burly Deputy Charlie Congers tried to haul Smith out of town without due cause, and failing that, broke both his hands punching the incognito Martian. Getting into his role as a human tough guy, "Smith" actively encouraged the deputy's self-destructive attack. "Then keep it coming, tough boy! Find my weak spot!" Conspiratorial Sheriff Jenkins refused to take Smith in. "Hadley's a peaceful town-- don't make me force you to play along."



The only person in town willing to talk to Smith was Jeffers' wife Claire, an obvious femme fatale. She swore her husband was too much of a weakling to be involved in any wrongdoing, while simultaneously tempting "Martin" with her charms. J'Onn continued to lose himself in his fixation with being "human" in this situation. "I felt a spreading warmth at her touch. In more ways than I could ever admit, it would be a pleasure to be with her. Despite myself, my pulse was racing. I yearned to open my mind to hers, but of course I knew that would destroy the illusion. I was responding to a woman-- in a way I never had before-- but a man would be crazy not to... I don't know if I believed her about her husband's innocence, but something inside me glowed warmly at the sound of her disdain for him. I was in a place I hadn't been for forty years... Simple human interaction... my transformation was almost perfect... I'd never committed to a role the way I had now" With the flick of a lighter, Claire learned J'Onn's greatest weakness, and he even talked about the death of his wife, something he normally never did. Leaving with a kiss, "Martin" thought, "if this animal passion was the price of humanity, my aching flesh screamed to pay it-- again and again... to do things I hadn't thought of in years."



Later that night, a gang of torch-wielding "small-minded fools" tried to avenge Deputy Conger's crippling humiliation. "You don't gotta do anything, friend... I don't want any trouble. But believe me: I won't run from it... All right, you idiots! COME AND GET IT!!" J'Onzz had sworn to play his manly role to the hilt at the start, including rejoicing in "all-too-human rage," going so far as to consider, "wasn't man given dominion over the lower animals?" Martin Smith beat his way through men and directions to the alien crash site. He knew he should feel guilty, but felt great instead. One of the thugs ran to tell his mistress what Smith had been up to. Claire Jeffers had spied the melee she'd arranged from her parked car, and had no intention of allowing Smith to ruin all she'd worked for.

Wandering in the hills, the Manhunter detected psychic spoor; a wrenching emotional trail that was still incredibly clear after weeks, leaving "dreadful impressions in the ether like discarded snapshots... The alien was dead, murdered... Was it a telepath?" As he approached closer to where the deed was done, the images and sensations coalesced. Tears filled his eyes. "...this was a charnal house... I had never felt such an intimate connection to a death. I despised what I felt, how I felt, but I could not banish the emotions, forget the images... some great, unacknowledged atrocity... forever set me apart from humankind for unearthing it... I stopped caring about fitting in amongst monsters like these... The horror was total, devastating. I was lost and alone on a cold and brutal world... It was too late. I had become one of them. As selfish and obsessive and BLIND as the common thugs around me."



Most of the town had shown up at this place away from the crash site, torches in hand to silence Martin Smith. Claire was behind the cover-up, part of her pushing her spineless husband toward the power she craved. Martin, still holding on to a foolish desire, thought better of Claire Jeffers. "I know what you thought, pig... you thought I'd fall for another loser-- HA! He's afraid of fire-- take him!" The town was murderous in their willingness to suppress the truth, beating the flame-weakened Smith unconscious. They next tied him to a chair and left him to die in a burning boathouse. Owen Jeffers was the last man out, and doused the old ropes on Smith's arms with gasoline. "Look, stranger... they'll burn fast. I wish I could do more, but God help me, I can't..."

J'Onzz, as always, was obsessed with the truth. "I was going to burn-- that was the only truth that should have mattered. But that wasn't what nagged at me like a rotten tooth... my need to belong-- too long denied-- would have me dead before it was denied again... what value was truth in a furnace? What value to the dead?" The fire sapped the ability to maintain the illusion of Martian Smith. "I was not a man. I was a Martian. And I hunted men... A lonely, human fool had died in the blaze. I was a manhunter, an avenger... and I had unfinished business." The Sleuth from Outer Space beat the wood beneath his feet to reach watery salvation. The Martian Manhunter then flew back to town with a proclamation: "The sun that rises soon on Hadley will shine its light on your sins-- the world will know what you are! I will make them know..."



The media arrived to view the hidden bodies of the dead alien's wife and newborn son. Their involvement in an invasion was doubtful. They were simply murdered by drunken cowards, while Claire convinced Owen to use the father's corpse as a trophy and ticket to fame. How she seethed when Owen confessed to J'Onn J'Onzz and the news cameras. "Now we all know the truth. There probably won't be any charges... Your victims are an unknown species--and legal statutes don't apply to non-humans... I'm not sure those statutes apply to me either. I came to uncover the truth and now we all have to live with it. If we can."

After this case, J'Onn questioned his desperate need to fit in with humanity. Brian Augustyn wrote, "...there was one mystery I'd never solve- the fathomless mystery of the human heart. Without this solution, I would forever remain an outsider. For the first time in quite a while... That was fine with me." Art for "Hardboiled Hangover" was provided by Ariel Olivetti, beginning an association with the character that would continue for years.

1992 Martian Manhunter: American Secrets House Ad

The second solo Martian Manhunter mini-series arrived in the form of three prestige format issues in 1992. Gerard Jones crafted a paranoid tale of Cold War era intrigue, filtered through J'Onzz's very alien perceptions. It was an odd and challenging piece, overlooked and unrecognized in its time and to this day. It honestly took me a few weeks after reading the story to sort out my feelings about the series. I finally came to the conclusion that American Secrets was one of the most impressive comic scripts I'd ever read, truly capturing an otherworldly feeling throughout the story. The influence of David Lynch (especially "Blue Velvet") was strong here, and indicative of Jones' surrealistic approach for what was left of his time working in mainstream comics. Truth to tell, its cerebral nature and the psychodrama that came with it likely played a part in his being pushed out of the industry.

Lending a period flavor to the book was the art of Eduardo Barreto, by my estimation the best work of his career. The landscape of this world was fully realized in Barreto's illustrations, with the rich inks and colors the quality paper stock allowed for giving the series a sumptuous look. While Barreto's style is often anachronistic when applied to modern stories, here the man evoked an entirely appropriate 50's noir feel.

American Secrets is disputably the greatest story ever told with the Martian Marvel. The tale's sophistication and dark undercurrent could have easily qualified it for Vertigo status, had the title not arrived a bit prior to that line's launch and outside its "Goth" scope. Gerard Jones' setting of late 50's/early 60's America remains fairly unique for modern comics, arriving after the McCarthy period and before the Love Generation had really gotten into gear. This period is underrepresented and fascinating in comic form, though I shed no tears for having missed it first hand.

I will point out out that many have complained about the odd continuity complications over this mini-series. John Jones does buy Oreos a half-century before Captain Marvel introduced him to the product in the pages of Justice League, and the early appearance of the natural Martian form does not jibe with the 1988 mini-series. Personally, I see these as incredibly minor flaws in comparison to the title's graces, mostly explainable by the "No-Prize" minded.

Fans who take issue with J'Onzz excess powers might be pleased to note that only his most common 50's abilities were on display here: enhanced strength, flight, invisibility, and shapeshifting. I'm very fond of intangibility, telepathy and some of the cooler applications of Martian Vision (laser specifically,) but it goes to show you can tell a perfectly grand story without them. Truth to tell, I hardly noticed.

Whether the $4.95 price tag or other elements were off-putting, the series was little read. Capitol City Distribution reported selling 13,750 copies of the first issue, 10,600 of the second, and 9,600 of the third. I don't recall if the series made it to booksellers, but if you double Capitol's numbers to account for Diamond Distribution, the circulation was still depressing. In today's market, those numbers would only be slightly underwhelming, but for 1992 they were tragic.

The Vile Menagerie: THE MASTER GARDENER

Alter Ego: Unknown
Occupation: Invader from Mars
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: The Lizard Men
Base of Operations: Puerto Iberez, Cuba
First Appearance: Martian Manhunter: American Secrets Book 3 (November, 1992)
Eyes: White
Hair: None

History:
"I was the Master Gardener of Mars! But all my knowledge of organisms couldn't stop the spread of the microbes that slaughtered our children! My knowledge kept me alive, age after age, enclosed in my loneliness, haunted by the funeral pyres of my babies. Then the Lizard Men came. Lonely, isolated Lizard Men. I made them think I was their lost Father-God. I used my horticulture to give them new thoughts. To make them my children. But I couldn't bear the dead plains of Mars. I needed a home. I needed a world rich with life. A world I could prune and nurture into harmony. And that world is here!"

The Master Gardener and his shape-shifting Lizard Man came to Earth during World War II, and took advantage of the terror and confusion of the time to infiltrate governments and communications cartels. They grew plants bearing fungus that bonded to the human nervous system, allowing them to control the very words they spoke under threat of spontaneous combustion. Based in Puerto Iberez, Cuba, they exported the plant around the world, infecting much of the human population with their tyranny. They were the real reason the Justice Society of America was forced to retire, and held sway over all media. "Don't they look the other way when they see the truth? Don't they settle for the happy pictures I give them of what life should be? They feel safe so long as there are warriors in the sky to protect them from the evil 'other...' They feel content so long as I feed them a simple picture of the world."

"It was my mission. This planet has become an event nexus, an intersection of cosmic forces that create great beings and attract great beings. It would continue to produce 'heroes' had I not come. In the quest for harmony, great individuals only bring chaos. Rebellion. Conflict. But such heroes can be tamed! They can serve harmony! They can help us keep our children!" Perhaps, until the plot was uncovered around 1959 by J'Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, who turned on his Martian brethren.

The Lizard Men were immune to fire, so they employed advanced flame throwers with impunity against a Martian Manhunter whose weakness they had discovered. They were unaware their "Father-God" shared this vulnerability as they fired upon both beings in a final conflict. The Master Gardener chuckled at his "children's" error, before appearing to collapse into oblivion. Leaderless, the Lizard Man conspiracy fell into disarray, and was subsequently dismantled.

Powers & Weapons:
The Master Gardener presumably possessed all of the powers typical of Natural Martians, including great strength, relative invulnerability, flight, telepathy, invisibility, intangibility, and shape-shifting. As the ersatz deity of the Lizard Man, he had a chameleonic army at his disposal, as well as their saurian "lizard-dogs," which were powerful enough to hinder a full-powered Martian. The Gardener also had access to a fantastic arsenal of alien weapons, and briefly controlled all of the major armies and technology of Earth.

Weaknesses:
The Master Gardener was afflicted with a catastrophic vulnerability to flames related to H'Ronmeer's Curse. He appeared to perish almost immediately to direct exposure.

Distinguishing Features:
The Master Gardener was exceptionally pale for a non-White Martian, calling his race into question.

Quote: "The human... should show me his gratitude... Gratitude that I crossed the starry gulf to bring his competitive, conflict-ridden world together... in perfect peace, serenity, equality, and order. "

Created by Gerard Jones & Eduardo Barreto

Martian Manhunter: American Secrets 3.5 (November, 1992)

"A long drift down the Colorado River, then flight through the hills of Mexico and a stint as a Cuban sailor across the Gulf. Where I find the strength to keep going I don't know, unless it's the rum and the conga." Making his way to Havana, Jones learned about the American gangsters' stranglehold on Cuba. "I ask questions. Not too direct to bring the lizard-dogs sniffing, but direct enough to get quick answers... There are rebels in the hills, between here and Puerto Iberez... Mr. Gioconda's men are running weapons for the government troops. 'Strange weapons,' I'm told."

Jones met a poet who's book of verse was identical to the one he heard at the start of this all in New York. "The truth is written by many people in many places... Poetry be easy. But it's as near as we can get." The fungus held the poet's tongue, so he spoke cryptically at first of Latin America and "people who crossed a vast gulf, came like gods to colonize, to plant... to shape... Cuba is an island, isolated and alone. So we reach to cross our ninety miles of aloneness. Agriculture and horticulture link Cuba to the world. In her dark interior valleys the horticulture is rich." Jones noted, "You're all islands on this planet." Less one, as the poet reckoned, "And now, I'm afraid I've talked to much. It's time for me to burn for that ancient communion with the night!" His eyes bled, his face bubbled, and then he combusted. Jones fled the scene invisibly.

"I am with you in Cuba, and on the roads of America and the streets of New York. I am with you, and Melvin Keene, and all of you who see the truth but cannot speak it because of that terrible horticulture of your conquerors, that fungus in your brain. I am with every one of you who has been burned alive, and every one who risked that burning by sending coded messages of the truth. The truth of the shape-shifting conquerors who came to Earth during the terror of war, who used that terror to infiltrate governments and communications cartels, to spring the sleep of sameness over this boiling, fertile world. The truth bent into strange new shapes by profiteers and power-handlers, willing to lie down with lizards whether they could see them or not. I am with you, the defenders and the victims of the truth. I am with the murdered, and the frightened and the fooled."

J'Onn J'Onzz was with Perkins Preston, who happened to be playing at the Club Mona Lisa for Mr. Giaconda, who alerted the Master Gardener. Most notably, he was with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, who he spurred into a raid on Puerto Iberez against the invading aliens. Perkins Preston was in turn with J'Onn J'Onzz, after learning the aliens had been using his songs to distribute subliminal messages, but he still had reservations. "These folks... they're not communists, are they, Detective Jones?"
"Communists. And what are they? Beings who live through the group-- and not themselves? Is this baseball playing warrior, this self-assigned savior a communist? There are no communists on this world. There were on mine. They're all dead now."

Perkins Preston confronted a lizard horticulturist in his garden of domination with what he had learned. "If you know this much, you must be one of the chosen. And that means I don't dare kill you. What do I do with you? What would the Master Gardener want?" The concern was taken out of the lizard's hands by the Manhunter's own, in the form of a fist. The Martian then assumed the horticulturist's likeness, and led Preston past troops with saurian-dogs. "But I am something they can't see inside. Why? Why have they failed to catch me... even now? Even here?"

The pair walked into the cavernous den of those engaged in "the cultivation of human culture." Strange organic television monitors displayed various aspects of media currently in circulation, their hidden messages made clearer as they overlapped. The concealed Martian tried to use Perkins Preston to access the Master Gardener when his vizier appeared. "The Master Gardener knows of this human, as he knows of everything. You will follow me, horticulturist... along the canal." This river teemed with the organisms that spawn the fungus. "It calls to me, strangely. Like these dark, cool chambers of sentient fungus call to me. Like an echo of my lost life."

The pair were presented to the Master Gardener in his throne room. "The human... He should show me his gratitude... that I crossed the starry gulf to bring his competitive, conflict-ridden world together... in perfect peace, serenity, equality, and order. I've given you Leavitzville! I've given you Skeeter! I've shown you how to keep your children! All I ask in return is that you give me a place to end my lonely wanderings through the stars... a place to call home."

The still incognito J'Onzz responded, "...we undermine their faith in the truth! Our quiz shows reduce truth to bits of entertaining information! We teach them to memorize rather than think!" The Master Gardener responded, "... you know how easy it is to train the masses. The artists are harder. And the heroes. They had to be manipulated. Deals had to be made, with subversives like Keene... But heroes can be tamed! ...And you can serve better than any!" The horticulturist asked, confusedly, "Me?"

Perkins had previously proven himself able to see even an invisible Martian Manhunter, and this held true when he become conscious of the fact that the Master Gardener was not what he appeared to be. Before the duo's eyes, it changed into a natural form Martian! "Haven't you wondered why my people have been reluctant to kill you? I was the Master Gardener of Mars!" He explained how he came to power among the Lizard Men, then offered J'Onzz the chance to join him in resurrecting Mars on Earth. "Join me, brother! I don't know how you came across space and time to find yourself here-- but it can't be accident! Destiny brought you! Destiny placed you among Earthlings, so that you could understand their souls better than I! Help me save our new children! From themselves! Help me give birth-- to a Mars regained!"

"I know your pain, brother. But I won't pervert a world to ease it."
"You believe what they believe! Forget what Earth taught you! Remember MARS!"
"Mars is dead."

Attacking the Gardener both with ideology and fists, it wasn't long before J'Onzz attracted lizard guardsmen. Firing their flame projectors, the lizards scored a direct hit against their ruler. "But master...the fire doesn't hurt us!" The Master Gardener chuckled as he fell to an immolation-induced apparent death; "Do you hear that...brother? The fire...doesn't hurt...'us.'" J'Onzz swept the lizard guard off its feet, then ordered their troops to bomb the valley using the Gardener's communications equipment. He then succumbed to another blast of flame.

"I hear through the flames the wailing of my family. Then not that, but a deeper sound. The thunder of bombs. I am lifted and carried away. By the Fire-God, I think, to his Parlor of Red Death. But it's the canal I feel. So cool. So dark. It calls me strangely." J'Onzz was seemingly carried into the safety of the canal by Perkins Preston.

Back in the States, John Jones read a newspaper announcing Preston's death in a plane crash over Cuba. At his side was Charles McNider, who noted, "I suppose we won't be able to discuss the truth behind recent events for a long time. So long as our nervous systems are bearing our little... 'guests'..." Jones promised to finish apprehending the loose bands of directionless Lizard Men, affirming, "...eventually, this world may pour forth its 'great individuals' again." The former Dr. Mid-Nite asked if John was tempted by the Gardener's offer. "I might have been, McNider. Until that moment in the desert. When I was truly alone. And I could finally see the truth. By the time I met him, McNider, he and I were strangers to each other.
You see, he was a Martian. I'm a beatnik."


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