Martian Manhunter
I am Mars' sole survivor. There is a reason for that.
Abilities
- •Strength rivaling Superman — one of the most physically powerful beings in the DC Universe
- •Omega-level telepath — can read, control, and link minds across planetary distances
- •Shapeshifting — can alter his form, density, and size at will, including becoming invisible
- •Intangibility — can phase through solid matter by reducing his molecular density
- •Flight at supersonic speeds — can travel through space
- •Martian vision — can project powerful optic blasts of various types including heat vision
- •Regeneration — can recover from catastrophic physical damage
- •Vulnerability to fire — his one weakness, a psychosomatic fear programmed into all Martians
- •The last survivor of Mars — his entire civilization was destroyed, making him the ultimate immigrant and outsider
Powers & Abilities
Biography
J'onn J'onzz was a Martian — a husband, a father, and a manhunter on the planet Mars. Then his brother Ma'alefa'ak unleashed H'ronmeer's Curse, a telepathic plague that caused every Green Martian to spontaneously combust. J'onn watched his wife M'yri'ah and daughter K'hym burn alive. He was the sole survivor — immune to the plague, but powerless to stop it. On a dead planet, surrounded by the ashes of his entire civilization, J'onn was accidentally teleported to Earth by Dr. Saul Erdel's transmitter beam. Erdel died from shock. J'onn was stranded on an alien world, alone, grieving, and unable to go home.
Created by Joseph Samachson and Joe Certa in Detective Comics #225 (1955), Martian Manhunter adopted the human identity of police detective John Jones and began fighting crime on Earth. He became a founding member of the Justice League of America in The Brave and the Bold #28 (1960), standing alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. His powers rival or exceed Superman's: super-strength, flight, telepathy, shapeshifting, intangibility, and Martian vision. His only weakness is fire — a psychosomatic vulnerability programmed into all Martians.
Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis' Justice League International (1987) redefined J'onn as the team's patient leader and surrogate father — the calm Martian surrounded by bickering human heroes, quietly addicted to Chocos cookies. Grant Morrison's JLA (1997) made him the League's psychic backbone. John Ostrander's solo series (1998) is the definitive run, exploring J'onn's multiple human identities and his grief as the last Martian.
J'onn has been called the heart and soul of the Justice League — and he is. Superman is the most powerful. Batman is the most prepared. Wonder Woman is the most courageous. But J'onn is the most compassionate. He lost everything — his wife, his daughter, his planet, his people — and chose to protect a world of strangers because it was the right thing to do. The Martian Manhunter is the proof that being a hero is not about where you come from. It's about what you do when you have nothing left.
First Appearances
Detective Comics #225
1955First appearance of Martian Manhunter — J'onn J'onzz, a Martian accidentally teleported to Earth by scientist Dr. Erdel, adopts the human identity of detective John Jones. Joseph Samachson and Joe Certa create DC's most powerful and most overlooked hero. A major Silver Age key.
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Detective Comics #226
1955Second Martian Manhunter — J'onn continues operating as John Jones, using his powers secretly. Certa draws. The Manhunter from Mars becomes a backup feature in Detective Comics.
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Detective Comics #273
1959J'onn reveals himself — the Martian Manhunter operates publicly for the first time. He no longer hides among humans. The hero emerges.
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Justice League Founding Member
The Brave and the Bold #28
1960First Justice League of America — Martian Manhunter is a founding member alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. The most important DC team debut. A landmark Silver Age key.
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Justice League of America #1
1960First JLA ongoing — J'onn is on the roster from the start. Gardner Fox writes. Sekowsky draws. Martian Manhunter is the heart and conscience of the team.
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Justice League of America #71
1969J'onn leaves the JLA — he departs to search for other surviving Martians. His absence is felt deeply. The team loses its soul.
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Justice League of America #228
1984J'onn returns to the JLA — the Manhunter comes home. His return is celebrated. The Justice League is whole again.
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Justice League International
Justice League #1
1987Justice League International — Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire relaunch the League. J'onn is the team leader and the emotional anchor. His love of Chocos (Oreo cookies) becomes legendary. The funniest Justice League era.
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Justice League International #7
1987J'onn as team dad — he manages Guy Gardner, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, and Fire. Giffen and DeMatteis write him as the patient adult surrounded by children. Maguire draws the comedy.
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Justice League America #38
1990J'onn and Chocos — his addiction to chocolate sandwich cookies becomes a running gag. Giffen and DeMatteis write the most humanizing character trait. The Martian loves junk food.
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Martian Manhunter Solo
Martian Manhunter #1
1988First Martian Manhunter miniseries — J.M. DeMatteis writes J'onn exploring his Martian heritage and his place on Earth. Mark Badger draws. The first time J'onn headlines his own book.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 2 #0
1998Martian Manhunter ongoing launches — John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake write the definitive solo run. J'onn navigates multiple identities across the globe — he is not one person, he is many. Ostrander explores what it means to be the last of your kind.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 2 #24
2000Ostrander's run continues — J'onn maintains identities as a Japanese woman, a Black man, and others simultaneously. He understands humanity by being all of it. The most philosophically rich DC solo.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 2 #36
2001Ostrander's finale — 36 issues of the definitive Martian Manhunter. Ostrander proved J'onn is one of DC's deepest characters.
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The Last Martian
Detective Comics #225
1955Stranded on Earth — J'onn is teleported from Mars to Earth by Dr. Erdel's machine. Erdel dies from shock. J'onn is trapped on an alien world, alone, the last survivor of a dead civilization.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 2 #0
1998The death of Mars — Ostrander reveals the full tragedy. Ma'alefa'ak, J'onn's brother, unleashed H'ronmeer's Curse — a telepathic plague that caused every Martian to spontaneously combust. J'onn watched his wife and daughter burn. He is the sole survivor because he was immune.
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JLA #89
2004J'onn's grief — Joe Kelly writes J'onn confronting the loneliness of being the last Martian. His teammates are his family because he has no other.
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JLA — Grant Morrison
JLA #1
1997Morrison's JLA — Grant Morrison and Howard Porter relaunch the Justice League with the "Big Seven." J'onn is essential. Morrison writes him as the team's psychic backbone — linking minds, coordinating tactics, and holding the League together telepathically.
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JLA #4
1997Fernus — Morrison plants seeds for J'onn's most dangerous transformation. Without his fire weakness, J'onn becomes Fernus the Burning — a being that could destroy the entire League.
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JLA #84-89
2003Trial by Fire — Joe Kelly writes J'onn losing his fear of fire and becoming Fernus. The entire Justice League cannot stop him. The story that proves J'onn is the most powerful Leaguer — and the fire weakness exists to protect everyone else.
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Modern Martian Manhunter
Final Crisis #1
2008Death of Martian Manhunter — Grant Morrison kills J'onn at the hands of Libra and the Secret Society. His death is the opening shot of Final Crisis. The DC Universe mourns its heart.
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Blackest Night #0
2009J'onn as a Black Lantern — Geoff Johns resurrects J'onn as an undead Black Lantern during Blackest Night. He is eventually fully resurrected. Johns brings the Manhunter back.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 4 #1
2015Rob Williams' Martian Manhunter — J'onn splits himself into multiple human identities, each unaware of the others. Eddy Barrows draws. The most creative modern Martian Manhunter concept.
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Martian Manhunter vol. 5 #1
2019Steve Orlando's Martian Manhunter — the most acclaimed recent run. Orlando partners J'onn with a human detective and explores his first days on Earth. Riley Rossmo draws in a stunning painted style.
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Martian Manhunter's Defining Moments
Detective Comics #225
1955The debut — a Martian stranded on Earth. The last survivor of a dead world. He becomes a detective because he wants to help.
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The Brave and the Bold #28
1960Founding the Justice League — J'onn stands with the greatest heroes on Earth. He belongs. The outsider finds a family.
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Justice League #1 (1987)
1987JLI team dad — Giffen/DeMatteis write J'onn managing chaos. Chocos. Patience. The most human Martian.
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JLA #84-89
2003Fernus — J'onn without his weakness. The most powerful being in DC. The fire exists to protect the world from him.
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Final Crisis #1
2008Death — Morrison kills the heart of the DC Universe. J'onn falls. Everyone mourns.
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Collector Highlights
Detective Comics #225
1955The holy grail — first Martian Manhunter. Samachson and Certa. A major Silver Age DC key. One of the most important DC first appearances.
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The Brave and the Bold #28
1960First Justice League — J'onn as founding member. A landmark Silver Age key. One of the most valuable DC comics.
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Justice League #1 (1987)
1987JLI launch — Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire. J'onn as leader. A beloved Copper Age key.
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JLA #1 (1997)
1997Morrison's JLA — Big Seven return. J'onn as psychic backbone. A significant modern key.
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Martian Manhunter #1 (2019)
2019Orlando/Rossmo — most acclaimed recent run. Painted art. A modern key.
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Final Crisis #1
2008Death of Martian Manhunter — Morrison. A significant modern event key.
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