Martian Manhunter #6 (March, 2007)

In New York City, a SWAT team burst through the window of Rio Ferdinand, who was sleeping nude in bed. "Gee, if I'd known you boys were coming, I would'a made coffee.

At Middleton Woods Estates in Pennsylvania, J'Onn J'Onzz gathered his fellow Green Martians into one room like a parlor detective and announced that he suspected one of them in the murders of two humans. "Setting aside the shame you've brought upon our people, upon me, admit to your crime now and I promise I'll do everything in my powers to protect you." I love the emphasis on "me," as if the guy who has failed and browbeat this group constantly rated special standing.



Mica'kel was immediately indignant like a good red herring, which was pointless, since the reveal took up half of a facing page. Dal'en was the only Martian to stammer when asked point blank yes or no if he'd been up to some killin', like a child afraid of the switch. Given that mighty fine bit of dee-tectin' work, it's no wonder Dal'en was on J'Onzz, trying to gouge out his eyes with his friggin' thumbs, before the Manhunter from Mars could mount a defense. J'Onn had been offering Dal'en help, which was met by a left-field screech of "YOU CAN NOT HELP ME," which plays better if you imagine the voice as Richard O'Brien's in the last act of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Come to think of it, maybe the DCnÜ is just a delayed effect of Dal'en and Telok'Telar doing the Time Warp off-panel? J'Onn was all "You're among friends," but Dal'en was all butch please, "you have no idea-- what's been done..." before passing out. Hysterical.



Back in New York, the F.B.I. interrogated Rio over the murder of "Sully" Sullivan, based on a ten point match of her thumbprint on the field journal of Dr. Alex Ferguson. "Just so we're all on the same page... you're making a career-ending mistake here, fellas." Despite her bravado, Rio knew someone had purposefully blown her cover and fed her to the feds. One of her interrogators saw it in her eyes, and knowing she'd lose any tail they placed on her, thought it might be best to release her. That way, she could deal damage to her no doubt corrupt superiors, and on confirming she'd been sold out, would likely return the favor in kind.

In Gotham City, the Martian Manhunter felt uncomfortable about approaching Batman for a favor, especially in light of his estrangement from the Justice League. "It's ironic... although alien, Superman can be swayed by emotion. Batman, by contrast, is far more... exacting." Also, water is wet and a Martian probably shouldn't deal in xeno-stereotyping. The Dark Knight didn't feel it was safe for either of them to be meeting the other, and confirmed on questioning that one of J'Onn's Martians had killed the two D.E.O. agents. J'Onn felt that if there deaths were to have any meaning, Batman would turn over information on who ordered the transfer of Scorch from her captivity at S.T.A.R. Labs. "As a friend, I must ask you to trust me on this." In predictable fashion, Batman's answer was a simple, firm "No."



As Keane was returning home for the night in his limousine, Rio shot several of his guards and his driver in the head. Girl loves her head shots. "Give me one reason I shouldn't put one in you!" Keane explained that he had no reason to expose Rio, given that it would in turn expose him. Keane had previously suspected that Rio was in league with the presumed rogue Giggs, but with the evidence presented against Rio to the feds, now thought he might be after them both. Whoever was responsible, "I don't care what your job title is in the real world, Keane, I don't take the fall for anyone."

Lying unrestrained on a mattress elevated by a board and two sawhorses, Dal'en begged for death. His skin was now cracked and turning gray. "In the lab, they did something to me. I am not who you think I am. I'm not! I'm not myself!!" Dal'en could remember killing the two agents, but it was something like an out of body experience, and he now feared for his fellow Martians. "Please don't let me hurt the others."

J'Onzz consulted with the group and Sara Moore. He conveyed Dal'en's fear that he had been intentionally infected with the plague in the lab, and was still shocked a Martian could take a human life. J'Onzz sought confirmation through blood samples, and when Telok'Telar refused, one was taken by force. The samples would go with Moore to a friendly lab associate. Till'all would travel with her, while Telok'Telar and Mica'kel stayed to watch over Dal'en.



Her name is Rio and she visits Boston, Mass. Then in another panel, kindly shows her ass. And when she spies she hides evidence at Midland Savings & Loan. Oh Rio, Rio, how you plot when you're on your own. Also: U-Store Rental, Waterford, CT. I guess you can hit that many states on the Eastern Seaboard in a day. Here in Texas, you spend a day trying (sometimes vainly) to get out of Texas.

The Martian Manhunter tried to set Sara Moore up in a rundown abandoned lab at Spectrum Tech Corp. in Milbourne, PA. Moore thought J'Onzz surely had something of higher quality elsewhere, but "I'm afraid my access to any of the standard labs is no longer an option." Gee, and I thought having powers comparable to Superman's meant not needing that kind of Batman crap, like the car, the plane, or... the... butler? "Excuse me, Master J'Onn-- may I have a word with you? Alone?" Okay, where the effing H.E. Dubblehockeystix did Alfred Pennyworth come from? Alfred had recognized that Batman had really wanted to give J'Onn the information he had requested, but couldn't allow himself, so Alfred made a big show of doing it without Bruce's knowledge. In a story as poorly constructed and in as desperate a need for more exposition, we waste a page on this nonsense? I say again, non. sense. I could devote paragraphs to discussing how nonsensical just that one scene was, but the material doesn't rate that level of taxing exegesis.



Keane was the chief of Homeland Security. If you smashed through the window of his helicopter while in flight, gravely threatening the safety of its two pilots, F-16s would rightly blow your dumb Martian ass out of the sky. Never mind that once again, another character had to guide J'Onn J'Onzz to action, which is taken in the clumsiest manner possible, completely ignoring both the wealth of powers at the Alien Atlas' disposal and the horse sense of a remedial grade school kid. The reader was told the pilots ejected to safety, but that doesn't excuse unnecessarily wrecking million of dollars worth of government property. J'Onzz threatened Keane with a mind probe to extort information, and received a little verbally. Why not probe the murderous son of a bitch while he was in flight, causing no material harm and gaining a greater and more reliable degree of information from a subject beneath concern. Further, circular logic abounds, like Keane experimenting on the Martians because of the threat they posed because he experimented on and hunted the Martians after they escaped his experimenting on them because they were dangerous. That'll surely prove useful to know.



J'Onzz finally decided to mentally probe Keane, in midair, while being telepathically paged about Dal'en going berserk, requiring his urgent return, and attracting the attention of friggin' Superman. How many contrivances could a writer conjure up at once to prevent finally advancing the plot in a firm direction? None of which stops J'Onn's successfully arguing for a whole hour of extra time from Superman to prove Dal'en's relative innocence for a page and a half. Again, J'Onn J'Onzz is reduced to begging and indulgence from the Man of Steel in the series of which he is the titular star. Is this the worst issue of a terrible, terrible mini-series? My need for Excedrin Extra Strength and a multiple week gap in covering this god forsaken story indicates that it very well could be.



Sara Moore was having troubles with her lab samples spitting out skewed information, and suspected they might be contaminated. In her teleconference with the only Asian ever named Hollis, she called her working conditions "more gas station than lab." Till'all found some peanut butter that he seemed to like, but Sara Moore declined due to allergies. This led into an asinine observation about the human condition. Not so much stupid in itself, but when you reread this series, it makes you want to punch the writer in the ear for this song and dance. Further study revealed that the Martian blood samples were not compromised by virus, but simply "different" from expectations, presumably from J'Onn's baseline.

The Martian Manhunter found Telok'Telar and Mica'kel barely able to contain Dal'en, who was vomiting blood and increasingly violent. Surprisingly, the two healthy Martians wanted help from the Justice League, while J'Onn refused to turn Dal'en over. Dal'en got free, threw J'Onzz through a wall, and took flight. The Martian Manhunter streaked after Dal'en, finally catching up, and caught an albino tail around his neck. J'Onn thought of all his friends' warnings while he was blinded by hope, unable to see that Dal'en was in truth a White Martian in disguise.



"The Others Among Us Part 6" was by A.J. Lieberman, Al Barrionuevo and Bit. I'd be hard pressured to think of a series that calls more attention to how poorly thought out it is. Scenes in this book make me angry because I know from the perspective of having completed the series that they are pointless or nakedly manipulative to such a degree that they are outright cheats. I try to give the benefit of the doubt, like maybe this was a proposed twelve issue series cut down to eight partway through, with plots left hanging and characters folded into one another. I just can't see it though, because each issue reads more like an arbitrary eight issue length was assigned, and the writer just threw up a bunch of garbage to fill the page allotment each month. Either way, there's no excuse for such execrable results.

Compounding the author's failure is the improving work of artist Al Barrionuevo over the course of the run, as his layouts become more clear while maintaining a consistent, subdued mood. I also need to give thanks for the colors of Marta Martinez, which both complement the art perfectly and pick up the slack during Barrionuevo's lesser moments. You want to forgive the book when you toss through it, because it looks promising at glance, until the words get in the way. I'm so glad I decided to write the final issue synopsis three months in advance while doing research for series related character biographies. After these last few issues, I need the momentum of knowing I only have one more mountain of sludge to climb convey in my immediate future.

Brave New World

• Doom Patrol #6 (March, 2010) @ DC Bloodlines
• Wonder Woman #6 (Late May, 2007) @ Diana Prince
• Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50 (May, 2007) @ Justice League Detroit
• Breach #6 (August, 2005) @ Power of the Atom
• The All New Atom #7 (March, 2007) @ The Mighty Mite

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

2011 Scorch Comicpalooza Commission by Roderick Thornton

After setting up my first two commissions, I was indecisive about the third. Industry veteran Bob Layton was charging a very reasonable $100 for a penciled & inked full figure, so I thought about his doing some shiny metal rogues. As I thumbed through my reference, I couldn't find a character who felt like a home run that I was willing to drop a precious c-note on. TOR? The Osprey? J'en? I just couldn't make that leap, and regretted not having brought my faded Kevin Maguire Martian Manhunter sketch for Layton to ink. I have yet to post it on this blog because I can't pull a decent scan off the yellowed paper and gray pencils.

Anyway, while I was debating, I found myself in the dealer's section, where I stumbled upon the booth for Angel Comics at a little before one o'clock. There was original art and posted rates on display, and I liked what I saw. While there were a number of styles employed, the one that jumped out at me involved elements of Sam Keith's technique over tighter, more mainstream layouts. The artist wasn't at the booth, but table mate Adrian Nelson spoke with me until he came back, as well as showing off his own work. After talking with both men, I decided to spend Bob Layton's $100 on two pieces of art from them. The first artist wanted $40 for a standard figure, but I sprang for the $60 that offered more detail and a background. After going through my stack of reference, the artist kept returning to Scorch and Doctor Trap. I really wanted at least one female sketch this round, and knew it wouldn't happen at this con unless I made a point of it, so Scorch it was.

I had told the artist that Scorch was your basic redneck trailer trash who had been given flame powers by the Joker when he was briefly deified. I continued to explain that she had fought Superman and Martian Manhunter, then hooked-up with J'Onn J'Onzz before being put in a coma. She was a bad girl, but I wasn't looking for a naughty pin-up, preferring her played tough. We both figured that given her powers, flames in the background would be natural.

I hit the super-hero costume contest at four o'clock, but alas, no Martian Manhunters there. When I got back, the artist had me stick with him to offer direction on the layout, which he was sketching out in blue pencil, working off a more dynamic take on the reference's pose. A guy dressed as Deadpool dancing to a motion sensing video game playing Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" livened things up, creating a traffic jam that had me hiding in a corner to avoid contributing to the bottleneck. After ten minutes or so, the artist had his basic framework down, so I told him I'd give him some space to work.

I picked up my piece just before six, when the dealer's area was closing to the public. In the rush to get out of the area, I neglected to get a business card or any other definite contact information from the artist. After perusing the convention's website, Adrian Nelson's Deviant Art page, and the Angel Comics website, I believe the name that most closely matches the signature to be Roderick Thornton, founder of Angel Comics. However, I'm not 100% positive, which is why I referred to him here as just "the artist," in case I have to correct my attribution at a later date. Scorch is easily the largest of my commissions, taking up the majority of a standard 11" X 17" comic art page. I think the leather in Scorch's costume would really pop if inked, so I'm thinking about getting it embellished next year. How ironic would it be if Layton came back in 2012?

2006 "JLA - J'onn J'onzz n Scorch" by Isucklikehell

Click To Enlarge

"in the issue of JLA i was reading.. J'onn Jon'zz the Martian Manhunter has a fear of fire, and to help him over come it he goes to a villain named Scorch. Scorch agrees to help J'onn if he would fix her mind which was tainted by the joker..

this is a remake of the final page of the issue Scorch and J'onn kiss

J'onn is my favorite character in the justice league.. he would kick anyones ass! lol

all my hard work shading noo scanner messed it up as usual
this is as close as i can get to the original brightness, contrast, gamma using open canvas
maybe someday a better scanner.."

2010 "DCUniverse Vol.7: The Injustice Gang" Scorch by alexmax

Click To Enlarge


Deviant Artist alexmax has done a series of themed DC Universe group shots that I quite like, and even created an all-encompassing wallpaper that pays homage to the underrated Marvel Universe Series III card set. Of "DCUniverse Vol.7: The Injustice Gang" he said:

More Villains. This time, it's the Injustice Gang. I wanted to make a lineup with, what I feel are, the most iconic arch-enemies for each of these guys. Inspired in large part by what Grant Morrison did during the Rock of Ages storyline...

Scorch: This was another case of not knowing who was the main villian for MMH. I first thought of a White Martian, but white martians are an army, not just 1 guy. Then I figured I should draw Fernus, but Fernus is just another identity of J'onn... so I chose Scorch, who is technically a Superman villain, but she controls hellfire, and unleashed (unwillingly) Fernus. Yes, she is in the same pose seen in the cover for JLA #84.

Alessandro should have given the blog a pass if he needed reference on Martian Manhunter rogues, but Scorch pin-ups aren't easy to Google when they exist at all, so I'm happy with his choice. Aside from Bel Juz, the ladies of the Vile Menagerie have been given short shrift this month, but I'll try to make that up in February. Anyway, J'Onn has as much claim to Scorch as Superman, since he was part of the story arc that introduced her, and teamed-up with Kal-El to clash with her in a follow-up appearance before that JLA story. I like the more mature and trashier look he gave her, too.

For more spotlights from this mural, see the following:

• Black Manta at Justice League Detroit
• The Cheetah at Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
• Doctor Light at Power of the Atom

The Greatest Martian Manhunter (Related) Covers of All Time!

The Top 0 Mr. V/Vulture/Marco Xavier Cover(s)
...

The Top 3 Human Flame Covers
3) Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #6 (December, 2009)

2) Justice League of America #21 (July, 2008)

1) Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #1 (July, 2009)

The Top 0 Professor Erdel Cover(s)
...

The Top 3 Scorch Covers
3) Action Comics #774 (February, 2001)

2) Adventures of Superman #582 (September, 2000)

1) JLA #84 (October, 2003)

The Top 0 Diabolu Cover(s)
...

The Top 3 White Martian Covers
3) Son of Vulcan #5 (December, 2005)

2) Son of Vulcan #6 (January, 2006)

1) JLA #57 (October, 2001)

The Top 0 Monty Moran Cover(s)
...

The Top 2 Professor Arnold Hugo Cover(s)
2) DC Super Friends #24 (April, 2010)

1) Detective Comics #306 (August, 1962)


The Top 0 Captain Harding Cover(s)
...

The Top 1 Diane Meade Cover(s)
JLA: Classified #49 (February, 2008)

She doesn't actually appear inside.


The Top 2 Glenn Gammeron Cover(s)
2) Justice League Task Force #29 (November, 1995)

2) Justice League Task Force #31 (January, 1996)



The Top 1 Vulkor, the Capsule Master Cover(s)
The Brave and The Bold #50 (November, 1963)


The Top 1 Doctor Trap Cover(s)
Chase #6 (July, 1998)


The Top 1 The Marshal Cover(s)
Justice League of America #230 (September, 1984)



The Top 1 Bette Noir Cover(s)
Martian Manhunter #3 (February, 1999)


The Top 1 Commander Blanx Cover(s)
Justice League of America #144 (July, 1977)
Click To Enlarge

The Martian Manhunter Family

One of the things I've had on my "to do" list for, oh, two and a half years or so is to have all of the Idol-Head's posts organized in a series of easy to reference archives (like the frequently long-out-of-date link icons running down our sidebar.) This would be particularly helpful for my op/ed pieces, since even I have trouble tracking some of those down when certain subjects come up. I also really want to edit/rewrite some of the ones done when I was under time pressure/exhausted/inarticulate/etc. Until then though, I'll occasionally revisit some of this stuff via the wonder of cut & paste, either as filler material on my down days, or due to a need I foresee.

For instance, comments on yesterday's, Justice League Animated Style Miss Martian Custom Figure by Victor Kraven have focused heavily on the prospect of nurturing a "Martian Manhunter Family" now that the hero has returned to the land of the living. With his new costume and mission, it seems folks are interested in revising areas where the character has had problems in the past, this being one of them. As it happens, this topic was discussed at length at The Absorbascon blog way back in early 2005. Stumbling upon Scipio's suggestions on the matter, I wrote up a two part response post that I thought I might reedit and revisit here.

About halfway through the February 15, 2008 post Grant Morrison and the Absorbascon, I began talking about J'Onn J'Onzz's shaky history with supporting casts. The only two reoccurring characters to turn up in the first few Manhunter from Mars strips were Professor Mark Erdel, who died in the first story and had his passing revisited with every origin recap, and Lieutenant Saunders, who was in charge of detectives on the Middletown Police Department. Saunders was soon replaced by Captain Harding, who served mostly to sit at his desk and provide exposition to John Jones at the start of his cases. From there were a bunch of "one appearance wonders," whom Scipio was kind enough to cataloge in "Support Your Local Martian!" A few years in, a rival/love interest was introduced in the form of Policewoman Diane Meade, but she only appeared irregularly in a handful of Detective Comics strips over the course of its nine year run. Toward the end of that period, an other-dimensional pet/sidekick named Zook began joining J'onn J'onzz's adventures on a monthly basis, continuing into the majority of the Manhunter strip's House of Mystery entries. Once that ended in 1968, not a single member of the strip's supporting players would make another appearance for at least thirty years.

Beginning in the 1970s, the only support the Martian Manhunter received was in the form of fellow super-heroes and whatever normal characters also played into his various team books. Since J'Onn J'Onzz is such a workaholic and so rarely has his own title anyway, it makes sense he spends most of his time with other super-heroes. I realize supporting casts have always been a comic book staple, but so too has the general apathy among fans and public alike regarding those types. For every Alfred Pennyworth or Mary Jane Watson, there are dozens of examples of Dulla McLovintrest, Guy Bestpal, Dr. Arther Tayfigure, and the rest. Rather than surround John Jones with expendable, forgettable cop buddies, why not get the exact same mileage with far greater levels of interest and resonance out of middling-to-obscure super-heroes?

That seemed to be Scipio's logic, as his original vision of a Martian Manhunter series was something of a clearing house for maintaining old trademarks. March 27, 2005's Are You Sleeping, Brother J'onn? saddled J'Onn with a supporting cast consisting of some of the least viable old DC properties imaginable. Besides looking to revive moribund franchises through association, Scipio also thought this would play off his theory of DC's Dynastic Centerpiece Model, which assumes that "a hero is not a single character but the centerpiece of his/her own array of good and evil forces... a constellation of characters is clustered around the central figure, which helps make him/her seem even more important...You may not always like how such a pattern's being used, but, like it or not, characters who lack the pattern have trouble standing on their own."

The granddaddy of the Dynastic Centerpiece model was the Marvel Family, which were ripped off wholesale by the Superman Family, which the Batman Family initially plundered. A detail more along those lines in my own attempt at following Scipio's pattern, The Dynastic Centerpiece of Diabolu, but I'll cut to the chase and showcase them now:



Junior Counterpart: Jemm, Son of Saturn
Since Morrison connected the character to Mars in "Rock of Ages," and especially with Ostrander's follow-up in J'Onn's own title, this was an early lock.

Female Version: Miss Martian
Not so long ago, this would have either been a reach or just a token slot for the next candidate down. Now, simplicity itself.

Kid Sidekick: Gypsy
Cindy had to get in here. Ever since her reappearance in JLI, Gypsy and J'Onn have been closely linked as surrogate daughter/father.

Black Sheep: Glenn Gammeron
Never heard of Gammeron, the bounty hunting frienemy with history dating back to before J'Onn lost his family? Speak up now if you're hot for an entry on ol' Glenn. I dig this cat a lot, and the JLTF synopsizes remain a ways away...

Civilian Companion: Cameron Chase
Damned if this DC thing isn't vindicating many of Ostrander's choices, but linking his run to D.C. Johnson's late, lamented series was a great idea.

Elder Statesman: King Faraday
Darwyn Cooke's notion of connecting J'Onn & King grew to be among his favorite New Frontier relationships. Mine too.

Animal Companion: Zook
Junior counterpart, kid sidekick... you just knew Zook would get in here, as well. I'm still not comfortable referring to Zook as a sentient "pet," but that was how the character was usually described.

Authority Figure: H'ronmeer
Don't get much more authoritative than your own personal Jesus.

Contextualizing City: None. I don't know when it was decided John Jones was a detective in Middleton, but his generic beat was almost never identified in the Silver Age. After he quit the force, whatever city he happened to be in was also rarely named, and pretty near never the same. Marco Xavier was all over Eurasia. There's just no good reason to pin J'Onn down to one burg, unless maybe Haven: The Broken City is still around somewhere. I do think J'Onn should have a cool base, whether it be a new Z'onn Z'orr, a repurposed Satellite/Watchtower, or what have you.

At this point, we get into super-villains. Scipio added a subdivision to his Dynastic Centerpiece model in the form of The Villainous Tarot, which expanded and clarified his positions on the roles played by figures in a rogues gallery. This caused me to reevaluate positions of certain villains between their Dynastic and Tarot entries, which I'll comment on here. If you want to see my Tarot in its original context, click here.



Arch Enemy/Opposite Number: Despero
As Martian Manhunter's nemesis, Despero seemed a natural fit for "Arch Enemy." Scipio would surely disagree, and his removing that designation from the Tarot saw Despero's become my "Opposite Number" choice instead, accompanied by a lengthy explanation.

Lunatic/Mocker: Malefic
It's no secret I'm not fond of Malefic, but he obviously has his role to play. As a loony pushover with a body count, he's an extra-green Joker.

Hero-worshipping Villain/Unhelpful Helper: Triumph
Clearly, Triumph had the best, though never remotely selfless, intentions. He wanted everything he touched to turn out to the good, for his own personal aggrandizement, and was constantly surprised when he failed epically. I can't think of many super-villains treated as harshly and hatefully by the Martian Manhunter as Triumph, but I can't say he didn't beg for every throttling.

Civilian Enemy: Director Bones
This one for some reason didn't make the transition into the Villainous Tarot, but ongoing thorn in the side with the law on theirs is a righteous role.

Untouchable Crime Lord: Vandal Savage
This is another category not in the Tarot, which is a shame. This was a tough call, as Savage is a greater DCU villain and Flash has some degree of ownership. The Faceless Mr. V could have gone here, but he was ultimately touchable. Savage, while not typically associated with J'Onn J'Onzz, was probably his second most common foe of the 90's. I look forward to providing greater detail, and only regret the trend didn't continue into the aughts.

Crime Lord: Mr. V/Faceless
What a difference a word makes. Quite a few characters could lay claim to Savage as a major foe, including (but not limited to) Rip Hunter, Resurrection Man, Immortal Man, and a sizeable portion of the memberships of the JSA and JLA. What made the difference was "unstoppable," as Martian Manhunter fought a lopsided war against Savage for over a year & a half in the 90's, with repeated run-ins for most of that decade. Still, Mr. V was the original ongoing crime lord of the Manhunter from Mars strip, even if his plans were consistently foiled and he (presumably) was killed in the final Manhunter chapter.

Magician: Lord Asmodel
Another Centerpiece-exclusive category. This was the only tricky one for me, as J'Onn tends not to deal with magic types. There was that one fight with Etrigan, and the witch he teamed-up with the Spectre to fight, but those were pretty weak reaches. Asmodel meanwhile has a history of kicking Martian Manhunter's ass, so he seemed a solid choice. The only others that come to mind are Libra and The Conjurer.

Evil Opposite/Rival Twin: The Marshal
There's quite a few evil Martian Manhunters out there, from B'rett to The Hyperclan to B’enn B’urnzz and a bunch of prior selections. Maybe it's just that awesome Chuck Patton cover, but there's something about the genetically-engineered military leader who led the first true invasion from Green Martians that still gets me going.

Femme Fatale: Bel Juz
Another role dropped from the Tarot. I had more options here than I expected, but since no one else can really claim Bel Juz as one of their own, she seemed appropriate.

Mental Challenger I/Gadgeteer: Professor Arnold Hugo
The man! The myth! The melon! Scipio kept the "Mental Challenger" role, but I reassigned Hugo in the Tarot version. Hugo invented one device after another that put the Martian Marvel out, but almost never truly endangered him. He often set circumstances into motion that would occupy the Alien Atlas, but really didn't overwhelm him. I love me some Hugo, and he's undoubtedly formidable, but ultimately more a nuisance than a mastermind.

Mental Challenger II: Bette Noir
This is clearly the weakest link in Manhunter's "tarot," and its adverse effect on the hero is extraordinary. Typically, villains who can shut down Manhunter's telepathy are Justice League class threats. Even overlooking that advantage, few of Manhunter's foes are as smart as him, either scientifically or strategically. Dr. Trapp doesn't rate, because he really hasn't manage to take the Sleuth From Outer Space on by himself. Vandal Savage, despite his skill, seemed more a test for early members of the JLA and the JLTF than someone who could plausibly take J'Onn on. Bel Juz pulled the wool over J'Onn's eyes once, and helped install the Marshal, but posed no direct threat. Only Bette Noir has troubled J'Onzz on several occasions, through both telepathy and maneuvers. She's no Despero, but he already has a slot, so she slides into this place.

Physical Challenger: Brimstone
He's big, he's strong, he's made of fire, he has ties to Darkseid, and several fights with the Alien Atlas under his considerable belt. If anything, Manhunter has too many of these. Nearly every creature released from the Diabolu Idol-Head qualified, as did most notable VULTURE and Middletown threats.

Twisted One: The Prophet
This is the one category in which the Manhunter excels. It seems like religious fantatics, fascists, and the like are drawn to him like Mr. Moth to a Human Flame. I went with the Prophet, as he was created for the Martian Manhunter Special and held his own. Tybalt Bak'sar, Brimstone, Cabal, Director Bones, and others appearing later could have served as well.

Misguided Idealist: The Master Gardener
A fellow Martian who arrived on Earth first to help lead his adopted planet toward the Great Evolution? That's swell! Doing it by manipulating the media, violently supressing dissent, and binding a fungus that causes spontaneous combustion within the bodies of the populace? Uncool!

Friend-Turned-Foe: Re's Eda
J'Onn J'Onzz became a fugitive from Mars and beat on a slew of innocent super-heroes in the name of poor R’es Eda, the victim of an assassination. Except he wasn't, and instead framed J'Onn J'Onzz in order to lead his people in an invasion against peaceful co-habitants on Mars II. That's forgetting N'or Cott's inglorious death besides...

Sexual Challenger: Scorch
A case could be made for Manhunter getting his freak on right through the Bronze Age, whether it be Diane Meade, J'en , or the plentiful arm candy from the Marco Xavier days. When his status as a widower was revealed, he went through a lengthy dry spell. Around the time of his ongoing series though, he started running buck wild with a number of flings and near misses. All told though, I can think of only one "bad girl," one "villainess" who ever got her hands on the guy mind, body and spirit-- to horrific consequence. While Scorch's intentions were the best, based on her history and the unlikelihood of her remaining "straight" should she return from her coma, Scorch is the only truly qualified selection.

Evil Genius: Darkseid
Another massive weakness of the Martian Manhunter-- his best foes aren't "his." I could have used a number of other gadgeteers and tried to cover by placing Prof. Hugo in this spot, but the truth will out. Most of the villains Manhunter has faced who are remotely at his mental level; Savage, Gorilla Grodd, Professors Ivo and Fortune, Despero; could just as easily be removed as options due to prior or multitudinous committments. Darkseid was the primary villain after Malefic during the "Ostrander/Mandrake" series, which is another reason I freakin' hate that series.

Manipulator: Commander Blanx
The guy managed to bushwhack J'Onn J'Onzz, pass him through a kangaroo court into exile, nearly ruin his Earthly reputation, and slaughter most of Mars-- all for the sake of a real estate deal! I'm still not sure he isn't alive and well, hidden within the Bush Administration. Dick? Karl?

Contingent Foe: Fernus the Burning Martian
Were there no J'Onn J'Onzz in pursuit of a cure for his people's natural(?) weakness, a bunch of White Martians and troops of Vandal Savage would still be alive today. I can't say I like Fernus, but maybe fanboys will think twice the next time they beg for the Manhunter from Mars to "realize his potential."

Personal Foe: N'or Cott
A bit of a cheat, but most anyone else who could have fit this role have been taken up elsewhere. The Manhunter tends to be pretty unambiguously in the right, so beyond occasional lapses into New Age passivism, he doesn't mind blasting most foes overly much.

2008 DC Comics Super Hero Collection #18 - Allies And Enemies

So I promised to get back to the British Martian Manhunter spotlight magazine that came with a boxed figurine over the weekend... of the first week of October. Whoopsie. Not only had I forgotten that commitment, but I'd even misplaced a nice sized but unfinished post intended to serve that role. Well, maybe later. Instead, we're jumping to pages 13-15, this series' section devoted to "The Players."

In his long life, on both Mars and Earth, J'onn J'onzz has made more than his fair share of friends and foes. Frank Plowright spotlights a few of each...

...and by a few, they mean no one prior to the late '90s Martian Manhunter ongoing series save one.

The article opens with Cay'an, the villainess from the 2007 One Year Later conehead mini-series I recently purchased but haven't read. She's given a paragraph, and comes off as J'Onn J'Onzz's Fatality, which seems appropriate to me. Her picture is the same one used throughout the internet, because there are only about three usable panels with her in existence, and almost everybody chooses this one. Her Essential reading selection was obviously Martian Manhunter: The Others Among Us.

Next is Despero, whose picture is the Carlos Pacheco splash page from JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (2003,) his Essential reading. Now, I love having a publication establish Despero as one of only six Manhunter villains of note, to rub it in the faces of naysayers, except that JLA/JSA graphic novel doesn't really feature a battle with J'Onn. The article claims Despero initially targeted the JLofA as a future threat to his rule in their first issue, which is a "creative" interpretation of the actual plot. The next thirty years were glossed over in one sentence, before noting the period when Despero's consciousness resided within the little robot L-Ron (a fact DC never quite grasped themselves, instead acting as though L-Ron and Despero shared the same body.) The first mention of an actual battle with Martian Manhunter hinged on that, as it referenced the issue of Young Justice when the team (misidentified as the Teen Titans) fought a J'Onn J'Onzz possessed by Despero's spirit (a plot point carried over from a Supergirl two-parter. Frank Plowright (no relation) claimed Despero started the Infinite Crisis (instead of being the villain of a lead-in closer to an Identity Crisis epilogue,) and mentioned the Superman/Batman story he had recently appeared in (again failing to observe Manhunter's role in same.) So basically, instead of helping my case by talking about the relationship between Alien Atlas and three-eyed tyrant, Plowright as near as possible ignores it.

Malefic received the third entry, with art by Rick Leonardi and Sean Phillips excerpted from JLA: Classified #46. Since the writer and his magazine fixated on the Ostrander Martian Manhunter series, the facts here were to my recollection dead on. Essential reading: Martian Manhunter Vol II #6-9 (May- Aug 1999.) Unless the Brits got a series we didn't, I'd be hard pressed to figure out what Vol I was. The Detective Comics run? The '88 mini-series? American Secrets? The Special?

Gypsy arrived on the next page, with art taken from a panel in her brief run as a member of the Birds of Prey. Somehow, Cindy Reynolds' hometown was Detroit, but after battling super-villains, she joined the new JLofA in... Detroit? I'm not even going to try to unravel that erroneous mess. It thankfully improves from there, revealing Despero's murder of her parents, Gypsy's resumption of super-heroics and membership in the Conglomerate and Justice League Task Force. "She and J'onn developed a very close bond, like father and daughter, while working together." Not that you could tell from her failure to appear much in the three year run of the Ostrander series, but at least Plowright forgot that book's insinuation that Gypsy was herself part-Martian. Essential reading: Justice League Annual #2 (1984.) Um, no. They forgot the "...of America" part, and that her first appearance wasn't much beyond a cameo. Gypsy had numerous spotlight stories throughout that series, which Plowright clearly hadn't read, as well as Justice League Task Force.

Libra fell below Gypsy, meaning the villain who murdered J'onn J'onzz, even though the characters continue to have little to do with one another. In order to establish a stronger connection, the writer brought up J'onn's role in Salvation Run, but it still reads thin. Essential reading: Final Crisis: Requiem (2008.) Art by Carlos Pacheco from the cover to Justice League of America #21 (2008.)

Scorch returns us to more valid entries, even if her brief rivalry and romance with J'onn J'onzz never read like anything but a blatant authorial construct. "Scorch is an other-dimensional villain with complete mastery of the fire she can generate. Scorch slipped through to Earth when the Joker temporarily acquired magical powers." That doesn't sound quite right. Wikipedia sez: urnt! "Originally a normal human from Pisboe, Virginia, Aubrey Sparks was transformed into Scorch during the short "Emperor Joker" storyline." Yeah, that's more how I remembered it, but since that whole arc read like a fever dream, I wanted independent varification. The entry gets hijacked by Fernus, whose nature is similarly misinterpreted. Art by Doug Mahnke & co. from her Essential reading: JLA: Trial By Fire (2004.)

On to the final page, we start with the Bronze Wraith, which seeing as he was just an alternate identity of J'onn J'onzz, seems woefully out of place. Of all the friends and foes, here's Martian Manhunter's Halloween costume from 1973? The art was by Tom Mandrake from his Essential reading: Martian Manhunter #17 (April 2000.)

Below was Doctor Trapp, a technically accurate title for Larry Trapp, though he operated publicly without the second "p." The entry blurs the line of when Trapp became a super-villain, making it seem like he was a bad guy from before the passing of his "girlfriend," when in fact he took to killing metahumans to avenge his wife's accidental death. The art was a Jamal Igle head shot from Dr. Trap's Essential reading: Martian Manhunter #36 (Nov 2001.)

Jack Kirby's Kanto was the penultimnate character here, leaning on his Who's Who entry and appearances in the latter issues of the Ostrander series for support. Dr. Trap's origin was in Chase #3, but I let that go, since he only had a non-flashback fight with J'onn in his essential reading selection. Applying the same rule, why isn't Kanto's offering the In My Life story arc, instead of Essential reading: Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol 1 (2007.) I guess because DC makes nothing off three Martian Manhunter back issues, and a c-note off the suggested tome.

Finally, My'ria'h D'all's name sounds like those of love interests from two previous Ostrander series, and her being so named once again poos on the 1988 J.M. DeMatteis revamp, but the guy was never known much for originality or hewing to continuity. Tom Mandrake's cover to Martian Manhunter #33 served to illustrate the wife of J'onn J'onzz and mother to his child. Essential reading: Martian Manhunter #33-36 (Aug-Nov 2001,) and buying these will save you major bucks in familiarizing yourself with Kanto, as well.

So, according to this magazine, the most notable Martian Manhunter enemies are:
Cay'an
Despero
Malefic
Libra
Scorch
Doctor Trapp
Kanto

and his only allies worth mentioning are:
Gypsy
Scorch
Himself (in another guise)
and his departed wife.

So, how would you rate Mr. Plowright's research assignment? I'm leaning toward a "C," but I grade on a curve...

The Idol-Polls of Diabolu: Love Interests

Comic book blogs, especially Google DC Universe comic book blogs, are pretty incestuous. It should come as no surprise when you look at a sidebar, see little character icons, and ask yourself, "Hey, doesn't Rob do that?" Or maybe you'll see a familiar button scheme, and go "that's Frank's design!" Not when it's too good an idea not to swipe, it isn't! So if you look at this poll results post with accompanying pie chart and think of Dixon's Flash blog Crimson Lightning, and its Quick Quiz, remember that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Also, I don't recall whose poll started first, but I actually didn't rip off his Love Interest topic. Oh, and if you happen to agree that Dixon's charts look way better, remember mine came free from the National Center for Education Statistics, along with this tangy government cheese...



As part of the Idol-Head's Valentine's celebration, I posted Mars Needs Women! There I covered a bunch of J'Onn J'Onzz's past *potential* lady loves, or in the case of Her-Who-Must-Be-Served, "potential" "lady" "loves." This was followed by the poll, where I exempted lightweights like Vixen and Claire Jeffers, as well as what seemed the obvious landslide victor if included, J'Onn's deceased wife M'yri'ah.

Which of the following Martian Manhunter love interests do you feel had the most story potential?

Apparently not Bel Juz, one of the nastier schemers in the Vile Menagerie. Then again, maybe the problem isn't the character, but the contestable application of the term "love interest?" I'll have to run a femme fateles poll sometime to see if she performs any better.

No one thought Kishana Lewis did either, even after I temporarily reposted, partially rewrote, and generally expanded synopsis for her six appearances in JLA: Scary Monsters. I even offered posts about her ancestor Abel Carmody, his house, and a profile of Kishana Lewis herself I'd put off writing for a half decade. Jeez, but her creator Chris Claremont was long-winded. I like the character okay, but as a love interest, not so much.

Most folks preferred Scorch, even though her relationship to J'Onn was very similar to Kishana's. Then again, a lot of folks read the JLA arc "Trial By Fire," and comparatively few "Scary Monsters." Like Mongul, Scorch spent most of her career as a Superman villain, but her ties to Martian Manhunter are actually much stronger. Truth to tell, I don't care much for Scorch, as fire-based foes are a bit too on-the-nose for my taste. Still, she's got that classic Coop-type devil girl design, and she's one of the few characters with an extended association with J'Onn in recent years.

Speaking of which, the strong second place showing of Princess Cha'rissa makes me wonder if a lot of youse guys favor post-1997 stories. I've mostly avoided Morrison/Waid/Kelly JLA and Ostrander Martian Manhunter series coverage, as they're well represented online, and I dislike a lot of it. Am I at odds with many/most of you, and if so, should I give this latter-day material more nods, or is the whole point in coming here to get exposure to stuff you haven't seen? Anyway, aside from the sordid nature of the relationship, Cha'rissa was among the least objectionable bits of the Manhunter solo ongoing for myself.

Patrolwoman Diane Meade and Hunter Commander J'en tied for third, which pleases me, as they represent the old school. Well, if you extend it to 1984, anyway. I dig both of these characters, but personally voted for J'en, as I long for more stories from J'Onn's time on Mars II. Obviously.

Rounding out the poll were single votes for Marie Fouchere (fan of international playboy days/natural blonds?) and Her-Who-Must-Be-Served (Futanari fan?) I hope folks had fun with the poll, and will explain their own feelings on the matter in the comments section...

Mars Needs Women!

Like a lot of modern readers, my Martian Manhunter fandom mostly began after the changes made to the character in his first solo mini-series. After decades as a bachelor, J.M. DeMatteis transformed the Martian into a mournful widower and father. As such, I, like I'm sure many of you, always thought of J'Onn as this lonely, tragic figure... and neutered. However, that vibe must have been exactly what he needed to begin pulling birds, because J'Onn has had more romantic entanglements since losing his retcon wife than the rest of his history combined! Who are some of these special ladyfriends, you may ask, so near to Valentine's Day? Here's a selection...

• Patrolwoman Diane Meade: When the commissioner's daughter first showed up at Detective John Jones' Middletown precinct, he was sure taken with her pretty self. Jones even took Meade on a date in an issue of Justice League of America. Things seemed to cool once Diane became a member of the force though, and while she remained a friend to both Jones and J'Onzz, romance didn't seem to be in the cards. Since the character was revived in JLA: Year One, Officer Meade has seemed even further removed from Jones, mostly just taking amusement at his odd manner.
• Marie Fouchere: A French double agent who dated the real Marco Xavier, and perhaps the alien who assumed the role as well? More here.
• Bel Juz: It was never quite clear just how close this treacherous Martian Jezebel got to the Manhunter, but in the end she stood revealed for the manipulator she was. You can read her full profile here.
• J'en: The lover J'Onn J'Onzz lost to The Marshal's invasion plot against Earth. One of the rare cases where both parties wanted to be together, but were tragically parted. My biography for J'en is here.
  
• Vixen: After all those years in exile, J'Onn J'Onzz was greeted back to Earth with the amorous advances of supermodel Mari McCabe. It seems jungle fever hadn't yet set for the Manhunter, or perhaps he noticed Vixen tended to flirt with every non-villainous male within a ten-yard radius. They even had her retroactively fall for Steel, the Indestructable Man in an issue of JLA: Classified. In the end, Manhunter's animal-powered teammate from the Detroit League settled for a depressing sort of friendship, fueled by survivor's guilt.
• M'yri'ah: Over thirty years after his first appearance, J'Onn J'Onzz learned everything he thought he knew was a lie, and that he was actually a widowed husband and father with an unpronouncible name. Since all retcons inevitably get retconned, his lost bride M'yri'ah was finally named a decade later. The great love of J'Onn's life died with their daughter in a fire caused by plague.
  
• Her-Who-Must-Be-Served: Another unreciprocated love for the Manhunter from Mars, as this green-skinned hermaphrodite from an amazonian race wished only to turn a disguised-as-female J'Onn into his/her bride! Her story begins here.
• Claire Jeffers: "I was responding to a woman-- in a way I never had before-- but a man would be crazy not to..." Claire was the scheming wife of a small time mayor covering for the murder of an alien mother and child by very effectively seducing J'Onn in his Martin Smith persona. Needless to say, things didn't progress far. Her story can be found in JLA Annual #1.
• Princess Cha'rissa: The White Saturnian intended bride of Jemm, to whom she owed duty, but whose lust was all for J'Onn J'Onzz. Sure, it was perhaps less-than-heroic for the Manhunter to have an adulterous fling, but she was totally asking for it.
  
• Kishana Lewis: A firefighter who fast became J'Onn's bedmate, until unearthed demons unleashed flame powers in Lewis, forcing the couple apart. Kishana co-starred in JLA: SCARY MONSTERS Prologue, #1-2, #3 #4-5, #6.
• Scorch: Slightly demented, southern fried trailer trash with flame powers who sought to help the Martian Manhunter overcome his greatest weakness. The two actually became a couple, until Scorch accidentally unleashed a racial evil that lived within J'Onzz, and fell into a coma while struggling to put the genie back in its bottle. Say, that sounded really familiar!
  

The Vile Tarot

While I was mired in Memorial Month, Scipio of The Absorbascon presented his natural progression from the Dynastic Centerpiece Model, the Villainous Tarot. Just as I did with the Martian Manhunter Dynasty, the Idol-Head must now chime in on the new archtypical hierarchy amongst the Vile Menagerie. The Absorbascon commentors added a few caregories and clarifications I liked, so I've incorporated them into Scipio's scheme. This is especially helpful, as the Tarot isn't far removed from the "Anti-Dynasty of Supervillainy," but allows for more room to play.

Mocker: Malefic
I considered a number of unusual choices here, including one that could have been fairly controversial. Still, Malefic is a Manhunter-specific foe, a loon, and always ready with a taunt. In fact, his being so clearly in the Joker mold (not to mention Venom) helps explain why I absolutely loathe the character. Beyond the "Ostrander/Mandrake" near-blackout here, I still haven't given him a Vile Menagerie listing. Hey, if you wanna know more, the loser appears in virtually every Martian Manhunter listing on the 'net. Grrr!

Crime Lord: Mr. V/Faceless
What a difference a word makes. In my reply to this section in the Anti-Dynasty of Supervillainy portion of the "Centerpiece" post, I originally listed Vandal Savage. Quite a few characters could lay claim to Savage as a major foe, including (but not limited to) Rip Hunter, Resurrection Man, Immortal Man, and a sizeable portion of the memberships of the JSA and JLA. What made the difference was "unstoppable," as Martian Manhunter fought a lopsided war against Savage for over a year & a half in the 90's, with repeated run-ins for most of that decade.

Mr. V hasn't appeared in a comic for just about forty years, and Martian Manhunter was present for his seeming death (twice!) However, as I recall only Hawkman ever joined Manhunter in facing the forces of VULTURE, and the Martian beat on them throughout the last year or so of his 60's run. Hardly "unstoppable," but Mr. V was certainly tenacious. Also, I like reenforcing the fact that "Faceless" was a crime lord, not the head of a spy/terrorist agency. There's a lot of confusion about that.

Opposite Number: Despero
There are those that would argue that Malefic should be in this role. Well, Malefic wasn't up to the challenge, and lacked both an essential Martian power and weakness.

There are also those who would say Despero is strictly a "Justice League" villain. I would dispute this. Despero certainly started that way, but specifically captured J'Onn J'Onzz in a 1980 story for a game of chess that imperilled the JLA. Then, Manhunter and Batman were the only Leaguers still standing when Despero was reworked in the mid-80's. It was 1990 though that the conflict became personal. J'Onn J'Onzz led the fight against a restored Despero, and was ultimately responsible for his humbling defeat. J'Onzz then bartered Despero to Manga Khan, who's hench-robot L-Ron was used to usurp Despero's mind upon his next return to Earth. J'Onn and L-Ron next used Despero's body to do their bidding for several years, with the sublimated villain seething the whole time. Despero's psychic "ghost" eventually returned the slight by possessing J'Onn J'Onzz's body. Finally, Despero sought out the Martian Manhunter personally as part of his assault on the JLA during "Final Crisis," assigning the Injustice Gang to handle the rest of the team. While Despero remains a League foe, he's more often than not singled the Martian Manhunter out as his personal nemesis for nearly thirty years.

Also, when Despero was "reborn," he became one of the rare few telepaths/telekinetics who are also superior physical combatants. J'Onn J'Onzz is another, allowing Despero to fully utilize his powers on the physical and psychic planes, not to mention shared energy projection. Further, Despero now derived his powers from the same source as Martian Manhunter's greatest weakness, and stands as a nemesis in the truest sense of the word in that he more often than not beats the Alien Atlas one-on-one. Comic books have trained us to believe that guys like Lex Luthor and the Joker are nemeses, which has been more true in later years. Earlier on though, their nemeses were Batman and Superman, not vice versa, as they consistently lost to their foe. A nemesis should be your equal are better to truly qualify for the term.

Twisted One: The Prophet
This is the one category in which the Manhunter excels. It seems like religious fantatics, fascists, and the like are drawn to him like Mr. Moth to a Human Flame. I went with the Prophet, as he was created for the Martian Manhunter Special and held his own. Tybalt Bak'sar, Brimstone, Cabal, Director Bones, and others appearing later could have served as well.

Unhelpful Helper: Triumph
This and the next two suggested categories were similar to "Twisted One," but with just enough nuance, to catch the massive run-off and still remain valid. Clearly, Triumph had the best, though never remotely selfless, intentions. He wanted everything he touched to turn out to the good, for his own personal aggrandizement, and was constantly surprised when he failed epically. I can't think of many super-villains treated as harshly and hatefully by the Martian Manhunter as Triumph, but I can't say he didn't beg for every throttle.

Misguided Idealist: The Master Gardener
A fellow Martian who arrived on Earth first to help lead his adopted planet toward the Great Evolution? That's swell! Doing it by manipulating the media, violently supressing dissent, and binding a fungus that causes spontaneous combustion within the bodies of the populace? Uncool!

Friend-Turned-Foe: Re's Eda
J'Onn J'Onzz became a fugitive from Mars and beat on a slew of innocent super-heroes in the name of poor R’es Eda, the victim of an assassination. Except he wasn't, and instead framed J'Onn J'Onzz in order to lead his people in an invasion against peaceful co-habitants on Mars II. That's forgetting N'or Cott's inglorious death besides...

Mental Challenger: Bette Noir
This is clearly the weakest link in Manhunter's "tarot," and its adverse effect on the hero is extraordinary. Typically, villains who can shut down Manhunter's telepathy are Justice League class threats. Even overlooking that advantage, few of Manhunter's foes are as smart as him, either scientifically or strategically. Dr. Trapp doesn't rate, because he really hasn't manage to take the Sleuth From Outer Space on by himself. Vandal Savage, despite his skill, seemed more a test for early members of the JLA and the JLTF than someone who could plausibly take J'Onn on. Bel Juz pulled the wool over J'Onn's eyes once, and helped install the Marshal, but posed no direct threat. Only Bette Noir has troubled J'Onzz on several occasions, through both telepathy and maneuvers. She's no Despero, but he already has a slot, so she slides into this place.

Physical Challenger: TNTL
If anything, Manhunter has too many of these. Nearly every creature released from the Diabolu Idol-Head qualified, as did most notable VULTURE and Middletown threats.

Gadgeteer: Professor Arnold Hugo
This may seem a demotion from "Mental Challenger," but it's much closer to the truth. Hugo invented one device after another that put the Martian Marvel out, but almost never truly endangered him. He often set circumstances into motion that would occupy the Alien Atlas, but really didn't overwhelm him. I love me some Hugo, and he's undoubtedly formitable, but ultimately more a nuisance than a mastermind.

Sexual Challenger: Scorch
A case could be made for Manhunter getting his freak on right through the Bronze Age, whether it be Diane Meade, J'en , or the plentiful arm candy from the Marco Xavier days. When his status as a widower was revealed, he went through a lengthy dry spell. Around the time of his ongoing series though, he started running buck wild with a number of flings and near misses. All told though, I can think of only one "bad girl," one "villainess" who ever got her hands on the guy mind, body and spirit-- to horrific consequence. While Scorch's intentions were the best, based on her history and the unlikelihood of her remaining "straight" should she return from her coma, Scorch is the only truly qualified selection.

Evil Genius: Darkseid
Another massive weakness of the Martian Manhunter-- his best foes aren't "his." I could have used a number of other gadgeteers and tried to cover by placing Prof. Hugo in this spot, but the truth will out. Most of the villains Manhunter has faced who are remotely at his mental level; Savage, Gorilla Grodd, Professors Ivo and Fortune, Despero; could just as easily be removed as options due to prior or multitudinous committments. Darkseid was the primary villain after Malefic during the "Ostrander/Mandrake" series, which is another reason I freakin' hate that series.

Manipulator: Commander Blanx
The guy managed to bushwhack J'Onn J'Onzz, pass him through a kangaroo court into exile, nearly ruin his Earthly reputation, and slaughter most of Mars-- all for the sake of a real estate deal! I'm still not sure he isn't alive and well, hidden within the Bush Administration. Dick? Karl?

Rival Twin: The Marshal
There's quite a few evil Martian Manhunters out there, from B'rett to The Hyperclan to B’enn B’urnzz and a bunch of prior selections. Maybe it's just that awesome Chuck Patton cover, but there's something about the genetically-engineered military leader who led the first true invasion from Green Martians that still gets me going.

Contingent Foe: Fernus the Burning Martian
Were there no J'Onn J'Onzz in pursuit of a cure for his people's natural(?) weakness, a bunch of White Martians and troops of Vandal Savage would still be alive today. I can't say I like Fernus, but maybe fanboys will think twice the next time they beg for the Manhunter from Mars to "realize his potential."

Personal Foe: N'or Cott
A bit of a cheat, but most anyone else who could have fit this role have been taken up elsewhere. The Manhunter tends to be pretty unambiguously in the right, so beyond occasional lapses into New Age passivism, he doesn't mind blasting most foes overly much.