Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Martian Manhunter #1-2!It’s taken a while, but one of the DC Universe’s best characters is finally getting the love he’s deserved for years. Martian Manhunter might be a founding Justice League member, but he’s sadly not gotten the attention that heroes like Batman or Superman or even Green Lantern have gotten.
But things are starting to change thanks to the the Absolute line is putting Martian Manhunter back into the spotlight with a title that’s rapidly becoming the hero’s most popular title in years.
Absolute Martian Manhunter is Giving Fans an Incredible Psychedelic Journey
An Alien Story About Memories and the Power of Healing
The hero's new saga all begins with Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 by Deniz Camp, Javier Rodríguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. In this world, FBI agent John Jones is caught in an explosion, but he miraculously survives thanks to a mysterious presence that slowly makes itself known to John. However, John shrugs off any odd sights or sounds as residual trauma from his near-death experience. But the tests don’t show anything wrong and John’s visions are only growing more powerful (and colorful, to boot).
...the presence finally revealed itself, calling it and John’s new symbiotic state the Martian Mind***er.
John is eventually overwhelmed as he walks down the street, hearing the thoughts of everyone he ed by, represented by ‘thoughtsmoke’. However, the presence in John’s mind encourages him to not fight the thoughts, but embrace them. It was then that the presence finally revealed itself, calling it and John’s new symbiotic state the Martian Mind***er. Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 followed up on this, with John refusing to believe the Martian’s words. However, the Martian’s heightened emotional sensitivities picked up on a criminal who was heading out to commit a mass shooting.
John and the Martian find the shooter and the Martian invades the shooter’s mind, hoping to discover the negative thoughts driving him. The Martian finds a destructive thought pattern, created by the Martian’s polar opposite, the White Martian, who has come to increase violence and paranoia among humankind. Together, Jones and the Martian manage to stop the shooter and heal his corrupted thoughts, only for the shooter to be killed by the local police. The duo eventually head back to John’s home where they reflect on the psychic battle that lies ahead.
DC's Reinvention of Martian Manhunter is Exactly What the Character Needed
The Freedom of the Absolute Universe Has Made the Best J'onn Yet
While all the Absolute titles deviate from the canon of the main DC Universe, Absolute Martian Manhunter takes a few more liberties than most. For one, the Martian and John are separate entities, whereas in the Prime DCU, John Jones was just one of J'onn J'onzz alter egos. Also, the Martian in the Absolute Universe isn't a Martin in the literal sense, but rather, a psychic entity from a dimension beyond comprehension. But the differences the creative team chose for this book have helped make this universe’s Martian Manhunter incredibly engaging.
While all the Absolute Universe books are crafting something incredibly creative, Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez are pushing the boundaries of what the Absolute line is doing. The debut issue alone included a gimmick on the last page that required readers to hold it up to a light source to see the Martian and Jones occupying the same physical space. But it's not just gimmicks, this book gets to the core of what makes Martian Manhunter such a good character, namely J’onn’s desire to heal mental wounds.
...It’s absolutely the perfect story for a character like Martian Manhunter to star in...
Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman are fighting tough physical threats, but Jones and the Martian are fighting more relatable troubles: Hatred, paranoia, and fear. Absolute Martian Manhunter’s flowing dialogue and gorgeous colors guide readers through a story about the mental ills humanity is facing right now and how they are the root of society’s problems. It’s absolutely the perfect story for a character like Martian Manhunter to star in and, with how expertly it’s being done, it’s no wonder this book is quickly becoming the crown jewel in DC Comics’ Absolute line.
Do Not Miss Absolute Martian Manhunter
Just Two Issues In, This Book's Hype is Skyrocketing
Absolute Martian Manhunter was originally just a six-issue miniseries, and now it's been expanded into 12 issues. Given the popularity of the title, it's not unlikely that it could be promoted to an ongoing (something similar happened with Green Arrow). This story is clearly resonating with fans and is firing on all cylinders. The creative team is knocking it out of the park and, let's face it, Martian Manhunter was deserving of a big swing like this. Fortunately for DC Comics, it looks like Absolute Martian Manhunter's experimental new title is really paying off.
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1-2 are available now from DC Comics.
