7 DC References in Absolute Martian Manhunter You Probably Missed

As a film enthusiast who loves delving into the world of comics, I must say that DC’s Absolute books have truly set the bar high in the realm of superhero comics. While Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe may have provided some initial inspiration, it’s clear that DC has surpassed them in terms of quality and sales.

Take, for instance, the masterpiece that is Absolute Martian Manhunter. Penned by the brilliant Deniz Camp, who’s been making waves with his work on Marvel’s The Ultimates, and beautifully illustrated by Javier Rodriguez, this comic transcends the ordinary.

Absolute Martian Manhunter is a comic that demands your undivided attention. It’s not just about reading it; it’s about immersing yourself in it. Each page is a treasure trove of art, brimming with hidden meanings waiting to be discovered. Once you’ve uncovered these secrets, re-reading the comic becomes an entirely new experience. It’s a comic that keeps giving back, making each read more rewarding than the last.

The extraordinary and relaxed Masterful Martian Manhunter is once again showcased, and issue #5 of this outstanding series proves why it’s so highly regarded. John Jones, alongside the Martian, strive to thwart the White Martian’s newest assault on Middleton. So far, the Absolute editions have done an impressive job of tying into DC’s rich history, but issue #5 of Martian Manhunter delves deep into tales and ideas from the core DC Universe. Seasoned DC fans will likely spot the seven references scattered throughout this book, as Camp and Rodriguez skillfully elevate Absolute Martian Manhunter to even greater heights.

1) Great Darkness Is a Reference to “The Great Darkness Saga”

In the course of reading the book, I encountered a significant reference that surfaced when John and the Martian were traversing Middleton at night. The Martian, being a White Martian, launched a synchronized assault on the city’s power stations, plunging it into darkness, which he referred to as “The Great Darkness, Cosmic Darkness.” This appears to be a nod to one of the ’80s DC’s most notable stories — “The Great Darkness Saga” from Legion of Superheroes #290-294. This pre-Crisis masterpiece pitted the 30th century teen team against a resurgent Darkseid, who aimed to blanket the galaxy in darkness. Since Darkseid is the originator of Absolute Earth, it’s plausible that the White Martian is either under his control or draws power from him. In “The Great Darkness Saga”, Darkseid utilized cloned Oans, Kryptonians, and other cloned New Gods as his pawns before he was ready to reveal himself. Could the White Martian in Absolute Martian Manhunter be similar? The Great Darkness is referenced multiple times throughout the book, and perhaps this is a hint about the connection between Darkseid and the White Martian.

2) Is the Final Night Coming?

As John and the Martian travel through town, they observe a rise in criminal activity, and the Martian hints at an impending doom, referring to it as “the final night.” This phrase echoes a comic book event from 1996 known as “Final Night,” where a Sun Eater obliterated Earth’s sun. The surviving heroes attempted to restore the sun using their abilities, resources, and intellect, but all efforts failed. The planet grew increasingly cold until salvation arrived unexpectedly – Hal Jordan, who had been possessed by Parallax during the “Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time” event. Although believed dead after being shot by Green Arrow, Jordan returned to life and saved the day, giving up his own life and powers to rekindle the sun. Could the Martian’s scheme involve extinguishing the sun? Or is this merely a prelude to a more ominous plan orchestrated by Darkseid in the future?

3) New Gods Are Born

While navigating the city, the Martian and John encounter numerous peculiar sights. A thought that crossed my mind as I read the comic was that the shadows of people resembled the Shadow Demons from stories like “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and “The Darkseid War”. At a certain point, John and the Martian observe the shadows of a gang of youths, which are referred to in the captions as “new gods”. It appears that this could be a reference to the New Gods, a group who have fought against Darkseid since the emergence of the Fourth World. The shadows seemed reminiscent of the technology Orion uses to access the Astro-Force. The narrative mentions these teens creating new deities to worship, bestowing them with new identities and histories, only to destroy it all later. This mirrors the tale of the New Gods – they were born from the shadows of the previous world, adopting new personas and embarking on new adventures, engaging in battles and making sacrifices until their own demise, only for a new cycle to begin, spawning another generation of gods. Could it be that Darkseid’s experiments on Absolute Earth are aimed at creating New Gods under his control to eradicate the others?

4) A Craving for Chocos

In the storyline of “Absolute Martian Manhunter”, the Jones family has significantly influenced the series’ narrative thus far. John’s spouse, Bridget, and their son, Tyler, seem aware that something is amiss with John, as his intense focus on collaborating with the Martian to thwart the White Martian has resulted in neglect of his family. The conflict between John and Bridget reached a dramatic peak in issue #4, creating one of the most emotional scenes I’ve encountered during nearly four decades of comic book reading (readers familiar with the issue will appreciate this reference).

In issue 5, the Jones family finds itself separated, with Bridget safeguarding Tyler from impending peril. While they are out at Pacheco’s (a slight spoiler, I understand, but let’s move on), Tyler spots Choco’s – the DCU equivalent of Oreos, which holds a strong fascination for Martian Manhunter and was prominently featured in billboards across Metropolis during city battles (as depicted in “Superman”).

Interestingly, both John and Tyler experience a sudden craving for these cookies, despite being apart at the moment. However, Choco’s were also featured on the first page of the book, where they showcased some of the White Martian’s possessed servants. We witness someone injecting Choco’s with poison before the scene with Bridget and Tyler, adding an element of danger to their situation.

Bridget prevents Tyler from obtaining the cookies, but he manages to find some that were dropped when his father confronted the poisoner, keeping them in his jacket – a potentially harmful item that could pose a risk to himself as the story progresses.

5) Pacheco’s Market

Carlos Pacheco, a renowned comic artist from Spain, made significant contributions to Marvel, DC, and Image. Although he initially worked for Marvel, he became notably associated with DC through projects like “The Flash” issues #93-94 and #99, as well as “JLA/JSA: Vice and Virtue”, the “Absolute Power” arc of “Superman/Batman”, cover art for “JSA”, collaborations with Kurt Busiek on “Superman” and “Trinity”, and penciling “Final Crisis” #4-6, a legendary Darkseid tale co-authored by Grant Morrison. Sadly, Pacheco passed away in 2022 due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after enduring a year of suffering. This loss was deeply felt across the entire comic industry, as Pacheco’s exceptional talent for intricate yet simple linework graced countless stories, earning him a place among the greatest in the field and immortalizing his contribution to one of the most remarkable DC stories ever told.

6) The Secret Origin of Everything

The Stories of Alan Moore”. Here, it seems that the Martian has uncovered the secret history behind the Absolute Universe. Also notable in this narrative is a phrase referring to the creator of the Absolute Universe – “Creation’s burning Tiger Force”, a term well-known among DC fans.

7) Darkseid Is.

In a fascinating revelation within the pages of “Absolute Martian Manhunter” #5, Darkseid is unveiled as the enigmatic, omnipotent entity known as the “Cosmic Secret Origin,” the creator of our world. Previously unseen in any series, this was the first instance where one of our heroes encountered him. Often referred to as the “Tiger Force at the Center of all Things,” Darkseid is the architect of Absolute Earth and wields a power that influences everything on it. The Martian’s discovery of this truth unfolds in breathtaking pages, leaving readers awestruck; even upon my initial reading, I failed to recognize Darkseid amidst the book’s intricate abstract art. It wasn’t until my second read that the realization struck me, and it left me spellbound. In a poignant ending, an injured John utters the chilling phrase that has echoed through DC fandom since its debut in “JLA”‘s epic saga “Rock of Ages” — “Darkseid Is.

Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 is on sale now.

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2025-07-25 16:21