70 Years Ago, DC Debuted The Most Underrated Hero No Movie Has Done Right

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Among all of DC Comics’ amazing superheroes, Martian Manhunter stands out as one of their greatest creations. As a Martian who came to Earth, he’s been a core member of the Justice League since its beginning and has appeared in numerous comics, TV shows, video games, and even a few movies. Despite all this, many fans haven’t fully appreciated him. He’s never headlined his own film, and his most significant movie role was a short appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League with Harry Lennix. With the character celebrating his 70th anniversary, it’s time to recognize and celebrate the Martian Manhunter’s importance.

First appearing in Detective Comics #225 in November 1955 as part of an anthology series, J’onn J’onzz was created by writer Joe Samachson and artist Joe Certa. J’onn J’onzz is a compelling character—a skilled detective, a powerful alien, and a sympathetic, tragic hero—and one of DC’s most memorable creations. Many fans hope James Gunn’s new DC Universe will finally give this Martian hero the attention he deserves. With his impressive abilities and moving backstory, J’onn has the potential to become a central figure in the upcoming films.

How Martian Manhunter Came to Earth

As his name suggests, J’onn is originally from Mars. His first appearance in the story Manhunter From Mars: The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel explains how he came to Earth and settled here. The story centers around Doctor Mark Edel, a gifted scientist who was building a device to teleport objects from space back to Earth for research. During an experiment, Dr. Edel accidentally brought J’onn J’onzz, a green-skinned Martian, to Earth. J’onn asked to be sent back to Mars, but Dr. Edel explained that it could take a long time – possibly months or years – to adjust the device to send him home.

After receiving the bad news, J’onn transforms into a human to live unnoticed on Earth while Dr. Erdel tries to fix the teleporter. Sadly, seeing J’onn shapeshift causes Dr. Erdel to have a heart attack. As Erdel dies, he asks J’onn to forgive him for keeping him stranded. With the only person who could send him home now gone, J’onn realizes he’s stuck on Earth forever. He adopts the identity of John Jones and, witnessing the amount of crime, decides to use his abilities to become a detective and help people. This is how DC Comics created the origins of a truly iconic hero.

Martian Manhunter is One of DC Comics’ Strongest Heroes

J’onn J’onzz is one of DC Comics’ most powerful heroes, boasting an incredibly diverse range of abilities. He’s a powerhouse within the Justice League, often matching Superman in both strength and speed. He can fly faster than light and has even assisted Superman and Wonder Woman in moving the entire planet! With powers like heat vision, X-ray vision, and super-breath, he might seem similar to Superman, but J’onn’s unique Martian biology gives him many other advantages. In fact, Superman himself considers J’onn the most formidable opponent he could imagine.

J’onn’s powers come from his home planet, Mars, and give him complete control over his body at an atomic level. This allows him to shapeshift into anyone, change his size dramatically – even becoming a massive dragon – and become invisible or pass through solid objects. He also possesses an incredibly powerful healing ability; he can fully regenerate his body from even a single atom, having survived attacks that completely destroyed him, like being atomized by the creator of the multiverse, Perpetua. Despite these amazing physical feats, J’onn’s mental powers are even more impressive.

J’onn, being a Martian, is an incredibly powerful telepath in the DC Universe. He can read thoughts, create illusions, control minds, project his consciousness over long distances, and even unleash mental energy blasts. He also has telekinetic abilities, meaning he can move objects with his mind. J’onn’s mental powers are almost unparalleled in DC Comics, with only a few villains like Starro and Despero coming close to his level. He’s demonstrated amazing feats, such as briefly curing the Joker’s insanity and reading the thoughts of everyone in the galaxy at once. He can even connect with people after they’ve passed away. While this immense power might seem frightening, J’onn mostly uses his abilities subtly and respectfully. This makes him one of DC’s most understanding, wise, and caring heroes – always sensitive to the feelings of others and dedicated to helping them.

Martian Manhunter’s Story is One of Loss and Healing

J’onn is a powerful superhero, but what truly makes him special is his deeply emotional story. When he first appeared in comics, J’onn seemed to simply want to return to Mars. However, later stories revealed a much more tragic truth: he’s the last Martian. A devastating virus, engineered by his brother, wiped out almost all Martians, including J’onn’s wife and daughter. He witnessed their deaths and spent centuries wandering Mars, filled with grief and regret. Coming to Earth and being exiled from his home planet only deepened his profound loneliness.

J’onn J’onzz struggles to connect with humanity in a way Superman does. Superman grew up as a human with no memory of his birth planet, allowing him to fully integrate. J’onn, however, always feels like an outsider. While he can change his appearance to blend in, he sees it as a disguise and worries he’ll never truly belong. Even as the green-skinned Martian Manhunter, he fears revealing his true, alien form would frighten people. For years, J’onn was haunted by the loss of his family and his isolation, leading to a lonely and unhappy life. Joining the Justice League, however, began to change everything.

J’onn J’onzz, an original member of the Justice League, finally found acceptance with his teammates despite being an alien. Though he initially tried to keep his distance, their kindness helped him overcome past pain and see them as a new family. He embraced Earth as his home and dedicated himself to protecting it. His family expanded when he took on Miss Martian as a protégé. J’onn learned to heal and rediscover happiness, becoming the emotional center of the Justice League. He’s a truly compassionate hero who deserves a more significant role in upcoming DC Universe movies.

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2025-11-16 01:13