Martian Manhunter Faces a Deadly White Martian Enemy—A Threat to the Entire DC Universe

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The monumental success of “Absolute Martian Manhunter” is evident in every aspect. The impressive sales figures for issue #1 led to an additional six issues, transforming our understanding of the Martian Manhunter beyond recognition. Not only does it offer a captivating narrative, but it also stands out as a stunning work of art, with Deniz Camp’s writing, Javier Rodriguez’s artwork, and Hassan Otsame-Elhaou’s lettering combining to create a unique pop art masterpiece unlike anything else on the comic racks. Issue #2 continues this trend, introducing turmoil into the tranquility established in the first issue. This installment delves deeper into the partnership between John Jones and the Martian Mindhunter, offers hints about their relationship, and finally reveals the antagonist for the series – the White Martian. Readers familiar with Grant Morrison’s acclaimed “JLA” run or the animated series “Young Justice” will find the White Martian a recognizable adversary.

The folklore of the Martians has played a significant role in the chronicles of DC. The Martian Manhunter made his debut at the tail end of the Golden Age, appearing in Detective Comics #225 as early as 1955, predating the onset of the Silver Age in Showcase #4 of 1956. While the White Martians have been present for several decades, their significance has grown substantially over the past three decades. They are a pivotal aspect of DC’s history and seem poised to continue playing a crucial role in the Absolute DC Universe.

The White Martians Are an Army of Superman Level Threats in the Mainline DC Universe

The White Martians made their debut in Justice League of America #71, way back in 1969. They were known as the Pale Martians then, and were one of the races inhabiting Mars. These White Martians were referred to as Polar Dwellers, residing at the planet’s polar regions. They served as the warrior class among the Martian population, and the Justice League found themselves engaged in a conflict with General Blanx, eventually defeating him alongside Martian Manhunter.

Later, the White Martians would resurface in the comic book Son of Vulcan, but have since been largely forgotten over time, except by Grant Morrison, which is not unusual for DC Comics. In a surprising twist, Morrison introduced them as the covert antagonists in the initial four issues of JLA. A group of White Martians posed as human superheroes known as the Hyperclan, preparing to lead an invasion by their kind. They were set to be the vanguard of a White Martian assault on Earth, with more reinforcements waiting in what appears to be the Martian term for the Phantom Zone – the Ghost Zone – to strike after the defeat of the metahumans.

The League was captured by them, but Batman managed to uncover their secret using fire against all of them, while Martian Manhunter pretended to align with them out of loyalty to Mars.

In his powerful abilities, Martian Manhunter once caused the White Martians to forget their own identities, yet some managed to elude this memory wipe. Over the years, these White Martians have resurfaced frequently in various Martian Manhunter series starting from the late ’90s, as well as in JLA. Later on, Miss Martian, a White Martian herself, joined the Teen Titans with Martian Manhunter’s endorsement. It was later disclosed that she wasn’t an ordinary Green Martian, but rather a White one. This popular character found a place in the animated series Young Justice. The Hyperclan made an appearance in “Future State,” a DC publishing venture that emerged following Death Metal but before Infinite Frontier.

The White Martian Is a Huge Threat to the Absolute Universe

The enigmatic Martian known as the “Absolute Martian Manhunter” refers to them as a solitary “White Martian”. Unlike their Green counterparts, these beings lack a tangible form, instead manifesting as entities of psychic power capable of inhabiting various lifeforms. John and the Mindhunter successfully vanquish one, but it’s unclear if they face a single adversary or an entire legion. Nevertheless, their presence appears to be a pervasive menace. Trigger Taylor, the human host to the White Martian, suspects that they have infiltrated every nook and cranny of Earth. Interestingly, Taylor, controlled by an extraterrestrial force, is defeated by another individual under alien influence – adding an intriguing layer of irony to this interstellar struggle.

The planet within the Universe of Ultimate Power is a realm where wickedness usually prevails. This world was crafted by Darkseid with an unknown purpose, and it appears to be a society ruled by the most malicious individuals who keep everyone oppressed. The White Martian could potentially serve as one of Darkseid’s tools for maintaining control and instigating disorder. In the comic book series DC, Absolute Martian Manhunter aims to set the Green and White Martians against each other, reigniting a conflict that has been ongoing for many years.

Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 is on sale now.

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2025-04-25 15:10