Absolute Martian Manhunter Reveals DC’s Most Sinister Villain in Years

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DC Comics’ Absolute Universe features a strong roster of villains, but a new antagonist is quickly becoming the most formidable. The Absolute series has proven popular with fans due to its engaging stories and fresh takes on DC history. Like many comics, the villains are a major draw. In this universe, they’re significantly more powerful and influential than the heroes – characters like the Joker, Ra’s al Ghul, and Hector Hammond pose much greater threats than they do in the main DC Universe.

Even the lead characters in Absolute Martian Manhunter have been struggling with a powerful, negative psychic force – the White Martian. Things were complicated when John and the Martian paused their efforts so Jones could work on his marriage. Now, the Martian has been captured, leaving John exposed and in danger. At the end of the last issue, John met his new partner, an invisible being calling itself Despair-the-Zero. However, Despair-the-Zero is very different from the Martian, and its actions towards John mark it as one of the most malicious entities in the Absolute Universe.

DC Comics’ New Villain is Weaponized Negativity

The latest issue of Absolute Martian Manhunter #9, created by Deniz Camp, Javier Rodríguez, and Hassan Otsemane-Elhaou, finds the Martian in a terrible situation – captured and being dissected by the Agency. Meanwhile, John is desperately trying to find his partner, following the psychic clues left from the night the Martian disappeared. He’s joined by Despair-the-Zero, who constantly offers cynical and negative observations about everyone John questions. Despair-the-Zero is upfront with John, revealing its plan to not only ruin Jones’ life but also to destroy all of reality through him.

John had to postpone his investigation because of a family therapy appointment, and he was already running late. He arrived to find his wife, Bridget, and unfortunately, Despair-the-Zero was also present, tormenting him with suicidal thoughts and other disturbing suggestions. While John wanted to be open and honest in therapy to improve things with Bridget, Despair-the-Zero made it incredibly difficult, causing him to doubt himself, Bridget, and even their counselor. The situation worsened when John learned that Bridget had told someone about his connection with a Martian.

John is overwhelmed by the constant, loud thoughts of Despair-the-Zero, to the point where he can’t focus on conversations with Bridget or his therapist – he only hears Despair-the-Zero’s version of events. This entity even uses a distorted ability, similar to the Martian’s vision, to show John what it claims is the ‘real’ meaning behind everything people say, even simple statements. However, Despair-the-Zero does reveal one truth: the White Martian has taken control of John’s son, and the powerful beings who were after John now consider him useless, sending a team to eliminate him.

Despair-the-Zero is a More Insidious Kind of Evil for the Absolute Universe

The Absolute Universe features some truly formidable villains – arguably even more powerful than those in the main DC Universe. While characters like Hector Hammond from Absolute Green Lantern and the Joker from Absolute Batman are menacing, Despair-the-Zero stands out as particularly terrifying. Its power doesn’t come from wealth or influence, but from a deliberate effort to inflict emotional pain and negativity on people like John.

The character of the Martian is compelling because he views human imperfections as a natural part of life. He’s an outsider who highlights both our flaws and our inherent goodness. In contrast, Despair-the-Zero has no interest in growth or understanding; it actually feeds on negativity and self-destruction. Unlike an external threat, Despair-the-Zero works from within, exploiting people’s doubts and fears. And as this issue demonstrates, that approach is incredibly effective – Despair-the-Zero really gets to John.

Despair-the-Zero might not be the most outwardly impressive villain, but it’s incredibly unsettling. This issue really captures the feeling of negative self-talk – that inner voice that tears you down when you’re feeling your worst. Although it’s a fictional character, Despair-the-Zero feels disturbingly like that voice, making this a particularly impactful and relatable issue. I’m eager to see how the series continues to explore such a hauntingly familiar villain.

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2026-02-27 22:41