The Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Batman #78 "The Manhunter From Mars" in August–September 1953. The character is known for being one of the core members of the Justice League of America (JLA).
J'onn J'onzz has featured in other DC Comics-endorsed products, such as video games, television series, animated films, or merchandise like action figures and trading cards.
Powers and Abilities
The Martian Manhunter possesses a wide variety of superhuman powers— including advanced telepathy, shape, size, and phase-shifting, directed energy attacks, x-ray vision, invisibility, flight, density control, forcefield projection, and super-human speed, strength and endurance.
In the current DC continuity, many of his powers are similar to those of Superman, including superhuman strength close to that of Superman, flight, invulnerability, vortex breath, and "Martian Vision" (a term designating both the ability to see through solid objects and the ability to project beams of energy from his eyes). Superman once said of the Manhunter, "He is the most powerful being on the face of the Earth".
The Martian Manhunter can project energy beams from his eyes referred to as "Martian Beams", the exact effects of which have varied in different decades from incendiary effects, to concussive impacts, and disintegration. J'onn is also capable of absorbing energy projectiles such as beams and other energy waves.
The Martian Manhunter possesses the power of shapeshifting, which he employs for various effects (adopting human or monstrous appearance, elongating his limbs, growing to immense size, altering the chemical composition of his body, etc.). His default form during JLA meetings and in public is a "human-friendly" version of his actual birth shape.
J'onn is capable of phase shifting, becoming intangible to pass harmlessly through solid objects. He can also use this ability to phase through people and machines in order to damage them, or cause pain. He can also render himself invisible. In the Silver Age (pre crisis on infinite earths) he lost the ability to use his other powers while invisible. Before this occurred he acted as an invisible hero, or unknown "angel" helping those in need without revealing himself.
J'onn is a powerful telepath, capable of both perceiving the thoughts of others and of projecting his own thoughts. He often acts as a "switchboard" between the minds of his team mates in order to coordinate the Justice League's actions. The extent of his telepathic abilities is great; several times he has connected his mind to the entire population of Earth, such as in JLA Volume 1, Issue 85 (2003) in the Trial by Fire story arc. In this J'onn connects to the whole population of Earth in order to find a rogue telepath that has been brainwashing prominent criminals and political figures.
J'onn has demonstrated regenerative abilities, once able to regenerate his entire body from only his severed head, but with great strain (due to the loss of mass, he found it necessary to incorporate new matter from sand). Early appearances of the character show him as able to breathe underwater; he displayed this power when he encountered Zauriel in the sea of San Francisco in JLA #6.
