Issue Description

The Martian Manhunter tells Superman of the death of Mars and how he came to Earth.

Before leaving on a pilgrimage to Mars, J'onn recounts to Superman the last days of his fellow Green Martians, his journey to Earth, and the source of his devotion to fighting crime.

He explains that his people, his family - were wiped out by a plague that was telepathic in origin. When the Green Martians used their telepathy, they would be consumed in flames, burning them to death. J'onn explains that his twin brother

Ma'alefa'ak, had engineered the plague to wipe out his own race, as he was without telepathic abilities. When the two battled, the cave they were fighting in had collapsed, and Ma'alefa'ak was presumed dead.

J'onn reminsces to Superman his loneliness and journey to madness after spending countless days, years, perhaps even centuries alone on Mars. When he was teleported to Earth by Dr Erdel, the device used had exploded, but J'onn rescued him from the flames. Although Dr Erdel had passed away, J'onn had become fascinated with the detective John Jones who had been investigating Erdel's ruined home. Through John Jones, J'onn explains, he came to enjoy much of humanity and their vast potential.

When John Jones was shot dead by his own partner, J'onn vowed to serve and protect in his place, and that identity drove him to join the Justice League.

In the present, J'onn returns to Mars for the first time to seek closure, but he is not alone.

Martian Manhunter (1998)

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

Starring: Martian Manhunter

The fan favorite team of writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake fresh off their lengthy run on The Spectre, were ready to take on another caped powerhouse and did so with Martian Manhunter.

In a special introductory #0, J'onn J'onnz's first ongoing series sprang from the pages of the JLA, and in his opening story arc, the Martian hero battled Ma'alefa'ak, his fellow Martian and the creator of the telepathic virus that annihilated all of J'onn's race. Chronicling the Manhunter's journey to earth and his adoption of the identity of police detective John Jones - as well as many other human identities - this reinvention of a classic character ran until issue #36.

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