Essential Martian Manhunter

[Robo Ape]

Having watched Justice League: The New Frontier I just picked up on what an interesting character J'onn J'onzz is. I have to admit I hadn't take a lot of notice of the character before.

Therefore I was wondering what his essential stories are to track down & get hold of?

[jackdaw53]

There is a Martian Manhunter Showcase available. Never read it.. but given its price, and the fact that it will cover a mass of early stories... almost a "no brainer" to buy it. (Depending, of course, on how you feel about black and white art.)

But to turn to something I've read and can wholeheartedly recommend: the 1998 Martian Manhunter series written by John Ostrander, main artist Tom Mandrake. Ran to almost 40 issues before being cancelled, freely available for around $1.50 per issue. I hesitate to call it essential... because I've no idea of its status in current DC continuity. But it is very, very entertaining.... superb value for money.

[EZMOHR]

This is gonna sound kind of weird, but if you want to get good Martian Manhunter stories.........

Buy the Justice League DVD's. Probablly not the stories you wanted to hear, but sometimes in the comics, he just kind of an afterthought.

[sabongero]

This is gonna sound kind of weird, but if you want to get good Martian Manhunter stories.........

Buy the Justice League DVD's. Probablly not the stories you wanted to hear, but sometimes in the comics, he just kind of an afterthought.

This is the best characterization of the Martian Manhunter. The animated JL and JLU captures John Jones's character as an outsider and the longing of his family. In the JLU, you get to see his leadership qualities, including not taking any bull.

[Aaron King]

In my opinion, John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake's Martian Manhunter is the defining take on the character. It's a great, great book.

[Scrubz]

Martian Manhunter is never utilized effectively accept within Grant Morrison's JLA run spanning about 40 issues. Also Martian Manhunter is insanely bad ass in JLA: Earth 2 trade also by Morrison. Never ever touch Lieberman's mini series.

[marshal99]

Justice League Taskforce , has some good martian manhunter moments. Some of the early issues with Sal Velluto were pretty decent and you get to see a lot of martian manhunter sides as a leader. After the judgement day crossover with the other JL titles & Zero hour however , the title had 1 stable lineup (which on paper looked awesome but it sucked).

Also , get the JLI annual 1 as martian manhunter is the one that saves the day while all his teammates were all taken over.

[HaroldAllnut]

Haha! I actually have that lying around here somewhere.

[Kid Kyoto]

From what I see on blogs the Showcase stories are laughably bad, good for scaning and mocking but not exactly reading.

I found the Ostrander series pretty lack luster. Overall MM has never really shinned, lots of potential, not much fulfilment.

In comics the Morrison JLA is the one time I found him decent. In JLI he was a good straight man but not much else.

[Robo Ape]

From what I see on blogs the Showcase stories are laughably bad, good for scaning and mocking but not exactly reading.

I found the Ostrander series pretty lack luster. Overall MM has never really shinned, lots of potential, not much fulfilment.

In comics the Morrison JLA is the one time I found him decent. In JLI he was a good straight man but not much else.

Most of the feedback on this thread seems to suggest he has never been effectively utilized in the comics?

If that's the case that seems to be the waste of potentially great character.

[Kid Kyoto]

It's more like he has been used effectively, but as a supporting character, like the Vision.

Just not as a star.

[Robo Ape]

It's more like he has been used effectively, but as a supporting character, like the Vision.

Just not as a star.

Some I am going to be out of luck if I am looking for good stuff with him as the lead character.

[BeastieRunner]

This is gonna sound kind of weird, but if you want to get good Martian Manhunter stories.........

Buy the Justice League DVD's. Probablly not the stories you wanted to hear, but sometimes in the comics, he just kind of an afterthought.

I second this recommendation.

Martian Manhunter is never utilized effectively accept within Grant Morrison's JLA run spanning about 40 issues. Also Martian Manhunter is insanely bad ass in JLA: Earth 2 trade also by Morrison.

Morrison's Manhunter is awesome, check those out as well.

[Teth-Diego]

I'm Also a Jonn jonnz fan and havent really found many good manhunter centric stories.

I say try JLA. there's that arc joe kelly did called the Burning I think, where MM loses his fire weakness and madness ensues.
JLA: earth 2 has a pretty good manhunter. OH I just remembered!!!! try the manhunter issue of ":Pain of the gods" also on JLA. forgot who wrote it but it was a good story about j'onn's aliases.

there's some good tuff here and there, but for the definitive martian manhunter go for JL and JLU animated.

[Mon-el]

JLA: earth 2 has a pretty good manhunter. OH I just remembered!!!! try the manhunter issue of ":Pain of the gods" also on JLA. forgot who wrote it but it was a good story about j'onn's aliases.

Chuck Austen wrote it.

Martian Manhunter is pretty much my most despised character in the whole DC Universe.

but

I did read Ostrander and Mandrake series when it was coming out, and I quite enjoyed it.