J'ONN J'ONZZ (aka The Martian Manhunter, The Manhunter)
Created By: Joseph Samachson & Joe Certa
First Appearance: Detective Comics #225 (Nov. 1955)
Role: The Stoic One, Swiss-Army Superhero, Shapeshifter, Flying Brick, Team Telepath, Master Control, Deadpan Guy
Voice Actor: Carl Lumbly
Finest Moment: Solving the Amazo battle just by allowing his Telepathic abilities to be copied.
PL 11 (246)
STRENGTH 12 STAMINA 12 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 6 AWARENESS 4 PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Close Combat (Unarmed) 4 (+10)
Deception 8 (+8)
Expertise (Science) 4 (+10)
Expertise (Current Events) 8 (+14)
Insight 4 (+8)
Intimidation 6 (+6)
Perception 6 (+10)
Stealth 8 (+10)
Technology 6 (+12)
Vehicles 4 (+6)
Advantages:
Benefit (League Member), Fast Grab, Improved Grab, Improved Hold, Jack-of-All-Trades, Ranged Attack 6, Set-Up, Startle, Teamwork, Trance
Powers:
"Martian Physiology"
Immunity 1 (Aging) [1]
Flight 7 (250 mph) [14]
Shapeshifting 4 (Feats: Dynamic) (typical powers: Morph 3, Elongation 4, Reach on Strength-Damage, Snare 6) (33) -- [35]
- Dynamic AE: Insubstantial 4 (Feats: Selective) Linked to Concealment 2 (Visuals) (25)
Communication (Mental) 4 (Feats: Dynamic) (Extras: Area, Selective) Linked to Mind-Reading 11 (47) -- [53]
- Dynamic AE: Communication (Mental) 4 (Feats: Dynamic) (Extras: Area, Selective) Linked to Mind-Reading 11 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Burst +2) (Flaws: Touch Range -2) (46)
- Dynamic AE: "Phasing Attack" Affliction 11 (Fort; Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated) (Feats: Dynamic) (Extras: Cumulative, Affects Corporeal) (34)
- Dynamic AE: "Reach in and Grab Something" Damage 12 (Feats: Penetrating 6, Dynamic) (Extras: Affects Corporeal) (31)
Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Phasing Attack +10 (+11 Affliction, DC 21)
Penetrating Attack +10 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Initiative +2
Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +11, Fortitude +12, Will +10
Complications:
Responsibility (More Lonely Than You Could Possibly Imagine)- J'onn lost his wife and two children when Mars was attacked by another race. As a result, he spends a lot of time brooding, and doesn't communicate well with other people.
Total: Abilities: 88 / Skills: 58--19 / Advantages: 15 / Powers: 105 / Defenses: 19 (246)
-J'onn was developed fairly early on as the kind of funny odd-duck of the series, an alien from a dead civilization who was often hiding away from others, doing weird things (taking a nap by standing up with his eyes dark), and making deadpan reactions to people (The Flash: "She wants me" J'onn: "INDEED"). He was kind of lovable in that sense as the ultimate outsider- cute bits like his Smallville vacation with Clark (where he awkwardly gets along with the Kents, apologizes for being odd, and unknowingly makes their Christmas with his Martian song), or darker parts like his reactions to the full-city sweep with his Telepathy (where he's disgusted by the selfishness of humanity).
-An outsider to the end, J'onn was seen on the Watchtower during most of JLU, getting a lot of lines, but never going down on missions- he simply told others what to do. It was he who booted Huntress out of the League for using team equipment to attempt to commit a murder, and controlled the teleporters and the like. He barely went down at all until the ends of the two seasons of JLU, which always drew out the Big Seven- the "Task Force X" episode probably made the biggest deal out of his powers, as he was the last "Heavy Hitter" left, and utterly wrecked the entire team when they fought him. He actually bailed on the League at one point, when he was called out for not really liking people all that much, and needing a break. Mister Terrific took over for him in the Watchtower, with J'onn only reappearing for the Series Finale, having taken human form and married a woman in China- he transforms back to fighting form and helps the League defeat the Apokoliptian invasion of Earth. "These are truly the END TIMES" suggests the Flash, when J'onn gives a loving goodbye to his wife over the phone.
-J'onn (NEVER called "The Martian Manhunter", to my knowledge- he's introduced to others using his full name) was handy in a fight, but not too much. He tended not to cause nearly as much damage as his comrades, he was more of a thinker, using his various other powers to aid the team. He was also a guy who could be Insubstantial... yet constantly got struck by attacks- I guess it took effort to maintain? His status was unfortunately much like his nature as DC's "Guy who gets his ass kicked by the villain first to showcase Superman's higher power". Yeah, in regular comics, he tends to get thumped A LOT to showcase Supes & Wonder Woman, since he's the B-League to their A-League. There was a bit less of that in his show (as they rarely focused on J'onn's strength- I had friends watching the show who had no idea he was Super-Strong despite watching several episodes), but it was still frequent. J'onn from being knocked down a LOT in the first season. It kinda got ridiculous for a bit- he was fragile as all Hell. Even taking out the Fire weakness, they made him get his ass kicked constantly.
-J'onn is the most expensive JLUer because of the sheer extent of his various powers. Even Alt-ing half of them off of each other (he can Shapeshift into various forms, do a Phase Attack, reach inside things and tear their parts out, or Phase through solid materials), in addition to his vast Abilities category (Strong, tough, smart AND wise). Thank God he isn't also a super detective in this version. He gets the standard "One PL lower than his buddies, but costs more in points" that Batman did. So J'onn's arguably less use in a fight than most of the other Big Seven, but he makes up for it in sheer versatility and side-effects. Who else could disguise himself as the enemy villain for hours? Or beat the entire Suicide Squad with ease, within seconds? Or make himself look like the wall?
About the Performer: Carl Lumbly is best known for playing Det. Marcus Petrie on "Cagney & Lacey", and CIA Agent Marcus Dixon on "Alias". Getting small roles otherwise, he moved on to voice acting, with J'onn being his biggest recurring role.