As DC launches its bold new Absolute Universe, Justice League icon the Martian Manhunter is getting a radical reimagining, as the ‘Soul of the League’ contends with an entire reality built atop Darkseid’s evil. First appearing in 1955, Martian Manhunter is a longtime fixture of the Justice League, with incredible powers including telepathy, shapeshifting and intangibility. Indeed, the Manhunter’s powers are so extensive, Superman has named him the one hero he’d be scared to fight, calling him, “the most powerful being on the face of the Earth.”
Announced at New York Comic Con, Absolute Martian Manhunter is coming March 2025 from writer Deniz Camp and artist Javier Rodríguez. The series will see an FBI agent possessed by an alien consciousness, granting him immense powers. DC’s new Absolute Continuity is totally reinventing the hero’s design, emphasizing his shifting nature as a being not confined to a single form.
The news was shared at DC’s All In/Absolute Universes panel, with a selection of character designs showing the titular character in different guises. Camp stated:
Martians, in this world, they’re not really from Mars. This is one of the most dramatic reimaginings in the Absolute Universe. An FBI Agent is invaded by an alien consciousness that selects “Martian” from his mind to describe what it is. The book is about a complete outsider’s perspective on the world combined with a complete insider’s view of the world.
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Absolute Martian Manhunter Reinvents the Alien Hero
This Manhunter Isn’t Even from Mars
DC’s Absolute Universe was officially introduced in DC All In Special #1, which saw Darkseid killed by a combination of Superman and the Spectre. Sadly, this only unleashed the God of Evil to escape DC’s mainstream reality, reshaping an entire alternate universe with evil as the fundamental force in existence. This world’s heroes are stripped of every advantage they’ve ever had – Batman has no fortune, Wonder Woman was raised in hell itself, and Superman never met the Kents as a child. Absolute Continuity began with the three new series Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, and Absolute Wonder Woman, but NYCC has confirmed these will be followed in 2025 by Absolute Green Lantern, Absolute Flash and Absolute Martian Manhunter.
While Martian Manhunter is a beloved fan-favorite, he lacks the same cultural footprint as many of his Justice League allies, largely because he’s been far less represented in live action. Despite this, DC’s heroes and fans often refer to Martian Manhunter as the heart of the Justice League, and his presence has been used in the past to legitimize unusual team rosters. It’s therefore only fitting that he makes his Absolute debut alongside the Flash and Green Lantern.
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Javier Rodríguez Is the Perfect Pick for Absolute Martian Manhunter
DC Gives Creators a Mandate to Do Something New
In terms of doing the Martian Manhunter justice, Javier Rodríguez is ideal news for fans. Javier Rodríguez’s bold use of color and unusual page layouts make his art instantly identifiable, with past projects like Defenders and Zatanna: Burning Down the House showing fans what to expect from Absolute Martian Manhunter. Interestingly, Manhunter’s redesign is based on a Play-Doh sculpture by Javier Rodríguez, who shared on X that he used the substance to capture the hero’s inhuman and malleable form.
The Absolute Universe is already a huge success, as DC promises fans creative, high-quality new takes on beloved heroes. While few fans would have expected Martian Manhunter to share billing with the rest of the Justice League’s A-list, it’s a much-welcome surprise, especially because the hero’s reinvention perfectly captures the spirit of how radically the Absolute Universe is being allowed to reinterpret DC lore.
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 is coming from DC Comics March 2025.
Sources: DC, Javier Rodríguez
Martian Manhunter
J’onn J’onzz, also known as the Martian Manhunter, is a Martian law enforcement officer who, after becoming stranded on Earth, transformed into a superhero and police detective. He was one of the Justice League of America’s original members.
