Sparked by a recent Lying in the Gutters column that says the Martian Manhunter is “marked for karking” during DC’s big Final Crisis series, Michael Netzer has started a campaign to save everyone’s favorite shape-shifting alien from uncertain death. It starts with a letter to DC:
I was somewhat saddened to read Rich Johnston’s column, Lying in the Gutters, this week, hinting that J’Onn J’Onzz, The Manhunter from Mars, is being considered for demise, or rather that he will be killed off from the DC Comics family of characters, within the upcoming DC Universe continuity, presently in the planning stages. Now, I know that Rich is not reporting on a final decision yet, but being the prolific comics reporter and writer that he is, his track record of rumors that have turned out to be true, places his foreknowledge of comics industry news somewhere near the vicinity of downright prophecy.
And so, it is with a heavy heart that I turn to you with this plea to save the life of the Martian Manhunter, begging you to reconsider, and offering an alternative solution to the circumstances that are leading you into this decision.
He’s also started a petition, created banners and posted many of the responses he’s received from around the ‘net. While J’onn’s certainly gotten a lot of support, you have to wonder where that leaves Aquaman, the other DC big gun “marked for karking” in Rich’s column. Doesn’t anyone want to save the king of the seas?
January 21st, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Doesn’t anyone want to save the king of the seas?>>>
No.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Hasn’t Final Crisis already finished being written? Supposedly J.G. Jones has been working on the art for awhile. I doubt DC would back out now.
And besides, the Martian Manhunter is a character whose origin *began* with him escaping the death of his entire people. If anybody is going to come back from the grave sooner or later, it’s him.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
AQUAMAN RULES!!!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:25 pm
JK makes a very good point as I’ve already explained on my site. It seems that Aquaman has survived a previous attempt to “kark” him, most likely because it was known that few readers would care. This is not a fault of the character at all, but rather a result of how he’s been handled in recent years.
With the Martian Manhunter, it’s a little different, and though the very campaign itself may bolster JJ’s profile enough to make killing him a more worthy proposition, I’m certain DC will ultimately do what it feels best for their enterprise. But I believe it’s worth the effort for a show of support, and would hope to sway a decision for future involvement. Thank you for the good thoughts, JK.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
how can they kill J’onn when he’s still technically alive in the Morrison-penned DC One Million?
wasn’t that story definitely in the cards, just in the far far far far far far far away future?
January 21st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I know no one read Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, but Aquaman’s dead at the moment. So, to kill him in Final Crisis, they’d have to bring him back to life, and then kill him.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Yeah, it’s not like anybody is really attached to Fakquaman.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Color me a cynic, but I do not feel particularly united by this letter or petition. J’onn J’onnz died the moment they gave him that new whackadoo costume at the end of the similarly non-plussing IC, and follow-up oneshot.
It’s far more likely that they’ll just end the book, pop him off into non-specific hypertime a while, and then bring him back for whatever becomes the next iteration of the Justice League.
Speaking only for myself, Aquaman (Orin)is far more compelling, especially when the character’s writer actually gives a damn.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I hope they don’t kill him, but if they do, they should have the writer be:
J’ann J’ones.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Booooo, Alan. Bad one.
I’ll be joining this campaign and plugging it in my vlog.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:49 am
There is no reason not to kill him. There is every reason not to bring him back.