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Sign the Petition to Save J'Onn J'Onzz
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Save J'Onn and the Superheores
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ARCHIVES
 Frank Lee Delano, keeper of the Idol Head of Diabolu: A blog for J'Onn J"onzz has posted a rather creative proposal to promote the campaign to save The Martian Manhunter. Frank has made it clear that he'd prefer to have the character disappear rather than the continued treatment he gets from DC. But in light of the campaign, he's willing to pitch in for the prospect that I might be brought in to draw whichever direction DC editors and marketing could choose for keeping J'Onn around. Preparing for such a possiblity, he's begun a series where he explores which writers might best round out such a creative team.
WWMNzD?... with Frank Miller
 
So Mike Netzer threw down the gauntlet at DC to allow him the chance to become professionally reacquainted with J'Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars. That's great, but I don't see Denny O'Neil going the same route. Someone's got to write the thing, and if we're going to go the "Post-Crisis" revamp route, it ought to be a big name. Well actually, it ought to be a small name, like a Len Kaminski or a John Arcudi. Barring that, maybe a J.M. DeMatteis, who also professes undying love for a character he reinvigorated decades back. However, that would not be a hopefully amusing and pointed satire of modern DC Comics, which is what I'm shooting for with the new, likely multi-part feature: "What Would Michael Netzer Do?" Well, he'd get a really famous scripter, who'd add major heat to the project (in some sense or another.)
This time, I've repurposed dialogue by that lovable scamp and close personal friend of Denny's, Frank "G@#D@~^" Miller, for ALL-STAR MARTIAN MANHUNTER!
The page is from my Adventure Comics: Manhunter from Mars 3 issue series, 1977. Click the image for an enlarged version and read the proposed new Frank "G@#D@~^" Miller text.
Looks like a fun and funny team-up.
Is that big profile close-up of Hawkman in the lower right panel, morphed from the panel contents and crossing over into most of the page, a little cheesy?
A Tiny Wish Comes True
 Responding to my hint that an Atom/Martian Manhunter drawing might be churning around somewhere for the keeper of the sprawling Atom blog: The Tiny Titan, which has carried a wide header banner of the campaign to save the Martian Manhunter since day one, said caretaker, Damian Maffei, left the following comment:
Oh Michael, I like the sound of that churning. If I cannot be there for the birth of such a thing, then by God when are visiting hours?!
Your beautiful green, red and blue baby was born today, without incident, Damian. Visiting hours are non-stop and you can pick it up anytime. You are very fortunate to have an understanding wife under such circumstances. Click the image for the higher-rez version.
But What About Aquaman?
 Next up should be an Aquaman/Martian Manhunter drawing. This is obvious because Aquaman is also being considered for the chops at DC, and has been in the past. The issue has come up at several news reports about this campaign, noting there doesn't seem to be any visible support for the king of the Seven Seas in comics fandom.
But one of the more popular sites in the comics fan blogoshpere is produced by New Jersey based freelance illustrator, Rob Kelly, keeper of The Aquaman Shrine. He also keeps another well known blog, Hey Kids, Comics! Rob has been suspiciously silent about the rumor, perhaps knowing that Aquaman is not likely to be done away with anytime soon. Still, we should see if we can perhaps evoke a little fighting spirit from him, for the cause of both heroes.
Just Die and Stay Dead!
 In two items somewhat related to this campaign, Sean Kleefeld, at his blog, Kleefeld on Comics, a worthy read, gives a well articulated reason for feeling that he's being lied to, a little too much, by comics publishers promoting mega-events. Occasional Superheroine commented on the article, calling for a new fad: A Character Death That Stays DEAD.
Of course, nobody would believe DC or Marvel if they announced they were actually killing a character off (permanent-like), so Dan Didio or Joe Quesada swearing on a stack of Bibles would possibly have to be involved. However, I firmly believe that truly killing off a character and sticking with it, even months or years into the future, might be the hot new comic book gimmick to get the readers talking.
I can't help but feel the piercing cynicism in such a proposal. But it is interesting, as I said here yesterday, that Warner Bros. and DC Comics have pretty much said they'll reconsider the marketing thrust of The Dark Knight in wake of the passing away of the actor upon whom the promotion of the film was planned. So, if the final death of a hero or character is expected to make people talk about comics as a promotional device, then this idea certainly isn't panning out too well to reflect our reality at all. In our real world, we respect the departure from amongst us of those we care for... and we respect a silent code for not exploiting such deaths. Warner Bros. and DC Comics have already affirmed their moral obligation to this code when faced with a real death which should not be exploited.
Why then should this be any different in the comics?
Rich Johnston's CBR/LITG Forum
 KILLING HIM WILL DO WONDERS
Mattx110: They're really killing him? That sucks! Umm... Gerard Jones should do something! He'd totally join your petitioning. Maybe not... but who knows? Apparently being a commie alien in Detroit just isn't enough to get all the press. The best option for social commentary comics that DC has. He just needs to put on some clothes.
Dancj: I like J'Onn, but on the other hand, killing him will do wonders for his popularity. When they bring him back (and you know they will) he'll sell better than ever!
Kid Kyoto: Yeah if death could make people misty eyed for two-dimensional bores like Barry Allen and Hal Jordan J'ohn should have his own movement within a week.
IMWAN Forums
 Loved Those Adventure Backups
Pip: Is there anybody in DC Comics that isn't on death row these days? After having to bring so many characters back from the dead, you'd think they'd get the idea that maybe it ain't so smart killing them off in the first place.
The thing about MM is that he's unique. You kill off Green Lantern or Flash and you get another guy to put on the ring or tap into the speed force. How do you get another last survivor of Mars? They don't just lose the character, they lose the whole concept.
Ross: I loved those Adventure backups - Netzer back on MM would be a must buy for me....
Mark: Have more of you signed the petition yet? I have to concur 100% with Michael on this one. Today I was wishing I was a many times over multimillionaire so I could buy DC and say, "Paul, you're a good man. I like that you are great with business. But if you let another writer or editor kill a DC character just to jolt up a story again, you and everyone between you and the writer in the chain are going to be fired."
I so wish I could say that.
COMICMIX
 Dead Guys On Parade
Rick Taylor: Next time they do an 'Emrgency All Over the Universe at the Same Time' (TM Rick Oliver) maxi-series they should just name it 'Dead Guys On Parade'.
Honestly, I'd settle for a good story instead.
Alan Coil: If DC does indeed decide to kill Martian Manhunter, it would be only right that it be written by DC's own... J'ann J'ones.
From the petition comments:
Jeff L: Dave J'Onn
Why is death always the answer with modern DC comics when a character has fallen out of favor? If nothing else, the Manhunter has become a brand again thanks to the Justice League animated series, one it would be a shame to just write off in the comics he originated in. It's unfair to judge a characters popularity and enduring charm based on a failed relaunch series. To many fans growing up in the 80s and 90s, the Justice League has always included the Martian Manhunter. I for one would love to see a project such as Michael proposes come to fruition.
Damian Maffei: Don't be Mental
The ridding of the Manhunter from Mars would just be silly. What's the reason for doing it? Because he's not the brooding, anti-hero that we aaaaaaall love these days? I'm sure through all the protest and promise, that the storyline in question would sell and that's all anyone cares about, no? But then what?
You've offed one of the center pieces, that as far as I'm concerned, were and are the heart of DC. Remember the original Justice League? Before everyone and their mom's joined? He was there! See, now you remember.
Instead of cooking up this fodder to kill a familiar face just for the sake of doing it, perhaps because his character has been allowed to veer off into no man's land, why not, hmm... LET SOMEONE THAT CAN WRITE HIM HAVE A CRACK AT IT?
Mark: Don't kill J'onn!
Many years ago, DC took J'onn out of House of Mystery and the JLA because he was too redundant and not selling enough of his own book. He disappeared from the DC Universe for awhile. Then, he showed up in a little story with the JLA about the Martians on New Mars, and then we saw the Michael Netzer story in Adventure Comics...
And we found out, he's really very interesting. If you think the only way to deal with him is to kill him off, consider finding new writers that have more original thoughts. You don't have to kill off characters that YOU can't write. Let someone else write them.
There are no bad characters. Just bad writers that don't know how to write them. A little paraphrase from an artist DC used to respect (and I hope still does).
Robert K:
There have been enough killing of characters in the past couple of years by both companies. Please don't kill off one of the most unique characters of the JLA.
Todd Gross: One of a Kind!
Bottomline, J'onn is unique and cannot be replaced. There is no "legacy" for another character to take over. Let him live!
Russ Cross:
Please do not kill the Martian.
Dale Gonsalves: Enough Already
Decided to give comics a break and guess what I AM NOT MISSING IT !!! Thanks to the big 2 for providing some of the most boring crap in my nearly 20 years of reading (except Geoff Johns and Ed Brubaker). I will be returning in another couple months, but DC is really trying hard to get me to quit completely, first with this Death of the New Gods nonsense and now this "Let's kill J'onn" crap. Mr Dido seems almost as lacking in ideas as Joe Quesada over at Marvel.
Mordicai: J'Onn is Amazing.
One Week's Work
It has been one week since this campaign began, but it would be a mistake to say that it is my effort that's brought it to the attention of the comics community.
Though I'd hoped for some sympathy to the idea that we shouldn't be killing our heroes so frivolously, comics fandom's reaction to my first plea to DC Comics surpassed my expectations, and that is the fundamental fuel which keeps this fire alive. This campaign is made possible by and belongs to comics readers, lovers and fans world wide.
Perhaps, as the dust settles from this first stage, we can hope that everyone concerned, and in a position to influence a change at the major publishers, will be affected even slightly, by this effort.
But we press on regardless, because it is the right thing to do in the face of the state of the comics industry. It is right because it touches the core of the type of integrity and ethics we expect from the heroes we read about in the comics.
Sign the Petition to Save J'Onn J'Onzz
Click here to leave a comment and sign the Petition
and get banners to help promote the campaign.
Click here to download and distribute the
Save J'Onn and the Superheores
PRESS RELEASE
Click here for the
Save J'Onn J'Onzz
ARCHIVES
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