Lengthy earlier than David Harewood introduced J’onn J’onzz to life on the Supergirl TV sequence and Harry Lennix’s Calvin Swanwick was revealed to be the hero often known as Martian Manhunter in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Carl Lumbly voiced the character in Justice League and Justice League Limitless. These entries on the listing of finest animated TV reveals of all time performed an enormous function in introducing Martian Manhunter to individuals unfamiliar with him from the comics, however will we see him within the new DC Universe franchise? That continues to be to be seen, although if J’onn does get introduced for an upcoming DC film or upcoming DC TV present, I actually like the concept Lumbly shared with me about how he ought to be depicted.
Nowadays, Lumbly is leaving his mark on the superhero style by taking part in Isaiah Bradley within the MCU, making his first look in 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, after which reprising the function earlier this yr for Captain America: Courageous New World (the place he had a very tough working scene). Nonetheless, as a longtime fan of his model of Martian Manhunter, I needed to ask him what he want to see carried out with J’onn if he’s included within the DC Universe, and he instructed me:
Properly, okay, so my J’onn J’onnz heard his voice, needed to make vocal manufacturing for the primary time when he arrived on Earth. So it is a voice that he had solely heard in his head, and as he discovered to converse because the English acquired higher, he was capable of finding a spot for himself on the planet, not as an extraterrestrial immigrant, however as a citizen. So I might be curious to see what his citizenry appears like now, aside from all of his powers and his potential to discorporate, his potential to learn minds, his potential to shapeshift. Properly, what does his citizenry appear like on this planet?
J’onn J’onzz’s conventional origin story sees him forcibly delivered to Earth from Mars by a human scientist. As a result of the scientist died from a coronary heart assault after seeing J’onn shapeshifter, the Martian, who’s usually depicted because the final of his sort, was left stranded on Earth and made the John Jones id so he may stay incognito amongst people. The Justice League animated sequence dealt with his arrival on Earth otherwise, as he got here to our world to warn humanity of the Imperium, solely to be taken prisoner by Imperium invaders disguised as members of the U.S. authorities.
Superman and Batman discovered J’onn being held captive and freed him, and as soon as the Imperium was defeated, these three based the Justice League with Surprise Lady, Flash, Inexperienced Lantern and Hawkgirl. Nonetheless, it wasn’t till Justice League Limitless’s closing season that J’onn tried residing amongst humanity. So I completely agree with Carl Lumbly that it could be nice to see how the DC Universe’s J’onn has acclimated to being round us proper off the bat. It will make for a pleasant distinction to David Corenswet’s Superman, who not solely appears human, however has been residing on Earth since he was an toddler.
I’ll maintain crossing my fingers that the DC Universe decides to incorporate Martian Manhunter sometime and hope that if/when that day comes, his citizenry will likely be explored in the best way Carl Lumbly prompt. The franchise’s first film, James Gunn’s Superman, opens in theaters on July 11.