Is J'Onn's moniker a bit too wordy?

[daBronzeBomma]

"The Martian Manhunter".

Excluding the article, that's 5 syllables. That's like Mr. Fantastic or Mr. Terrific, two other codename that don't get promoted that often.

I mean, keep the alliteration, that helps, but maybe chop off a syllable or two. Silver Surfer, that works.

Also, isn't there another DCU hero called Manhunter? And isn't there a separate group of villains called Manhunter in the DCU?

So, if J'onn were to have his moniker altered to be less wordy, what alternative would be best?

A. "The Martian". Short and simple, except he's not the only Martian.

B. "The Martian Minder". Conjures up his more unique powers, but also suggests he does a lot of watching.

C. "The Martian Melder". Kinda Star Trekky, but very accurate on one of his powers.

D. "The Martian Marker". Vague enough to cover more powers, but also kinda too Crayola.

E. "The Martian Marshal". Oooh! I like this one, but kinda cowboy-ish.

F. "The Martian Mender". Very Pacifist and non- threatening.

G. "The Martian Miner". As in data mining, not coal.

H. "The Martian Mixer". Sounds like a social event on Mars, but does speak to J'Onn's versatility.

I. "The Martian Molder". Sounds gross, but speaks to his adaptability.

Hmmm ... I like all of them better than "Manhunter", but none jump out at me over the others.

If you wanted an easier codename for J'onn, what codename would you propose?

[Assam]

He's the Martian Manhunter. Nothing else is needed. It's classic, and even if it's a bit wordy, he's usually just referred to as J'onn by other characters anyway. Any alternative name wouldn't last.

I'll give you this though. I was talking with one of my friends who doesn't read comics the other night and we were doing this regular thing where I explain comic history to him in the most overly cynical way possible. For laughs and all. When I brought up that Martain Manhunter was a founding member of the Justice League, he was shocked, because even though he'd heard the name, he'd assumed he was a villain.

[Zero Hunter]

Really no one ever calls him by his full codename anyway so it is no big deal. It is usually just J'Onn or Manhunter or the martian.

[Frontier]

Supergirl doesn't seem to have a problem calling him Martian Manhunter.

[Trey Strain]

I think some people here will tell you not to change one thing about him, even though he's an unsuccessful character. One time I proposed here that he get a different costume, and a few folks got upset by the idea I was startled that anyone was attached to his costume.

The question is, do you want him to stay the same way and continue to be unsuccessful? Some readers might prefer that, but I bet the management at DC Comics doesn't. There's no money for them in an unsuccessful character.

I think he needs a different name and a different costume, and that he should lose about 12,000 of his powers. But if anyone has another idea to make him more popular besides "hire John Ostrander to write him," I'll certainly give it a fair hearing.

[MajorHoy]

You could call him "Bob".

(And when Zatanna wanted to say his name backwards, it would then be . . . "boB".)

[scary harpy]

I think some people here will tell you not to change one thing about him, even though he's an unsuccessful character. One time I proposed here that he get a different costume, and a few folks got upset by the idea I was startled that anyone was attached to his costume.

The question is, do you want him to stay the same way and continue to be unsuccessful? Some readers might prefer that, but I bet the management at DC Comics doesn't. There's no money for them in an unsuccessful character.

I think he needs a different name and a different costume, and that he should lose about 12,000 of his powers. But if anyone has another idea to make him more popular besides "hire John Ostrander to write him," I'll certainly give it a fair hearing.

I agree.

I liked the recent Martian Manhunter mini-series: his origin was a lie, green Martians never existed and he is a weapon created by the white Martians. Suddenly, much about him makes sense; his overpowered-ness, his silly weakness, his immigration to Earth - all seem more logical to me. (I can suspend disbelief - but give me something to work with!) I suspect I was one of few who enjoyed this series. Too much change bothers comic fans (- any change often seems to bother comic fans).

I heard the Martian Manhunter was essentially the Silver Age version of the Spectre. This makes sense to me. The Silver Age was about Science Fiction while the Golden Age had more magic. They are both overpowered characters that are difficult to challenge. (If you have cigarette lighter or matches, then you're golden; if not, watch out for J'onn!)

I fear J'onn will not get the overhaul he desperately needs.

P.S.

Just J'Onn J'Onzz; I don't even think of him as the Martian Manhunter.

[daBronzeBomma]

I think some people here will tell you not to change one thing about him, even though he's an unsuccessful character. One time I proposed here that he get a different costume, and a few folks got upset by the idea I was startled that anyone was attached to his costume.

The question is, do you want him to stay the same way and continue to be unsuccessful? Some readers might prefer that, but I bet the management at DC Comics doesn't. There's no money for them in an unsuccessful character.

I think he needs a different name and a different costume, and that he should lose about 12,000 of his powers. But if anyone has another idea to make him more popular besides "hire John Ostrander to write him," I'll certainly give it a fair hearing.

Definitely coming at this not as a hardcore fan at all, and much more from the angle of a coldly capitalist suit who thinks DC needs to diversify from too much dependence on just the Batverse and Superverse franchises.

I think there are two dynamic routes of progress with J'onn:

A. Make him more like DC's counterpoint to Marvel's Silver Surfer.

Amp up his Superman powers to Pre-COIE levels, leave his non - Superman powers as is, take him off-world for 95% of his adventures, no longer a JL member.

B. Make him more like DC's counterpoint to Marvel's Professor X.

Reduce or outright lose all his Superman powers, amp up his non-Superman powers (esp his psionic ones) to Charles Xavier levels, stays a JL member.

[Doctor Bifrost]

"The Martian Marshal".

I first read this as "The Martian Marsha!" and thought it was a reference to The Brady Bunch. "Martian, Martian, Martian!"

I don't think his name is the problem, and I doubt attempts to give him a new one would stick. For readers who know anything about him, "The Martian Manhunter" is something they know and are used to.

It's more of a problem that DC can't settle on who he is. His original Silver Age origin (alien stuck on Earth due to a teleportation experiment gone wrong) was fine when he was pretty much isolated from the rest of the DCU, alone in his own stories. But once he joined the JLA and met Green Lantern and Superman, it didn't make much sense. (They could fly him home. Problem solved*.)

Since then, there have been so many additions to his origins and retcons (introduction of the White Martians, with all the political and military complications), changes to his physical and psychological nature ("actually he really sort of looks like Gumby, but to make people more comfortable he took on the form of a green hairless sort-of-human, because for some reason he didn't want to go all the way and make people more comfortable by just looking human..."), to his family (evil twin brother!), his chronology ("it also teleported him through time!"), and on and on and on...

It's one of the few cases worse than Donna Troy. Really, the name is one of the few stable things about him. And, of course, for many years he was considered "the heart of the Justice League" (although I never really understood that), but he hasn't even been a part of the Justice League (except perhaps in references to some membership "some years past") since the advent of The New 52.

DC should figure out who they want him to be. They can keep the name.

(* There was the same issue with Adam Strange, once he met the JLA.)