For a lot of fans, J’onn J’onzz is the stoic, Chocos-loving moral center of the Justice League. His popularity really took off thanks to his powerful, fatherly presence in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series (the DCAU). But now, in the year 2025, superstar creatives Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez haven’t just rebooted the Martian Manhunter; they’ve sent him into a whole new dimension.
Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision isn’t trying to be your average comic book. What it is is a mind-bending, socially aware, and visually explosive reinterpretation that pushes the League’s resident Martian into a realm of existential, psychedelic horror we’ve never witnessed before. You might as well forget everything you thought you knew about the telepathic hero, because this series makes a strong argument for being one of the coolest and most inventive takes on a classic character in modern comics.
The Martian Within
The story kicks off with a brilliant, immediate hook: FBI agent John Jones survives a terrorist attack only to find his mind invaded by an alien consciousness. This being, which calls itself “the Martian,” isn’t from the planet Mars but is alien in a way the human psyche can barely comprehend. The core conflict is established instantly: John must balance his deeply grounded duties as a detective with the utterly incomprehensible presence inside his head.
Camp handles this initial setup with no hesitation, immediately throwing readers into the mystery and asking: Was “the Martian” always there, or did the explosion unleash it? This ambiguity propels the first few issues, transforming John’s return to the crime scene into a fascinating study of duality, where his uncanny detective skills suddenly have an otherworldly explanation.
With his new “Martian” abilities, Detective John Jones is effectively reignmained as a “stand-user” in the Absolute Universe, an almost dimensional being whose perception of reality is utterly bonkers. The Martian’s ultimate mission is also revealed as a hunter: to eliminate a “psycho-toxic” buildup of fear and paranoia that is essentially attacking humanity. The genius of Camp’s writing is in grounding this fantastical premise in anxieties and fears that feel disturbingly close to our own reality.
Javier Rodríguez’s Vision
If Deniz Camp provides the psychedelic script, Javier Rodríguez delivers the visual high. He is unequivocally the perfect artist for this project. His style (clean and vibrant) is amplified here with a constant, frenetic undercurrent of psychedelic color. The result is a book that explodes with an “angry cartoon” palette of reds, greens, blues, pinks, oranges, and yellows. It’s the most artificially colored book in the best possible way, creating a visual feast that makes the reader feel as disoriented and hyper-aware as John Jones himself.
The visual storytelling here is consistently inventive, especially when demonstrating the Martian’s abilities. We see this ‘Martian Vision’ through stunning, trippy colors that externalize the alien’s perspective. But this ability is more than just telepathy with a fresh coat of paint. It is also a vital narrative tool that grounds the story in humanity. For example, seeing John witness the final thoughts of mass shooting victims is personal, poignant, and profoundly moving. It’s one of the many touches that make this series so special.
Rodríguez’s command of panel placement and perspective is out of this world, particularly in action sequences and double-page spreads that are so stunning they could easily stand alone as posters. Even the emotional depth is captured perfectly, especially in the nuanced facial expressions of John’s worried wife, Bridget. The constant imagery of smoke and fire is another compelling visual theme; with everyone in the comic seemingly smoking, and given the Manhunter’s inherent vulnerability to flames, Camp and Rodríguez cleverly play with the adage, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” suggesting human thoughts are inner flames manifested as smoke, which is a profoundly captivating idea.
Societal and Personal Turmoil
Beyond the cosmic battles, the series is a potent vehicle for social commentary. It’s a dark ride that consistently tackles heavy, relevant themes. Issues #2 and #3, for instance, directly confront real-world extremism, depicting a mass shooter who targets those he deems “alien invaders.” Camp effectively grounds the alien threat in the chillingly real rhetoric of hate. The comic doesn’t shy away from grim realities either, such as the tragic fate of the homeless, forcing the reader to confront human cruelty and the limits of empathy.
Meanwhile, the central relationship between John and his wife, Bridget, provides the crucial emotional anchor. Her frustration, loneliness, and doubt about the man she loves are handled with raw honesty, and her powerful role in the finale, where she proves to be a true partner and protector, elevates her beyond a mere plot device.
The Climax: Explosions, Empathy, and the Absolute Universe
The final issues ratchet up the psychological horror and societal decay. A city-wide blackout devolves into weeks of madness driven by a mysterious entity and the pervasive shadow agents of negative influence. The climax in issue #6 is a breathtaking finale that pits the Green Martian against the White Martian, a battle fought not just with physical force but through the spectrum of consciousness itself. The confrontation is wild, inventive, and emotionally resonant.
The terrifying, Slenderman-like reveal of the White Martian and the surreal moments, like the Martian popping out of John’s eye like a genie from a bottle, are just a few of the many gems of Camp and Rodríguez’s unbridled creativity. The ending is both trippy and hopeful, culminating in John’s upgraded Martian Vision and people literally getting high on each other’s empathy. We told you this was wild stuff.
Letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou deserves a special mention for flawlessly navigating the dense dialogue and visually chaotic panels. His skillful layouts ensure the complex narrative remains easy to follow, and the impactful lettering, such as a cutting blade’s sound effect slicing through a panel, elevates the sense of imminent danger.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision is a modern classic that demands to be read. It’s a testament to what happens when creators are given the freedom to be truly weird and inventive. Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez have crafted a masterful series that seamlessly blends superhero action with profound societal reflection, all wrapped in a visually stunning, one-of-a-kind package. This is the coolest, most thought-provoking reinterpretation of the character in years, firing on all cylinders from the first page to the explosive finale.
‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ Vol. 1: Martian Vision Review: The Martian Manhunter Reinvented
Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision is a modern classic that demands to be read. It’s a testament to what happens when creators are given the freedom to be truly weird and inventive.
