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CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

The Martian Manhunter

12 votes

Orion

3 votes

Edgy MD Nov 25 2014 08:03 AM

In the first of our match-ups of #2 and #7 seeds, we return the DC/Indie Conference's Aliens Bracket, and we bring together two beings powerful enough as individuals to each keep Superman up at night. Together, and faced off against one another? Well, I'm not sure there is something you can describe as minimum safe distance. It's insane that we're forced to live in a world where such beings collide. But you get to pick one over the other. [fimg=300]http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/77/1433649-martian_manhunter.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=300]http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_medium/10/108504/2588585-orion_new.jpg[/fimg] Name: The Martian Manhunter Name: Orion AKA: J'onn J'onzz, John Jones AKA: O'Ryan Creator(s): Joseph Samachson, Joe Certa Creator(s): Jack Kirby Origin: Mars Origin: New Genesis/Apokolips Base of Operations: Middleton CO; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Astral Plane Base of Operations: Supertown, New Genesis Teams: Justice League, Outsiders, etc. Teams: New Gods, Justice League Signature Lines: "I am Mars' sole survivor. There is a reason for that." Signature Lines: "I am nothing like you!" Arch-Enemy: Ma'alefa'ak Arch-Enemy: Darkseid Powers: He's like a whole team of superheroes in one. He has superhuman strength, speed, and endurance. He's a skilled detective like Batdude, he's a shapeshifter. He's naturally invulnerable. Intangibility? He's got that. Telekinesis? Fer sher. Can he make himself invisible? I'd ask him, but I suddenly don't know where he is. He can fly, he's a telepath, he's a genius, and he's got both X-ray vision and energy blast vision. While you may have five senses, if you're lucky, MM's got nine. NINE! He's a cleanup hitter, is what I'm saying. Powers: An immortal, this guy has super strength, speed, and endruance, as well as a damn-good healing ability. He's a skilled combatant and posesses the "Astro Force," which allows him to switch leagues and still lose 109 games. HAH! I kid. The Astro Force allows him to channel ambient energy into a powerful blast or a defensive shield. He also is (usually) the possessor of a "Mother Box, which is a compact, sentient, supercomputer that grants all sorts of powerful options I cannnot summarize in this space. Weaknesses: He is both vulnerable to fire, and afraid of it. It actually makes him melt(!). He has conquered this over the years to an unclear degree. It has also been revealed that his shapeshifting isn't something he can readily control, but is largely subconscous and spontaneous. Weaknesses: He's been known to lose his box, and that's not good. Like all New Gods, he's vulnerable to Radion, which may even be able to kill them if enough exposure can be applied. As the son of Darkseid, he's subject to violent and crazy beserker rages, and can't really control them without his wittle box.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 25 2014 08:06 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

Manhunter. I never cared for Kirby's New Gods.

Edgy MD Nov 25 2014 08:10 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

I know others feel different, but I have trouble surrendering to a universe where an alien villain just happens to be born with a name that amounts to a misspelling of a bad word in English. "Gee, I don't know why Sufo'k?'zhun would do this to somebody. We grew up together and I never suspected a thing!" I went for MM.

Vic Sage Nov 25 2014 08:42 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

Orion is Kirby's sole "4th World" representative in this competition. These books certainly have their detractors, and as a writer Kirby was a great artist, but they still constituted a major event in the Bronze Age. Orion, Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, Omac, Kamandi, the Forever People... it was a late burst of visual imagination from the King, unrestrained by Marvel's house style (even if it was a house style he had created). His art became a pure distillation of his unique approach, with geometrically exacting human figures that, though drained of their humanity, projecting extreme power and energy, in a world of abstracted machine forms and photo-montage backgrounds. And though the scripting was stilted to the point of embarrassment, the storytelling was rich in myth and epic in scope. Manhunter was never the least bit interesting to me. So, one doesn't need the anti-life equation to see that this vote goes to Orion.

Mets – Willets Point Nov 25 2014 09:14 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

The Martian Manhunter, gay icon? Or just gay?

RealityChuck Nov 25 2014 09:53 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

J'onn J'onnz was always a second-string (at least until Keith Giffen's JLA), but Kirby's New Gods just never worked that well.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 25 2014 11:17 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

I like Orion as a comic foil, as in some later Justice League stuff, and the New Gods are interesting in concept. I just never found them-- or him-- especially compelling as heroes, or characters, even. (That Kirby stuff was a joy to look at, but that writing... hoo boy.) Gimme Superman with flaws and a haunted conscience (in the right hands-- Giffen, say-- he very interesting, and a great group-story center/straight man).

Fman99 Nov 25 2014 07:59 PM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

I take the Martian to "pound the Mother Box."

Vic Sage Nov 28 2014 10:23 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

Edgy MD Dec 09 2014 06:00 PM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 2: The Martian Manhunter vs. Orion

Martian Manny beats Orion, which is impressive, like a planet beating a constellation. Final is 12-3.