Existing comment:
They Came From Mars! The Martians!
Fascination and fear of the unknown have captivated humans for centuries, but especially after the 1947 report of UFO sightings over Mt. Rainier. Coinciding with the beginning of the Cold War, outer space arose as a popular media topic alongside fictional literature and film, comic books, featuring Martians and aliens represented the readers' interests in -- and fear of -- foreign invaders.
Take Us to Your Leader:
Comics and other science fiction questioned what was out beyond our skies. Comic books like UFO Flying Saucers and Weird Science touched on the fear of the unknown and their potentially destructive capabilities, with Martians often leading the destruction.
Martian Manhunter:
Though Martians are often depicted as invaders, some are depicted as our protectors. J'onn J'onzz, known primarily as Martian Manhunter, is a protector and one of the most notable Martians in the DC comic universe. First introduced in Detective Comics #225 in November of 1955, J'onn would go on to become a founding member of the Justice League of America.
Why Martians?
Science fiction provides a vast array of aliens from within and beyond our solar system. Martians are special to human's understanding of the unknown because of the closeness of Mars and its terrestrial nature. If a planet has such similar and familiar characteristics it has to hold life, doesn't it? |