Quick intro-

[yourfavorite]

○ A Martian cop was transported to Earth after a great calamity killed his race.
○ Shapeshifted into a detective, John Jones, while studying mankind.
○ Eventually became a public superhero known as the Martian Manhunter.
○ Now has hundreds of secret identities, using his shapeshifting powers to be old, young, men, women, rich, poor and a cat.
○ Almost always a key member and the 'heart' of the Justice League.
○ Not any particular version of continuity, just a general J'onn J'onzz for all your Mars man needs. Most familiar with post-crisis, getting there with New 52/DCnU/whatever they call it after that, very familiar with the DCAU, Young Justice (but not the complimentary comics) and the DCEU. Not familiar with DCTV, but open to playing with characters from it. And, of course, never forget JLA/Avengers is canon.

Appearance

J'onn's most commonly seen form is a seven-foot big green red eyed alien. This bulky, beetle-browed look is a compromise between his true form and humanity, and is what he would call a 'social form' that draws on human iconography and Martian symbols. Though somewhat fierce and intimidating, it has been noted that J'onn carries himself with a regal bearing. Which is apparently important when designing his looks.

His true form is more angular, with flexible spines and more obviously inhuman shape. He reserves it for only those he is closest to, and even then he does so rarely as even they usually find it off-putting.

Personality

○ J'onn has a strong analytical mind and approaches most situations from a logical, stoic viewpoint. When not the leader of the JLA, his official position is usually the master tactician. This, and his inhumanly perfect poker face, lead many to think of him as being cold on first impressions.

○ J'onn is noted to be exceptionally kind, patient and caring. He takes to being a mentor naturally and sometimes has to be told when to step back. Armed with common sense and loving exasperation, he's the dad friend of most groups.

○ He is, in the words of Superman, 'a comedian with the dryest delivery you could ever imagine.' Despite his generally serious demeanour, his favourite joke is that he has no sense of humour and amuses himself constantly with it. He's also known to prank those he's very close to.

○ While he likes to maintain his dignified exterior if he can, J'onn is more emotional than he lets on and when the surface cracks the results can be explosive. In particular, he holds a deep-seated sadness of the loss of his people and holds onto the guilt of any failure. He is always an outsider looking in, and whenever he thinks he has come to terms with it, old wounds reopen. It is also a really bad idea to tick him off, which is normally only truly possible by being extraordinarily evil.

○ A warrior, poet and philosopher. He does all he can to fight for what is right. Whilst he is not liberal with violence, he does not have a no-killing rule.

Abilities
Depending on his depiction, J'onn's powers and their levels vary significantly. I do this too, so he's always appropriately adjusted for any scene.

○ Superhuman physical characteristics, including strength, durability, stamina, senses and speed. Often described as being roughly the same as Superman, I tend to think of J'onn's best being equal to Superman's holding back. Depending on the setting, it ranges from 'destroy the moon strong' to 'pick up a car' strong.
○ Has 9 to 15 senses depending on the writer, including the ability to see through objects and on the microscopic level.
○ Shapeshifting, allowing him to imitate others, change size and shape, colour etc. Using this power, he can become invisible or intangible. It can also be used to regenerate from injury.
○ Heat beams from his eyes (when explained, it's usually depicted as microwaves).
○ Psychic powers, including telepathy and telekinesis. He is generally considered amongst the greatest telepaths on Earth, not necessarily due to his great power but his high skill. He can read and control minds, act as a telepathic relay for a team, perform psychometry, astral projection, mediumship, illusions and so on. He is occasionally depicted with the power of telekinetic molecular manipulation, most famously to create ice cream out of thin air.
○ Flight (which is sometimes just using telekinesis to lift himself).
○ J’onn has a severe psychological weakness to fire. Due to his telepathic shapeshifter nature, in which his physiology and psychology are intimately linked, he is weakened by its presence and often loses control of his form. The more fire, the worse the reaction.
○ In terms of skills, J'onn is an excellent detective (powers or no) and tracker. He's usually the League's go-to doctor, pilot and unless there is a designated genius on the team, their all-discipline scientist.

Notes:
○ Though DC has never used the term, J'onn (and indeed all Martians) is depicted as gender-fluid but doesn't mind being called he/him at all times. On the rare occasions that gender is addressed directly, J'onn usually states matter of factly that he is whatever he wishes to be at a given time and sometimes calls himself asexual which is true from a biological standpoint.
○ Has a huge appetite, seriously, he'll eat a sandwich the size of your head. He especially loves biscuits of all kinds, but has a borderline addiction to the legally distinct version of Oreos called Chocos. Everyone knows this.
○ Though J'onn is never bothered by using the term Martian, his people called themselves Ma'aleca'andrans, and called Mars Ma'aleca'andra. This is a reference to Out of the Silent Planet. Some writers occasionally forget this, and have Martians call Mars Barsoom, in reference to the John Carter novels.
○ I sometimes depict J'onn as having a dog named Jupiter (who sadly appeared in one issue). He is a strangely intelligent basset hound who fights crime. He could also have a cat named Double Stuff after the type of Oreos. He's a fat cat that also fights crime. In the Red Hood: Outlaws continuity he's also the caretaker of Dinosaur Island and on good terms with the residents.
○ J'onn has special speech bubbles with squiggly tails. What does it mean!? It is perhaps to reference his supposedly indescribable accent.
○ Some of his close friends call him J.J (Zatana and Vixen especially) or M.M (Wally West and Kyle Rayner) for short.

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