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Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 DC Comics 5/25 Foil Edition CGC 9.8 4635231025
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Absolute Martian Manhunter #1, FBI Agent John Jones is a human detective whose mind is invaded by an alien psychic entity calling itself "the Martian" following a near-fatal bombing. This is a radical departure from the classic origin, where J'onn J'onzz was the Martian who assumed the identity of a deceased detective named John Jones. In the new story, the human John and the Martian consciousness are two distinct beings trapped together, creating a psychedelic psychological horror story.
A human protagonist: In this version, John Jones is an emotionally detached but dedicated FBI agent with a wife and son, a family he is often neglectful of due to his focus on his work. Following his survival of a coffee shop bombing, he begins to see the world differently and question his grip on reality.
The entity: After the explosion, John starts perceiving people's thoughts as plumes of colored smoke, a form of synesthesia caused by the alien consciousness that has possessed him. A voice in his head, which calls itself "the Martian," reveals that it saved his life but is now bound to him. The Martian is an eldritch, incomprehensible entity with a morally ambiguous nature.
A tale of two minds: The core of the new narrative is the conflict between Jones's grounded, noir-style detective work and the cosmic, mind-bending perceptions of the Martian entity. The story explores themes of empathy versus alienation, as John gains access to everyone else's innermost thoughts but becomes more distant from his own family.
Unique storytelling: Writer Deniz Camp and artist Javier Rodríguez use unconventional techniques, including special printing on the final page of #1, to merge the two perspectives. This allows the reader to experience the jarring shift in reality along with the protagonist.