Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025–2026): DC's Strangest Absolute Reinvention
Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025–2026): DC's Strangest Absolute Reinvention
A 12-issue psychological sci-fi story from DC's Absolute line. Here is what we love about the most surreal of the Absolute reinventions.
DC's Absolute line took its best-known heroes and rebuilt them from scratch, with fewer constraints than the regular books. Absolute Martian Manhunter is the one that takes that freedom furthest, and a lot of readers have fallen for it for exactly that reason.
We carry a good part of the Absolute line at Siomic Comics, and this is the one that surprised us most. Here is our guide to the premise, the people behind it and the issues that stand out.
Absolute Martian Manhunter at a glance
- Publisher: DC Comics
- Run: 12 issues, with covers dated 2025 and 2026
- Writer: Deniz Camp
- Artist: Javier Rodríguez, who also provided colours and many covers
- Setting: The city of Middleton
- Main characters: John Jones and the alien presence known as the Martian
- Notable debut: Despair-O makes a first full appearance in #9
- Part of: The Absolute Universe, alongside books such as Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman
A very different kind of Martian
In this version, John Jones is an FBI agent who studies stochastic terrorism, the kind of violence that seems to come from nowhere. Then something else arrives. An alien entity calling itself the Martian takes hold of him. It is not really from Mars, since it is so alien that human minds can only label it that way, and the story is about the two of them sharing one life.
The character has always been DC's resident outsider, and the book takes that idea further than ever before. It keeps the core of the original and pushes its strangeness: the human half and the alien half are split, and the story becomes a study of why people commit violence and how to live in a world that feels out of control.
Camp and Rodríguez
The writer is Deniz Camp, who was new to DC when the book was announced. The artist is Javier Rodríguez, and the two have described the book as a close back-and-forth, with Rodríguez lifting Camp's full scripts into something even stranger on the page. Rodríguez also handles the colours, which gives the book an unusual, psychedelic look from cover to cover.
Camp pitched the character to Scott Snyder, who was looking for bold new takes on DC characters for the Absolute line. The tone is surreal and psychological, drawing on 1960s and 1970s science fiction, writers like Philip K. Dick and Thomas Pynchon, and comics such as Shade, the Changing Man and Human Target. It even brings back thought bubbles, an old comics device that feels fresh here.
The story so far
The invasion
The Martian begins to take over John Jones, and the first issues show the alien consciousness settling in.
Middleton in crisis
Heatwaves, blackouts and strange events hit the city of Middleton, with tempers and secrets rising together.
The White Martian
A hunt for the White Martian follows, with John and the Martian at the centre.
The Agency
The mysterious Agency arrives, and John has to face its secrets while his family life falls apart.
The Green Martian
In #10 the truth of the Green Martian is revealed.
The final issue
The series closes in #12, bringing the main threads together.
Key issues to know
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2025 | The first issue, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez |
| #3 | 2025 | A trip through the psychosphere of Middleton |
| #9 | 2026 | First full appearance of Despair-O |
| #10 | 2026 | The truth of the Green Martian |
| #12 | 2026 | The final issue |
The creators behind the comic
Deniz Camp
Writer of the series, a newcomer to DC when the book launched.
Javier Rodríguez
Artist and colourist, and cover artist on the early issues.
Scott Snyder
The writer Camp pitched the character to, who was looking for bold new takes on DC characters.
Curiosities collectors should know
Variants everywhere
Almost every issue has variant covers, so each number can mean several different books.
A short run
The series is a self-contained 12 issues, which makes it easy to collect in full.
A very personal book
The story leans into psychological themes more than most superhero comics.
A new kind of Martian
The character is split into a human half and an alien presence, which is a fresh approach.
Why this series matters
The Absolute line made a point of trying new ideas with old characters, and this is the book that pushed hardest. Camp calls it the biggest change among the Absolute characters, and it shows how a long-standing character can be turned inside out and still feel true to what made him interesting.
Where to start reading Absolute Martian Manhunter
Start with #1, since the story is designed to be read from the beginning, and keep going to the finale in #12. If you like the line as a whole, you can pair it with Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman, both of which we stock.
Absolute Martian Manhunter covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see our copy if it's in stock.
#2
#6
#7Browse our Absolute Martian Manhunter back issues
These are some of the issues we currently have on the shelf. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#3
Absolute Martian Manhunter #3
John and the Martian travel through the strange mental landscape of Middleton.
View our copy -
#4
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#5
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#9
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#10
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#12
We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our Absolute Martian Manhunter comics.
Frequently asked questions about Absolute Martian Manhunter
Who writes Absolute Martian Manhunter?
Deniz Camp writes the series, with Javier Rodríguez as artist.
How many issues is Absolute Martian Manhunter?
The series runs for 12 issues, with covers dated 2025 and 2026.
What is Absolute Martian Manhunter about?
John Jones is an FBI agent who studies stochastic terrorism and is taken over by an alien presence known as the Martian.
What is the first appearance of Despair-O?
Despair-O makes a first full appearance in Absolute Martian Manhunter #9.
Is Absolute Martian Manhunter part of the Absolute Universe?
Yes, it is part of DC's Absolute line, which reimagines the company's main characters.
Where should I start reading Absolute Martian Manhunter?
Start with #1 and read through to the finale in #12.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Absolute Martian Manhunter comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. Absolute Martian Manhunter and all related characters are trademarks of DC Comics. Cover images are shown for reference.