The absolute key number of Martian Manhunter isDetective Comics #225(November 1955), which marks its very first appearance and origin. Next comeThe Brave and the Bold #28(1960), first appearance of the Justice League with J'onn J'onzz as a founding member — a major Silver Age sold for up to $810,000 in CGC 9.6 — andHouse of Mystery #143(1964), which launched his first solo series. Newer collectors are also watchingMartian Manhunter #1(1988 and 1998) andAbsolute Martian Manhunter #1(2025), which met with real commercial success upon its launch.
J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, occupies a singular place in the history of DC Comics. Unlike Superman or Batman, he has never single-handedly carried a film franchise, and yet he is one of the seven founding members of the Justice League of America alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman. This position as a discreet but indispensable pillar of the DC universe makes it an interesting case study for those interested in collectible comics: its rating is based less on one-off cinematic hype than on long-standing recognition by Silver Age purists and by comic book collectors who founded super-teams.
This guide lists the truly defining issues of Martian Manhunter's publishing career, from its creation in 1955 until its relaunch in the Absolute universe in 2025, drawing on real CGC census data and documented auctions where available. For more recent or more confidential issues, we indicate the rarity and the editorial context rather than putting forward an invented number — a rule that we systematically apply on MyComicsCollection.
Whether you are looking to complete a Silver Age collection, to invest in a character still undervalued in relation to his status as a founding member of the JLA, or simply to understand why certain issues of Martian Manhunter are worth a fortune while others remain accessible at a few dozen euros, you will find the essentials here.
From the creation in 1955 to the relaunch of Absolute: the editorial history of Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter is born in a secondary story ofDetective Comics #225, published in November 1955, entitled “The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel.” The character is created by screenwriter Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa. The story tells how Professor Saul Erdel, while testing an experimental teleportation ray, accidentally attracts J'onn J'onzz, an inhabitant of Mars, to Earth. The shock of seeing this shapeshifting creature causes the scientist to suffer a fatal heart attack, leaving J'onn J'onzz stranded on Earth, with no way to return home. The Martian then decides to adopt the human appearance of John Jones, detective in Middletown, and to fight crime while waiting for Martian technology to one day allow his return. This origin story, published at a time when superhero comics were going through a relative commercial eclipse after the golden age, is part of the wave of revival of the genre which would soon give birth to the Silver Age. For several years, J'onn J'onzz remained a secondary feature of Detective Comics, alongside Batman. It was in 1960, withThe Brave and the Bold #28, that the character changes dimension: he becomes one of the seven founding members of the very first Justice League of America, alongside the pillars of the DC universe. This appearance establishes Martian Manhunter as a centerpiece of the DC shared universe, long before the concept of “shared universe” became a marketing argument. In 1964, the character took a new step withHouse of Mystery #143, which became the home title for his first solo star series under the name "Manhunter from Mars", introducing his alien companion Zook in the process. This Silver Age period is followed by decades during which Martian Manhunter navigates between regular member status and temporary withdrawals from the Justice League, before returning in force during the Justice League Detroit-era relaunch withJustice League of America #228in 1984. It was not until 1988 that J'onn J'onzz got his first series stamped under his name alone, a four-issue miniseries written by J.M. DeMatteis, which redefine part of his Martian mythology. Ten years later, in 1998, John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake launched the first ongoing series devoted to the character, which ran for 36 issues until 2001 — the period that many fans consider to be the character's narrative golden age. The 21st century then saw several attempts at revival: a new version for the New 52 era inStormwatch (vol. 3) #1in 2011, then a short solo series as part of the “DC You” editorial wave in 2015, before the ambitious relaunch in 2025 withAbsolute Martian Manhunter, which reimagines the character from a psychological horror perspective in DC's new Absolute Universe.
This checkered trajectory - a founding character but rarely at the head of the poster - largely explains the structure of the collecting market around Martian Manhunter: a few extremely sought-after Silver Age issues, and an ocean of more recent titles with still modest prices, where the purchasing opportunity remains real for those who know how to spot the right numbers.
Detective Comics #225
The very first issue of J'onn J'onzz's editorial career. The story "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel" appears as a secondary story, alongside a Batman adventure that occupies the cover — a common setup at the time for characters who had not yet proven their commercial potential. It is this status as a “backup feature” which partly explains why this issue, although seminal, remains less mythologized in popular culture than other early Silver Age appearances, while remaining an absolute must-have for any serious collector of the character.
The Brave and the Bold #28
The most important issue in the entire Martian Manhunter bibliography, quite simply because it is one of the most significant Silver Age comics in DC history: the very first appearance of the Justice League of America, of which J'onn J'onzz is a founding member alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman. The CGC census counts several thousand copies submitted over the decades, with only one copy graded CGC 9.6 — the highest grade ever assigned to the issue — no higher copies having been recorded. This unique copy sold for $810,000 at Heritage Auctions in January 2024, shattering the previous record of $120,000 set in 2013 by a CGC 9.2 copy, making this issue one of the most expensive DC Silver Age comics ever sold at auction.
House of Mystery #143
After nearly ten years as a supporting character, J'onn J'onzz finally gets his own spotlight: House of Mystery becomes, starting with this issue, the home title of the "Manhunter from Mars" series. It is also in this issue that Zook appears, the mischievous alien companion who will accompany the Martian in several of his Silver Age adventures. The CGC census lists approximately 185 graded copies to date, a significantly smaller volume than Detective Comics #225 or Brave and the Bold #28, making it a relatively rare issue on the graded market. The highest grade recorded is a CGC 9.6, with only three examples known at this level.
Justice League of America #228
After several years where the character appeared only episodically in the ranks of the Justice League, this issue marks his official return to the status of a regular member of the team, in a pivotal period which sets the stage for his central role within the Justice League Detroit and, a few years later, the Justice League International of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis - one of the most popular incarnations of the character with readers of the 1980s. The CGC census does not has only around thirty graded copies, a low figure which mainly reflects the paucity of submissions for late Bronze Age comics of this type rather than an actual physical rarity - the majority of copies in circulation have simply never gone through the certification process.
Martian Manhunter #1
Thirty-three years after his creation, J'onn J'onzz finally gets a series entirely devoted to his character: a four-issue miniseries which revisits in depth his Martian origins and introduces H'ronmeer, the Martian god of death, a mythological addition which will lastingly influence the character's later stories. In terms of the market, this issue remains affordable today: collector demand is overwhelmingly focused on the Silver Age issues mentioned above, which leaves this mini-series in a modest price zone despite its real historical importance for the mythology of the character.
Martian Manhunter #1
It is with this issue that Martian Manhunter finally obtains a lasting monthly series, which will continue for 36 issues until 2001. The Ostrander/Mandrake tandem builds a much darker and more personal mythology, exploring the trauma of J'onn J'onzz facing the extinction of his Martian civilization and his adaptation to human society under the guise of detective John Jones. This series, today recognized by a large part of fans as the best solo incarnation of the character, remains a title from the late 1990s with relatively large print runs for the time, which maintains its first issue rating at a very accessible level compared to the Silver Age pieces.
Stormwatch (vol. 3) #1
With the New 52 relaunch of September 2011, DC chose an unexpected angle to reintroduce J'onn J'onzz: rather than a solo series or an appearance in Justice League, the character joins the secret superhuman police force Stormwatch, alongside Midnighter, Apollo, Jack Hawksmoor and The Engineer. This “Prime Earth” version of the Martian marks his first appearance in the rebooted continuity that structured the DC universe for several years. Like most of the first New 52 issues, widely available at the time of their release with print runs supported by a strong editorial promotional campaign, this issue remains very financially accessible - its value rests more on its status as a "first appearance" of continuity than on any physical rarity.
Martian Manhunter #1
As part of the “DC You” editorial wave, which aimed to diversify the tone and formats of DC series in 2015-2016, Rob Williams and Eddy Barrows are relaunching a twelve-issue solo series centered on a plot entitled “The Epiphany”, combining extraterrestrial infiltration and introspection on the identity of John Jones. This series remains one of the most commercially confidential incarnations of the character, which today makes it an easy to find and low-rated title, despite a decent critical reception from the specialized press upon its release.
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1
The most recent issue on this list, and by far the most commercially successful in decades for the character: this launch within DC's new Absolute universe reimagines J'onn J'onzz from a psychological horror angle, with FBI agent John Jones facing a suicide bombing that upends his perception of reality. The first issue exceeded 120,000 pre-orders when it was released in March 2025, a remarkable figure for a solo title of the character, and the series - initially planned for six issues - was extended to twelve issues in the face of critical and commercial reception. On the variant and first printing market, this issue immediately established itself as one of the most sought-after titles of the year 2025 for collectors of modern comics, driven by speculative demand still active in 2026.
The impact of adaptations on the rating
Martian Manhunter was never entitled to his own film or his own headlining television series, but he benefited from a recurring presence in live-action adaptations of the DC universe, with a measured but real effect on the character's notoriety among the general public - and therefore, indirectly, on the interest in his printed bibliography.
InSmallville, the character is played by Phil Morris from season 5, in a version which makes him an old friend of Jor-El who came to monitor and guide Clark Kent on Earth; this incarnation remains one of the most appreciated by fans of the series for its fidelity to the mentor tone of the character in the classic comics. In the Arrowverse, David Harewood plays a version of J'onn J'onzz living hidden under the identity of Hank Henshaw, director of the DEO, in the seriesSupergirl, with crossover appearances inThe Flashand the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event — an extended, multi-season television show that significantly increased the character's recognition among non-comic book-reading audiences between 2015 and 2021.
On the big screen, Harry Lennix plays a hidden version of the character as General Calvin Swanwick inMan of Steel(2013) andBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016), before revealing its true Martian form inZack Snyder's Justice League(2021) — the long version redistributed for streaming which allowed many fans to discover this secret identity for the first time, the 2017 cinema edit not having preserved this revelation. This late but notable appearance in the “Snyder Cut” generated a temporary revival of interest in the character within the DCEU fan community, without however causing a speculative movement comparable to what we observe for central characters like Batman or Superman during the release of a solo film.
For a collector, the lesson to be learned is this: the price of Martian Manhunter follows an editorial rather than a cinematic rhythm. Peaks of real market interest correspond to major comic book releases – the Absolute relaunch of 2025 being the clearest and most recent example – much more than to screen events, which mainly play a role in maintaining the notoriety of the character in the long term rather than triggering a speculative surge.
Buying guide
- Prioritize the first appearance above everything else.Detective Comics #225 is the foundation of any serious collection devoted to the character; on a limited budget, a copy in average condition (2.0 to 4.0) remains more relevant than a more recent issue in very high grade.
- Consider Brave and the Bold #28 as a standalone investment, not a classic “Martian Manhunter issue.”Its value is primarily driven by its status as the first appearance of the Justice League — a copy even in modest condition remains out of reach of most budgets, but is worth pursuing if you are aiming for an ambitious Silver Age collection.
- Don't overlook House of Mystery #143.With only around 185 copies listed in the CGC, it is in reality one of the physically rarest issues in the character's entire bibliography, despite still having a reasonable rating compared to the two previous issues.
- The 1988, 1998 and 2015 solo series remain low-risk buying opportunities.They tell a significant part of the character's story without requiring a Silver Age budget, and their current rating leaves room for improvement if interest in the character continues to grow.
- Keep a close eye on the prints and variants of Absolute Martian Manhunter #1.The commercial success of the 2025 launch makes it the most dynamic modern issue on this list; first printings and signed variant covers are the ones that attract the most attention from today's buyers.
- Systematically check the status of pages on Silver Age issues.On comics published in the 1950s and 1960s, the oxidation of the paper (page quality) weighs as much as the physical structure in the final grade — a point frequently underestimated by novice buyers; our comparison on thedifference between a CGC 9.0 and a CGC 9.8precisely details these evaluation criteria.
- Always check the current rating before buying or selling.The comics market fluctuates quickly, particularly in recent issues driven by editorial news; use ourfree estimator based on actual eBay salesto get a low, median and high price before any transaction.
- Organize the tracking of your collection from the first purchase.Whether you're starting with a Detective Comics #225 in modest condition or a batch of more recent solo series, ourcollection management applicationallows you to centralize your numbers, their status and their estimated value in one place.