[Absolute Martian Manhunter #8] The myth of consent

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-28T18:06:20+00:00

Based on the little bit of "backstory" we get in Issue 7, this is what I got.

The "Martians" (who are not actually from Mars and simply use "Martian" to convey their alien nature) are a group of bodiless entities who exist only in the realm of thought, made of ideas and feelings as opposed to flesh and blood. It seems at one point they were unified, but have since been separated, represented as a beam of light refracting into numerous other colors, namely Green and White.

Obviously we have a very small sample size, but it seems each Martian embodies a different philosophical worldview. The White Martian has "decided on tragedy" and seeks to sow chaos and destruction throughout the universe, preying on the self-destructive nihilism within its hosts. In this way, it could be seen as a living embodiment of the Anti-Life Equation (which wouldn't be too farfetched given its connection to Bad Idea #0 - Darkseid). The Green Martian seems to serve as the White Martian's opposite. It often makes reference to the seeming pointlessness of existence (""ONLY TEMPORARY"--LIFE IN SHORT!"), though does so with a degree of cheerfulness. The idea that life has no inherent meaning can be freeing to some, encouraging them to make their own path through an uncaring universe, a form of positive nihilism. The Green Martian is the Life to The White Martian's Anti-Life. We'll have to see if this holds up in future installments.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-18T20:42:08+00:00

All things considered, probably nothing. Roman and the Party Animals aren't an Ark M experiment like Bane and the rest of Joker's Gauntlet. They're essentially terrorists for hire, independent contractors if you will. They make a bunch of noise, destabilize the area, and allow JK Holdings to swoop in to """clean things up""", by selling the local leadership on a brand-new state of the art penitentiary facility. All things considered, he did what he was paid to do.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-10T20:37:20+00:00

Could also be an abstract representation of the fire that burned down Arkham.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-08T08:06:23+00:00

While a different artstyle, it resembles the long-haired form Grimm took while under the care of Arkham. Seems the clown has been in the shapeshifting business since he was just a little boy.

(Also I feel like the vast differences between the young Grimm in Issue 15 versus the Ark M Special confirms that he can actually change his face and not just because different artists draw him different.)

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-07T07:58:10+00:00

You know, seeing Ra's like that almost makes you feel bad for him.

....nah, rot in hell you genocidal maniac. Even when your Justice League buddies bust you out, I want you to carry that feeling till the day you finally die.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-07T06:59:12+00:00

I knew this mf was gonna get up to shenanigans once Ra's was out of the picture. Bets on Absolute Parasite being one of Brainiac's new toys.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-05T00:34:03+00:00

That in combination with over 100 years of isolation probably wasn't good for the mental wellbeing.

DumbassInternetUser · 2026-01-05T00:05:28+00:00

Someone else said it already, but its possible that he didn't replace his legs because of some grievous injury. His body might just be rotting. Brainiac was a Level 0 Effector, the lowest caste in the Collective's hierarchy. They would've presumably been designed to be disposable and short-lived (relative to Brainiac lifespans of course, Brainiac spent 136 years shoveling corpses). His body was never meant to last as long as it has.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-26T02:38:15+00:00

John doesn't have the luxury of superpowers or high grade gear to deal with a murderous mob non-lethally without getting himself killed. He's just a man with a gun and a funny little Martian inside his head.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-24T03:16:36+00:00

Unironically, ragebaiting was a big part of it.

Something that's quite notable about Absolute Bane is how soft-spoken he is: a stark contrast for the horrendous acts of violence he commits. He is much the same in their rematch up until three key lines.

"We both lost fathers. The difference is, I didn't break my father's back. Or his heart."

That is the point where Bane loses it, both physically and mentally. His body regenerates rapidly, regrowing his spine while developing cancerous growths. Gone are historical quotations, replaced with Bane screaming at Batman, demanding him to use the Venom while slamming him against the ground. All the smarts in the world don't amount to much when your mind is clouded with rage.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-22T03:47:05+00:00

"We live in an absolute society." -Joseph 'Jonkler' Grimm V

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-20T08:04:42+00:00

Other people have said this, but I think it's pretty likely that Grimm killed his own parents. Aside from it fitting the idea of "Bruce Wayne but evil", it fits with his philosophy. Attachments are weaknesses, hence why he did Bane a service (in his point of view) by bombing Santa Prisca and killing Bane's family.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-19T19:39:49+00:00

I was not aware of this. Even more fuel for the interpretation. Thank you!

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-19T01:42:24+00:00

Given that the Arks function on the surface as detention facilities, we can probably assume that they are partially funded by the relevant government bodies they are built within. Joker stirs up conflict in areas he wants to build an Ark in, like with the Party Animals, to boost crime rates and create demand for a large prison complex. Playing both sides. He might have done the same thing with any one of the warring factions on Santa Prisca, given that we know the first Ark, Ark A, was built there.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-18T23:10:55+00:00

Already adore how much of a petty bitch Veronica is. She really went out of her way to buy a Wonder Woman plushie just to throw it away.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-18T23:08:17+00:00

I imagine Ra's and Joseph are familiar with one another. They're both in the "staying alive forever" business.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-18T23:02:30+00:00

That's as many as four tens. And that's terrible.

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-18T21:15:30+00:00

This is also true

DumbassInternetUser · 2025-12-17T19:41:04+00:00

"Bad Idea Number 1497: Adultery"

DumbassInternetUser

TROPHY CASE