Jemm
Encyclopedia
Jemm is a fictional alien
that has appeared in various comic book
series published by DC Comics
. The character exists in DC's main shared universe
, known as the DC Universe
. Created by Greg Potter
and Gene Colan
originally as the green-skinned cousin of the Martian Manhunter
(his original name was Jemm, Son of Mars), he first appeared in Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984).
, this enabled the Martian Manhunter
to defeat him.
According to Greg Potter, co-creator of Jemm, the character was originally conceived as the cousin of the Martian Manhunter
. (Jogarr, Jemm's cousin in the series, was originally the Manhunter.) This was at a time when the Manhunter had disappeared from the pages of DC Comics for a time. However, part-way through developing the series, Potter was told by editor Janice Race
that she had learned Manhunter would reappear in the Justice League of America. To avoid any continuity problems, Potter rewrote the series as Jemm, Son of Saturn, a character with no connection to the Martian Manhunter.
Jemm was reintroduced to the DC Universe by Grant Morrison
in JLA #12, which emphasized his similarity to J'onzz. During his run on Martian Manhunter, John Ostrander
used these similarities to explain that the Saturnians were a race created by and modelled on the Martians.
in the DCU) are directly responsible for the H'ronmeerca's (Saturnians). The Saturnians are the genetically modified descendants from the underclass Martian worker clones created by their ancient Martian explorers as they ran Martian colonies on the moons of Saturn
. The Martians cloned the original Saturnians from themselves; the Red Saturnians were created by the Green Martians while the White Saturnians were created by the White Martians. Both races of clones were created and bred to survive and live on the planet Saturn. The Green Martians treated their clones as equals while the White Martians treated their clones as slaves. The fate of the Yellow Martians is unknown during this time period.
The continued enslavement of the White Saturnians started a civil war between the two Martian races. At the war's conclusion the White Martians were exiled to the "Still Zone", only to escape years later and reappear disguised as the Hyperclan. After the civil war all Saturnians were granted their freedom, but continued to war amongst themselves for millennia.
Jemm, son of King Jaxx was forced to flee the palace after a White Martian coup. His mother Jarlla was able to hide him in a cave, where Jemm was trained by his White Saturnian teacher Rahani in the use of his powers.
, New York and is befriended by an African-American orphan named Luther Mannkin. After a series of adventures with and without Luther, Jemm eventually found Syrra. They all then travelled to New Bhok, a Red Saturnian colony. Because he refused to take sides in a civil war on New Bhok Jemm was disavowed and cast out by both factions. Dispirited Jemm and Luther returned to Earth.
There Jemm learned that a criminal named Claudius Tull planned to use Saturnians as living energy sources. He had allied himself with a female White Saturnian named Synn. When Tull's true goal was exposed, Synn surrendered her forces to the Red Saturnian military. When last seen, Jemm had set out in search of Syrra, who had mysteriously disappeared yet again.
. He had apparently been brainwashed by Lex Luthor
through the use of a Philosopher's Stone
and used as a psychic weapon against the Justice League. He was able to impersonate J'onn J'onnz
(Martian Manhunter) telepathically. Plastic Man, disguised as the Joker, played several pranks designed to awaken him, but failed. J'onnz was able to sense and connect with Jemm's mind. J'onn powers freed Jemm, but left him comatose.
J'onn took Jemm to Z'onn Z'orr, his hidden Antarctic retreat in order to heal his mind. Jemm spent the next several months recovering his mental and physical health. He was later discovered, detained and abused by J'onn's evil brother Malefic, who convinced the JLA that J'onn had gone insane and was torturing Jemm.
While Jemm recovered at the JLA Watchtower
, a delegation of Saturnians arrived to reclaim the prince. J'onn discovered that Jemm was to take part in a brokered political wedding
designed to unite warring factions of Red and White Saturnians.
ians in their war against Thanagar
.
When Mon-El brings the bottled city of the Lanothians
to Titan, Jemm does not agree to allow the race of stronger telepaths live near his people. He later changes his mind when the Lanothians agree to live under his rule and rename themselves the Titanians.
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
that has appeared in various comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The character exists in DC's main shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
, known as the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. Created by Greg Potter
Greg Potter
Greg Potter is an American former comic book writer best known for co-creating the DC Comics series Jemm, Son of Saturn with artist Gene Colan.-Biography:...
and Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
originally as the green-skinned cousin of the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
(his original name was Jemm, Son of Mars), he first appeared in Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984).
Publication history
The first appearance of a Red Saturnian in DC Comics was Detective Comics #314 (April 1963), the nameless alien criminal was weakened by motor oilMotor oil
Motor oil or engine oil is an oil used for lubrication of various internal combustion engines. The main function is to lubricate moving parts; it also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from moving parts.Motor oils are derived from...
, this enabled the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
to defeat him.
According to Greg Potter, co-creator of Jemm, the character was originally conceived as the cousin of the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
. (Jogarr, Jemm's cousin in the series, was originally the Manhunter.) This was at a time when the Manhunter had disappeared from the pages of DC Comics for a time. However, part-way through developing the series, Potter was told by editor Janice Race
Janice Race
-Biography:A native of The Bronx, Race was employed by DC Comics in the 1980s and had worked as a textbook editor for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich before entering the comics industry. She served as an Associate Editor for Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway as well as an editor in her own right...
that she had learned Manhunter would reappear in the Justice League of America. To avoid any continuity problems, Potter rewrote the series as Jemm, Son of Saturn, a character with no connection to the Martian Manhunter.
Jemm was reintroduced to the DC Universe by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
in JLA #12, which emphasized his similarity to J'onzz. During his run on Martian Manhunter, John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
used these similarities to explain that the Saturnians were a race created by and modelled on the Martians.
H'ronmeerca'andra
The three races of Ma'aleca'andra (the Martian name for the planet MarsMars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in the DCU) are directly responsible for the H'ronmeerca's (Saturnians). The Saturnians are the genetically modified descendants from the underclass Martian worker clones created by their ancient Martian explorers as they ran Martian colonies on the moons of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. The Martians cloned the original Saturnians from themselves; the Red Saturnians were created by the Green Martians while the White Saturnians were created by the White Martians. Both races of clones were created and bred to survive and live on the planet Saturn. The Green Martians treated their clones as equals while the White Martians treated their clones as slaves. The fate of the Yellow Martians is unknown during this time period.
The continued enslavement of the White Saturnians started a civil war between the two Martian races. At the war's conclusion the White Martians were exiled to the "Still Zone", only to escape years later and reappear disguised as the Hyperclan. After the civil war all Saturnians were granted their freedom, but continued to war amongst themselves for millennia.
Jemm, son of King Jaxx was forced to flee the palace after a White Martian coup. His mother Jarlla was able to hide him in a cave, where Jemm was trained by his White Saturnian teacher Rahani in the use of his powers.
Earth
After both his mother and teacher were killed by the White Martians, Jemm stole a ship and escaped to Earth, in search of his lover Syraa who had fled there earlier. He arrives in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York and is befriended by an African-American orphan named Luther Mannkin. After a series of adventures with and without Luther, Jemm eventually found Syrra. They all then travelled to New Bhok, a Red Saturnian colony. Because he refused to take sides in a civil war on New Bhok Jemm was disavowed and cast out by both factions. Dispirited Jemm and Luther returned to Earth.
There Jemm learned that a criminal named Claudius Tull planned to use Saturnians as living energy sources. He had allied himself with a female White Saturnian named Synn. When Tull's true goal was exposed, Synn surrendered her forces to the Red Saturnian military. When last seen, Jemm had set out in search of Syrra, who had mysteriously disappeared yet again.
Injustice Gang
Jemm resurfaced years later as a member of the Injustice GangInjustice Gang
The Injustice Gang is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. They are antagonists of the Justice League.-First Formation:The original Injustice Gang's membership consisted of:...
. He had apparently been brainwashed by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
through the use of a Philosopher's Stone
Philosopher's stone
The philosopher's stone is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal...
and used as a psychic weapon against the Justice League. He was able to impersonate J'onn J'onnz
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
(Martian Manhunter) telepathically. Plastic Man, disguised as the Joker, played several pranks designed to awaken him, but failed. J'onnz was able to sense and connect with Jemm's mind. J'onn powers freed Jemm, but left him comatose.
J'onn took Jemm to Z'onn Z'orr, his hidden Antarctic retreat in order to heal his mind. Jemm spent the next several months recovering his mental and physical health. He was later discovered, detained and abused by J'onn's evil brother Malefic, who convinced the JLA that J'onn had gone insane and was torturing Jemm.
While Jemm recovered at the JLA Watchtower
Justice League Watchtower
The Watchtower is the name of various bases used by the Justice League of America in DC Comics and various other media. It has been portrayed in DC comics as a building on Earth's moon, and as a space-station in orbit in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.The Watchtower debuted in JLA #4 during...
, a delegation of Saturnians arrived to reclaim the prince. J'onn discovered that Jemm was to take part in a brokered political wedding
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
designed to unite warring factions of Red and White Saturnians.
Rings of Saturn
During the trip to H'ronmeerca'andra, J'onn learned more about Jemm's future bride, a White Saturnian named Princess Cha'rissa. Cha'rissa became romantically attracted to J'onn, and he admitted his own attraction to her. The trio uncovered a plot by Jemm's White Saturnian cousin Jogarr to assassinate him, and Cha'rissa vowed to put aside her feelings for J'onn and be true to her intended, Prince Jemm. J'onn left for Earth just before the wedding ceremony.Rann/Thanagar War
Though Jemm seems a pacifist, he joined forces with the RannRann
Rann is a fictional planet in the Polaris star system of the whose capitol city is Ranagar. Rann is most famous for being the adopted planet of the Earth explorer and hero Adam Strange and for their teleportation device called the Zeta Beam...
ians in their war against Thanagar
Thanagar
Thanagar is a fictional planet in the . Thanagar is the original home of the humanoid Thanagarian race, noted for the discovery of gravity-defying Nth metal...
.
New Krypton
Jemm appears in Superman: World of New Krypton #9 (November 2009), and now appears to command all three known Saturnian races including the albino "Koolars", and the yellow skinned "Faceless Hunters".When Mon-El brings the bottled city of the Lanothians
Titan (DC Comics)
Titan is a moon in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The moon is inhabited by a colony of telepaths.It is the fictional home world of Saturn Girl, Imra Ardeen. She is one of the most powerful telepaths in the history of Titan...
to Titan, Jemm does not agree to allow the race of stronger telepaths live near his people. He later changes his mind when the Lanothians agree to live under his rule and rename themselves the Titanians.
Powers and abilities
- Jemm is superstrong, and has the power of flight. He is also a telepath, and possesses the ability to fire psychokinetic energy dischargesPsychokinesisThe term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
from the organic gemstoneGemstoneA gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
in his forehead. The gemstone is known as the Mark of Jargon. Jargon the Mighty is alleged to have brokered peace between the red and white races. - Unlike Green Martians, Red Saturnians like Jemm cannot shapeshift, but they are capable of rapid cellular regenerationRegeneration (biology)In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. Every species is capable of regeneration, from bacteria to humans. At its most...
. Koolars, a subset of the White Saturnians, are indeed capable of shapeshifting like Martians. Koolars have also demonstrated the power to meld with inanimate matter. - Like Martians, all Saturnians are psychologically vulnerable to fire.
Other versions
- In DC's new MultiverseMultiverse (DC Comics)The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
, on Earth-48, J'emm exists as a political leader from Saturn. In this alternate history, the 9 planets of the Solar System settle all armed disputes on Earth (renamed War World). When the ForerunnersForerunner (comics)Forerunner is a fictional character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Countdown #46 , and was created by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Jesus Saiz.-Fictional character biography:...
revolted, the Martian and Saturnian armies were slaughtered. J'emm was the only survivor of this conflict. - Fura, a Saturnian warlord from 3000 A.D., appeared in Batman #26, an enemy of the Batman of 3000 AD.
Toys
Jemm was released as an action figure in wave 15 of Mattel's "DC Universe Classics" line in 2010.External links
- Cosmic Teams: Jemm, Son of Saturn
- DCU Guide: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #13
- DCU Guide: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #14
- DCU Guide: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #15
- DCU Guide: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #16
- DCU Guide: Jemm chronology
- DC Universe Who's Who: Jemm
- Heroesanddragons.com: Grant Morrison Writes ... (Part 2) Jemm