Jemm is a fictional alien character appearing in various comic book series published by DC Comics. He is an analogue of and occasional ally of Martian Manhunter.

Jemm
Jemm as depicted in Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #16 (March 2000). Art by Tom Mandrake.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984)
Created byGreg Potter (writer)
Gene Colan (artist)
In-story information
SpeciesRed Saturnian
Place of originSaturn
Team affiliationsInjustice Gang
Justice League
Notable aliasesSon of Saturn
Abilities
  • Superhuman Strength
  • Superhuman Speed
  • Superhuman Endurance
  • Superhuman Senses
  • Invulnerability
  • Telekinesis
  • Immortality
  • Flight
  • Telepathy
  • Empathy
  • Psychokinesis
  • Intangibility
  • Invisibility
  • Limited Shapeshifting

Publication history

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Jemm was created by Greg Potter and Gene Colan, and first appeared in Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984).[1]

The first unofficial appearance of a Red Saturnian in DC Comics was Detective Comics #314 (April 1963) where he was a nameless alien criminal who was weakened by motor oil, enabling Martian Manhunter to defeat him.

According to Potter, the character was originally supposed to be Martian Manhunter's cousin. However, partway through developing the series, Potter was told by editor Janice Race that Manhunter would reappear in Justice League of America.[2] To avoid continuity problems, Potter rewrote Jemm to be unrelated to him.

Jemm is reintroduced to the DC Universe by Grant Morrison in JLA #12, which emphasized his similarity to Martian Manhunter. John Ostrander's run on Martian Manhunter reveals that the Saturnians were created by and modelled after the Martians.

Fictional character biography

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H'ronmeerca'andra

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Jemm under Luthor's control in JLA #11 (October 1997). Art by Howard Porter.
 
Jemm vs the Koolar in Jemm, Son of Saturn #2 (October 1984). Art by Gene Colan.

Jemm is the prince of the Saturnians, a genetically modified offshoot of the Martians. Following a White Martian coup, Jemm flees to Earth in search of his lover Syrra and is disowned by the Saturnians after refusing to participate in a civil war on the colony New Bhok.[3]

Injustice Gang

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Years later, Jemm is brainwashed into joining Lex Luthor's Injustice Gang before J'onn frees him, and enters an arranged marriage with White Saturnian princess Cha'rissa to unite the Red and White Saturnians.[3][4][5]

Rann/Thanagar War

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During Infinite Crisis, Jemm aids the Rannians in their war with Thanagar.[6]

New Krypton

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Jemm appears in Superman: World of New Krypton as the leader of the Saturnians.[7]

The New 52

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In the Justice League: No Justice event, Amanda Waller recruits Jemm, among others, to combat Brainiac.[8]

Powers and abilities

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Jemm possesses similar powers and weaknesses to Martian Manhunter, with the exception of shapeshifting. He can fire psychic energy blasts from the gemstone in his forehead, known as the Mark of Jargon.

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of Jemm from Earth-48 appears in Countdown to Final Crisis.

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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Jemm appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[13]

Miscellaneous

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Jemm received an action figure in wave 15 of Mattel's "DC Universe Classics" line in 2010.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Nossiter, Alf (July 1, 1984), "The Harlem Globetrotter", Amazing Heroes, no. 50, Fantagraphics Books, p. 36, I originally wrote the first six issues on the basis that he was from Mars, and that he was going to be a cousin of J'Onn J'Onzz. Then Janice calls me one day and says he can't be from Mars any more because [J'Onn J'Onzz is] coming back in the Justice League.
  3. ^ a b See Cosmic Teams Obscure Characters: Jemm Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #13". dcuguide.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21.
  5. ^ "Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #16". dcuguide.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31.
  6. ^ Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War (April 2006)
  7. ^ "Thanksgiving on New Krypton: November '09 SUPERMAN Preview". Newsarama. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "Justice League: No Justice #1 Review". Comic Book Revolution. May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Jayson, Jay (November 17, 2015). "Constantine's Charles Halford Cast As Jemm On Supergirl". Comicbook.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Prince J'emm J'axx Voice - Young Justice (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 25, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  11. ^ Stewart, Brenton (October 18, 2021). "Young Justice Hints At Beast Boy's Deeper Issues - But What Could They Be?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (October 31, 2021). "Young Justice Finally Solved Its Mars Murder Mystery". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Wigler, Josh "Mattel Announces DC Universe Classics Wave 15 and New JLU Action Figures" Archived 2011-08-30 at the Wayback Machine ComicsAlliance May 19, 2010 Retrieved November 16, 2011
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