3.5 stars
"May I ask you a question? All these years, why did you stay? This place, these people - they seem so determined to . . . hate. You, themselves, everything." -- Till'all the Martian
"Because one day they'll learn what it mean to be free of all that hate -- to understand that they can survive without having so much animosity, fear or anger. When that day comes, I want to be there." -- J'onn Jo'onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter (eerily & coincidentally sounding very contemporary)
As a DC superhero character who has been around for decades, Martian Manhunter sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. A founding member of the Justice League, at times it seems like he is relegated to the sidelines (so to speak) while his fellow colleagues - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Flash - get the glory, having solo titles and their own TV series or big-screen adaptations. The big green guy - always quiet, reserved, and dignified - deserves some respect, too.
The Others Among Us mini-series is a step in the right direction. Altough the twisty sci-fi / conspiracy / action plot-line was pretty good - and a supporting player, government operative Rio Ferdinand, was simultaneously slinky, dangerous AND intriguing - it was the quieter moments and the thoughts of the title character that made more of an impression. Some of the occasional introspection was spot-on, such his how his pal Superman is fully accepted and embraced by Earth's population in part because of his similar physical appearance, yet after his many years of service MM is still viewed with suspicion . . . even though literally both of them are super-powered aliens. Where's the justice?