Ma'alefa'ak

The character first appears in a flashback sequence in Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #0 (October 1998) and in a storyline in the same title in issues #3–6 (February–May 1999) by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake.

Fictional character biography

Ma'alefa'ak, a native of the planet

With his race destroyed and the Martian Manhunter teleported to Earth against his will— having escaped infection by the virus by sealing his mind from the rest of his people—Ma'alefa'ak lived alone on Mars for centuries. Eventually learning that J'onn still lived, Ma'alefa'ak followed him to Earth. Posing as J'onn, Ma'alefa'ak battled several members of the Justice League and tortured Jemm before confronting J'onn directly, seeking to destroy J'onn's reputation before killing him. However, J'onn was able to defeat Ma'alefa'ak by erasing the telepathic block, thereby returning Ma'alefa'ak's telepathic abilities and phobia of fire. Trapped on the vessel in close proximity to the sun, and lacking experience with the telepathic barriers that other Martians had been able to develop over the years to protect them in similar cases, a terrified Ma'alefa'ak could only watch as he was consumed by the fiery heat.^[2]

In The New 52 reboot of DC's continuity, Ma'alefa'ak was reintroduced in a 2015 storyline in which the Earth-born Martian survivors of the mass death of the Martian race build a weapon to infiltrate and help enslave the Earth.^[3]

Powers and abilities

Ma'alefa'ak possesses abilities similar to the Martian Manhunter and all other Green Martians. The character has superhuman levels of strength, stamina speed and durability. Other base abilities include "Martian vision" (projecting energy beams from his eyes). Complete control of his molecular structure also allows Ma'alefa'ak to shapeshift, regenerate, and utilize invisibility and intangibility. Ma'alefa'ak also possesses telekinesis, and originally possessed telepathy, although this ability was removed by the Council of Mars.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Although Martians can be weakened by fire and suffer from pyrophobia ("H’ronmeer's Curse"), Ma'alefa'ak did not share this weakness due to the removal of his telepathic abilities. When the Martian Manhunter removed the telepathic block instilled by the Council, Ma'alefa'ak regained his telepathic abilities but was also once again susceptible to fire, his vulnerability stronger than the standard Green Martian due to his lack of experience at resisting the flames.^{[volume & issue needed]}

In other media

Television

• Ma'alefa'ak appears in
  fourth season, Ma'alefa'ak has become publicly known as a terrorist and gained secret support from Darkseid's forces. He plants a Kryptonite-laced gene bomb on Mars, intending to wipe out the Green and Red Martians, but Superboy seemingly sacrifices himself to foil the plot. Blaming him for Superboy's apparent death, M'gann confronts Ma'alefa'ak, but he confesses to having no knowledge of the Kryptonite before escaping to Apokolips. He is later tasked with helping Lor-Zod accomplish his mission to free the latter's family from the Phantom Zone and comes to learn he was responsible for planting the kryptonite that seemingly killed Superboy. After taking the Legion of Super-Heroes and Kid Flash hostage, the pair discover Superboy is still alive and imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. By the end of the season, Ma'alefa'ak is defeated and banished to the Zone, though he is later released by the Light
  , returned to Darkseid, and receives the planet Durla to establish a White Martian community.
• Malefic J'onzz appears in
  Lena Luthor, who seeks to use his psionic powers for her own ends, before he is rescued by and reconciles with J'onn. After helping the Department of Extranormal Operations
  (DEO) foil Luthor's plans, Malefic returns to Mars. Malefic manages to bring peace to the warring factions, thanks to his redemption giving him both sides' views.