Jemm

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
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984)
Created by	Greg Potter (writer) Gene Colan (artist)
In-story information
Species	Red Saturnian
Place of origin	Saturn
Team affiliations	Injustice Gang Justice League
Notable aliases	Son of Saturn
Abilities	Superhuman Strength Superhuman Speed Superhuman Endurance Superhuman Senses Invulnerability Telekinesis Immortality Flight Telepathy Empathy Psychokinesis Intangibility Invisibility Limited Shapeshifting

Publication history

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

H'ronmeerca'andra

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

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

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

New Krypton

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

The New 52

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

Powers and abilities

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

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

In other media

Television

• Jemm appears in the Supergirl episode "Human for a Day", portrayed by Charles Halford.^[9] This version is the leader of the Faceless Hunters and a former prisoner of the Phantom Zone. When an earthquake hits National City, Jemm escapes the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO)'s custody before he is killed by Martian Manhunter.
• Jemm appears in Young Justice, voiced by Phil LaMarr.^[10] This version is a Red Martian prince named J'emm J'axx whose fiancée S'yraa S'mitt accidentally killed his father King S'turnn while learning magic to seek his approval. J'emm later breaks up with S'yraa and becomes the leader of the Martians, promoting equality among them.^[11][12]

Video games

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

Miscellaneous

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