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.

Publication history

Jemm was created by Greg Potter and Gene Colan, and first appeared in Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September 1984). 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 the Martian Manhunter to defeat him. According to Greg Potter, co-creator of Jemm, the character was originally conceived as the 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. 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 J'onzz. 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 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.

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.

Rann/Thanagar War

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

New Krypton

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

The New 52

In the Justice League: No Justice event, Jemm joins Task Force XI, a group formed by Amanda Waller to combat Brainiac.

Powers and abilities

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

Other versions

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

In other media

Television

Video games

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

Miscellaneous

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