Ma'alefa'ak (also known as Malefic and Malefic Jones) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, usually depicted as the archenemy of his twin brother, the superhero Martian Manhunter. Created by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake, the character first appeared in Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #0 (October 1998). The character appears in the animated film Justice League: Doom, voiced by Carl Lumbly, and the live-action TV series Supergirl, portrayed by Phil LaMarr.

Publication history

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 Mars, is the twin brother and archenemy of J'onn J'onnz, also known as the Martian Manhunter. Following a failed attempt to find the Anti-Life Equation, Ma'alefa'ak's memories, pyrophobia, and telepathy are removed and he is made to believe that he was born lacking the latter. Ma'alefa'ak later kills the Martians with a psychic curse, which J'onn survives by temporarily sealing his telepathy. With his race destroyed and Martian Manhunter on Earth, Ma'alefa'ak lives alone on Mars for centuries. After learning that J'onn is alive, Ma'alefa'ak follows him to Earth and attempts to kill him. However, J'onn erases Ma'alefa'ak's telepathic block, leading him to be consumed by the sun. In The New 52 continuity reboot, Ma'alefa'ak is reintroduced in a 2015 storyline in which the Earth-born survivors of the Martian extinction build a weapon to infiltrate and help enslave the Earth.

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. 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.

In other media

Television

Film

Ma'alefa'ak appears in Justice League: Doom, voiced by Carl Lumbly. This version is a member of Vandal Savage's Legion of Doom.

Video games

Ma'alefa'ak appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

Miscellaneous

A White Martian variation of Ma'alefa'ak appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #18.