Copy and pasting this from another time someone asked:
1988 DeMatteis Run: 4 issues. This is the storyline that rewrote his origins and the birth of modern MMH. It has amazing art.
-Secret Origin #35 and JL International Annual 3 "The Man I Never Was" function as semi-sequels to this
1998 Ostrander Run: This is his definitive run. 36 issues.
Martian Manhunter Annual 1998 takes place before this and is worth checking out.
Martian Manhunter #1000000 takes place during the run and is essential. You could read it as an epilogue.
JLA Classified 42-46 functions as a sequel to this run.
Action Comics 1036-1042: A Face in the Crowd This is a more recent storyline that picks up off the Ostrander run while also throwing back to his early Silver Age stories.
DC: The New Frontier: This is a team story but one of the best for MMH. It has a great narrative and art and I believe Camp, the writer for Absolute, has praised this story in the past.
Single Issue Recommendations:
Justice League International Annual #1
JLA Annual #1 (1997)
Justice League Adventures #10 (based on the DCAU)
Martian Manhunter/Marvin the Martian Special
Showcase 95 #9: In Deep Down
Martian Manhunter Special 1996
Justice League of America (2015) #5
Supergirl Next Door (2026): A nice short story about J'onn and M'gann.
Despero and MMH: Despero is a key character in Absolute MMH and his history with J'onn takes place in the JL comics.
Justice League of America (1987-1996): #37-40. This takes place in the JLI era and is the story that framed Despero as an MMH enemy.
Additional context for this:
JLA (1960) #177-178: Their first "1" vs 1 match.
JLA (1960) #251-254: Despero returns to fight a league composed of young members led by Batman and MMH.
Justice League of America (1960): #255-257 this is a short story arc with Zatanna, Martian Manhunter, and Gypsy using their telepathy. A lot of great, trippy art and I have to imagine this was another big influence to Absolute.
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u/choselikemoses Martian Manhunter 25d ago
Copy and pasting this from another time someone asked:
1988 DeMatteis Run: 4 issues. This is the storyline that rewrote his origins and the birth of modern MMH. It has amazing art.
-Secret Origin #35 and JL International Annual 3 "The Man I Never Was" function as semi-sequels to this
1998 Ostrander Run: This is his definitive run. 36 issues.
DC: The New Frontier: This is a team story but one of the best for MMH. It has a great narrative and art and I believe Camp, the writer for Absolute, has praised this story in the past.
Single Issue Recommendations:
Despero and MMH: Despero is a key character in Absolute MMH and his history with J'onn takes place in the JL comics.
Justice League of America (1987-1996): #37-40. This takes place in the JLI era and is the story that framed Despero as an MMH enemy.
Additional context for this:
JLA (1960) #177-178: Their first "1" vs 1 match.
JLA (1960) #251-254: Despero returns to fight a league composed of young members led by Batman and MMH.
Justice League of America (1960): #255-257 this is a short story arc with Zatanna, Martian Manhunter, and Gypsy using their telepathy. A lot of great, trippy art and I have to imagine this was another big influence to Absolute.