raul grau
Nov 27, 2005, 09:45 am
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/comixfanpresents.gif" align=left border=0 hspace=10 alt="Comixfan Presents logo">The Top Ten Extraterrestrials
By: Raul Grau, Jon Hancock, Wil Kitchenmaster, Matt Lazorwitz, Alan Lynch, Jordan T. Maxwell, Dylan McKay, Gary Miller, Marcina Riley
Editor: Raul Grau
Comic book fiction features an abundant supply of superpowered people protecting the populace of Earth... but with fictional crime constantly on the rise, we need more defenders than one planet can produce. Even since baby Superman landed in the American Midwest, extraterrestrials from both sides of the moral compass have set up shop on our shores. For every homegrown hero, there is an alien exiled from their own people, who immigrated to Earth to start anew. Some defend us from the 'evil aliens', others are the 'evil aliens', and still others are just vacationing here, on layover between interplanetary stops.
From intergalactic officers to interstellar bounty hunters, from living planets to survivors of dead worlds, any alien with a ship and a decent sense of direction can wing their way to Earth... but with so many really illegal aliens crossing our solar system's borders, how do you determine which extraterrestrials are truly the best? The staff of Comixfan kept their feet on the ground, while reaching for the stars, in order to narrow down the field. Here are the ten aliens who liked Earth enough to stay, but never overstayed their welcome.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/warlock4.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Warlock"></a>#10 Warlock
First Appearance: New Mutants #18 (Marvel)
Created by: Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz
Warlock was special, and not just for his abilities, which were rather unique. Warlock had a ton of potential, but rather than give him an over-the-top ego, he was very much childlike and innocent. He was an alien, learning about the world and the people around him. For the New Mutants, Warlock was a loyal friend. His biggest obstacle was his own father, who wouldn’t stop till his son was dead. Warlock was a machine, but wore his humanity and his heart for the world to see. His father and his background were hardly sweet, but Warlock was. Warlock had an ever more amazing connection to Cypher, the mutant remembered most for his death. Together, the two beings created something more, some thing greater. But just as Cypher met his end, so too did Warlock. Gone now is the tender young creature with amazing abilities, his childlike innocence replaced by adult naivety. Creatures like Warlock only come around once in a blue moon. They’re the people who, if you’re lucky, grace your life and make it better with just a smile.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Brianiac5tn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Brainiac 5"></a> #9 Querl Dox (Brainiac 5)
First Appearance: Action Comics #276 (DC)
Created by: Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney
Throughout the many incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes, one of the fixtures has been Querl Dox, the great-grandson of Superman’s nemesis Brainiac. No matter which version of Brainiac 5 we are discussing, he always remained apart from his teammates, his intellect and nature making him an alien even among a team of aliens. The first incarnation of Brainiac 5 grew as a character, beginning as socially awkward and blossoming into someone capable of having mature relationships, and someone who always cared about his friends. His crush on Supergirl spanned decades, and after the Crisis, when Laurel Gand took her place in Legion continuity, the end of their romance left him heartbroken. The new Brainiac 5 in the rebooted Legion is colder, lording his intelligence over others, truly believing it makes him superior. But we’re slowly seeing a more human side, as he does his best to outthink death itself to save a teammate. Possibly, like all great characters, Brainiac 5 is at his core unchanged, enduring through every incarnation.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Spartan2.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Spartan"></a>#8 Jack Marlowe (Spartan)
First Appearance: WildC.A.T.S #1 (Image)
Created by: Jim Lee and Brandon Choi
In the early 90s, artist Jim Lee created WildC.A.T.S (short for Covert Action Teams...though there was little covert about them, and there was really just the one team), a fun romp about a secret war on Earth between the Kherubim and Daemonites and the one group that could save the world and blah blah blah...heavy on action, light on characterization. The field leader of this team was an android named Spartan, a Kheran warlord uploaded into a robotic body. His personality was wooden and stiff. His powers were bland and unoriginal. His origin was the kind of convoluted mess that marred the 90s in the minds of most fans. And yet, as Lee's Wildstorm Universe evolved, so too did Spartan's character, particularly under the pen of writer Joe Casey. Spartan dropped the codename and adopted the moniker Jack Marlowe, lost the spandex in favor of a silver Armani suit, and began to question how much good he and his team were really doing. With a renewed vision, a heightened computer mind, and the kind of detached wonder and perspective that can only come from a "stranger in a strange land," he left the realm of traditional superheroics behind to save the world in a far more dangerous sphere: corporate America, affecting change through boardroom battles, advertising campaigns and a product from out of this world. From cardboard character type to progressive superhero icon in just over a decade; such a miraculous feat alone must surely qualify him for this list.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/venomtn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Venom Symbiote"></a>#7 The Venom Symbiote
First Appearance: Secret Wars #8 (Marvel)
Created by: Jim Shooter, Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Brett Breeding, Rick Leonardi, David Micheline & Todd McFarlane
By definition, the Venom Symbiote needs human contact in order to survive, yet it thinks little of hurting these hosts on a whim - indeed, all of its host bodies (with the exception of Mac Gargan, though time will tell) have ended up worse off for the union than they were before. Hosts volunteer because the appeal of the Symbiote is very simple: it presents itself as a “quick fix”, an easy way to gain power which only a few are able to experience. We can relate – everybody wants something for nothing, right? Except this is far from a free ride; there's a price – you have to dehumanise yourself. The Venom Symbiote is alien in origin, sure, but it’s also alien in the sense that we don’t want it here. It represents the worst aspects of humanity, the parts we know are there but try to push away. And that’s what makes the Symbiote truly inhuman – we define ourselves by the very traits that it has tried to drum out of each and every host it’s ever had. It stands in direct opposition to everything that makes us human, yet somehow manages to exist (and thrive even) amongst humans.
Plus, it’s in Spider-Man 3, so we pretty much have to list it.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Starfiretn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Starfire"></a>#6 Koriand'r (Starfire)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26 (DC)
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
The newest set of Teen Titans were being formed by Raven, who was following her shopping list. After covering the originals, plus the joker, the broody strong type, and the mysterious enigma, all that was left to find was the sex symbol. Enter Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran. Kori's nature and spirit are what set her apart from humanity and aliens alike. She possesses no real humanity, often giving into a warrior rage that is totally devoid of agape. But Kori is much more than a warrior princess. Unlike her sister, Kori's attempts to fit in with human culture have led to her becoming a strange hybrid of alien and human. She forms intensely close relationships with a select few people, and yet will never get as close to a person as she is with her garden, the last vestige of her native Tamaran. Kori is a strong female alien who manages to both fit and break stereotypes. Virtually naked and sexually dominant seem to sound like the start of a bad B-movie, but Kori's place in this list is earned by her uniqueness. An impressive role model, a true friend, and a fearless fighter, Kori stands alone amongst the bevy of comic book warrior princesses.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Uatutn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="The Watcher"></a>#5 Uatu, the Watcher
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #13 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Uatu is a giant, bald, creepy, stalker alien. His race, the Watchers, have a vow of non-interference. They just watch. But Uatu is the James Dean of the Watchers, and interferes to his heart's content. He hangs out on the moon, and once even tried to stop Silver Surfer from bringing Galactus to Earth. But the coolest thing about him? He became the narrator of What If? Seriously, if you ever wanted to know what would happen if Punisher’s family never died, or if Daredevil decided to wear pink, Uatu had your back. If a huge event has ever happened in the MU, then Uatu’s seen it, and for that alone, he’s one of the most important aliens in comic book history. Add to that near-immortality, omnipotence, and a vast scientific knowledge, and well, he could fix your car until the end of time. And tell you the story of Pinkdevel. Who is lame.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/cm3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Captain Marvel"></a>#4 Mar-Vell (Captain Marvel)
First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol. 2) #12 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Gene Colan
It's been done so often that it's pretty much a sci-fi cliche by now. An alien comes to Earth to help his brethren conquer, then ends up becoming sympathetic to our plight and switching sides. So it was with Kree Imperial Militia agent Mar-Vell. The difference with Mar-Vell is that just as he was changed by exposure to the Marvel-Earth's people, so too was the Marvel Universe bettered by him. Even through he was never more than a B-lister, Mar-Vell paved the way for many of the Marvel Universe's key moments. Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel), Rick Jones (Roy Thomas' partner to Marv, a la Fawcett's Marvel family), the Eternals, and Quasar are but a few of the characters upon which the cosmic hero left his mark. Writer/artist Jim Starlin elevated Mar-Vell to legend, making him "Protector of the Universe" in Earth's heroes' fight against the mad Titan, Thanos. However, just as the best aspects of humanity seemed to blossom in Mar-Vell, so too did our infirmities, climaxing in his death from cancer in the 1982 graphic novel, The Death of Captain Marvel. Still, the more than two decades since his death (and his one misbegotten son--hello, Genis) have done little to dim the legacy of this most human of aliens.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/supermantn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Superman"></a>#3 Kal El (Superman)
First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (DC)
Created by: Joe Shuster and Jerry Seigel
The question isn't "why is Superman deserving of the number 3 entry?", it's "why isn't Superman number 1?" After all, he is Superman, the original superhero, the most recognizable pop culture icon in North America, the ultimate role model, and the immediate association with the words "Comic Book". So why isn't he number one? Superman doesn't have the outside or unique perspective that the forthcoming entries have. He is more human than humanity, due to his strong emotional and empathic link to Earth and the human condition. But this hyper-humanity is in many ways a product of his alien heritage. Unlike humanity, Superman will never take Earth for granted, because he understands the mortality of planets. Superman's alien heritage is in many ways an analogy for the experiences of an immigrant, particularly in the context of the early 20th century. Appreciative of the opportunities presented in their new land, immigrants dedicated themeselves to work hard and earn their American Dream, yet were burdened with never being able to fit in with society at large. This is best demonstrated by how, until recently, Superman refused to get married, because it might either endanger his wife, or he'd have to stop being Superman. Anyway, he is Superman, and Superman truly needs no introduction.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/silversurfer.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Silver Surfer"></a>#2 Norrin Radd (Silver Surfer)
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #48 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Silver Surfer has the distinction of being the only extraterrestrial on our list to begin life as an alien, and then become even more alien. The people of Zenn-La are virtually identical to humans in size, shape, and hair styles, but their most famous resident stands out in a crowd. What can be more alien than a bald, silver fellow, with matching surfboard and missing genitals? Yet beneath that metallic exterior lies equal amounts of heart and Power Cosmic. Norrin was a hero before he was a hero, sacrificing himself to save his world. That selfless act led to untold destruction, and though later retcons have mitigated his willing involvement, he still bares the weight of responsibility for every soul lost to his actions. Alicia Masters reawakened his appreciation for life, and he has dedicated his existence to preventing others from ever having to make his choice. Visually, Norrin will always remain marked as a servant of Galactus, physically and emotionally isolated from the universe he defends, but his humanity drives him to soar the spaceways alone... an alien to all, including himself.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/MartianManhuntertn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Martain Manhunter"></a>#1 J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #225 (DC)
Created by: Joe Samachson and Joe Certa
The last survivor of the Martian race, J’onn J’onzz was accidentally teleported to Earth, and forced to find his place on this new world. Using his many powers, and his skills as a detective, J’onn became the Martian Manhunter, and his importance to comic books is incalculable. J’onn has been a member of every incarnation of the Justice League, and serves as the heart, soul, and anchor of the team. He is also possibly the first new character of the Silver Age, giving him historical significance. While other aliens are part of Earth’s culture and consider themselves human, like Superman, or stand entirely outside, like the Watcher, J’onn strides a fine line, trying to understand and become one with humanity, while constantly remembering he is apart. He remembers his Martian culture, his old life, yet strives to make friends and find new loves. He can change his shape to look human, but is never truly human in his heart. He is the stranger in a strange land, but always seeking to be a little less so.
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So there you have the Top Ten Extraterrestrials, those aliens who left their homeworlds behind, but never left their fans wanting. By coincidence, this month also marks the fiftieth anniversary of J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, who bridged the gap between the glorious Golden Age, and the pseudoscientific Silver Age.
Of course, decades before the Martian Manhunter manifested, alien life forms had already begun making sequential fiction their home away from homeworld. Since then, that line between monstrous invader and tortured hero has continued to blur. Originating on another planet is the perfect excuse for superpowers, so an alien heritage is only slightly more complex an origin than simply declaring someone a mutant... Writers are inherently lazy, after all.
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Brainiac 5, Martian Manhunter: Matt Lazorwitz
Silver Surfer: Raul Grau
Starfire: Jon Hancock
The Watcher: Wil Kitchenmaster
Venom Symbiote: Alan Lynch
Spartan: Jordan T. Maxwell
Superman: Dylan McKay
Captain Marvel: Gary Miller
Warlock: Marcina Riley
Contributors: Tom Connolley, Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, James Groves, Patrick James, Stephanie Kay, Seth Kim, Magic Rabbit, T. Martin, Ann Nichols, Janne Pietikainen, Jorge Ramiro, Omar A. Safi, Tom Toner
Image Assistance: Zachary J. Morrison
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.
By: Raul Grau, Jon Hancock, Wil Kitchenmaster, Matt Lazorwitz, Alan Lynch, Jordan T. Maxwell, Dylan McKay, Gary Miller, Marcina Riley
Editor: Raul Grau
Comic book fiction features an abundant supply of superpowered people protecting the populace of Earth... but with fictional crime constantly on the rise, we need more defenders than one planet can produce. Even since baby Superman landed in the American Midwest, extraterrestrials from both sides of the moral compass have set up shop on our shores. For every homegrown hero, there is an alien exiled from their own people, who immigrated to Earth to start anew. Some defend us from the 'evil aliens', others are the 'evil aliens', and still others are just vacationing here, on layover between interplanetary stops.
From intergalactic officers to interstellar bounty hunters, from living planets to survivors of dead worlds, any alien with a ship and a decent sense of direction can wing their way to Earth... but with so many really illegal aliens crossing our solar system's borders, how do you determine which extraterrestrials are truly the best? The staff of Comixfan kept their feet on the ground, while reaching for the stars, in order to narrow down the field. Here are the ten aliens who liked Earth enough to stay, but never overstayed their welcome.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/warlock4.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Warlock"></a>#10 Warlock
First Appearance: New Mutants #18 (Marvel)
Created by: Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz
Warlock was special, and not just for his abilities, which were rather unique. Warlock had a ton of potential, but rather than give him an over-the-top ego, he was very much childlike and innocent. He was an alien, learning about the world and the people around him. For the New Mutants, Warlock was a loyal friend. His biggest obstacle was his own father, who wouldn’t stop till his son was dead. Warlock was a machine, but wore his humanity and his heart for the world to see. His father and his background were hardly sweet, but Warlock was. Warlock had an ever more amazing connection to Cypher, the mutant remembered most for his death. Together, the two beings created something more, some thing greater. But just as Cypher met his end, so too did Warlock. Gone now is the tender young creature with amazing abilities, his childlike innocence replaced by adult naivety. Creatures like Warlock only come around once in a blue moon. They’re the people who, if you’re lucky, grace your life and make it better with just a smile.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Brianiac5tn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Brainiac 5"></a> #9 Querl Dox (Brainiac 5)
First Appearance: Action Comics #276 (DC)
Created by: Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney
Throughout the many incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes, one of the fixtures has been Querl Dox, the great-grandson of Superman’s nemesis Brainiac. No matter which version of Brainiac 5 we are discussing, he always remained apart from his teammates, his intellect and nature making him an alien even among a team of aliens. The first incarnation of Brainiac 5 grew as a character, beginning as socially awkward and blossoming into someone capable of having mature relationships, and someone who always cared about his friends. His crush on Supergirl spanned decades, and after the Crisis, when Laurel Gand took her place in Legion continuity, the end of their romance left him heartbroken. The new Brainiac 5 in the rebooted Legion is colder, lording his intelligence over others, truly believing it makes him superior. But we’re slowly seeing a more human side, as he does his best to outthink death itself to save a teammate. Possibly, like all great characters, Brainiac 5 is at his core unchanged, enduring through every incarnation.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Spartan2.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Spartan"></a>#8 Jack Marlowe (Spartan)
First Appearance: WildC.A.T.S #1 (Image)
Created by: Jim Lee and Brandon Choi
In the early 90s, artist Jim Lee created WildC.A.T.S (short for Covert Action Teams...though there was little covert about them, and there was really just the one team), a fun romp about a secret war on Earth between the Kherubim and Daemonites and the one group that could save the world and blah blah blah...heavy on action, light on characterization. The field leader of this team was an android named Spartan, a Kheran warlord uploaded into a robotic body. His personality was wooden and stiff. His powers were bland and unoriginal. His origin was the kind of convoluted mess that marred the 90s in the minds of most fans. And yet, as Lee's Wildstorm Universe evolved, so too did Spartan's character, particularly under the pen of writer Joe Casey. Spartan dropped the codename and adopted the moniker Jack Marlowe, lost the spandex in favor of a silver Armani suit, and began to question how much good he and his team were really doing. With a renewed vision, a heightened computer mind, and the kind of detached wonder and perspective that can only come from a "stranger in a strange land," he left the realm of traditional superheroics behind to save the world in a far more dangerous sphere: corporate America, affecting change through boardroom battles, advertising campaigns and a product from out of this world. From cardboard character type to progressive superhero icon in just over a decade; such a miraculous feat alone must surely qualify him for this list.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/venomtn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Venom Symbiote"></a>#7 The Venom Symbiote
First Appearance: Secret Wars #8 (Marvel)
Created by: Jim Shooter, Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Brett Breeding, Rick Leonardi, David Micheline & Todd McFarlane
By definition, the Venom Symbiote needs human contact in order to survive, yet it thinks little of hurting these hosts on a whim - indeed, all of its host bodies (with the exception of Mac Gargan, though time will tell) have ended up worse off for the union than they were before. Hosts volunteer because the appeal of the Symbiote is very simple: it presents itself as a “quick fix”, an easy way to gain power which only a few are able to experience. We can relate – everybody wants something for nothing, right? Except this is far from a free ride; there's a price – you have to dehumanise yourself. The Venom Symbiote is alien in origin, sure, but it’s also alien in the sense that we don’t want it here. It represents the worst aspects of humanity, the parts we know are there but try to push away. And that’s what makes the Symbiote truly inhuman – we define ourselves by the very traits that it has tried to drum out of each and every host it’s ever had. It stands in direct opposition to everything that makes us human, yet somehow manages to exist (and thrive even) amongst humans.
Plus, it’s in Spider-Man 3, so we pretty much have to list it.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Starfiretn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Starfire"></a>#6 Koriand'r (Starfire)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26 (DC)
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
The newest set of Teen Titans were being formed by Raven, who was following her shopping list. After covering the originals, plus the joker, the broody strong type, and the mysterious enigma, all that was left to find was the sex symbol. Enter Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran. Kori's nature and spirit are what set her apart from humanity and aliens alike. She possesses no real humanity, often giving into a warrior rage that is totally devoid of agape. But Kori is much more than a warrior princess. Unlike her sister, Kori's attempts to fit in with human culture have led to her becoming a strange hybrid of alien and human. She forms intensely close relationships with a select few people, and yet will never get as close to a person as she is with her garden, the last vestige of her native Tamaran. Kori is a strong female alien who manages to both fit and break stereotypes. Virtually naked and sexually dominant seem to sound like the start of a bad B-movie, but Kori's place in this list is earned by her uniqueness. An impressive role model, a true friend, and a fearless fighter, Kori stands alone amongst the bevy of comic book warrior princesses.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/Uatutn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="The Watcher"></a>#5 Uatu, the Watcher
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #13 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Uatu is a giant, bald, creepy, stalker alien. His race, the Watchers, have a vow of non-interference. They just watch. But Uatu is the James Dean of the Watchers, and interferes to his heart's content. He hangs out on the moon, and once even tried to stop Silver Surfer from bringing Galactus to Earth. But the coolest thing about him? He became the narrator of What If? Seriously, if you ever wanted to know what would happen if Punisher’s family never died, or if Daredevil decided to wear pink, Uatu had your back. If a huge event has ever happened in the MU, then Uatu’s seen it, and for that alone, he’s one of the most important aliens in comic book history. Add to that near-immortality, omnipotence, and a vast scientific knowledge, and well, he could fix your car until the end of time. And tell you the story of Pinkdevel. Who is lame.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/cm3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Captain Marvel"></a>#4 Mar-Vell (Captain Marvel)
First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol. 2) #12 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Gene Colan
It's been done so often that it's pretty much a sci-fi cliche by now. An alien comes to Earth to help his brethren conquer, then ends up becoming sympathetic to our plight and switching sides. So it was with Kree Imperial Militia agent Mar-Vell. The difference with Mar-Vell is that just as he was changed by exposure to the Marvel-Earth's people, so too was the Marvel Universe bettered by him. Even through he was never more than a B-lister, Mar-Vell paved the way for many of the Marvel Universe's key moments. Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel), Rick Jones (Roy Thomas' partner to Marv, a la Fawcett's Marvel family), the Eternals, and Quasar are but a few of the characters upon which the cosmic hero left his mark. Writer/artist Jim Starlin elevated Mar-Vell to legend, making him "Protector of the Universe" in Earth's heroes' fight against the mad Titan, Thanos. However, just as the best aspects of humanity seemed to blossom in Mar-Vell, so too did our infirmities, climaxing in his death from cancer in the 1982 graphic novel, The Death of Captain Marvel. Still, the more than two decades since his death (and his one misbegotten son--hello, Genis) have done little to dim the legacy of this most human of aliens.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/supermantn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Superman"></a>#3 Kal El (Superman)
First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (DC)
Created by: Joe Shuster and Jerry Seigel
The question isn't "why is Superman deserving of the number 3 entry?", it's "why isn't Superman number 1?" After all, he is Superman, the original superhero, the most recognizable pop culture icon in North America, the ultimate role model, and the immediate association with the words "Comic Book". So why isn't he number one? Superman doesn't have the outside or unique perspective that the forthcoming entries have. He is more human than humanity, due to his strong emotional and empathic link to Earth and the human condition. But this hyper-humanity is in many ways a product of his alien heritage. Unlike humanity, Superman will never take Earth for granted, because he understands the mortality of planets. Superman's alien heritage is in many ways an analogy for the experiences of an immigrant, particularly in the context of the early 20th century. Appreciative of the opportunities presented in their new land, immigrants dedicated themeselves to work hard and earn their American Dream, yet were burdened with never being able to fit in with society at large. This is best demonstrated by how, until recently, Superman refused to get married, because it might either endanger his wife, or he'd have to stop being Superman. Anyway, he is Superman, and Superman truly needs no introduction.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/silversurfer.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Silver Surfer"></a>#2 Norrin Radd (Silver Surfer)
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #48 (Marvel)
Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Silver Surfer has the distinction of being the only extraterrestrial on our list to begin life as an alien, and then become even more alien. The people of Zenn-La are virtually identical to humans in size, shape, and hair styles, but their most famous resident stands out in a crowd. What can be more alien than a bald, silver fellow, with matching surfboard and missing genitals? Yet beneath that metallic exterior lies equal amounts of heart and Power Cosmic. Norrin was a hero before he was a hero, sacrificing himself to save his world. That selfless act led to untold destruction, and though later retcons have mitigated his willing involvement, he still bares the weight of responsibility for every soul lost to his actions. Alicia Masters reawakened his appreciation for life, and he has dedicated his existence to preventing others from ever having to make his choice. Visually, Norrin will always remain marked as a servant of Galactus, physically and emotionally isolated from the universe he defends, but his humanity drives him to soar the spaceways alone... an alien to all, including himself.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10aliens/MartianManhuntertn.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Martain Manhunter"></a>#1 J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #225 (DC)
Created by: Joe Samachson and Joe Certa
The last survivor of the Martian race, J’onn J’onzz was accidentally teleported to Earth, and forced to find his place on this new world. Using his many powers, and his skills as a detective, J’onn became the Martian Manhunter, and his importance to comic books is incalculable. J’onn has been a member of every incarnation of the Justice League, and serves as the heart, soul, and anchor of the team. He is also possibly the first new character of the Silver Age, giving him historical significance. While other aliens are part of Earth’s culture and consider themselves human, like Superman, or stand entirely outside, like the Watcher, J’onn strides a fine line, trying to understand and become one with humanity, while constantly remembering he is apart. He remembers his Martian culture, his old life, yet strives to make friends and find new loves. He can change his shape to look human, but is never truly human in his heart. He is the stranger in a strange land, but always seeking to be a little less so.
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So there you have the Top Ten Extraterrestrials, those aliens who left their homeworlds behind, but never left their fans wanting. By coincidence, this month also marks the fiftieth anniversary of J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, who bridged the gap between the glorious Golden Age, and the pseudoscientific Silver Age.
Of course, decades before the Martian Manhunter manifested, alien life forms had already begun making sequential fiction their home away from homeworld. Since then, that line between monstrous invader and tortured hero has continued to blur. Originating on another planet is the perfect excuse for superpowers, so an alien heritage is only slightly more complex an origin than simply declaring someone a mutant... Writers are inherently lazy, after all.
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Brainiac 5, Martian Manhunter: Matt Lazorwitz
Silver Surfer: Raul Grau
Starfire: Jon Hancock
The Watcher: Wil Kitchenmaster
Venom Symbiote: Alan Lynch
Spartan: Jordan T. Maxwell
Superman: Dylan McKay
Captain Marvel: Gary Miller
Warlock: Marcina Riley
Contributors: Tom Connolley, Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, James Groves, Patrick James, Stephanie Kay, Seth Kim, Magic Rabbit, T. Martin, Ann Nichols, Janne Pietikainen, Jorge Ramiro, Omar A. Safi, Tom Toner
Image Assistance: Zachary J. Morrison
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.