Who's This? The Son of Saturn.
The facts: In the early 80s, DC was refreshing its Justice League members who didn't have their own solo books in soft reboot mini-series like Shadow War of Hawkman, camo-suit Aquaman, and Sword of the Atom. So I wouldn't have been surprised to discover Jemm Son of Saturn had started life as a Martian Manhunter project. But according to co-creator Greg Potter (responsible for the 12-issue Jemm series (1984-85) along with artist Gene Colan), he only wanted to make Jemm J'Onn's cousin, something abandoned when he was told the Martian Manhunter would be starring more regularly in JLA. Jemm wouldn't appear beyond that for years - I honestly thought Potter owned him - as from a cameo here and there, but Grant Morrison reintroduced him to the DCU in his JLA in 1997, and John Ostrander created ties between the Saturnians and Martians in his Martian Manhunter series (1999-2000). Of course, they let Luthor brainwash him so he can be folded into the Injustice League as J'Onn's opposite number. He'll later appear in "cosmic" stories like World of New Krypton and the Rann/Thanagar War.
How you could have heard of him: A version of Jemm appears in today's comics, as recently as Green Lantern #27 a few months ago. Charles Halford played him in the Supergirl TV series (the episode "Human for a Day") and he was featured in animation on Young Justice, where he is a "Red Martian".
Example story: Jemm, Son of Saturn #4 (December 1984) "The Hunting" by Greg Potter, Gene Colan and Klaus Jansen
Jemm's maxi-series is just one long story, so let's look at the time Superman guest-starred. I'm otherwise coming into this pretty cold. It's early days and Jemm is trying to hide on an alien world - Earth! - and in the dark alleys, he's jumped upon by a band of street kids led by a benevolent Fagin figure. One of the kids, Rosie, has ESP, so she knows "Jim" is a good alien.
ESP?! Well, it's no stranger than alien dudes from Saturn, given that both the media AND (better source) Superman deny the existence of life on the gas giant. Speaking of Superman, he's just peeked at CIA files about all this UFO business, and efforts to hunt down the aliens (including the baddies). Meanwhile, the widower of an astronaut killed by those aliens, has stolen a CIA weapon called a Krypt-Kicker, which apparently can kill Superman, for use against the Saturnians, intent on revenge. And then there's Synn, a Koolar assassin (a white-skinned sexy chick) - who is on Jemm's trail. Also, a senator's involved in the Saturnian hunt. Oh boy, I really stepped into it, didn't I? Back to Jemm, then, and he's learning how to play jacks from the kids. Hi-octane, I know, but we're dealing with a protagonist who doesn't yet speak English here.
Just then, Superman, working with the gun thief, crashes into the den and battle is enjoined.
Super-strength, super-speed, stretchiness... it's kind of like fighting a Martian. Superman knocks him out, and the hunter is about to shoot the prone Jemm when the kids try to intervene, get pushes around, and, well, for Superman, that decides who the bad guys really are.
Supes has put himself in the crosshairs of a weapon that can actually hurt him - and DOES! Suddenly, those metallic aliens Superman was talking about show up, they kill the hunter and teleport away with Jemm (and some of his helpers) in tow. And the Prince of Saturn finds himself in enemy hands.
Jemm is kind of a Starman (the John Carpenter movie) figure. Or E.T. Or whatever goodie alien type you care to name. A fish out of water, living by the kindness of the lowliest humans, running from the authorities, and helping when he can with his amazing powers. Superman feels way off-model in this story, and indeed, it just doesn't feel like the DC Universe at all. Makes me think Jemm Son of Saturn should have been its own thing, quite outside continuity. And he almost was, considering how many appearances he put in over the years.
Who's Next? The Warlord's daughter.
Comments