MARTIANS
Classification: Mechanoid extraterrestrial races
(Rulers and Secondary race)
Location/Base of Operations: Briefly USA,
Earth;
formerly Mars
Known Members: Ruler race: Mr.
Mantis; Secondary race: none
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Toro
(Thomas Raymond), Betty Wilson, humans generally
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner I#33/4 (April,
1954)
Powers/Abilities: Mechanoid Martians
demonstrate advanced knowledge and ability of interplanetary travel
using saucer-style spaceships, but appear to have little flexibility to
adapt to new strategy, relying on their existing ray weaponry that
requres fear for lethality. Their spaceships are made of a metal
unfamiliar to Terran android Jim Hammond. The Ruler race (or class) of
mechanoid Martians are human-like in appearance (although this may be a
rudimentary diguise) while the Secondary race (or class) of mechanoid
Martians are silent with four tentacles they use for mobility and two
claws protuding underneath they use as hands, such as holding handguns.
Both mechanoid Martians are covered in thin metal skin and have
mechanical parts within as organs and tissue, but this appears to give
them no significant advantage over human counterparts.
Traits: The mechanoid Martians are imperialistic and war-like as they wished to conquer Earth and kill humans when fleeing Mars, rather than seek peaceful co-existence.
Type:
Ruler race: bilaterally symmetric
humanoid bipeds; Secondary race: bilaterally symmetric cephalopods
Eyes: Two (on head) (both races)
Eye color: Ruler race: color
unrevealed; Secondary race: reflective
black sclera only
Fingers: Ruler race: four (plus
opposing thumb); Secondary race: three
(plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Ruler race: unrevealed;
Secondary race: none
Skin color: Ruler race:
Caucasian; Secondary race: cobalt blue metal
Average height: Ruler race: 5';
Secondary race: 3'
History:
(Sub-Mariner I#33/4 (fb) - BTS) - Evolution on Mars
produced metal beings instead of flesh and blood (see comments).
Eventually, Mars became a dying planet, leaving two dominant but
related mechanoid races: The humanoid Rulers and the tentacled
Secondary race, which silently followed the Rulers' bidding. The last
surviving Ruler, Mr. Mantis, led a small fleet of flying saucers with
the last of the Secondary race to invade Earth so they could gain a new
home. However, Martian weaponry needed fear to be lethal to humans, so
Mantis whipped up panic on Earth by spreading terrifying information on
aliens to authorities and newspapers (notably in the USA). Mantis sent
a flying saucer and Secondary race creatures to a carnival as a
sideshow spectacle, but it was treated as a curiosity. Ultimately,
people laughed at the aliens stories, calling them out as fake, frustrating Mantis' desire for conquest.
(Sub-Mariner I#33/4) - Mantis pushed his
scaremongering information at a police station, but was brushed off.
Coincidentally, the heroic Human Torch (Jim Hammond) and Toro, plus
their friend Betty Wilson, were there. Hearing the exchange, the trio
chose to visit the carnival. Mantis was there with legal documents to
force the carnival to close the exhibit down as dangerous, creating
concern among the public. The
tentacled Martian went inside the spacecraft and it shot off at
tremendous speed. Torch and Toro quickly gave chase. More Secondary
race Martians emerged from the spaceship in midflight and grabbed at
the heroes, who fought back. But additional flying saucers arrived and
combined ray beams overpowered the pair. The Martians took them inside
a spaceship, also capturing the non-powered human Betty to study, and
confined them in cells with overpowering rays as barriers. Once they
had recovered, Mantis, speaking remotely, declared his intent to study
them and warned against the heroes' interference, but the Torch
correctly surmised that their bodies had adapted to the rays and the
duo broke free without being affected.. The two blasted open several
mechanoids' heads. Having rescued Betty, the heroes burned through to
the outside and encircled all the flying saucers in flame, causing an
explosion, destroying all the remaining Secondary race Martians. Later,
back on ground, the Torch recognized Mantis' voice. Mantis confessed
his plans and that he was the last surviving Martian. Realizing his
failure, he committed suicide using a handgun to the head, exposing
mechanics..
Comments: Created by Joe Gill, Dick Ayers, Ernie Bache.
Although the Human Torch (himself an android) initially suggested the Secondary race were like robots being controlled, he later speculated that life on Mars had evolved into metal beings, and that supposition fits neatly with Mr. Mantis' final statements.
Although the story seems clear enough on the Martians'
origins, the Official Handbook describes Mr. Mantis as a "self-proclaimed "Martian" ruler" in
the Human Torch (Hammond) entry, suggesting the whole thing may have
been a charade.
Script and ink credits from the Grand Comics Database.
It remains to be explained how so many different races/beings allegedly originated from Mars:
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
These Martians should be distinguished from:
Mr. Mantis and the Martian Rulers
The humanoid Ruler race (or class) of the mechanoid Martians had only one survivor called Mr. Mantis (possibly a pseudonym to later blend in with human society on Earth). The Rulers commanded the tentacled Secondary race of the mechanoid Martians, which silently did their bidding. Mr. Mantis led the remnants of the mechanoid Martians away from the dying planet of Mars to invade and live on Earth, but their weapons relied on fear to be lethally effective. To that end, Mr. Mantis hyped up the threat of alien invasion to sow panic among humans by going to the police, FBI and newspapers; he allowed a saucer spaceship to go on show at a nearby carnival along with several tentacled Martians. The heroic Human Torch (Hammond) and Toro attended, and saw Mr. Mantis legally demand the carnival display be shut as dangerous. The spaceship suddenly took off at high speed, causing much concern in the crowd. The Torch and Toro pursued, but were captured and heard Mr. Mantis' voice threaten them remotely. The duo escaped after demolishing the small saucer fleet. Soon after, Mr. Mantis was confronted by the Torch; as the last living Martian, he confessed everything. Realizing his failure, he committed suicide using a handgun to the head, exposing mechanics.
It's possible Mr. Mantis' appearance
with his Caucasian skin tone, gray hair and general human facial
features may have been a disguise; I think it very likely that he could
have been a humanoid version of the Secondary race with blue metal skin
and black eyes.
--Sub-Mariner I#33/4
images: (without ads)
Sub-Mariner I#33/4, p1, pan1 (main image, Secondary race)
p4, pan6 (with gun)
p5, pan7 (Ruler race, suicide)
p2, pan5 (Mr. Mantis)
Appearances:
Sub-Mariner I#33/4 (April, 1954) - Joe Gill (writer), Dick Ayers
(pencils), Ernie Bache (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First Posted: 12/14/2025
Last updated: 12/14/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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