MARTIANS
Classification: Humanoid extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Apparently Mars (see comments), third planet from the sun in the Sol system, Milky Way Galaxy
Known Members: unidentified Martian duo who posed as husband and wife
Affiliations: None
Enemies: General Earth populace
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy I#15/4 (June, 1962)
Powers/Abilities: The Martian couple showed no overt superhuman powers and appeared human-like with the exception of four functioning arms.
The Martians had advanced technology in the form of a ship capable of interplanetary travel.
Traits: The Martian couple possessed the ability to perfectly mimic human appearance and behavior, maintaining long-term cover identities indistinguishable from real Earthlings.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two
Fingers: Five, including opposing thumb
Toes: Unrevealed, presumably five
Skin color: Light skinned
Average height: 5'7" (average height for a human)
Average weight: 190 (average weight for a human, with two additional limbs)
History:
(Amazing Fantasy I#15/4 (fb)) - At an unspecified time, a spacecraft from Mars traveled to Earth. The ship was detected by the pilot of a commercial airliner as it descended through Earth’s atmosphere, eventually landed in a wooded area not far from a city.
(Amazing Fantasy I#15/4 (fb) - BTS) - Shortly after the landing, Earth authorities discovered the craft. It was found empty, and officials determined that its occupants, presumed Martians, had already left the site. A search was immediately launched, and the police warned the public to stay indoors while they scoured the surrounding countryside for signs of the alien beings.
(Amazing Fantasy I#15/4 - BTS) - Unbeknownst to humankind, the Martians established themselves in the heart of a nearby city, posing as a married couple living in a modest home. Keeping their real identity a secret.
(Amazing Fantasy I#15/4) - Despite the search efforts, two Martians successfully integrated into human society. The male, posing as a husband, was aware of the danger posed by the ongoing manhunt and warned his partner not to leave the house and instructed her to keep the doors locked. Meanwhile, public fear and the military search intensified. Eventually, the female ran out of coffee and, fearing her partner's disapproval, made a brief, secret trip to the store. While returning, she sensed she was being followed, and was soon abducted. Her husband returned home to find her missing and, in a panic, called an unidentified Martian contact to report what had happened, fearing that their mission had failed and the searchers would now be coming for him next.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Steve Dikto.
Though they posed as a married couple, there is no direct evidence that the two Martians were genuinely mates or romantically involved. Their domestic interaction, while convincingly emotional, may have been part of their cover, suggesting they were agents assigned to operate as a unit during their infiltration mission. The male Martian’s reaction to his partner’s capture could indicate personal attachment, but it may also reflect the urgency and consequences of mission failure.
Amazing Fantasy I#15, famous for being the first appearance of Peter Parker's Spider-Man also featured several other stories including the couple of Martian infiltrators, Pedros the Bell-ringer and the criminal Rocco Rank.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
These Martians should be distinguished from:
The Martian spaceship was spotted by the pilot of a commercial airliner shortly before it landed on Earth. The vessel is a sleek, red craft with an aerodynamic, teardrop-like design featuring twin forward fins and large rear thrusters. Its most notable feature is a wide frontal and rear hatch that allowed for easy disembarkation of its occupants. When authorities arrived, the ship was empty, prompting a widespread manhunt for the alien crew believed to have fled. The ship was presumed to be of Martian origin, and its presence led to city-wide paranoia and lockdown measures, as officials assumed its passengers were hostile.
The spaceship was left abandoned on Earth, with no mention of its recovery, dismantling, or reuse.
--Amazing Fantasy I#15/4
After their spaceship crash-landed on Earth and was discovered abandoned, two unidentified Martians successfully evaded immediate capture by disguising themselves as a human married couple. Taking residence in a suburban home near a city, the male Martian posed as a protective husband while the female maintained the role of a housewife. As Earth authorities launched an exhaustive search for the missing aliens, the couple blended into daily life, avoiding suspicion while the hunt expanded toward the city.
Despite public warnings, the female Martian left the safety of their home to buy coffee, fearing her husband’s reaction if there was none available for dinner. While returning, she was followed and captured by unseen humans, her identity as a Martian apparently revealed. When the male Martian arrived home and found the house empty, he panicked, realizing she had gone out and endangered them both. In a moment of desperation, he phoned for help, but his distress inadvertently revealed his own alien nature. Concluding that Earth authorities would soon come for him next, he despaired over the failure of their mission and the exposure of their identities.
--Amazing Fantasy I#15/4
images: (without ads)
Amazing Fantasy I#15, p24, pan6 (main image)
Amazing Fantasy I#15, p21, pan2 (landing on Earth)
Amazing Fantasy I#15, p21, pan1 (ship)
Amazing Fantasy I#15, p22, pan4 (Martian infiltrators)
Appearances:
Amazing Fantasy I#15/4 (June, 1962) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Steve Dikto (artist)
First Posted: 04/21/2025
Last updated: 04/21/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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