MARTIANS

Classification: Extradimensional (Reality-61176; see comments) extraterrestrials (Martians)

Location/Base of Operations: Mars

Known Members: At least three (none identified)

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Earth astronauts

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense I#22/2 (October, 1961)

Powers/Abilities: These Martians were shapeshifters, and could alter their size and appearance to impersonate humans. Additionally, they likely had mental telepathy, because they could also absorb the memories of the person whose form they were taking, thus making their impersonation complete; however, they were apparently unable to mimic human emotional responses, specifically crying.

At least one Martian wore an armband with a skull emblem (see comments), and was seen carrying a rifle-like weapon with a forked trident at its end; however, no other examples of technology, weaponry, or civilization were seen.

Traits: These Martians were infected with "Virus X"--although they themselves were immune to the virus, they could pass the germs along to humans by being in close proximity to them; the contamination effects of Virus X were fatal to humans after 24-hours of exposure.

Type: Semi-humanoid
Average height: 7' (by approximation)
Eyes: Two (on head)
Fingers: Unrevealed (see comments)
Toes: Unrevealed (see comments)
Skin color: Red (see comments)

History:
(Tales of Suspense I#22/2 (fb) - BTS) - The past of these Martians is unrevealed, but the shapeshifting inhabitants of the red planet were carriers of Virus X--although they themselves were immune to the virus, the germs were fatal to any humans with whom they came into contact over a 24-hour period.

(Tales of Suspense I#22/2) - When an Earth spaceship landed on their planet, a group of Martians attacked the astronauts; but after a fierce battle, the Martians were forced to retreat. From the distance, they watched as the humans began to construct a protective dome outside the spaceship.

   For weeks, the Martians waited outside the dome, but the vigilant humans were constantly on guard. Then one dark night, a supply-ship from Earth landed near the dome, and while the men were unloading the cargo and carrying into their shelter, the Martians saw it as their chance to strike. After momentarily disconnecting the lights, a Martian infiltrated the dome in the darkness and took the form and memories of crewman Robert Brown, but accidentally dropped his armband.

   When the emergency lights came on, the astronauts discovered the Martian's armband--they figured one of the Martians had sneaked inside, and was now impersonating one of them. Consequently, the astronauts conducted a roll call and found that there were now two Robert Browns!

   In an attempt to discover which one was the real Brown, the captain began to ask them both about Robert Brown's personal information, but after hours of questioning, both were successfully able to answer all inquiries--the captain figured that the Martian had taken Robert Brown's memories along with his form, and he was unable to distinguish which of them was the real one.

   Although knowing that he and his men would eventually be contaminated with the deadly Virus X if the disguised Martian remained with them for much longer, the captain refused to send both Robert Browns outside the dome, because it would mean sacrificing an innocent man to the Martians waiting outside.

   Then the captain thought of a trick that would reveal who the Martian was, and announced that he received a message from Earth with some grim news: Robert Brown's wife Sally was critically injured in an auto accident, and the doctors were unable to save her. While one of the Robert Browns broke down and began to sob uncontrollably, the Martian disguised as him showed no emotional reaction, so the captain ordered his men to seize him--as that "Robert Brown" began to resume his normal Martian form, the men threw him outside and sealed the dome behind him.

   With the threat over, the captain went over to the real Robert Brown and explained that he lied about his wife's accident, because he knew that only humans had the ability to shed tears over something sad.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Don Heck.

This 5-page story--Only One Is Human!--never mentioned in what year it took place; I'm just assuming that it was at some point in the future; but since the planet Mars had a breathable atmosphere (as evidenced by the astronauts not wearing spacesuits), it's possible that it actually took place in an alternate reality where Earth's space-flight capability was more advanced, and Mars was more Earth-like.

The Martians in this story reminded me of reptilian gorillas--perhaps they had some connection to the Lizardmen of the Gullivar Jones stories.

In regards to that Martian armband: You don't suppose that this could be a few years after the alternate reality of Earth-928, circa 2099 AD, and the Punisher (Jake Gallows) eventually made his way to Mars? No? ...I didn't really think so.

Although the Martian in the main image was colored orange, all subsequent story-panels had them colored red--this was likely a coloring error, but since they could alter their appearances and impersonate humans, obviously they had the power to change their color as well.

None of the Martians' hands or feet were clearly visible, so there was no way to count their fingers and toes.

This story was told from the narrative perspective of the human captain of the expedition.

But it was never revealed exactly why the astronauts were on Mars or what they were trying to accomplish, since they seemed to spend so much time inside the dome--maybe the Martians saw them as invaders and they were only defending their planet against a perceived threat.

And since they were the first humans to land on Mars, it was never explained how the captain knew so much about the Martians' shapeshifting power, their inability to cry, or how they were carriers of Virus X--could the captain have been a Martian disguised as a human?

It remains to be explained how so many different races/beings allegedly originated from Mars.

Profile by Ron Fredricks.

CLARIFICATIONS:
These Martians have no known connection to:

The Virus X that the Martians carried has no known connection to:

Earth astronauts

   Numbering at least sixteen, they included the unidentified captain of the expedition, along with John Baxter, Robert Brown, Henry Sloan, and Fred Winthrop. They were the first humans to land on Mars, and they traveled there in a spaceship; they were equipped with conventional firearms.

   Upon landing on Mars, they were confronted by some of the red planet's inhabitants, and a fierce battle ensued; but after hours of bitter fighting, the Martians retreated.

   Knowing that the Martians were carriers of the deadly Virus X, the captain ordered his men to quickly construct a protective transparent dome. In the weeks that followed, the dome prevented the men from coming in contact with their enemies and the dangerous germ they carried.

   But one dark night, a supply-ship arrived from Earth and landed outside the dome; while the astronauts went outside and carried the cargo back into their shelter, the lights suddenly went out. Moments later, after the emergency lights came on, the Earthmen discovered a Martian armband laying on the ground inside the dome, and they figured that one of the shapeshifting Martians had infiltrated the shelter in the darkness and was now impersonating one of them.

   To find the disguised Martian, the men conducted a roll call, and soon discovered that there were now two Robert Browns! Faced with the dilemma of which was the real Earthman, the captain began to question each of the claimants, but after hours of questioning, both Browns were able to successfully answer the inquiries regarding Robert Brown's personal information--the captain figured the Martian had taken the real Brown's memory along with his form.

   The captain knew that he and his men would eventually be contaminated with the deadly Virus X if the disguised Martian remained with them for much longer, but he refused to send both Robert Browns outside the dome, because it would mean sacrificing an innocent man to the Martians waiting outside.

   Then the captain came up with a solution to the problem, and he announced that he received a message from Earth with some grim news: Robert Brown's wife Sally was critically injured in an auto accident, and the doctors were unable to save her. When one of the Robert Browns broke down and began to sob uncontrollably, the captain ordered his men to seize the one who showed no emotional reaction; as that "Robert Brown" began to resume his normal Martian form, the men threw him outside and sealed the dome behind him.

   The captain then went over to the heartbroken Robert Brown and revealed that the accident story about his wife was just a lie... only a trick to learn who was the genuine Robert Brown. The captain further explained that the one unique thing about the human race was its ability to weep--to shed tears over something sad, which Martians could never do.

--Tales of Suspense I#22/2

images: (without ads)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p1, pan1(main image - Martians)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p5, pan5 (headshot - Martian)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p2, pan1 (Martians waiting outside astronauts' protective dome)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p3, pan6 (Robert Brown and Martian impersonating him [but which is which?])
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p3, pan1 (astronauts find Martian armband)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p1, pan3 (astronauts building protective dome next to their spaceship)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p2, pan2 (captain of Mars expedition tells others about Martians)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p3, pan3 (Earth astronauts discuss Martian infiltrator)
Tales of Suspense I#22/2, p3, pan4 (Earth astronauts conduct roll call)

Appearances:
Tales of Suspense I#22/2 (October, 1961) - unidentified writer, Don Heck(pencils/inks), Stan Goldberg (colors), Ray Holloway (letters), Stan Lee (editor)

First Posted: 03/15/2026
Last updated: 03/15/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Races