History:
"MARTIANS"
Classification: Humanoid extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Mars (see
comments)
Known Members: Names unrevealed
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Dugan, Homer Ghost, Melvin, Zelda
First Appearance: Homer, the Happy Ghost I#3/11 (July, 1955)
Powers/Abilities: The "Martians'" standard of
technology is far advanced that of Earth regarding interstellar travel,
although they seem to rely on old-style fold-out maps. While they
appear to generate "audible" speech, their mouths are used to express
emotion. Two antennae mounted in line with their eyes seem to serve as
ears. Their main egg-like torso incorporates standard facial
characteristics, including a large proboscis. The "Martians" indicated
no heightened sense of smell, so this extension may have served for air
intake or speech generation. Otherwise, they showed no different
physical abilities beyond those of a human.
Traits: These "Martians" coveted property to
steal and sell on Mars; it can only be speculated if this applies to
others of their species. Short but different hairstyles and lower
torso/leg clothing suggest this helps with gender identification.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric bipeds
Eyes: Two (upper torso)
Fingers: Three (including opposable thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: "Pink" (comparable to Caucasian humanity)
Average height: 4'
History:
(Homer, the Happy Ghost I#3/11 (fb) - BTS) - A pair
of "Martians" flying in their red X-13 flying saucer became lost while
seeking Venus (the "star") and landed on a mountain near Ghost Town,
confusing Earth with the Moon. Zelda the witch spotted the flying
saucer as she flew nearby on her broomstick.
(Homer, the Happy Ghost I#3/11) - Zelda informed her
ghost friends Homer, Melvin and Dugan of the flying saucer, and the
ghosts borrowed her broomstick to fly over and investigate. The trio
found the two "Martians" clambering out of the cockpit and the pair
asked for directions. The "female" "Martian" grew increasingly irate at
the delay and the pair realized they were dramatically off-course. The
friendly ghosts asked for a ride in the flying saucer and the
"Martians" happily obliged. Dugan let slip of the flying broomstick and
the "Martians" were instantly interested, plotting to take it so they
could sell it for a lot of money back home. They landed their flying
saucer and while the ghosts were distracted, grabbed the broomstick and
locked themselves in their spacecraft, readying for takeoff. But Homer
used his ghost abilities to phase through the saucer's hull and took
the broomstick back, phasing out again along with the magic broomstick.
Thinking the planet haunted, the "Martians" quickly blasted away in
their flying saucer.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee & Dan DeCarlo.
The curious offhand comment, intended as a story
joke, "isn't everybody [a Martian]?" has wider implications. If many
extraterrestrials use a type of universal translator device, then
perhaps the cavalcade of "Martians" encountered by mid-20th Century
humans (who had little awareness of the greater universe) were simply
aliens misidentified by translation units that equated "Martian" with
"extraterrestrial" to make it easy for ignorant humans to understand.
A monocycle variation of Martians was encountered by Homer in issue #14/1. These Martians also flew a red X-13 flying saucer and were scared of ghosts. However, Homer had apparently forgotten about this earlier Martian meeting by then.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Homer's bipedal "Martians" have no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Homer, the Happy Ghost I#3/11, p2, pan8 (main image)
p3, pan2 (isn't everybody a Martian?)
p3, pan4 (with map)
Appearances:
Homer, the Happy Ghost I#3/11 (July, 1955) - Stan Lee
(writer & editor), Dan DeCarlo (pencils & inks)
First Posted: 03/09/2023
Last updated: 03/09/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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