Ma'alefa'ak
| Ma'alefa'ak | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #0 (October 1998) |
| Created by | John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Ma'alefa'ak J'onnz |
| Species | Green Martian |
| Place of origin | Mars |
| Notable aliases | Malefic |
| Abilities |
|
Ma'alefa'ak (sometimes known as Malefic) is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by the American publisher DC Comics, usually depicted as the archenemy of his twin brother, the superhero Martian Manhunter. Created by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake, the character first appeared in Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #0 (October 1998).
The character appears in the 2012 animated film Justice League: Doom, in which he is voiced by Carl Lumbly.
The character first appears in a flashback sequence in Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #0 (October 1998) and in a storyline in the same title in issues #3 - 6 (February-May 1999) by writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake.
Ma'alefa'ak, a native to the planet Mars, is the twin brother and archenemy of J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter. Led to believe he was the only member of the Martian race born without telepathy and a weakness to fire, Ma'alefa'ak was actually stripped of this ability and his memory erased when he mind-raped J'onn's wife, M'yri'ah. Feeling ostracized because of his perceived genetic differences, Ma'alefa'ak engineered a deadly trap for the remainder of his race called "H’ronmeer’s Curse". When the Martians attempted to use their telepathic abilities to communicate with each other or the Great Mind, they would fall victim to a plague of fire and literally burn to death.
With his race destroyed and the Martian Manhunter teleported to Earth against his will- J'onn having escaped infection by the virus by sealing his mind from the rest of his people- Ma'alefa'ak lived alone on Mars for centuries. Eventually learning that J'onn still lived, Ma'alefa'ak followed him to Earth. Posing as J'onn, Ma'alefa'ak battled several members of the Justice League and tortured Jemm before confronting J'onn directly, seeking to destroy J'onn's reputation before killing him. However, J'onn was able to defeat Ma'alefa'ak by erasing the telepathic block, thereby returning Ma'alefa'ak's telepathic abilities and phobia of fire. Trapped on the vessel in close proximity to the sun, lacking experience of the telepathic barriers that other Martians had been able to develop over the years to protect them in similar cases, a terrified Ma'alefa'ak could only watch as he was consumed by the fiery heat.
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