DC; $2.50 

Martian Manhunter is a reliable hero. He’s wise, pursues fair justice, he’s a good leader, and he is a kind alien. But when J’onn J’onzz wants his Chocos, give him his Chocos.

Martian Manhunter #24 turned a relatively even tempered good guy into a maniac with the worst craving ever. It starts at the Justice League International headquarters where Booster Gold and Blue Beetle have hidden J’onn’s favorite treat: Chocos cookies. The troublemaking besties then reveal to other teammates that they also bought all the Chocos from every store near their base. J’onn does not handle it well.

When Martian Manhunter realizes that his Chocos are missing, he goes to store after store in search of the cookies. As the search turns up no positive results, he gets angrier and angrier turning into a craving-fueled monster. At that point, the pranksters realize that Manhunter’s desire for cookies is actually dangerous and they must step in and face the consequences. 

This is a very funny book. It starts with a comical cover of Martian Manhunter luxuriating on a throne made of Chocos while Blue Beetle and Booster Gold lie half-buried underneath him. It just gets better from there. 

Guest writer John Ostrander, guest artists Doug Mahnke and Pat Gleason, and colorist Carla Feeny knew what they were doing with this issue. Seeing J’onn lose his cool is pretty funny. Watching Booster and Beetle realize the mess they caused and how much trouble they are in is even funnier. The two crack up laughing at J’onn’s initial reaction then come to realize that they need to calm one of the most powerful heroes on the roster. 

There’s a hilarious two-page spread that employs a classic comic gag with an innocuous foreground scene as Manhunter chases Beetle and Booster in the background. The artists also made the usually regal hero look like a muscular green behemoth driven by rage. Seeing Manhunter behave like the Hulk makes for a funny story. 

What enhances the enjoyment of this reread are the ads. The book was published in late 2000, so it has lots of in-your-face style ads leftover from the attitude-heavy advertising strategy of the ‘90s. 

–Amanda Sheriff