Martinex

Martinex
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969)
Created by	Arnold Drake and Gene Colan
In-story information
Alter ego	Martinex T'Naga
Team affiliations	Guardians of the Galaxy Avengers Galactic Guardians
Abilities	can fire heat blasts from his right hand and cold blasts from his left.

Martinex T'Naga is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as being from an alternate future version of Marvel's shared universe, the Marvel Universe. Most of Martinex's adventures take place as a member of the 31st century Guardians of the Galaxy.

Publication history

Martinex first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969), and was created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan.^[1] Writer Steve Gerber included the character when he revived the team in Marvel Presents #3 (Feb. 1976) to #12 (Aug. 1977).^[2]

Martinex appeared along with the rest of the original Guardians of the Galaxy team in the 2014 series Guardians 3000. Writer Dan Abnett described him as "the brain" of the team.^[3]

Fictional character biography

In their future, Earth had colonized several planets in its solar system, including Pluto. Martinex was born on Cerberus Center, Pluto, although it was later revealed his ancestors were from the continent of Africa on Earth.

He grew up to become a scientist and technician. Like the other Pluvians, Martinex's body was completely covered by facets that were crystalline in appearance. This design was so that the Pluvians could withstand the extreme temperatures of their world. Martinex could also emit heat and cold from his hands. Martinex became the last surviving Plutonian after the Badoon exterminated all the other Plutonians, as he was working on Pluto's moon Charon. The Pluvians had been forewarned of the attack, but the ship they were escaping on was destroyed by the Badoon. Martinex escaped the Badoon using a telepod and teamed with Vance Astro, a human astronaut from the 20th century with psychic powers, Charlie-27, a Jovian who was the last of his race as well, and Yondu, from Alpha Centauri, to fight the Badoon as the freedom fighters, the Guardians of the Galaxy.^[4] It was later revealed Starhawk had manipulated events to bring them together.

The Guardians later teamed with the time-traveling Thing, Captain America, and Sharon Carter to retake New York City from Badoon forces.^[5] Martinex and the Guardians then time-traveled to the 20th Century and met the Defenders. They returned to the future with Starhawk and the Defenders and defeated the Badoon.^[6]

Eventually, the Guardians drove the Badoon from Earth's solar system and Martinex later became the team's reluctant leader for a time. The Guardians departed post-war Earth on a space mission, and met Nikki who joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, and they visited the Asylum planet.^[7] The Guardians then teamed with a time-traveling Thor, and battled Korvac and his Minions of Menace.^[8] Martinex and the Guardians traveled to the present era, and assisted the Avengers in battle against Korvac.^[9] He attended an Avengers membership meeting but left soon afterwards.^[10]

While looking for the shield of Captain America, the Guardians came into conflict with Taserface and the Stark. They also encountered Firelord and defeated the Stark.^[11] The Guardians then battled a team of superhumans known as Force, and Martinex was mortally injured by the member of Force known as Brawl. Much of the crystals that covered Martinex's body were shattered, but Martinex recovered with the help of fellow Guardian Starhawk.^[12] All of the exterior crystals on Martinex fell away, leaving Martinex with a new crystalline appearance, one that was less faceted, and somewhat purple in tone.^[13] The Guardians then located Haven, a lost colony of Earth founded by mutants, where they battled Rancor and her lieutenants.^[14] Martinex later met the Spirit of Vengeance.^[15]

Eventually, Martinex left the team to form a larger version of the Guardians, known as the Galactic Guardians. This team was summoned to help rescue an imperiled planet full of innocents. The Galactic Guardians were initially made up of alternate future versions of Wonder Man, Firelord, the Vision, Phoenix, and Ghost Rider. They had further adventures in their own limited series.^[16] Martinex later returns to the Guardians of the Galaxy.^[17]

Powers and abilities

Martinex is a member of a genetically engineered offshoot of humanity whose traits were designed for survival under the cold conditions of the planet Pluto. He possesses enhanced strength, speed, and stamina, and superhuman durability. His epidermis is composed of a silicon-isotope organic crystal. Martinex has the ability to convert bodily energy into laser-like beams of energy which he can project from his hands. His right hand can project infrared energy, stimulating heat in any object. His left hand can project microwave energy that reduces thermal energies in objects, thereby producing coldness. His body is highly resistant to intense heat and cold as well as other conventional forms of injury. Martinex can only use his superhuman powers to project heat and cold at maximum output for up to one half-hour before having to rest in order to replenish them.

Martinex has earned doctorates in physics and engineering. He possesses expertise in various areas of 31st Century technology, including computers and cyborg design.

References

1. DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1960s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. Dorling Kindersley. p. 134. ISBN 978-0756641238. The Guardians of the Galaxy were a science-fiction version of the group from the movie Dirty Dozen (1967) and were created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Gene Colan.
2. Buttery, Jarrod (July 2013). "Explore the Marvel Universe of the 31st Century With...The Guardians of the Galaxy". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (65): 26–27.
3. Arrant, Chris (June 25, 2014). "Marvel’s Old Guardians Up To New Tricks in Guardians 3000". Newsarama. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016.
4. Drake, Arnold (w), Colan, Gene (p), Esposito, Mike (i). "Guardians of the Galaxy!" Marvel Super-Heroes 18 (January 1969)
5. Gerber, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Esposito, Mike (i). "Seven Against the Empire!" Marvel Two-in-One 5 (September 1974)
6. Gerber, Steve; Conway, Gerry; Slifer, Roger; Wein, Len; Claremont, Chris; Edelman, Scott (w), Heck, Don (p), Mooney, Jim; Esposito, Mike; Hunt, Dave (i). "Eelar Moves in Mysterious Ways!" Giant-Size Defenders 5 (July 1975)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Savage Time!" Defenders 26 (August 1975)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Three Worlds to Conquer!" Defenders 27 (September 1975)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Giacoia, Frank; Tartaglione, John (i). "My Mother, The Badoon!" Defenders 28 (October 1975)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Let My Planet Go!" Defenders 29 (November 1975)
7. Gerber, Steve (w), Milgrom, Al (p), Marcos, Pablo (i). "Just Another Planet Story!" Marvel Presents 3 (February 1976)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Milgrom, Al (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "Into the Maw of Madness!" Marvel Presents 4 (April 1976)
   Gerber, Steve (w), Milgrom, Al; Chaykin, Howard (p), Chaykin, Howard (i). "Planet of the Absurd!" Marvel Presents 5 (June 1976)
8. Wein, Len; Stern, Roger (w), Buscema, Sal (p), Janson, Klaus (i). "Thunder in the 31st Century!" Thor Annual 6 (1977)
9. Shooter, Jim; Stern, Roger (w), Pérez, George (p), Marcos, Pablo (i). "Tomorrow Dies Today!" Avengers 167 (January 1978)
   Shooter, Jim (w), Pérez, George (p), Marcos, Pablo (i). "First Blood" Avengers 168 (February 1978)
   Shooter, Jim (w), Pérez, George (p), Marcos, Pablo (i). "...Though Hell Should Bar the Way!" Avengers 170 (April 1978)
   Shooter, Jim (w), Wenzel, David (p), Marcos, Pablo; Villamonte, Ricardo (i). "The Hope... And the Slaughter!" Avengers 177 (November 1978)
10. Michelinie, David (w), Byrne, John (p), Day, Gene (i). "On The Matter Of Heroes!" Avengers 181 (March 1979)
11. Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "But Are They Ready for... Taserface!" Guardians of the Galaxy 1 (June 1990)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "The Stark Truth!" Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (July 1990)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Split Decision" Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (August 1990)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "...And Then Came the Firelord!" Guardians of the Galaxy 4 (September 1990)
12. Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "A Force to Reckon With!" Guardians of the Galaxy 5 (October 1990)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "And to the Victor-- The Shield!" Guardians of the Galaxy 6 (November 1990)
13. Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "That's No Lady That's Malevolence" Guardians of the Galaxy 7 (December 1990)
14. Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Down Time" Guardians of the Galaxy 8 (January 1991)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "...And Rancor Is Her Name-O (World of Mutants pt. 1)" Guardians of the Galaxy 9 (February 1991)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Tell them the Overmen are Here! (World of Mutants part 2)" Guardians of the Galaxy 10 (March 1991)
    Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "The Once and Future Phoenix (World of Mutants pt. 3)" Guardians of the Galaxy 11 (April 1991)
15. Valentino, Jim (w), Valentino, Jim (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Spirit of Vengeance" Guardians of the Galaxy 13 (June 1991)
16. Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Amid the Encircling Gloom!" Galactic Guardians 1 (July 1994)
    Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "I Have Loved the Stars Too Fondly to Be Fearful of the Night" Galactic Guardians 2 (August 1994)
    Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Let He Who Desires Peace Prepare For War" Galactic Guardians 3 (September 1994)
    Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "What's Past is Prologue" Galactic Guardians 4 (October 1994)
17. Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Show Me a Hero and I Will Write You a Tragedy" Guardians of the Galaxy 56 (January 1995)
    Gallagher, Michael (w), West, Kevin (p), Montano, Steve (i). "Endgame" Guardians of the Galaxy 62 (July 1995)