- —Tagline
Martian Manhunter VS Silver Surfer is the 179th episode of Death Battle, featuring Martian Manhunter from DC Comics and Silver Surfer from Marvel Comics in a battle between lone alien superheroes. Martian Manhunter was voiced by Kamran Nikhad and Silver Surfer was voiced by Paul Guyet.
Interlude
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Wiz & Boomstick by Brandon Yates  
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Wiz: Martian Manhunter, DC's space ranger.
Boomstick: The Silver Surfer, Marvel's sentinel of the spaceways.
Wiz: The depths of space holds secrets beyond our comprehension, but these sage superheroes have seen more of it than any of us could ever hope to.
We cut to Wiz and Boomstick.
Boomstick: He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.
Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.
Martian Manhunter
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Wiz: For as long as mankind has looked upon the night sky, the stars have beckoned the brave to search the unknown and explore its endless wonders.
Boomstick: Like Doctor Saul Erdel, who's kind of a doctor in the same way Dr Pepper is a doctor. This guy's got no formal education, but that didn't stop him from messin' around with some ancient tech he stumbled upon.
Wiz: He was desperate to live out his boyhood dreams of exploring the cosmos. So with the tech's advanced capabilities, Erdel created a machine that would bring the cosmos to him.
Boomstick: He pointed the machine at Mars, pushed a button, and hoped for the best. And it worked! Erdel summoned a real-life Martian right before his very eyes. So remember kids, when in doubt, just push buttons. Never fails.
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Welcome To New Akron by Jerome Leroy
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Wiz: The mysterious and powerful alien known as J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, immediately started using his incredible powers in front of the doctor, like mind-reading and shapeshifting.
Boomstick: Which was just the tip of Erdel's discoveries. Turns out, Martians have complete control over their bodies and can transform into practically anything, like a freakin' dragon, an exact duplicate of Wonder Woman down to her central nervous system, or even a totally generic green monster that loves choco-cookies.
Wiz: They can also shoot lasers from their eyes, fire psionic blasts, turn invisible, and phase through anything, even Green Lantern constructs and force fields that Superman couldn't get through.
Boomstick: On top of all that, they've got a crazy healing factor. J'onn has regenerated back from a single limb, tiny pieces, or even a puddle of goo.
Wiz: This display of awe-inspiring power overwhelmed Dr. Erdel's poor human heart and caused him to die in the Martian's arms.
Boomstick: Damn! Well, at least he accomplished his goal before he bit the red dust, right?
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Hypnotic Space by David O'Brien
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Boomstick: Anyway, J'onn used his shapeshifting abilities to hide amongst his new world by assuming the identity of a recently deceased detective named... John Jones. God, what a crazy coincidence, comic book writer. You clever man...
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Wiz: Detective "John Jones" lived a double life on Earth for many years, solving cases and helping as many people as he could from the shadows. But eventually, he stepped out, revealing himself to the world and helped found the Justice League of America.
Boomstick: And J'onn definitely holds his own in the super group. He once pulled the Earth alongside Wonder Woman and Superman, who has stated that of all the beings in the known universe, he would be afraid to fight J'onn.
Wiz: And he should be afraid. Superman wouldn't be the first Kryptonian J'onn has gone toe to toe with. He's manhandled Ultraman, who's basically evil Superman from another universe, and Superboy-Prime, who can shatter reality with his punches. And is... also... evil Superman from... another universe...
Boomstick: He took a blast from Asmodel, the king angel from a literal Army of Heaven. He's held his own against Darkseid, the manifestation of tyranny in the DC Universe, and he's fast enough to catch up to Supergirl and Superman, who we know flies so fast he can burst the bonds of infinity! So basically, he's just as strong and just as fast as a bunch of crazy gods and demons.
Wiz: While J'onn's strength and speed are obviously very impressive, it's also no secret that his greatest asset is his mind. He's one of the most powerful telepaths in all of the DC universe.
Boomstick: He reads minds, duh, but he can also shut them down altogether. And he once made Mr. Mixel... pl—
[EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER]
Boomstick: Mixel... plexiglass—
[EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER]
Boomstick: Blah, bah, Mr. Mixed... Pickles—
[EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER]
Boomstick: F**k your name, that's whatever! Anyway, he got HIM to subconsciously say his own name backwards which God only knows 'cause I can't say it forwards, which canceled out his powers!
Wiz: His psychic defenses were strong enough to protect the Justice League against a worldwide telepathic attack, and his ability to sense people's feelings is so strong, he can feel every sentient being in the entire galaxy.
Boomstick: And he once out-thought Perpetua from the omniverse. "Who's that?" you ask? Oh, just the freakin' creator of the entire multiverse! She's basically the god of everything!
Wiz: J'onn needed to connect his consciousness with everyone on Earth before Perpetua could catch up. He pulled this off by using his mental abilities within the span of Planck time, literally the smallest possible measurement of time. In the time it takes you to count to one, J'onn could count to one and fly across the universe and back over 200 sextillion times!
Boomstick: He out-thought God! He's a faster thinker than God! And it didn't end there! J'onn took a punch from her, and walked away with just a bloody nose! And when she disintegrated him into basically nothing, he regenerated back... from a hit... FROM GOD!
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Wiz: Batman has said that in order to kill J'onn for good, you would have to literally destroy every single atom in his body, one by one.
Boomstick: Goddamn! Eh, if I didn't love alliteration so much, I'd say we change this guy's name to "Martian Godhunter" or somethin'. He's basically invincible, right?
Wiz: Not quite, J'onn is not without weakness. He has a very real vulnerability to fire. At times, it has completely overwhelmed him to the point where he loses control of his body.
Boomstick: And not just literal fire, either. J'onn was once tricked into just thinking he was surrounded by fire, and that was enough for him.
Wiz: Even still, J'onn has been able to overcome this weakness.
We cut to Wiz.
Wiz: He's fought enemies with fire abilities and even taken hits from fire attacks, which leads me to believe the weakness, while potent and still able to cause real physical harm, is mainly psychosomatic.
As the camera cuts to the wide shot of the Death Battle Lab as Wiz says this, Boomstick pulls out a lighter and begins burning his hand.
Wiz: What are you doing?
Boomstick: I heard what you said. Weakness to fire is just in your head.
As Wiz holds his face in annoyance, Boomstick's hand catches on fire as the fire alarm goes off.
Boomstick: I'LL BE A LIVING GOD!!
We cut back to the analysis.
Boomstick: Another win in the mind column for sure. And to think there's a whole planet of these guys out there!
Wiz: Unfortunately, that's... no longer the case. Before Dr. Erdel's strange experiment, J'onn's own brother used the Martians' telepathic connection to each other against them, and the entire planet was plagued with H'ronmeer's Curse.
Boomstick: As long as they stayed telepathically connected, every Martian was vulnerable to a mental fire that would overwhelm them and burn them from the inside out.
Wiz: Which sadly worked very well, because the fear of fire is something J'onn shares with his fellow Martians. Centuries earlier, the Guardians of the Universe, a group of immortal aliens who run the Green Lantern Corps, feared that the Martian race could become too strong, so they programmed the Martians with that genetic weakness to fire.
Boomstick: J'onn was able to survive the fiery curse by cutting off his mental connection to his people, including his family. Unfortunately, his wife M'yri'ah and their daughter couldn't live with the isolation, and he had no choice but to watch them give in and burn alive... Damn...
Wiz: Wracked with grief and survivor's guilt, J'onn was left to wander his home world all alone, his only solace being shapeshifting into his lost loved ones to convince himself they were still alive.
Boomstick: Oh my God. Jesus, J'onn... that is so sad!
Wiz: That pain has undoubtedly shaped who J'onn is. In fact, the trauma he held onto so tightly formed a literal spiritual connection with those lost souls. A telepathic connection so strong, it kept them from finding peace in an afterlife. Let me say that again: his grief and telepathy were so strong, he prevented an entire race of people from moving on to the afterlife!
Boomstick: It wasn't until years later that J'onn could return to Mars and release those souls by finally letting go, and not to forget them, but to embrace his new life and his new home, a place he would defend time and time again to make sure the Earth never suffers a fate similar to Mars.
Wiz: To experience all of that, to truly know what it feels like to be alone in the vast universe, but continue to use your wisdom and power to help those in need, is what makes the Martian Manhunter such a noble hero.
Boomstick: On a planet packed with other incredible heroes, J'onn really has set himself apart. He's risen through the ashes and emerged the heart and soul of the Justice League.
Silver Surfer
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A Blissful Journey by John Ashton Thomas
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Wiz: Zenn-La, a virtual utopia, free from any and all crime, poverty, and disease.
Boomstick: And home to Norrin Radd, which I've gotta say, is the sickest, most "Radd-ical" name I have ever heard in my entire life. (clears throat)
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Ethereality by Mike Sobbie
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Boomstick: He was a brainy kid who was raised to live a life of reason and intellect over one of gnarly adventure.
Wiz: That is, until the technologically advanced society came under threat from the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus.
Boomstick: So, Norrin struck up a deal with the world muncher; in exchange for sparing his planet, Mr. Radd offered to leave his home behind, become Galactus' herald, and seek out new planets for him to scarf down.
Wiz: And once Galactus agreed to the deal, he imbued his new herald with the Power Cosmic, transforming him into the Silver Surfer.
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Superheroes To The End by Nicholas Dodd
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Boomstick: An equally tubular name. Two for two. Wow, you rarely see it.
Wiz: The Power Cosmic grants the Surfer near unlimited energy, as well as matter manipulation, phasing, super strength, speed, and invulnerability, just to name a few.
Boomstick: The Surfer's basically got all of Galactus' space magic, just on a smaller scale, and Galactus uses that power to fight guys like the In-Betweener, an abstract being from the Overspace.
Wiz: The Surfer used the Power Cosmic to serve Galactus diligently for nearly a hundred years. During which, he ensured that the planets consumed were devoid of sentient life.
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Boomstick: That is, until the Surfer accidentally offered up a planet with life, which drove him crazy with guilt. So, Galactus tried his best to suppress the Surfer's emotions, erase the painful memories, and make it easier for him to find planets with tasty, delicious life. Guilt-free! How nice of him.
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Future Perfect by David O'Brien
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Wiz: And it worked for a while, until the Surfer reached Earth. Galactus' mighty mind manipulation wasn't enough to bury the Surfer's true nature for good. With the help of Alicia Masters and the Fantastic Four, the Surfer turned against his overlord and saved the Earth from being eaten.
Boomstick: But, even after all of that, Galactus just let the Surfer keep his powers. At any point, he coulda just taken 'em back.
Wiz: Being the source of the Surfer's powers, yes, he could. But Galactus has continued to let the Surfer have the Power Cosmic out of respect for his first herald.
Boomstick: Damn. See, that's the kinda respect I'm askin' from you. Anyway, ever since those mental gymnastics with Galactus, the Surfer made sure nothing like that would ever happen again.
Wiz: And he's been successful, like when Psycho-Man failed to trick the Surfer with illusions, or when he was briefly trapped in the Supreme Intelligence's mind when it was using the Mind Stone.
Boomstick: With some of those mental threats behind him, he could finally take to the space waves, kick ass, and monologue about the meaning of life in the universe.
Wiz: All of which he's quite good at, especially that last one. It's thanks to the abilities afforded to him through all that cosmic energy.
Boomstick: It's seriously crazy! He can rearrange the molecules of anything he wants into... anything he wants! He can force you to just feel pain in general, and he can even control elements. Not just earth, wind, and fire, but anything in a boogie wonderland like gravity and the weather.
Wiz: He's got enough power and energy inside him that he once created an infant star to serve as a new light source in a universe devoid of light.
Boomstick: So, just when he needed it, he was able to pop out a baby sun? That's convenient.
Boomstick: But, we can't forget about the sick board he shreds the stars with! This thing's basically an extension of himself. He can transform it into a sweet sword or into pure cosmic energy. And, if it breaks, he can just form a new one!
Wiz: On his board, the Surfer has traveled at incalculable speeds on multiple occasions. He can fly faster than Thor and even once flew so fast he reached the future.
Boomstick: Even without his board, he once broke free from energy shackles that would zap away his power within the next nanosecond.
We cut to Boomstick, sporting a pair of sunglasses and a bad sunburn while holding a surfboard.
Boomstick: (in a surfer voice) Gnarly, brah! He once out-surfed a wave of universal destruction. He had to surf out of all of existence as it was being torn apart. Now, uh, I've seen some choice waves in my day, but if ya ask me, that's one too best for watchin' on the beach with a brew!
Wiz: You're, uh... hitting it real hard with all this... surfing lingo. He's honestly not that kind of guy at all.
Boomstick: (in a surfer voice) Righteously disagree with you, dude. You are carving' up my brainwaves into an a-framed swell that I just can't bail. I'm waxed, man, waxed.
We cut back to the analysis.
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Wiz: The Silver Surfer is a tragic figure who is always weighing his choices through every angle of morality. Like when he set out to destroy the new host of the Star Brand, an energy source that grants its wielders virtually infinite power, capable of wiping out all life on Earth.
Boomstick: (speaking normally) The Star Brand seems to choose a new unknowing host at random. Could be a good guy, could be the most evil person to ever exist! But, despite that threat, the Surfer spared the new Star Brand once he found out she was carrying a child.
Wiz: He decided to bear the weight of any potential consequences on his own shoulders instead of squashing any and all hope that the child would use that power for good.
Boomstick: I get it! He's a righteous dude on a surfboard!
Wiz: Exactly! And in the Surfer's case, a keen sense of morality also comes with a keen sense of his... surroundings in general. He can see enemies even when they're invisible and can sense incoming threats, to the point where he can sense someone approaching even before they've left their own home!
Boomstick: He can also absorb energy his opponents throw at him. Anything from psionic energy to a freakin' star! The Surfer can even do it when he's on death's door! Hey, Wiz, what do you think the doormat on death's door says? Probably like, "Knock 'em dead!" right? (chuckles)
Wiz: I don't.. what are you talking...? Now, it does take a lot to get the Surfer to... death's... door.
The screen briefly shows a doormat saying "IF IT'S JEAN GREY PLEASE USE BACK ENTERANCE" before the analysis continues.
Wiz: He's taken a blast from the Infinity Stones, survived being smashed into pieces, crashed into the Big Bang, and played catch with a star.
Boomstick: He caught it and then threw it right back at that punk, Deadpool! Aha! I hope you like a big ball of gas in your face, ya tool!
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A Blissful Journey by John Ashton Thomas
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Wiz: Reed Richards, the smartest man alive, has said that the Surfer is probably the most powerful being in all the galaxy.
Boomstick: And even after years spent drifting through the galaxy, he's still built strong bonds, like with the Fantastic Four, the Defenders, and with people like Dawn Greenwood.
Wiz: But somehow, he always ends up alone in space, searching. Searching for answers, searching for beings that need his help, searching for something that could replace the home that he lost all those years ago.
Boomstick: Only to be weighed down by the guilt of his servitude and the pain of his sacrifice, which was ultimately done in vain. 'Cause it doesn’t seem to matter what the Surfer does; Zenn-La is destined for destruction. At this point, his home world has been destroyed four times over.
Wiz: Despite it all, this tragic hero still manages to take everything in stride, as he surfs the stars and fights tirelessly to preserve every being's right to live.
Prelude
Wiz: Alright, the combatants are set and we've run the data through all possibilities.
Boomstick: IT'S TIME FOR A DEATH BATTLEEE!!!
Death Battle
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Mind Over Matter by Therewolf Media
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The scene opens with two individuals conversing in a black and white film noir office. The man sitting down is telekinetically stirring a cup while musing on their situation.
Norrin Radd: In all of my journeys, I have never seen anything quite like this.
The other individual, Detective John Jones, is skeptical of the other's confusion.
John Jones: I assumed your journeys would've made you rather familiar with places like this, Norrin Radd. Or, should I say... Silver Surfer?
His identity revealed, Radd drops his disguise as he shapeshifts into the Silver Surfer, prompting Jones to reveal his own identity as the Martian Manhunter.
Martian Manhunter: Now, tell me why you have summoned me here.
The Martian Manhunter raises his hand, and probes the Silver Surfer's mind in order to discern his intentions, although Norrin resists the attempt.
Silver Surfer: Enough!
Having successfully repelled the Manhunter's mind reading, he opens the door and steps out of the office, before calling his board and riding away, revealing that the office was a mysterious room floating in the cosmos as the following words appear in an old movie fashion:
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
SILVER SURFER IN
MIND OVER MATTER
Martian Manhunter proceeds to give chase as the black-and-white scene fades into color. He pursues the Surfer into an asteroid field, still trying to find out what his opponent is hiding.
Martian Manhunter: (telepathically) What are you hiding?
The two race through the field, with the Manhunter trailing closely behind the Surfer. J'onn phases through an asteroid before using telekinesis to hurl other asteroids at Norrin, who responds by blasting energy rays at the incoming projectiles. He is unable to stop all of them, though, and ends up being crushed and restrained. The Manhunter continues to try and get his opponent to reveal the truth.
Martian Manhunter: (telepathically) Tell me your secrets.
Norrin, knowing that he cannot escape from J'onn, is left with no choice but to fight back.
Silver Surfer: I must end this.
The Surfer escapes the clashed asteroids by phasing through and shoots cosmic blasts at J'onn, who begins to fly away himself. Flying past multiple planets, J'onn lures Norrin towards a sun, the latter of whom stops in his tracks to find multiple Martian Manhunters around him.
Silver Surfer: Huh?
The Manhunters all make mental attacks on the Surfer's mind as he frantically resists and shoots a few more cosmic beams.
Silver Surfer: There is no use... in hiding.
Kneeling down on his board, the Surfer repels the attacks once more and speeds towards the real Martian Manhunter, grabbing him by the neck.
Silver Surfer: I can feel your presence.
Martian Manhunter retaliates with a psionic blast from his forehead, knocking the Silver Surfer away off his board. J'onn takes it, and in the moment he snaps it in two, shapeshifts into a large green dragon. The sight leaves Norrin with a horrified look, and he quickly reforms a new board at his feet to avoid a slash from J'onn, which cuts a Moon that was behind him into pieces.
Continuing to flee, the Silver Surfer avoids another slash-and-bite attack from the Martian Manhunter, but he fails to see his dragon tail swiping at him. This knocks him off his board again, though it quickly returns to help him recover. Seeing an opening, Silver Surfer places his hands on Martian Manhunter's body to freeze him as he roars.
Forced to shapeshift back to normal, Martian Manhunter is quickly grabbed by his foot by Silver Surfer's right arm as they speed towards the Sun. J'onn shoots another psionic blast at him, but Norrin catches it with his left hand and throws J'onn towards the star, all the while twirling to throw his psionic blast back at him.
The projectile sends the Martian Manhunter into the star, who can only hyperventilate as he resists the effects the extreme heat is causing to him. Norrin soon flies in to see that J'onn is unaffected by the sun.
Martian Manhunter: Nothing can best Martian might.
Silver Surfer: Your will is admirable, but will alone is not enough.
Both grapple hands with each other, leading to the Silver Surfer using a trump card.
Silver Surfer: Feel... the pain.
With the Power Cosmic, he forces pain onto the Manhunter, giving him the opening to shoot an intense cosmic beam onto J'onn's chest, who shapeshifts to his true form while trying to revert its effects. During this, he yet again uses his telepathy on Norrin, except this time, instead of attacking his mind, he telepathically communicates with him.
Martian Manhunter: (telepathically) You and I... possess the same knowledge...
Silver Surfer: (telepathically) ...that only one of us can survive, and we know not why.
Knowing he has little chance of getting out of his situation, Martian Manhunter stops his mental attacks and speaks to Norrin directly.
Martian Manhunter: I hope you can live with the uncertainty.
Hearing that the Martian Manhunter has conceded the fight to him, the Silver Surfer sheds a tear as he amplifies more cosmic energy onto J'onn, enough so to cause the Sun to turn silver and grow large enough to consume every planet in the solar system. In the midst of this, Silver Surfer thinks to himself.
Silver Surfer: (thinking) Victory comes with no certain satisfaction. I may never know why we were made to fight. If violence is ever truly justified. But perhaps, there is something... worthy in the battle.
Back in the silver Sun, the Martian Manhunter's body is soon unable to handle any more cosmic energy and begins disintegrating atom by atom. As he slowly starts to succumb to his wounds, his last thoughts are of his late wife.
Martian Manhunter: M'yri'ah...
J'onn closes his eyes peacefully one last time as the sun shrinks down for an incoming implosion as Norrin finishes his inner thoughts.
Silver Surfer: (thinking) Something beyond my understanding.
The star finally explodes, resulting in a stellar supernova. What remains in the clear void is the unharmed Silver Surfer kneeling on his board, eyes shut and mourning the death of his opponent as two words appear by his sides:
THE END
Results
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Mind Over Matter by Therewolf Media
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Boomstick: Wiz, what the hell are we doing?! Why are we forcing such beautiful souls to fight to the death?!
Wiz: Uh, both the Silver Surfer and the Martian Manhunter were two extraordinarily powerful beings, each with very wide power sets.
Boomstick: So, they both had counters for almost everything they could throw at each other. They could both phase through objects, rearrange molecules, and regenerate their own bodies.
Wiz: But arguably the biggest thing on the Martian Manhunter's side was his formidable telepathy. The Surfer has had his memories erased and his emotions manipulated by Galactus, so it would stand to reason that J'ohn could pose a mental threat to the Surfer.
Boomstick: But, the Surfer has resisted mental attacks many times. When Psycho-Man played on the Surfer's guilt and pretended to be his lost love, the Surfer saw right through it. And he escaped the Supreme Intelligence's mind when it was usin' the freakin' Mind Stone!
Wiz: These two could have gone toe to toe around the universe for a long time, but when it came down to it, the question was "Who had the power to put the other down for good?"
Boomstick: They both have some serious healing factors and have come back from basically nothing. But, if ending Martian Manhunter meant destroying his every atom one by one, the Surfer has the means to make that happen thanks to the seemingly endless well of energy that is the Power Cosmic.
Wiz: It's truly an overwhelming source of unlimited power, and outside of Galactus stripping the power away from him, the Surfer is never without it.
Boomstick: It's like a battery; even if J'onn could drain all the cosmic energy, the Surfer can just recharge it. And he's used that power to destroy planets, defeat Galactus-level threats, and can basically accomplish anything with it!
Wiz: While both of these philosophic heroes tend to hold back out of respect for life....
We cut to Wiz and Boomstick, the latter waxing his surfboard.
Wiz: ...there's obviously no holding back here, and the depth of Silver Surfer's abilities gave him the win.
Boomstick: (in a surfer voice) This Martian was harshin' his mellow, so the Surfer had to wave goodbye. Bodacious, cowabunga, hang ten, Ninja Turtles!
We cut to the "Winner" card.
Wiz: The winner is the Silver Surfer.
Comparison
Martian Manhunter
- + Likely comparable in strength & speed
- - No real way to permanently kill Surfer
- - Less versatile
Silver Surfer
- + Better regeneration
- + Could likely resist mental manipulation
- + Power Cosmic offers many advantages
- - Certain powers, like molecular manipulation, could be resisted
Original Track
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Mind Over Matter by Therewolf Media
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Composition
The track for this fight is "Mind Over Matter" by Therewolf Media. It is a mysterious, yet suspenseful orchestral piece that builds up as the battle builds up into the cosmic scale, with a chorus joining in on the second half, referencing the solitary and contemplative nature of both combatants and their association with the cosmos.
Title
The title is a phrase that is used to describe a situation in which someone is able to resolve a problem by using their mind, alluding to both combatants' genius intellect and their mental and matter manipulation abilities. This phrase is also used in the title card at the beginning of the fight.
Cover Art
The cover art done by John Mitchell depicts the Silver Surfer's surfboard wearing Martian Manhunter's cape with stars surrounding the background. Earth, the combatants' respective home planets of Mars and Zenn-La, and more stars can be seen in the surfboard's reflection.
Trivia
Production
- The core connections between Martian Manhunter and Silver Surfer are that they are both pacifistic, bald alien superheroes with psionic and matter-manipulating abilities who are considered to be one of the last of their kind (Green Martians and Zenn-Lavians, respectively) after the complete destruction of their home planets (Mars and Zenn-La, respectively) which resulted in the loss of their soulmate of the same race (M'yri'ah J'onzz and Shalla-Bal, respectively). In addition:
- Both team up alongside superhero teams to protect the Earth from cosmic threats (the Justice League and the Fantastic Four, respectively) and are considered one of the strongest members of their groups thanks to their abilities (Green Martian biology and the Power Cosmic, respectively).
- This matchup had previously been briefly mentioned by Liam Swan on the 312th episode of DEATH BATTLE Cast. There, he said it was a better alternative to Martian Manhunter VS Piccolo, who was J'onn's most requested match at the time, as Liam thought it would be too unfair in Martian Manhunter's favor.[1]
- Given the amount of time needed for a season's lineup to be finalized and when Death Battle seasons typically start (usually around March without the delays Season 10 went through), it's possible that they were already working on this episode by the time that Liam suggested it was the better matchup.
- This matchup was revealed publicly on August 14th, which is the birthday of Carl Lumbly, the voice of Martian Manhunter in the DC Animated Universe and Injustice: Gods Among Us.
- Starting with this episode's combatants analysis previews, the Rooster Teeth logo and tagline were changed.[2]
- Ironically, this was the only episode to feature this change, as they would shortly after be removed starting with Bill Cipher's analysis preview for his episode.
- One of Death Battle's 2D animators, Susie Combs, drew art as a teaser for the episode.[3]
- This is the fourth episode she made art for, after Darth Vader VS Obito Uchiha, Phoenix VS Raven, and Guts VS Dimitri, and with the next five being Bill Cipher VS Discord, Cole MacGrath VS Alex Mercer, Frieza VS Megatron, Gojo VS Makima, and Scooby-Doo VS Courage the Cowardly Dog.
- This episode makes cameo appearances in future episodes:
- In Gojo VS Makima, a shot of Martian Manhunter's death briefly flashes on-screen alongside other cameo appearances as Makima gets caught in Satoru Gojo's Unlimited Void.
- In Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor, the scene of Silver Surfer dragging Martian Manhunter by the leg can be seen playing on one of the "Death Battle Arcade Battle" arcade cabinets in the Blips and Chitz that Rick Sanchez and the Doctor wound up in partway through their fight.
- While likely a coincidence, this episode being done as the mid-season finale the same year that Galactus VS Unicron was the finale could be intentional, as it would fit Silver Surfer heralding his former master's arrival.
- At the beginning of the season, a teaser trailer was released which included multiple hints for this episode:
- Footage of brain neurons in the "FIGHTS IN DEATH BATTLE HISTORY" text, hinting toward both combatant's mental powers.[4]
- A Gravity Falls-inspired zodiac wheel with 16 symbols on it, each representing and hinting toward an episode in the season. After the release of the Season Finale, the Death Battle YouTube channel began revealing the answers to the zodiac wheel by posting the answers in pinned comments under the symbols' respective episodes. This episode was revealed to be represented by the star symbol.[5] This is simply because of the cosmic nature of the matchup and how both combatants are aliens that originated from space. It also teased the episode's kill, as Martian Manhunter died within one of the very stars used to represent this episode.
Easter Eggs
- Boomstick repeatedly mispronouncing Mr. Mxyzptlk's name in Martian Manhunter's analysis and being interrupted by a buzzer with a red X after each incorrect attempt is a reference to the "[EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER]" meme.
- Boomstick's "I'LL BE A LIVING GOD!!" line at the end of Martian Manhunter's analysis cutaway is a reference to this joke from Community.
- When discussing the Silver Surfer's elemental manipulation in his analysis, Boomstick name-drops the band Earth, Wind & Fire and their song "Boogie Wonderland".
- After Boomstick sarcastically notes the convenience of the Silver Surfer's ability to create an infant star in his analysis, Wiz responds with "That's the Power Cosmic.", referencing this panel from Silver Surfer Vol.7 #3.
- In the very first shot of the fight, several photos of scenes from prior Death Battles are shown on John Jones' desk, namely the beginning of Scarlet Witch VS Zatanna and the Atom's death at the end of Ant-Man VS Atom. A stone carving of Bill Cipher and a poster depicting a stylized Discord cropped from art by Susie Combs can be seen on the bulletin board on the top right of the screen as well.
- This is the third episode to hide a stone carving of Bill in the background of the fight, after Phoenix VS Raven and Guts VS Dimitri, and with the next seven being Bill Cipher VS Discord, Gojo VS Makima, Scooby-Doo VS Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor, Goku VS Superman (2023), Galactus VS Unicron, and Among Us VS Fall Guys.
- A photo of Season 10's zodiac wheel can also be seen amongst the other photos on John's desk.
- A close-up shot of the folder on John's desk would later appear as a split-second easter egg during the "Winner" card of Bill Cipher VS Discord.
- A metal version of Bill's aforementioned stone carving and the cloud resembling Discord's head from the previous two episodes appear in the asteroid field that Martian Manhunter and Silver Surfer fly through right after when the fight starts proper. Although hardly visible in the episode itself, close-ups of the cameos were revealed in a behind-the-scenes look on Twitter.[6]
- This is the third episode to hide a Discord-shaped cloud in the background of the fight, after Phoenix VS Raven and Guts VS Dimitri, and with the next four being Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor, Goku VS Superman (2023), Galactus VS Unicron, and Among Us VS Fall Guys.
- The overhead shot of Silver Surfer chasing Martian Manhunter through the asteroids is a reference to the top-down stages from the 1990 Silver Surfer video game, even down to the Surfer's overhead sprite in this scene coming directly from the game itself.
- As Silver Surfer briefly gets overwhelmed by the Martian Manhunter copies' telepathic abilities, he recreates his pose from the same game's infamous death screen as he kneels down on his surfboard.
- As Silver Surfer chases Martian Manhunter across the solar system, Space Hawaii (the location where Stitch VS Rocket Raccoon took place) can be seen in the background.
- This is the first episode to feature Space Hawaii in the background of the fight, with the next two being Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor and Among Us VS Fall Guys.
- The constellation from the end of Macho Man VS Kool-Aid Man can also be seen next to Space Hawaii during this scene.
- This is the fourth episode to feature the constellation in the background of the fight, after Harley Quinn VS Jinx, Trunks VS Silver, and Stitch VS Rocket Raccoon, and with the next four being Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor, Goku VS Superman (2023), Galactus VS Unicron, and Among Us VS Fall Guys.
Errors
- The thumbnail for the episode has transparent edges due to the background not filling out the entire space within the thumbnail.
- In Silver Surfer's analysis, during Boomstick's joke of what the doormat on Death's door would say, a stock image of a doormat saying "If It's Jean Grey, Please Use Back Entrance." is shown. However, "Entrance" is misspelled as "Enterance".
- A gas giant is seen exploding into planetary chunks before it gets pulled into the expanding star. This makes no logical sense, as gas giants are composed purely of gases, lacking any solid surfaces whatsoever.
- Efrencortes, T.O.P.S., and Ax are not credited for the original Martian Manhunter and Silver Surfer sprites, respectively, in the ending credits.
Other
- This is the 29th Marvel VS DC-themed episode, after Rogue VS Wonder Woman, Batman VS Spider-Man, Batman VS Captain America, Deadpool VS Deathstroke, Iron Man VS Lex Luthor, Green Arrow VS Hawkeye, Flash VS Quicksilver, Hulk VS Doomsday, Venom VS Bane, Thor VS Wonder Woman, Batman Beyond VS Spider-Man 2099, Black Panther VS Batman, Doctor Strange VS Doctor Fate, Nightwing VS Daredevil, Thanos VS Darkseid, Aquaman VS Namor, Captain Marvel VS Shazam, Ghost Rider VS Lobo, Miles Morales VS Static, Cable VS Booster Gold, Winter Soldier VS Red Hood, Batgirl VS Spider-Gwen, Lex Luthor VS Doctor Doom, Batman VS Iron Man, Scarlet Witch VS Zatanna, Black Adam VS Apocalypse, Ant-Man VS Atom, and Phoenix VS Raven.
- This is the 15th time that the Marvel character won, after Rogue VS Wonder Woman, Batman VS Spider-Man, Deadpool VS Deathstroke, Iron Man VS Lex Luthor, Green Arrow VS Hawkeye, Venom VS Bane, Black Panther VS Batman, Ghost Rider VS Lobo, Winter Soldier VS Red Hood, Batgirl VS Spider-Gwen, Lex Luthor VS Doctor Doom, Batman VS Iron Man, Black Adam VS Apocalypse, and Ant-Man VS Atom.
- This is the first battle in which a combatant without fourth wall awareness (or in this case, both combatants) holds any level of knowledge that they are in a Death Battle episode.
- This is the fifth episode where a combatant attempts to escape a battle, after Eggman VS Wily, Lara Croft VS Nathan Drake, Black Widow VS Widowmaker, and Sabrewulf VS Jon Talbain, and with the next three being Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor, Bowser VS Eggman and Shigaraki VS Mahito.
- This is the 10th episode in which the winner shows respect for their fallen opponent (via Silver Surfer solemnly kneeling down on his board after the supernova's explosion and mourning Martian Manhunter's death while contemplating on the reasons for the fight), after Goku VS Superman 2, All Might VS Might Guy, Korra VS Storm, Tanjiro VS Jonathan Joestar, Magneto VS Tetsuo, SpongeBob VS Aquaman, Gogeta VS Vegito, Darth Vader VS Obito Uchiha, and Guts VS Dimitri, and with the next two being Goku VS Superman (2023) and Kratos VS Asura.
- This is the eighth episode where the Moon was used, damaged, or destroyed in the fight, after Vegeta VS Shadow, Thor VS Wonder Woman, Mario VS Sonic (2018), Goku Black VS Reverse-Flash, Black Adam VS Apocalypse, Trunks VS Silver, and Darth Vader VS Obito Uchiha, and with the next one being Goku VS Superman (2023).
- This episode marks the first time a voice actor has been cast for three consecutive episodes (Paul Guyet for Martian Manhunter VS Silver Surfer, Bill Cipher VS Discord, and Cole MacGrath VS Alex Mercer).
