Day after day the conversation about the possible colonization of Mars takes shape in increasingly concrete and realistic aspects. Mars has evolved from a planet with a pure science fiction presence (from the Verbenera to the most ambitious, like Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy on the colonization of the planet) to a medium future perspective. Term. Resources, habitability or space exploration, All of this symbolizes on a planet that has always captured our imagination.
And he’s been doing it since the dawn of science fiction, but also before the end of the 19th century when Belief spread that the planet’s newly discovered canals were evidence of an extinct civilization. In 1899 Nikola Tesla himself determined the origin of radio signals of inexplicable origin on Mars and classified them as an intelligent signal from a planet in the solar system. The sighting sparked statements from observatories and governments claiming to be recipients of later theoretical communications from Mars in the form of light and sound.
Two essential science fiction and fantasy literary works published around the turn of the century, Wells ‘War of the Worlds’ and ‘Barsoom’ by Edgar Rice Burroughs, have completed certification of popular culture’s obsession with the Red Planet. To celebrate, we’ve picked some of our favorite Martians: not all invaders, not all greens and dwarfs. But many do. They are the best Martians in pop culture.
‘War of the Worlds’
This absolute science fiction classic, written by Herbert George Wells and serialized in 1897, was one of the earliest accounts of the confrontation between humanity and an alien race. Here it was the turn of the Martians, which critics interpreted over time as a symbol for theories of evolution, British imperialism or the Victorian movements. Of the Martians depicted, the most representative are without a doubt the giant and devastating tripods, and among the adaptations, the most notable is the Orson Wells radio show, which caused (or did not) panic in 1938.
“A Princess of Mars”
Barsoom is a fictional planet created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is his most famous invention with Tarzan, the novel “A Princess of Mars” from 1917 and its ten sequels, in which he developed a whole story and economic systems, socially and politically, for this restoration of the red planet. All of this for from the then fashionable theories on the channels as evidence of the existence of an intelligent life on the planet in the past. The earthly protagonist of the saga, John Carter (who in turn gave the title to a valuable film adaptation), finds different variations of Martians with different skin tones during his adventures on the planet.
“Mars is attacking!
The most famous incarnation of these nude invaders who speak like hypervitaminated geese is the excellent and outdated 1996 film by Tim Burton. But even wilder are controversial and in their original version UV sticker published by Topps in 1962, with illustrations by major science fiction artists like Wally Wood or Norman Saunders. The collectable cards depicted all kinds of attacks, executions, and torture, and both channeled stories of the flying saucer invasions in the 1950s and the impending landings of counterculture into the lives of young Americans.
“Invaders of Mars”
One of the paradigmatic invasions of radioactive science fiction cinema of the 1950s, which took elements from the flying saucer films and anticipated the revolutionary first ultra-body invasion in which aliens took over human bodies. But if you want good Martians, head over to Tobe Hooper’s excellent remake for the 1986 Canon: Same storyline, delicious ’50s aesthetics, and some of the best’ 80s rubber monsters.
Martians from ‘Marciano, come home’
The Mars hooligans from Mars Attacks! You have venerable precedents in this little novel by Fredric Brown, master of bulletproof humor and science fiction, published in 1955. The Martians invading us here are little green men with a meaning of destructive, trotting humor. His green, dwarf, bald, and large-headed physique marked many later caricature incarnations of Martians.But they invade not by force, but with their fists: they tell shameful secrets, sabotage public interventions, mock people at the most inopportune times … a wave of cynicism that is literally driving the human population crazy.
Marvin the Martian from ‘Looney Tunes’
Short, stubborn and thoughtful, yes, but not green. Indeed, black as the brand and with no recognizable features, and clad in a couple of seemingly incomprehensible gadgets: Roman helmet and skirt (this one, yes, green). It’s not as crazy as it sounds, it’s a tribute to Mars mythology: The rest of his iconic character came with the extreme exaggeration of his movements to make up for his lack of facial features Facials. It didn’t get its name until 1979 and between 1948 (the year of his debut with Bugs Bunny in “Haredevil Hare”) and 1963 he appeared in only five episodes of “Looney Tunes”. His charisma and bad mood make him an icon, and since then he has multiplied his appearances.
Uncle Martin in “My Favorite Martians”
An all-time classic of classic North American television comedy (the one we all hope will be back in vogue thanks to “Wandavision”). Portrayed by Ray Watson in over a hundred episodes between 1963 and 1966, he was A Mars anthropologist who remains in secret on earth, accompanied by a person who is the only one who knows his condition. With powers like telepathy, telekinesis, or the ability to travel back in time, the show was in the style of other classics like “In Love With a Witch”. Ah, happy times with antennas on your head.
J’Onn J’Onzz, the Martian hunter
Much has been said about the Martian Manhunter, as Zack Snyder announced that he would see him in his original green Martian form after appearing in his human form as General Calvin Swanwick in “Man of Steel”. in his new Justice League. However, this character is He’s not new to the DC Universe: he’s one of the original members of the Justice League of America, His powers are comparable to Superman’s, and we’ve seen him on shows like Smallville and Supergirl. In addition, his career is very interesting: he is the last survivor of his race after a fratricidal war between Martians.
“Mars Chronicles”
This great literary classic by Ray Bradbury was published in 1950 after the stories it consists of appeared in various media, initially with no intention of being compiled. In order to lay the foundation for the modern incarnation of the subgenre exploration and space colonization, Bradbury says after a war that ravages the earth, Earth dwellers colonize Mars and interact with Martians. Although the Martians are initially spiky brown-skinned beings, their later and most impressive incarnation is that of the ethereal spheres, which contain a blue flame and meet missionaries who wish to convert them to earthly beliefs.
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