A victim of "Final Crisis"

I talked this morning with DC executive editor Dan DiDio about "Final Crisis," the subject of this Sunday's Comics Fan column. I asked about the death in issue No. 1 of Martian Manhunter, who for some reason has always been a favorite of mine.

The series, DiDio said, needed an event in the opening issue that brought "a sense of urgency and matter." And the Martian Manhunter took the hit.

"Martian Manhunter, to us, symbolized the start of the Silver Age," DiDio said. "He was one of the characters that really heralded a new generation of heroes."

This being comics, of course, Martian Manhunter could always come back some day. For now, look for "Final Crisis: Requiem" in July, which looks back on his life.