Martian Manhunter’s real purpose in the DCEU’s future after Zack Snyder’s Justice League may have been to protect the Anti-Life Equation. Though not mentioned in the theatrical release, this concept was central to Darkseid’s goals in the Snyder Cut.
Like the highly sought-after Anti-Life Equation, Martian Manhunter - aka J'onn J'onzz - wasn’t in Joss Whedon’s version of Justice League. The classic JLA member was never mentioned or referenced in the movie. He became one of many aspects of the story to be cut when Whedon took over as director. According to Zack Snyder, he had a plan to reveal that an existing DCEU character was in fact the Martian Manhunter. In Snyder’s vision of Justice League, audiences were to find out that General Calvin Swanwick from Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was the Martian superhero in disguise. Unfortunately, the scene wasn’t filmed. However, the Snyder Cut being properly finished gave the director a chance to formally introduce the Martian Manhunter. He ended up being included in two scenes as a replacement for Green Lantern.
A moment with Batman (Ben Affleck) saw Martian Manhunter express interest in joining the Justice League and helping the team in the future, but it could be that there was much more to his role in the DCEU’s future. While that may never be explored, what he was up to is still worth wondering about. It could be that his purpose was directly linked to the Darkseid setup in Zach Synder’s Justice League. He may have been central to the Anti-Life story.
Martians Philosophy is Based on the Life Equation
In deciphering J'onn J'onzz’s place in the DCEU, it’s important to keep in mind that there is comic book precedent for there to be a connection between him and the Anti-Life Equation. In DC Comics, there was this idea that whoever possesses the elusive Anti-Life Equation would be able to rule the universe by controlling all other beings. Darkseid, who understood that there were multiple parts of it, spent many centuries searching for it. The first step in his journey to finding it happened during his encounter with the people of Mars. He found out that the key to their culture was “The Life Equation”, which pertained to free will. Apparently, Martian philosophy was built around this mysterious, mathematical formula. In thinking about the Life Equation, it occurred to Darkseid that it made sense for there to be an opposite to it. Because of his interactions with the Martians, his belief in an Anti-Life Equation was reaffirmed.
We Don't Know Why Martian Manhunter is on Earth
If the Martians know about the Life-Equation, it stands to reason that they may also possess knowledge of the Anti-Life Equation (and its location). If that’s true, there could be a link between Martian Manhunter’s presence on Earth and Steppenwolf’s discovery that Anti-Life is hidden on the planet somewhere. Zack Snyder’s Justice League never did explain why he’s on Earth, but there could be a special reason for why he’s there. Similar to his comic counterpart, it’s likely that he came to Earth after his civilization was wiped out. J'onn J'onzz could have simply needed a new planet to call home after the downfall of the Martians, but it may be that Justice League 2 or Justice League 3 would have revealed that he had specific reasons for choosing Earth.
General Swanwick Has a High Level of Government Clearance
Another mystery concerning the DCEU’s take on Martian Manhunter is his Calvin Swanwick identity. When he came to the planet, why did he pick an American general as his cover? Obviously, his role comes with a ton of advantages and privileges that he wouldn’t have as a civilian, so that could have something to do with it. As General Swanwick, J'onn has a high level of government clearance. The amount of top-secret intel that he has access to thanks to his position could be quite useful to him if his self-appointed task in the DCEU is to protect the Anti-Life Equation. If he knows that other alien beings will pursue it if they figure out its location, it makes sense for him to infiltrate the United States government. This way, he’ll know any time there’s a potential alien invasion. If that really was his plan, then Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman serve as good indications that it paid off. Swanwick was briefed on both extraterrestrial incidents, and was made a part of the government’s efforts to deal with them.
Martian Manhunter Didn’t Reveal Himself Until Darkseid Emerged
It’s interesting that J'onn J'onzz was involved in the conflicts with General Zod (Michael Shannon) and Doomsday, yet he never acted beyond his capacity as a general. If he had joined the fight as Martian Manhunter (who is easily one of DC’s most powerful superheroes), beating the two villains would have been much less challenging. His failure to do anything about them was indirectly acknowledged during his conversation with Batman when he said that it was time he started fighting for the Earth’s future. As for why he chose to do nothing at the time, it could be that his goals were centered purely on guarding the Anti-Life Equation. To him, the formula would qualify as the type of threat that would require his attention, whereas Zod and Doomsday were less significant problems. Both could have caused catastrophic destruction and likely would have devastated the planet if they hadn’t been stopped, but they wouldn’t have threatened the universe itself. Darkseid, on the other hand, is a totally different story. With Anti-Life, he’d have the power to put the entire multiverse in chaos.
Martian Manhunter seems to know that, and his talk with Batman confirmed that he knew about the formula’s existence. He told Wayne that Darkseid wouldn’t stop looking for it until he found it. Plus, he said “it’s here somewhere”, and his confidence in that strongly suggests he knows something that the Justice League doesn’t. J'onn choosing to remain in hiding for so long, and not revealing himself until after Darkseid made his first move for the Anti-Life Equation points toward the formula being the reason for his sudden emergence. Darkseid attacking could have been a sign that the time has come for him to step out of the shadows and join forces with the Justice League. Unfortunately, Zack Snyder’s Justice League plan not continuing after the Snyder Cut means that the extent of Martian Manhunter’s role is one mystery that may go unsolved.
