Comic Title: Secret Origins #1
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: 1961
On Sale Date: June 15, 1961 Newsstand Date June 15, 1961
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #278, Page 32

Copyright Date June 15, 1961
Source: Library of Congress, Pamphlets 1961

Cover Price: $0.25
Page Count: 80
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel"
Pages: 6

Feature(s):
Martian Manhunter (of Earth-1)

Writer: Joe Samachson
Artist: Joe Certa

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #225 (1955)

Feature Character(s)

• Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz; origin and first appearance; last appearance in Detective Comics #287; next appearance in Detective Comics #226)

Other Character(s)

• Dr. Mark Erdel (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Lieutenant Saunders (the chief of detectives; next appearance in Detective Comics #226)

Synopsis:
Professor Mark Erdel has designs a robot brain that can probe other dimensions. The first time he uses the machine to probe space and time, the machine teleports a green-skinned alien to Earth.

Using telepathy the alien communicates to Dr. Erdel. He is J’onn J’onzz, a martian scientist. J’onzz requests to be sent home. The professor explains that in order to send the martian home he must redesign the robot brain which could take years. In order to blend in with the population, J’onzz changes his appearance to that of an ordinary Eathman. Abruptly, the professor collapses, suffering from a heart attack. The shock of the experience has killed him. J’onzz is now trapped on Earth.

J’onzz takes the Earth name John Jones and explores the world. He is able to extract gold from sea water to get some money. After traveling the world, J’onzz decides to fight crime as a police detective. He qualifies and quickly becomes a rookie detective.