Origin
When a NASA ship crash lands on Mars, killing everyone aboard, The Martians start talking about preparing for war. Mark Markz suggested they use their shape-shifting abilities to live among them and learn their ways. Despite having no space or espionage training, Markz was unceremoniously chosen to be sent to Earth since his peers believed it to be a fool’s errand.
After he crash landed in Spiral City, he witnessed a police officer get shot and killed. Markz disposed of the body and took his identity. His new partner was his only friend. Markz even started developing romantic feelings that were unfortunately not reciprocated.
Creation
Barbalien made his first appearance in Black Hammer #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston. He is a homage to Silver Age heroes, including Martian Manhunter.
Major Story Arcs
Red Planet
In 1986, Markz was patrolling an AIDS protest when he saved the ringleader, Miguel Cruz, as Barbalien and then arrested him as Officer Markz. Miguel had enough time to give Markz a piece of his mind, about superheroes only fighting monsters but not really helping. As a homosexual and an alien, pretending to be someone he is not, it ate up Markz inside, forcing him on a path of self-discovery.
He shape-shifted into a new identity named Luke and followed Miguel to a gay nightclub. He and Miguel started to bond, but the club was raided by the cops, forcing them to escape. The next day, after his shift, Markz returns as Luke to continue bonding with Miguel, but they are interrupted by a bounty hunter from Mars, named Boa Boaz. Markz was badly injured and taken by Miguel to Dr. Day, a black lesbian caregiver of AIDS patients and the daughter of superheroes, who gives Markz new perspective.
As Luke, he commits completely to Miguelâs movement. After a number of demonstrations, Barbie reveals himself to Miguel and everyone else. They are not quite welcoming. He returns to his cop life, mostly to check in, but he ends up crossing paths with Boa, who has killed and replaced one of Barbieâs cop friends. Boa proceeds to drag him back to Mars to be held accountable for his treachery. They give Barbie 3 months to live, but he fights back and escapes for Earth for good.
Unfortunately, he makes it back too late to save Miguel from being shot at his most recent demonstration. After which, Barbie turned in his badge.
Welcome to Rockwood
When Spiral City was under attack by the Anti-God, Barbie was recruited into the fight with Spiralâs other heroes by Starlok. When Black Hammer hit the Anti-God with his cosmic hammer, it caused a bright light. They found themselves teleported to Rockwood on a small farm for 10 years. Using his shape-shifting powers, Markz was able to pretend to be Abraham Slamâs son. He also started gravitating to the local church looking for some purpose in this new world, as well as having a crush on the new preacher.
They were settling into some kind of routine, but that was uprooted when Lucy Weber appeared. She was the daughter of their fellow superhero, Black Hammer, who died trying to leave the perimeter of Rockwood. She believed all the heroes had survived the event and wanted to find them. She couldnât remember how she got here though.
Soon after the team was brought back together by Weird to witness Lucy pick up her fatherâs hammer and become the new Black Hammer.
Age of Doom
Now that Lucy remembered everything she could explain the town of Rockwood to the others. They were all asleep in stasis pods on Col. Weirdâs ship in the Para-Zone while their minds were kept in a magical illusion caused by the Cabin of Horror. This was due to a pact between Weird and Madame Dragonfly to save the universe. The killing of the Anti-God threw off the balance of light and dark. Weird and Dragonfly needed to take the heroes out in order to retain that balance. Lucyâs dad was killed when he tried leaving Weirdâs ship and was exposed to the Para-Zone energies. With everyone awake, Weird took it upon himself to set auto-pilot to leave the Para-Zone.
Unfortunately, leaving the Para-Zone simply put them in yet another fabricated reality. Barbie was back on Mars, being ostracized for his sexual orientation. After Barbie destroyed his peopleâs council for killing his lover, he was approached by his old friends, who made it to Mars with Weirdâs spaceship. Using the hammer, Lucy brought Barbieâs memories back. They needed his help to take on the Anti-God, who was targeting their new reality.
Unfortunately, Lucy receives a message from her father and Starlok. In order to defeat the Anti-God, the superheroes have to disappear again. Rather than kill them, Lucy convinces them to voluntarily re-enter the imaginary farm land, while she stays back as defender of Spiral City.
Back in Rockwood, Mark was back as Slam’s son and was in a relationship with Quinn.
Character Profile
- Height: 7’0″
- Weight: 300 lbs
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: None
- Citizenship: Mars
- Marital Status: Single
- Occupation: Formerly police officer, Martian diplomat
- Known Relatives: Marv Marz (father, deceased), Myrt Myrtz (mother, deceased)
- Distinguishing features: Mark’s eyes are completely blue orbs. He had small antennae growing from his forehead. His skin is naturally red with a ridged texture. In the 80s, he briefly took an alter ego named Luke, who looked suspiciously like Mark Hamill.
Powers and Abilities
Markz has many of the abilities that are innate to his people. He can jump far distances in such a way that it looks like flight. He is also much stronger, faster, and more agile than his human counterparts. His skin is tougher and more impervious to pain. He is also able to change his shape at will.
As a warlord of Mars, Markz has above average intelligence and an expert swordsman and marksman. He is also an effective detective.