MM really walking out there with the 2 most unethical powers possible proving the wielder is the problem not the power.

What makes J’onn’s moral code against mind reading even more endearing is that (as far as I remember) telepathy is practically a seventh sense for all Martians. It’s like touch or smell, so asking a Martian to not use telepathy is like asking a person to close their eyes or ears, and yet J’onn goes out of his way to do just that so he doesn’t violate the personal space and privacy of people of Earth. He’s an immensely compassionate man.

This man has every power for everyone to distrust him, telepathy, phasing, invisiblity, and shapeshifting. Yet, J'onn is the most trustworthy man in DC.

Most comments here have discussed MM's ethics regarding his telepathy, but not enough regarding his shapeshifting. In the JLU cartoon, he takes a leave of absence to connect with Earth's people better, and in the Darkseid invasion, its revealed he's found a middle aged Chinese woman to be his wife. When J'onn transforms back to his hero costume from his middle aged Chinese man form, his wife tells him to be careful, implying she knew the entire time about J'onn's true form. This means unlike that bum Miss Martian, J'onn didn't need his powers as a crutch to find a significant other.

This is why Superman and he get along so well. Both are overpowered aliens who genuinely just want to do the right thing.

All those times I said 'Kill all telepaths,' I'd always whisper 'except one.' Martian Manhunter was that one.

Telepaths = bad. Shapeshifters = bad. However, this Martian Manhunter fellow is a pretty swell guy.

It makes total sense why J'onn is so ethical with telepathy. He comes from a race where everyone has the ability to read minds. They cultivated centuries upon centuries of cultural norms, traditions and taboos regarding telepathy

Xavier: You're a telepath AND a shapeshifter? With that power you could be the most devious telepath!

Martian Manhunter: but I don't want to be a devious telepath, I want to be a good person

Martian Manhunter also develops extremely sharp emotional intelligence and an ability to read people without his powers, precisely BECAUSE he holds himself to such high standards.

He limited himself then adapted new skills, and those skills feed into his wisdom for when it is appropriate to use his powers in the first place. The entire concept is masterfully done.

"We are ethical telepaths"

J'onn J'onzz: We? Whadduya mean we? Nintendo Wii?

If the Xmen telepaths were in DC they'd be martian manhunter villains

Martian manhunter is more of a human than the average telepath.

To be fair to raven, she really didnt understand the ethics of what she was doing, and then goes on to never do it again, so some credit is due due that. Jon is raised on Mars with that respect for mental sanctity, but raven wasnt, but she does stop once she figures its wrong

There's an unspoken rule in fiction. The less you're willing to do, the more you'll be able to do.

Jon and Clark are allowed their physically and mentally unfair powersets (respectively) because unlike Bruce, they don't abuse that shit on day 1.

The trust of an entire species is more valuable to an alien than people think, good or bad.

M'Gran? Oh, she's just evil. She's the exception.

I still find funny as fuck that what makes Martian Manhunter better than marvel telepaths, is that he asks you to let him read your mind rather than lobotomize you in the spot

MM: we??? Who the fuck is we, you speaking french?

The Martians are such a civilized and community driven species with so many rules at a religious level that it just makes Miss Martian look like a certified psychopathic freak.

Jean Grey abusing her telepathy in the all new x-men series really pissed me off. Like outing iceman as gay against his will because she was reading his mind and then had the audacity to make it out as a good thing.

If Martian Manhunter ever became a councilor or therapist, I think he would make meaningful change.

I vaguely remember a Justice league Unlimited episode where Martin Manhunter helped a superhero named Wildcat.