Twice-Told-Tales: Manhunters Manhandle Malicious Martians

The blue-caped crusaders clad in shorts and red chest straps heroically battled malicious Martians, who sought to conspire to conquer their neighbors. These men with ties to the Mars in their universes, Martian Manhunter of Earth-One and Atom of Earth-Two, were victorious despite overwhelming odds.

Martians physiology differed  radically in the various universes they occupied. Consider the Manhunters of twin Mars as a case study. J'onn Jon'zz gained powers similar to those of Superman while residing on Earth-One. Roh Kar maintained his normal abilities without gaining additional attributes while visiting Earth-Two.

However, the reverse was also true. How so? Humans from Earth-Two gained superhuman powers on their universe's Mars, while those of Earth-One are still normal on the Mars in their reality. For example, Al "Atom" Pratt gained powers comparable to his Justice Society teammate Superman while on Mars-Two*, while Ray "Atom" Palmer remained unchanged when he and his Justice League allies ventured to Mars-One to aid their former teammate Jon'zz versus the White Martians. But what caused the divergence in superhuman abilities, granting these to Mars-One Martians and Earth-Two humans?

Apparently, this phenomenon is similar to the divergent condition between Kryptonians in each universe. Those Kryptonians living on the homeworld of Earth-Two's Superman possessed superhuman physiques due to the environmental conditions on Krypton-Two. This was not true of those Kryptonians in Earth-One's reality, as they were normal humans on Krypton-One. Perhaps, the presence of a large Blue Flame on Mars-One and a Green Flame on Earth-Two imbued native peoples of each world with the capacity to gain powers on worlds other than their own, as these flames were twin batteries charging Martians and Terrans alike.

Interestingly, a Martian guide immediately welcomed Al Pratt to his world after the Atom there, following the Tiny Titan and his Justice Society allies been exiled into space by their enemies. This individual was most probably Roh Kar, who mentally linked with Al via an Educatograph, which Martians used to teach themselves such things as their native language. Now gaining the Atom's perspective, Roh Kar no doubt experienced the sensory exhilaration of mentally joining the Mighty Mite’s many adventures on Earth-Two.

Years later, Roh undoubtedly appreciated when his mind-mate the Atom gained superhuman strength through exposure to radiation. It seems that the mental bond between the Mighty Mite and the Manhunting Martian was mostly benevolent, although apparently their mental link aroused suspicions within the ranks of the Justice Battalion (which the Justice Society was called during that period of time) due to the Atom’s seemingly odd behavior (as later mentioned in an interview with writer Roy Thomas). 

* Martians in each universe lived on two different Mars, the twin Mars in the same solar systems as Earths One and Two, and a pair of Mars-II's also existed across the universe, accessed via Hyperspace. Both the Atom and Batman of Earth-Two ventured to each Mars, and seemingly gained the same vibrant vigor of these worlds. Meanwhile, J'onn Jon'zz along with his League allies remained their normal selves on each Mars within their own reality.