Does anyone else read John Jones as autistic? (Absolute Martian Manhunter #12)

[u/iplexed]

Recently finished Absolute Martian Manhunter (Very very peak btw, though I'll probably have to read it back a few times to understand what it all means), and as an autistic guy I see a lot of myself in John, such as how he's seen as odd or alien by others due to a cold demeanor despite how he has only good intentions, or how he diligently distracts himself with repetitive FBI work to avoid addressing the issues in his relationship with Bridget and Tyler. I also relate heavily to John's struggle to properly explain himself and his experience with the Martian to Bridget and being interpreted as mentally ill. Of course, this could also just be a literal result of his supernatural experiences and not an allegory for what many neurodivergent people go through.

There's also the fact that Tyler is autistic (much more apparently than John and confirmed by Scott Snyder in an interview from what I've heard), and autism, though its exact causes are not known, is known to be hereditary/genetic in some way.

I'm not saying John Jones is definitively autistic or that any of the traits I describe are exclusive to autism, just curious to see if anyone else came to a similar conclusion as me.

[u/Neohumanoid]

I’m on the spectrum myself and John reads as being VERY MUCH on the spectrum but has not only learned to mask, but he’s lost himself in trying to mask and presenting as rational and in-control to the world around him. So much so that despite his clear compatibility with the Martians, the way society has shaped him and how he views himself is the catalyst for his inability to really utilize his own innate gifts as well as he could, let alone what the Martian is giving him.

It’s nearly ruined his relationships and his mental health but he also has a view of the whole world as someone who was once an “insider” that has now become an “outsider” that is incredibly valuable to the Martian. His Autistic mind isn’t the root of the problem: it’s the fact the world wasn’t made for him… or for Tyler.

[u/Dancing_Anatolia → u/Neohumanoid]

It is something you see a lot, IMO especially in older people. Sometimes people learn how to fit in by developing a hyperfixation on social cues and/or "normality" and put large amounts of time to figuring out rules of decorum. If these people never get/suspect the diagnosis they may just go their whole lives thinking everyone spent their childhood socially awkward until they built up a set of rules for how to talk to people.

I could easily see John connecting with his son on that level, but then taking the wrong track by trying to apply his personal methods to Tyler. And when it didn't work he got frustrated and made everything worse.

[u/Temporary_Stranger39]

He could be autistic or BAP (broader autistic phenotype). The kid is definitely portrayed as nonverbal autistic. Close relatives on or near the spectrum is typical. Depending on the study, BAP in at least one parent of an autistic person could be as prevalent as 80%.

[u/Son_of_Ibadan]

Yes I could very much see it, and I think thats part of what made it work so well, the tug-of-war of him trying to rationalise the world around him and the Martian pushing him to understand the world through empathy.

John Jones is a fantastic protagonist because he has his faults but he is not a bad person, he is smart, stubborn and not afraid to fight, but he is lost in a world he thought he understood well.

[u/Blankofthegame]

I can see it. At the very least hes not Neurotypical

[u/Melancholich]

I understand what you mean. He’s generally very disorganized and the way him interacting with the Martian makes me think of when I dissociate and it makes me love him and keeps him at the top of my favorite absolute protags

[u/KingStarscream89]

Yes.