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Review: John Carter Warlord of Mars #8

Posted on June 23, 2015 by

The stories of the Martian Chronicles featuring John Carter and Dejah Thoris generally fall into one of two broad categories. As the princess of Lower Helium, she is often out into a position where and she and John have to defend Helium from a plot to destabilize it or an all-out invasion. Conversely there is a second kind of story, one which focuses on the wonders of Mars, a sort-of carte blanche for telling pretty much any kind of story. Mars is quit a bit smaller than Earth, but it stands to reason that there are a lot of odd corners with odd denizens much like Earth, and many of the stories also deal with this setting. After the start of the series was so heavy on the first kind of story, with the two heroes stopping an invasion of Helium, it is therefore fitting that the second kind of story is featured in this series now.

With Dejah and John out in the wilderness searching for ruins of temples, there is a menace on the loose. A creature of the night, this beast attacks for sport instead of for need, and has been terrorizing a small community. A small family made a stand against the creature, but as the two heroes fly over the territory, all that they find is a burning building, with all of its occupants murdered. The local leaders are upset that only two have arrived in place of significant forces, although they are at ease to discover that Helium’s heroes are among them. With the promise to return with troops on the following day, John and Dejah retire for the night, though the night predator has other plans.

This issue is not really special in any way, and its ending even buys into some of the more misogynist trends of the original novels but it is also not really trying to be more. This is much more like an issue of a 1950s jungle adventure story, except one that is reinvented on Mars. It is a fun start to the story arc, if not particularly inventive or memorable, and it is worth a look.

Story: Ron Marz and Ian Edginton Art: Ariel Medel
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #7

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #7

Ron Marz (w)
Ariel Medel (a)
Ed Benes, Bart Sears, Emanuela Lupacchino, Jonathan Lau (c)
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FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Mature
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John Carter and Dejah Thoris have survived the invasion of Mars, but rest and relaxation are not in their future. Marooned in the crumbling remains of an ancient city, John and Dejah are beset by mysterious enemies. When John is struck down, it falls to Dejah to protect her beloved, and find some way to escape the certain death that stalks them.

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #6

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #6

Ron Marz (w)
Roberto Castro, Nanjan Jamberi (a)
Ed Benes, Bart Sears, Emanuela Lupacchino (c)
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The battle for Barsoom reaches its climax as John Carter and the villainous Captain Joshua Clark face off in a winner-take-all duel to the death! But even if John Carter triumphs, will he be too late to save his beloved Dejah Thoris? The critically acclaimed relaunch by writer Ron Marz and artist Abhishek Malsuni reaches the end of its first arc, and sets the stage for all the epic adventures to come!

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #5

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #5

Ron Marz (w)
Abhishek Malsuni (a)
Ed Benes, Bart Sears, Emanuela Lupacchino, Yonami (c)
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John Carter has crossed the vast deserts of Mars to find his beloved Dejah Thoris. But have they been reunited only to die together? John’s sworn enemy, Union officer Captain Joshua Clark, will not rest until the Warlord of Mars is dead! Writer Ron Marz continues his acclaimed run as “Invaders of Mars” builds toward its epic conclusion.

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #4

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #4

With John Carter lost and presumed dead in the Martian desert, his enemy’s triumph is all but assured. But who is Captain Joshua Clark of Earth, and why does his hatred for John Carter know no bounds? As Dejah Thoris prays for her warlord’s safe return, the shocking origin of John Carter’s arch-enemy is finally revealed! Superstar writer Ron Marz and rising-star artist Abhishek Malsuni continue their acclaimed, official run!

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #3

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #3

Ron Marz (w)
Abhishek Malsuni (a)
Ed Benes, Bart Sears, Emanuela Lupacchino, Abhishek Malsuni (c)
Fans & retailers, order the cover of your choice!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Mature
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Alien invaders have conquered John Carter’s adopted world of Barsoom. John Carter endeavors to reach the occupied city of Helium, where his beloved Dejah Thoris is held captive by the invaders. But Dejah Thoris is no princess-in-peril, as she hatches a plot to escape from her captors and lead her people in bloody rebellion! Classic planetary adventure in tradition of grand master Edgar Rice Burroughs!

Review: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #3

Posted on January 5, 2015 by

Three issue into the Dynamite reboot of their own John Carter franchise and things are still not looking good for the heroes. After starting off the first issue kidnapped by Captain Clark, Dejah Thoris has not been able to escape from his control, and John Carter is seemingly no closer to rescuing her or freeing Helium. Meanwhile the villains seem to be able to continue unabated in their own plans for domination. This treatment of the main characters gives a sense of desperation within the plot, but it does not necessarily work to the benefit of the overall story.

This series has been entertaining at times thus far, but there are also some evident problems with this series as it progresses. Though it is a story based on a pulp science fiction story, it contains a lot of the problems of this era. Dejah Thoris, often portrayed as a competent hero in her own right in contemporary versions of the character is often relegated to the dominated heroine in this version, the chains being used to restrain her being a creative allusion to the writers of this series not really willing to let her loose. That is solved about halfway through this issue, but the manner in which this occurs is also disappointing, with the minor villain that is guarding her changing too easily his own convictions at her suggestion. Without the main heroine in a heroic role, there is little at times to distinguish this from the classics which inspired it, as John Carter is himself heroic, but not evenly remotely outside-of-the-box in his presentation thus far.

The series still has some ground to catch up on in order to be headed in the right direction. While this is based on a science fiction closer to fantasy, it seems to be bogged down by it, not thriving in the fertile ground that such stories can use to their benefit. As a reintroduction to the characters, this first story arc has maybe done its job, but it has done so in a lacklustre way, and the series would benefit from moving beyond this first story arc into something more meaningful.

Story: Ron Marz Art: Abishek Malsuni
Story: 6.8 Art: 8.0 Overall: 6.8 Recommendation: Pass

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Preview: John Carter: Warlord of Mars #2

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Brett

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #2

Alien invaders are on the verge of conquering all Barsoom. Only one man stands between them and the planet’s annihilation: John Carter, Warlord of Mars. But John is marooned deep in the Martian wastes, confronted by a savage white ape. Even if he survives, how will he return to the side of his beloved Dejah Thoris in time to save his adopted world? Ron Marz finally tackles the series he’s always wanted to write, teaming with rising artistic star Abhishek Malsuni for the best Barsoom ever!

Review: John Carter Warlord of Mars #2

Posted on December 9, 2014 by

After the first issue of John Carter Warlord of Mars, this second issue feels far more routine. After the revelation in the previous issue of the true identity of the mastermind behind the invasion of Barsoom, little time is spent here dwelling on it. Instead this issue shows John Carter in the barrens of Mars, trying to formulate a plan to save Helium while also trying to stay alive. Meanwhile, Dejah Thoris is downgraded slightly from the previous issue’s stubborn monarch, to this issue’s damsel-in-distress. While John Carter’s time is spent fighting for his life, she seems almost indifferent to the events as she argues with Captain Clark.

While the first issue set up the following issue with a fair amount of intrigue, this second issue keeps the story moving along, except only by substituting plot development for action. A lot of this issue is spent in the throes of life and death battle, and to be fair this side of the story is handled well by Abishek Malsuni. The action sequences practically jump off the page for their intensity and choreography. However, what is a feat for the eyes here also has to be an apology to the brain, as John Carter’s honorable nature alone manages to convinces two separate enemies to aid him in his attempt to regain Helium.

It is not that this story is particularly bad, it is only that it is a bit of a letdown after an impressive first issue. All of the pieces are still here, and the forces introduced in the plot are still working here, it only seems as though the entire story has been put on hold for some gratuitous action scenes. While this does little to progress the story forward, it was still an enjoyable enough experience to get to the end of the issue, and hopefully the third issue channels more of issue #1 than #2.

Story: Ron Marz Art: Abishek Malsuni
Story: 7.7 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.7 Recommendation: Read

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.