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MASTER
ASSASSINS
OF MARSA Review of Marvel Comic's
John Carter Warlord of Mars
Issues 16-27
DAVID BRUCE BOZARTH
Copyright 2007
Images copyright by Marvel Comics 1978-1979
In the mid 1970s the name Edgar Rice Bur-
roughs was still going strong in the American comic
book market. For many decades the author's most
famous character—Tarzan—had graced the pages of
Dell, Gold Key, and National (DC). After a grand
tour of the ape-man's jungle— spanning generations
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of readers—Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. began li-
censing other characters and worlds created by
Edgar Rice Burroughs: Carson Napier's Venus,
David Innes' Pellucidar and John Carter's Mars
(Barsoom). All are worthy of an examination, but
this particular article will focus on Marvel Comics'
version of John Carter Warlord of Mars... expressly
the last 12 issues before the licensing agreement
ended/terminated/ceased.
Marvel, always known for super heroic charac-
ters such as Spider-man, Hulk, Fantastic Four,
Submariner and more, applied their expertise in
comic book publication to the saga of John Carter,
gentleman adventurer of Virginia, late of the Con-
federate Army and his advent upon the arid dead
sea bottoms of Barsoom, the war-like fourth planet.
And the results were met with luke warm reception
by both Marvel collectors and Edgar Rice Bur-
roughs fans.
The Barsoom premise seems ideal for an ad-
venture comic: Mid-Nineteenth century soldier is
transported to a savage world where super-science
clashes with barbaric culture and then rises to the
highest ranks, winning the love of a beautiful
princess. Sounds like great stuff, right? It is...if
carried off properly. To be fair, the Marvel adapta-
tion of Carter's arrival to Mars is not bad. The script
worked, though some characterizations were
decidedly different than ERB's. Then followed a
number of one off's, two issue arcs, that introduced
supernatural themes not found in the original
works. Even Marvelites of the period were not
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impressed as JCWOM was neither an adventure
comic or mystery comic or horror comic—it wasn't
something to get a grip on, to like...though the art
work was always top notch and those Barsoom
babes were hot!
Still...without an engaging story there's no
audience. Thus with issue #17 Marvel embarked on
an updated John Carter Warlord of Mars. The entire
story arc of 12 issues, ending with #27, is collec-
tively known as THE MASTER ASSASSINS OF
MARS. I liked it. I hated it. I had to leave it alone
for nearly 30 years before I could take another look
at it and see—if I could—what the Marvel editors
and writers had been intended. After this second
read, so many years later, I find I like it better and
hate it less, and even then the "hate" is based on the
smallest of sub-themes—Dejah Thoris' inexplicable
behavior which is eventually explained way too late
to avoid a sour taste for a Barsoom novels reader's
mind. For comic fans who have never read Edgar
Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series I doubt they
noticed a thing. Why? The story line was similar to
dozens of others in comics from all the major
publishers, not just Marvel.
Unlike my previous Tangor's Comics Review of
the Comics series, this will contain a lot of words
and fewer pictures. Section titles below are the
Marvel Issue Titles.
The events in MASTER ASSASSINS OF
MARS appear to take place shortly after John Car-
ter is made Warlord of Mars by a grateful red
human society and before the birth of his son
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Carthoris. It is interesting to note that the Zodanga
Assassin Guild, as portrayed in the Marvel comics,
was not introduced by Edgar Rice Burroughs until
Swords of Mars, the eighth book in the series.
The script for MASTER ASSASSINS OF
MARS was by Chris Claremont. It relies primarily
on the first person accounts of John Carter, Dejah
Thoris, and Tars Tarkas. The charming bravado of
Edgar Rice Burroughs' Virginian is generally well-
done in respect to Carter's occasionally brash state-
ments regarding his physical abilities and warrior
prowess. Additionally Claremont keyed upon the
affection between Carter and Dejah Thoris—though
at times credulity regarding that affection is some-
what strained. Liberties are taken with Barsoom
and its inhabitants; entire cultures are created that
do not exist in ERB's Barsoom series. In general,
however, these liberties are acceptable and, within
the context of the MASTER ASSASSINS arc,
reasonable. What Claremont did, which was initially
disappointing, is start with one premise then inject
a number of unrelated story issues before getting
back on track. It is my belief that if Marvel had not
been warned of the withdrawal of licensing for the
ERB products, the Marvel readers might have been
left hanging with an incomplete adventure! It was
finished, though a bit rapidly toward the end.
Of the artists involved, all were quite capable.
There was a consistency of costuming and support-
ing artifacts (airships, weapons, architecture) which
helped hold the 12 issue story together. Dejah
Thoris, on the other hand, suffered a number of cos-
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tuming changes—some good, some bad. A general
style of clean line, open space, and moderate detail
is pleasing. Ernie Colon, who penciled the largest
number, set the tone which was emulated to the
end.
The colorists did a bang up job. Color, after all,
is what makes comic books vibrant, and those in-
volved were able to communicate emotion with
pastels, hard colors, shadows, and textures. I'm not
sure if the books I have are "off" or if the entire
publication production suffered similarly, but all too
often the Red Martians were orange/tan. Then
again, that tone might be from the aging newsprint
upon which these comics were printed.
Lettering is lettering... if you can read it com-
fortably, then a job well done. What I do have to say
in regards to lettering has nothing to do with the
hard work of the letterer: There are Words in
MASTER ASSASSINS—a story that does not rely
entirely upon pictures to tell. The scriptwriter, of
course, had to supply those words, but it is also
known that the letterer(s) often made suggestions
as to what words would fit, or perhaps say it better.
Whether that level of interaction occurred during
the creation of these issues I cannot say, but I
strongly believe it quite possible!
Having set up the basis of the article and pro-
viding some background information, it is time to
get on with it. One thing before we get started, the
synopsis of each issue will follow the main story
without exception, thus some sub-plots and asides
may get lost. Where asides are essential to world or
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culture creation I will include those in comments.
Where there's something that does not appear in
ERB's books—or should have—look for those in
footnotes.
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John Carter is Dead!John Carter is Dead!John Carter is Dead!John Carter is Dead!Ernie Colon (Pencils)
Rudy Nebres (Inks)
Mouly (Colors)
John Costanza (Letters)
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1Does not appear in Barsoom novels. The only
spiders specifically mentioned by ERB are found in the Valley
Hohr near Ghasta.
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Celebrating his second anniversary with Dejah
Thoris, John Carter quaffs a beverage and falls dead.
Almost immediately it is determined that Daria, a
slave, had served the wine which was tainted with
the poison of a d'ath spider.1
Daria, an assassin, flees through the palace. She
has combat with several warriors and defeats them.
Just as Daria is about to escape, Dejah Thoris does
battle and, after some effort, wins when Daria falls
to her death.
Dejah Thoris, based on clues discovered, se-
cretly sets out to avenge her husband's death by
taking on the identity of Daria (they do look alike)
and leaving in a flier. She is helped in this endeavor
by faithful Sola, the daughter of Tars Tarkas, Jeddak
of Thark. The princess of Helium intends to locate
the assassins who ordered the death of John Carter
and then dispense justice.
Meanwhile, John Carter recovers long after
Dejah Thoris has departed. His earthly metabolism
is apparently proof against the alien spider poison.
When all learn Dejah Thoris has departed, Kantos
Kan does all he can to persuade the warlord against
setting out alone to find Dejah Thoris. Carter
counters with appropriate argument (at the time),
and the father and grandfather of Dejah Thoris
reluctantly agree.
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Entering his specially souped-up personal flier
John Carter departs Helium. Many hours later he
sights his princess' flier. They join ships, and em-
brace when the hatches are opened. That happy
moment, however, evaporates in sudden terror as
the joined ships (still flying) edge over an enormous
canyon.
Dejah Thoris, horrified, tries to explain why
they must veer off, but even the Earthly strength of
John Carter is insufficient. The ships are parted and
fall into the canyon. By only the narrowest of mar-
gins do they survive the crash. John Carter carries
the unconscious Dejah Thoris out, then collapses.
Shadowy figures loom in the background.
CommentsCommentsCommentsComments:
Many of the panels show intriguing glimpses of palace
life in Helium. References to earlier issues involving Kantos
Kan help strengthen the friendship displayed between the
two men. Mors Kajak and Tardos Mors, along with Tars
Tarkas, appear in the issue. A hint of sub-plot appears when
warriors note the departure of the warlord's flier... and John
Carter is known to be dead. Hmmm... one says and trots off
to warn a Mordin character. A nice example of foreshadow-
ing.
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What Price Victory?What Price Victory?What Price Victory?What Price Victory?Ernie Colon (Pencils)
Bob Layton (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
John Costanza (Letters)
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2No winged humans were described on Mars. The
warriors astride malagors, the giant birds in Synthetic Men of
Mars, is the nearest facsimile.
3This city does not appear in the Barsoom novels
11
Rousing himself, John Carter is attacked by a
number of winged humans2. The battle is fierce.
Carter is disadvantaged by not having fully recov-
ered from the d'ath spider bite.
Dejah Thoris awakes just as John Carter is
about to be cut down. Picking up a heavy rock, she
brains Carter's attacker, but is then snatched by one
of the winged warriors and carried off. John Carter
deals with his opponent, raging at the loss of his
princess, but is knocked unconscious by the others
in the attacking party.
Carter awakes in a strange palace. Other than
his blade weapons missing, his gear is intact. He
wanders through the empty rooms until opening a
door upon a lovely garden. There he meets Garthon
of Karanthor3, a white-skinned, wingless man.
Garthon explains his people are the Orovars.
We learn that his father is high in the government.
We also learn that Dejah Thoris is alive and well,
but Carter is cautioned to not reveal his relationship
with the red woman. Since Carter is white he is
considered "one of them" while all red peoples are
slaves or less than slaves.
Gar Karus (Garthon's father) is a giant with
wings. Later, after revealing something about the
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Orovar culture, he flies Carter to the palace of the
Orovar jedak (sic in one panel). Along the way the
city is depicted as dwellings hollowed from gigantic
stalactites in a vast cavern, the floor one mile below
is cultivated fields.
Carter is delivered to the palace of Jeddak Chan
Tomar, the nephew of Gar Karus, who is dressed in
a Loki outfit and appears a touch demented.
Dejah Thoris is offered at a slave auction.
Carter rages inwardly but holds his tongue as his
wife is sold (the Orovars think she was Carter's
slave). Carter has a battle with a pushy dude and
kills him. Meanwhile, Dejah Thoris has been taken
by the jeddak as his. Gar Karus is not a bad guy, he
senses Carter's rage and, to keep him from going
after Dejah Thoris, makes Carter his second in
command (trial by combat kind of thing).
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Meanwhile, Back in Helium!Meanwhile, Back in Helium!Meanwhile, Back in Helium!Meanwhile, Back in Helium!Frank Miller (Pencils)
Bob McCleod (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
Jean Simek (Letters)
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Tars Tarkas is challenged by an egg brother over
who will rule the Tharks. Should Tars Tarkas fall, the
victor's intention is to resume the warfare between
green and red—this "peace" forged by Carter be-
tween the races is unseemly.
The battle consists of one long drawn out com-
bat between Tars Tarkas (who saves his foe from a
third party devilment). Its only purpose is to get Tars
Tarkas out of Helium...Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
Of all the issues, this is the weakest. We could have
done without the supernatural oddities of this episode. The
conflict for control of Thark for political/social reasons listed
above is not a bad idea, and works within the Barsoom
mythos created by Burroughs. Since comic books embracing
long story arcs must "recap" previous issues to bring "new
readers" up to date, there are several pages regarding
Carter's captivity.
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The Valiant DieBut Once!The Valiant DieBut Once!The Valiant DieBut Once!The Valiant DieBut Once!Ernie Colon (Pencils)
Frank Springer (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
Clem Robbins (Letters)
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4See last issue (note: I've always wanted to say that!)
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John Carter, now a respected member of Gar
Karus' military force, expends many pages of angst
over the fate of his wife. When next he sees her,
she is a changed woman, not only in appearance, but
in her attitude toward him. She's on the arm of
Chan Tomar, who, in Carter's presence, kisses her
and she appears to respond.
Carter, of course, is confused!
Later, when they have a moment together,
Dejah Thoris begs his understanding, but Carter is
cruel in his rejection, deeply hurt. Shocked, Dejah
Thoris rejects John Carter's anger and walks away.
Carter, still angry, leaves. He is accosted by
relatives and friends of the winged odwar he had
slain4 (see last issue). Outnumbered, he gives a
good account of himself, but in the end is nearly
overwhelmed. At the last instant Garthon arrives to
break it up.
Meanwhile, from a window high above the
walkway between stalactites, Dejah Thoris has seen
the battle, heart sick. Then she is summoned by
Chan Tomar. She goes, but she goes with her game
plan of delay, delay, delay!
Garthon and Carter return to the garden. The
young Orovar confesses he'd rather garden than be
a warrior, but his wingless state makes him lesser
to all in Kanathor, even in the eyes of his father.
Carter learns more of the history of the city,
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5This city or culture does not exist in the novels.
17
how the people came to the giant cave in the hidden
canyon when the oceans began to evaporate. He
also discovers Garthon's illicit romance with a
beautiful slave, a red woman named Hira, who
brings a message regarding a Ptothian5 attack.
Gar Karus orders both to take command of the
great wall across the cavern's entrance. Soon they
are in battle with the Ptothian horde, who arrive on
giant birds.
Soon (several pages of battle later) Carter and
Garthon are alone, retreating before the advancing
horde!
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
The malagor type legions mesh with Ed Burroughs' Bar-
soom tales quite nicely. The convoluted slavery of Dejah
Thoris is decidedly Marvel—a Barsoomian princess might be
held in a tower or cell for long periods of time, but in no story
by Burroughs would she kiss another, or allow such handling
offensive as depicted in the Marvel tale.
Also, as with many other Marvel tales (other comic
heroes) there have been a lot of sub-plots introduced. The list
will increase over the next few issues.
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Battle at the Bottom of the World!Battle at the Bottom of the World!Battle at the Bottom of the World!Battle at the Bottom of the World!Ernie Colon (Pencils) Ernie Colon (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
John Costanza (Letters)
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Carter and Garthon escape the Ptothian mob
atop the great wall by way of the Earthman's mighty
leaping ability (which he has kept secret). Return-
ing to Gar Karus, they learn the bitter battle fought,
where many of their warriors were slaughter, was
part of a greater plan to defeat the Ptothians. The
two rest, re-arm, then return to the battle.
Dejah Thoris, however, has her hands full
keeping Chan Tomar at bay. The jeddak is growing
impatient.
The battle with the Ptothians is won. Gar
Karus praises John Carter but not Garthon. Carter
questions and hears directly from the father's lips
his disappointment Garthon would rather garden
than be a warrior—a greater disappointment than
being wingless!
Later, that night, while the city is celebrating
victory, Carter plans. He intends to free Dejah
Thoris. In the darkness an intruder appears. Carter
almost slits Garthon's throat, who has come to
reveals his love of Hira and his determination to
leave the canyon via a secret underground way he
had discovered some years before. He offers the
same to John Carter. Carter agrees.
Garthon leaves to make ready. Carter leaps
building to building to reach the room where Dejah
Thoris is imprisoned. He arrives just in time to stop
Chan Tomar's final advance on Dejah Thoris. The
battle is rather short. Dejah Thoris is overjoyed to
see her husband. As they turn to leave, two guards
enter the chamber.
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6This is the last appearance of Garthon and Hira. We
do not know what happens to them.
20
The Lady and the Lion!The Lady and the Lion!The Lady and the Lion!The Lady and the Lion!Ernie Colon (Pencils)
Frank Springer (Inks)
Ben Sean (Colors)
Joe Rosen (Letters)
Carter and Dejah Thoris defeat the guards.
However, they are not able to escape the city. Gar-
thon and Hira, waiting at the secret passage to the
canyon rim watch helplessly.6 The warlord and his
princess are recaptured. Carter is to be consigned
to battle banths in the arena. That night he and
Dejah Thoris are together in a cell. She confesses
she is not worthy of Carter's love. Carter asks if she
had good reason. She replies: "Yes." and forgives
her.
Carter's battle in the arena follows, with ex-
pected outcome. Chan Tomar is quite unhappy.
Taking a bow in hand, the jeddak shoots an arrow
into Dejah Thoris. Carter frees his woman and,
carrying her, leaps into the jeddak's box. While he
fights the guard, they all are surprised when Chan
Tomar falls—cut down by Dejah Thoris' hand.
The Orovars rejoice, they have been very un-
happy under Chan Tomar's rule. Things look great
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until Gar Karus, with some regret, declares that
Dejah Thoris and John Carter must die for having
murdered the jeddak of the Orovars!
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
Setting aside the winged human aspect, this issue is
very close to ERB's own writing. The true spirit of John
Carter's previous captivities in the books is revisited and
Dejah Thoris' revenge by knife mirrors her daughter's actions
in Chessmen of Mars.
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Climb to FreedomClimb to FreedomClimb to FreedomClimb to FreedomMike Vosburg (Pencils)
Ricardo Villamonte (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
John Costanza (Letters)
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7The only mountains we know Carter visited on
Earth are in Arizona. He was never in Tibet.
23
Via the small surprise of a radium pistol which
Dejah Thoris uses to shoot up the place, Carter and
his wife escape the city and begin to climb the
valley all. Gar Karus calls off the pursuit—their
legends indicate that no one has ever reached the
top, and if they did, they would be in hell.
This episode is a transition between the first
part and the part to come. It chronicles the escape
from the Orovar valley by a difficult eight mile climb
up sheer and dangerous cliffs. Dejah Thoris, recov-
ering from her wounds, is not one hundred per cent,
but does not lag, complaint, or hinder Carter's
mountaineering efforts.
There is a flashback to Carter's mountain
climbing on Earth, including an expedition to Ever-
est.7
Ultimately they arrive at the canyon rim.
Coincidently they arrive near the wreckage of Dejah
Thoris' flier. She dons her sixth change of costume
just before an immense flier arrives overhead and
demands they surrender to the guild of assassins.
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
In the grand Marvel style, there's much introspection by
John Carter during the strenuous climb, which is beautifully
illustrated. The bond between Carter and his wife is more
fully explored. Upon further reflection, this isn't so different
from the romance style of Edgar Rice Burroughs!
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The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)
Ricardo Villamonte (Inks)
Ben Sean (Colors)
John Costanza (Letters)
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8Telepathy is part of the Barsoom saga.
9Character does not exist in ERB's novels.
10We do not know the name of Dejah Thoris' mother.
26
Dejah Thoris, now attired once again as Daria
(remember her?) is welcomed by the battleship of
assassins. Carter, about to be thrown in irons,
creates a distraction (battle) and leaps, taking his
wife to the yard arm above the ship's deck. There
he fights a mock sword battle while he attempts to
read his wife's thoughts.8
He learns quite a bit...and something more that
startles him. In that moment Carter is hit by rifle
fire and falls to the deck.
Meanwhile, in Helium, Tardos Mors chats with
his wife Tharia9, concerned over the missing couple.
Mors Kajak and Tara10, Dejah Thoris' parents,
enter, having returned from the coronation of
Gahan as Jed of Gathol. Tardos Mors is worried that
his efforts at peace may not last.
Back on the assassins' ship, Carter comes to, in
chains. He's taken on deck where he witnesses a
battle between Dejah Thoris (as Daria) against
three highly trained female assassins. She dis-
patches them.
Just as the gathered assassins, appreciative of
the pretty fighting they have witnessed begin to
cheer, Tal Mordin is informed of the deception. He
decrees that Dejah Thoris must fight again, only
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27
this time it is a gigantic green man!
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
There's a lot of action and filler material in this episode.
Many of the motivations of the assassins is revealed, as well
as a reliance on technology. Dejah Thoris undergoes yet
another costume change!
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28
Betrayal!Betrayal!Betrayal!Betrayal!Mike Vosburg (breakdowns) Ricardo Villamonte (finished art)
(Pencils),
Ricardo Villamonte (Inks)
Roger Slifer (Colors) Rick Parker (Letters)
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11Daria's death was not reported to the city at large.
12Giant rats
29
The big green man is Tars Tarkas. The Thark
manages to free John Carter and between them
they create such a terrific diversion that Dejah
Thoris is able to enter a small flier and leave the
great airship.
Carter and the Thark vanish into the bowels of
the ship to commence guerilla warfare. The tactic is
highly successful. In no time at all the assassins are
running scared trying to find the two men. We are
shown more of the technology in use, including
computers.
Elsewhere, Dejah Thoris has arrived at Helium.
Unfortunately, the city's heightened alert makes it
impossible for her to land at her father's pal-
ace—the patrol ships surround and then take her
into custody. When brought to the officer in charge,
no one believes she is the princess. They are sure
they have Daria in custody.11
The officer takes the princess into the dun-
geons and chains her. He then reveals he is a
member of the assassins and leaves her to face the
dreaded ulsios12 of Barsoom.
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30
Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)
Ricardo Villamonte (Inks)
Ben Sean (Colors) Elaine Heinl (Letters)
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31
Carter and Tars Tarkas continue their silent
war against the assassins, who are really becoming
unstrung.
In Helium Mors Kajak and Tara get a little
amorous in the garden. From a window his mother
observes with a smile. When her husband enters,
looking for Mors Kajak, she reminds him that they,
too, once were that spontaneous. Tardos Mors
takes her into his arms and proves he's not too old
to remember.
Carter's battle plan has advanced. He enters the
cabin of the chief assassin, Tal Mordin. Tal Mordin
attempts to enlist the Earthman to join his plan for
conquest. John Carter listens, buying time for Tars
Tarkas to complete his part of the plan.
The master assassin sees and opening and
attacks Carter.
Tars Tarkas sets the last of his charges and
works his way through the decks.
Carter's battle with Tal Mordin has the master
assassin on the defensive. The assassin backs away.
Carter, caught in battle frenzy, follows and realizes,
too late, he has been led to the ship's deck. Sud-
denly surrounded, Carter explodes into action.
Tars Tarkas enters the fray, taking Carter's
back. They battle until sunrise, which detonates the
radium charges the Thark has planted. In the en-
suing chaos the two disengage, locate an undam-
aged flier, and escape.
Meanwhile, Kantos Kan follows up a suspicion
and discovers Dejah Thoris in the dungeon. Upon
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32
release the princess begins to explain, but they are
confronted by the hidden assassin Surbus and his
men.
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33
Night of the Long Knives!Night of the Long Knives!Night of the Long Knives!Night of the Long Knives!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)
Ernie Chan (Inks)
Bob Sharen (Colors)
Diana Albers (Letters)
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13No stairwells are found in red or white martian
architecture, ramps and spiral ramps are used.
34
Dejah Thoris cleverly manages to get off a few
pistol rounds, distracting Surbus' men long enough
for Kantos Kan to get into action. Moments later the
villains are dead and the pair race to the royal palace.
Along the way they discover the jeddak's guard has
been murdered by poison and that a ship filled with
assassins is landing in the courtyard.
Inside the palace we see a dark figure with
drawn knife approaching the sleeping figures of
Mors Kajak and Tara. The attack is unsuccessful.
Mors Kajak rushes out to "see what's afoot." He
returns shortly, revealing the assassin invasion to
his wife. He will go to the royal nursery to protect
the children while she runs to the apartments of her
father-in-law with warning. She sees assassins
about to enter and fires.
Warned, Tardos Mors exits the apartments and
slays the remaining assassin, ordering the women
to seek cover. An unseen assassin takes aim at the
trio. But he is seen by Dejah Thoris and Kantos
Kan racing down the corridor. The princess of
Helium throws her sword, killing the assassin.
Kantos Kan vows to guard the stairwell13
leading to the apartments and the royal nursery.
Tardos Mors, and the three women, enter the
nursery where Mors Kajak and Sola, the green
woman, are sorely tested by the hordes of assassins
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35
breaking eggs and killing children.
The battle is long and bloody. In the midst of
combat, John Carter and Tars Tarkas appear in their
flier. Carter leaps into the fray, directing the Thark
to bring help.
When the battle for the nursery is over, many
of the children are safe. Carter and the jeddaks
carry the battle to the assassins, with the aid of
Tharks from the embassy led by Tars Tarkas.
The assassins' coup is thwarted. The weary
royal family takes inventory—until a barrage of
radium blasts from a roof top lays low the mother of
Dejah Thoris. Tal Modin believes his takeover
might yet succeed, but he has reckoned without
consideration of John Carter's physical ability. He
must race to a waiting flier when Carter leaps to the
rooftop.
Carter makes one final leap and secures a grip
on the flier, but Tal Modin's muzzle laid across the
warlord's temple sends the Earthman falling from
the sky.
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
Children are killed in this episode. Dejah Thoris' mother
dies. The action scenes and emotional content are high
calibre.
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36
Marathon of Death!Marathon of Death!Marathon of Death!Marathon of Death!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)
? (as M. Hands) (Inks)
Slifer (Colors)
Jim Novak (Letters)
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37
Tars Tarkas races to the fallen warlord on a
thoat. Carter regains consciousness in time to see
Tal Mordin's aircraft near the horizon. The Thark
raises his radium rifle and sends a few rounds,
which damage the master assassin's flier.
Carter and the Thark follow on thoatback. The
trek is long, the slowly descending smoking flier
ever before them. In time they arrive at the city
where Tars Tarkas had his battle with the green
warrior seeking unseat him as ruler of the Tharks.
The battle inside the city is standard fare.
Tal Mordin succumbs to the same supernatural
deviltry Tars Tarkas once faced. Carter is dis-
pleased, he wanted to question the man to find out
where is the master assassin—for though he looked
like Tal Mordin, he did not fight like the master
assassin!
The two continue. Later they find the wreckage
of a flier shot down. The men are dead. John Carter
recognizes the fragrance of Dejah Thoris.
John Carter goes on alone...his fantastic
strength is greater than the thoat's endurance. He
doggedly maintains a grueling pace until...
He reaches a camp where Warhoons are tortur-
ing the remaining men and there...chained to a
stake, is Dejah Thoris.
Carter silently takes out a guard, reducing
numbers, moving ever closer to his wife, who is
now the last surviving human. The Earthman
stampedes the Warhoon thoats into the camp,
scattering the green men. Slays a few. Rescues his
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14Carter muses he likes the Jasoomian method
better. Waiting seven years to meet his son seems unnatural.
Our question is seven "earth years?" ERB's version is five
Martian years.
38
wife. They leap upon a thoat and race away.
Later, in Helium, Carter is pacing back and
forth. The expectant father (this he learned during
his mind to mind contact with Dejah Thoris on
board the gigantic assassin airship). He is surprised
when he's shown an egg.14
Kissy-face lovey-dovey follows.
And we, dear readers, will never know where
is the Master Assassin!
Comments:Comments:Comments:Comments:
It is obvious that Marvel intended John Carter, Warlord
of Mars to continue. The threat of the guild of assassins was
not destroyed, the master assassin remains at large, and we
know that John Carter still faced the failure of the atmo-
sphere plant and ten long years back on Earth before return-
ing to Mars for the events of Gods of Mars. One last issue
was produced by Marvel before the series ended.
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39
Afterword
Those looking for adaptations of Edgar Rice
Burroughs' Mars books should look elsewhere.
Marvel, even when it tried very hard, just did not
seem capable to doing it straight—a modern-ish
spin was always inserted and the characters did not
follow their previous roles. However, if one is
looking for extensions of stories we loved in pulps
and hardbacks and those gaudy paperbacks, then
Marvel did a good job.
There is much to like about the artwork.
Wonderful images of a dying world, vast vistas of
unexplored territory, horizons that beckon with
mystery and excitement. The scripting was better
than journeyman, in fact, I would label it solid gold
hack—and that is a complement!
Things we expected were usually there. Inser-
tion of Barsoomian words and measures, fliers,
radium pistols, swords... and a few things we did not
expect like bullwhips and computers! What was not
glossed over or drastically altered was the romance
between the Jasoomian and the Princess of He-
lium—that rang true.
Seeing Dejah Thoris as an assertive woman,
trained in the arts of war, capable, even devious, is
not too great a stretch. These qualities were hinted
by Ed Burroughs and were the same guide posts
that I used in creating the character of Dee—the
alias used by Dejah Thoris in a terrific Barsoomian
novel entitled When The Princess Disappeared. I had
help on that project but I wrote the "Dee" parts. So,
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40
there's no surprise that I liked Marvel's portrayal of
the wife of John Carter, Warlord of Mars!
Fans of Burroughs who are also fans of comics
might enjoy Marvel's take on the warrior of two
worlds. Fans of the books who do not routinely read
comics might find this version interesting, even
intriguing.
What we are left with is a legacy of John Carter
in comics...and very little at that. Previously the
only comic versions were those created by John
Coleman Burroughs for newspaper syndication and
three single issues adapting Princess and Gods by
Dell, illustrated by Jesse Marsh. The Marvel
JCWOM is far more ambitious, is lavishly illustrated
and colored, and either ended too soon, or not soon
enough—depends on who you ask.