MASTER ASSASSINS OF MARS - ERB-LIST.COMerblist.com/erbmania/tangor/tangor-masterassassin-1.pdf ·...

ERBmania! Column:ERBmania! Column:ERBmania! Column:ERBmania! Column: T T T TANGOR ANGOR ANGOR ANGOR RRRRESPONDSESPONDSESPONDSESPONDS

http://www.erblist.comhttp://www.erblist.comhttp://www.erblist.comhttp://www.erblist.com

1

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



2

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



3

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



4

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-



5

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



6

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.



7

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)



1Does not appear in Barsoom novels. The only

spiders specifically mentioned by ERB are found in the Valley

Hohr near Ghasta.

8

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.



9

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.



10

What Price Victory?What Price Victory?What Price Victory?What Price Victory?Ernie Colon (Pencils)

Bob Layton (Inks)

Bob Sharen (Colors)




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



12

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).



13

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)



14

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.



15

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)



4See last issue (note: I've always wanted to say that!)

16

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,



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.



18

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)




19

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.



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



21

until Gar Karus, with some regret, declares that

Dejah Thoris and John Carter must die for having

murdered the jeddak of the Orovars!


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.



22

Climb to FreedomClimb to FreedomClimb to FreedomClimb to FreedomMike Vosburg (Pencils)

Ricardo Villamonte (Inks)

Bob Sharen (Colors)




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.


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!



24



25

The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!The Man Who Makes Murder!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)


Ben Sean (Colors)




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



27

this time it is a gigantic green man!


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!



28

Betrayal!Betrayal!Betrayal!Betrayal!Mike Vosburg (breakdowns) Ricardo Villamonte (finished art)

(Pencils),


Roger Slifer (Colors) Rick Parker (Letters)



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.



30

Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Hide-'n'-Seek!Mike Vosburg (Pencils)


Ben Sean (Colors) Elaine Heinl (Letters)



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



32

release the princess begins to explain, but they are

confronted by the hidden assassin Surbus and his

men.



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)



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



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.


Children are killed in this episode. Dejah Thoris' mother

dies. The action scenes and emotional content are high

calibre.



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)



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



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!


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.



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,



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.

MASTER ASSASSINS OF MARS - ERB-LIST.COMerblist.com/erbmania/tangor/tangor-masterassassin-1.pdf ·...

Documents

Transcript of MASTER ASSASSINS OF MARS - ERB-LIST.COMerblist.com/erbmania/tangor/tangor-masterassassin-1.pdf ·...