By: Arvid Nelson (writer), Stephen Sadowski (illustrator), Adriano Lucas (colorist), Joe Rybandt (editor), based on the stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Story: A Tale of Two Planets, Part Two: John Carter’s friend Powell is captured by Apache warriors in Arizona. Tars, a nameless, unproven Thark on Mars, is challenged by Tarkas, an ambitious green warrior eager to make a kill and gain honor.
What’s Good: Sadowksi and Lucas again make this visual experience come alive. From the opening splash page staring into an Arizona canyon, to the splash page at the end with one green warrior standing over another, the dynamism of the movements and the emotions on the faces are there. Nelson is really lucky to have an artist like Sadowski who can transmit nuanced emotion so Nelson’s words don’t have to. Fear, rage, pride, cunning, disdain and confusion are all there, without any need for words or dialogue. Carter’s supplication to Mars, that red point of light in the sky, is close to religious, and is narrated in silent body language. Carter’s expressions throughout the book would have fit on the poster of any old western. And, while I don’t usually give a thumbs up to gratuitous sensuality, Campbell’s jaw-dropping cover reminds me of why boys and men love Dejah Thoris. No wonder I wanted to be John Carter.
On the plotting side, Nelson’s obviously got a roadmap to follow, and I have read the Princess of Mars so many times that even the slightest deviation is noticeable. That being said, where Nelson does deviate, I like what he’s doing. All of Tars’ story is new and intriguing. Carter’s exploration of the cave and the pictures on the wall tie later events more closely together, without the coincidence that Burroughs so often resorted to. Nelson did the same thing last issue by giving the Apache warriors a motive to hunt the white men.
What’s Not So Good: Sadowski on art, despite his obvious successes, is still in the process of winning me over. The textural detail, the feel of reality I want, hasn’t shown up yet. Even the best facial expressions still look a bit like emotion stamped onto plastic or rubber faces. This was most pronounced with the green Martians. On the execution of the writing, which was text boxes mostly paraphrased or swiped (for good reason) from A Princess of Mars, and dialogue, it felt a bit like a great book being converted into a movie. There are obviously parts that have to come out to turn prose into a visual experience. I guess I felt those gaps, so that the read was a bit jarring for me in places. Small points, but noticeable.
Conclusion: Dynamite has put out a second good issue of Warlord of Mars. I like the first issue better, but this one is definitely worth picking up. And, issue #3 is going to start with John Carter on Mars.
Grade: B
-DS Arsenault
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Conclusion