By: Arvid Nelson (writer), Carlos Rafael (artist), Carlos Lopez (colors), Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator)
The Story: The Colossus of Mars, Part 3: On the Barsoom of 500 years ago, the Tharks are hammering at the gates of Helium. The rulers of both Lesser and Greater Helium are either in chains or trying to escape. And the Jeddak of Yorn has brought to life the great Colossus of Mars.
What’s Good: Nelson has gotten us halfway through a five-issue arc. The high part of the second act is where Nelson successfully has the efforts of the heroes come apart in their hands, and where the danger to everyone gets a whole lot worse. This is pure Barsoomian adventure with reversals and unexpected turns, in the classic Burroughs style. Stories set on Barsoom are always *big*. Cities at war. Planets in peril. Invasions to be fought off. Yet the stories are also always *personal*. Characters we care about are about to get their tails handed to them. Nelson captures this perfectly, with the old-school heroics of the red Barsoomians, the absolute dastardliness of the villains, and the savage nobility even of the worst of the Tharks. And Rafael and Lopez deliver the great visuals this issue needs to power it through. I was spellbound by the Colossus of Mars. Organic? Metallic? Something else? I don’t know, but it was spooky and old-school pulpy and wickedly cool. I had the same reaction as most of Yorn’s troops. Wow. Same thing for the weapons, and the green men of Mars, with Rafael now becoming my favorite artist for all things Thark. And off course, the story’s lead, Dejah Thoris, remains, as Burroughs intended, incomparable. What’s Not So Good: I know Dejah Thoris is the top-billed star of this book, but the eclipsing of Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak (her grandfather and father respectively) feels a bit odd to me. I’m not sure that I buy the authenticity of these two experienced and noble warriors playing second banana to Dejah Thoris all the time. I like that Mors Kajak has his own grief and injuries to deal with, but there isn’t much excuse for the Jeddak of Lesser Helium. The idea of Yorn losing control of his new acquisition is also a classic morality tale of the villain overreaching archetype. While I see the moral arc building, I do hope that Nelson gives us a twist that will be a satisfying modernization of what pulps are great at. I think Dynamite has been doing some really good work at that modernization (I’m thinking especially of Kato Origins and Warlord of Mars) of old pulp traditions, but I’m feeling that Nelson is cleaving really close to the pulpy roots of Barsoom and wonder if the Dejah Thoris series will also deliver on that modernization. Conclusion: I feel like Burroughs is really back! Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris #3 is a lot of fun. Definitely pick it up for old-school, sword and planet adventure. I’ll definitely be back for #4.
Grade: A–
-DS Arsenault
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Conclusion