I've never read any of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "John Carter of Mars" stories, although of course I'd heard of the old pulp novels back in the day, and knew some of the basics. Reading "Warlord of Mars" #1, though, showed me just how many of the basics I still didn't know about the character. Like, for instance, that he was a captain in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, which had recently ended as the comic begins. Arvid Nelson could have probably left that part of the story out, or at least skimmed it over in his adaptation of Burroughs' prose into comics, but instead we leap right into the middle as Carter and his friend and fellow former Confederate officer James Powell get into a fight with several Union officers while stopping for a beer in Arizona Territory. It's interesting, because at a glance it's hard to not focus on just Carter being a Confederate soldier. As the story unfolds, though, it becomes clearer that Carter has two very specific allegiances, and they're specifically to his home state of Virginia, and to his friends. These loyalties are ones that I suspect will become important as "Warlord of Mars" continues (and Mars becomes Carter's new home and he makes new friends there), and I appreciated that Nelson plays it subtly as this story unfolds.

Warlord of Mars continues with a second round of adventure! In issue #2, we'll see Tarkas confront his rival, Tars—only one of them is walking away from the encounter. As for John Carter, he's still prospecting for gold in the Arizona wilderness. But his life is about to take a very unexpected turn!

John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, ex-cavalry officer in the Confederate Army, takes to the skies in search of his lost love Dejah Thoris. It turns out riding a one-man Martian air scout is a lot like riding a horse, except much more dangerous. Carter's going to need all his skill not to end up a red smear on the desolate dry sea bottoms of Mars! Carter also uncovers the deep, dark secret that keeps the red planet alive. It's a secret worth killing for...

Dejah Thoris is left to fend for herself while her son, Carthoris, travels to the Atmosphere Factory to clear his father's name. Carthoris is going to need all the help he can get just to survive the trip - fortunately, he'll have Tars Tarkas, mightiest warrior of the green Martian tribes, at his side. Who knows what mysteries await their arrival? Dejah continues her own investigation into the murder of the Caretaker while they're away. She might not like what she finds... conspiracies, corpses and secrets, oh my! It's Warlord of Mars #11: A Thark's Intuition, Heretic of Mars Part 2 of 3!

John Carter returns to Mars to be with his beloved princess and the son he has never know - at least, that was his plan. He arrives on the Red Planet in a forest of horrors, a place he's never seen before. Fortunately, an old friend joins him soon enough. Before Carter can look for answers about where he is, he's going to have to do what he does best - kick a little ass. Well, more than a little! Warlord of Mars #13: A Forest Battle is the thrilling first installment of the Gods of Mars story arc, believed by some, including the writer of this very blurb, to be the finest of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars novels. You don't want to miss it!

The dreaded moon pirates of Mars are whisking John Carter off to a mysterious and surely unpleasant fate. Along for the ride is Phaidor, a thern princess whose beauty is only matched by her complete lack of humanity. As far as Phaidor is concerned, all life on Mars is beneath the therns, but she's going to get a rude awakening about the ugly truth behind the religion she's believed so blindly for her entire existence. Warlord of Mars #15: Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal. Hell hath no fury like a thern princess scorned!

John Carter is finally united with the son he never knew. The two of them face bloody death in the great arena of Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal. No one has ever escaped from the arena of Issus before, but Carter and his son might have a thing or two to teach this false goddess about religion—the old fashioned way, at the end of a sword point! Hair-raising escapes, devious villainy, and an embarrassing revelation or two await you in Warlord of Mars Issue 16: Flight and Pursuit!

John Carter returns to his beloved Helium, only to find it in the clutches of a brutal dictator. His princess, Dejah Thoris, is a prisoner of the evil priests who control the cult of Issus, the false goddess worshipped throughout Mars. John Carter's enemies have branded him a heretic and an outcast, but Carter has his own allies - his son, Carthoris, the great Thark warrior, Tars Tarkas, and his own sword arm! Warlord of Mars #17: Helium Divided is the second-to-last installment of the Gods of Mars story arc. The stage is set for the final confrontation!

Poor John Carter! Beautiful Martians babes are falling in love with him left and right, but all he wants is his Dejah Thoris. Dejah is a captive of Issus, the false goddess of Mars, and Carter is racing to free her. With him is Carthoris, his son, and the greatest fleet of airships Mars has ever seen. But Issus has more than one devious trick in store for Carter and his navy.

Issus is dead, but her high priest has activated a doomsday device that will destroy Mars' fragile atmosphere. Before they can shut it down, John Carter and his son Carthoris have to figure out where it is! Helping them is Linea, a beautiful black Martian princess with a very special heritage. Linea and Carthoris start to click, and a union between the black and red races could be just what the wounded planet needs. But unknown horrors await the young lovers at the end of their quest.

John Carter smashed the power of the therns, the evil priests who enslaved Mars for thousands of years with their false religion. But Matai Shang, the Holy Father of their order, has found the perfect way to strike back—Dejah Thoris. Shang has kidnapped Carter's princess and is heading for a remote kingdom that still blindly clings to his discredited faith. Unfortunately for him, John Carter is hot on his trail!

John Carter's murder investigation has lead him to the frozen wastes of the Martian North, where things are really heating up. He uncovers evidence of a conspiracy aimed at destroying the fragile peace on Mars, but who is behind it, and why? Carter has no shortage of suspects, and all of his leads are turning into dead ends - literally! He's going to have to use his brains as well as his blade to uncover the truth. Warlord of Mars #28: Black Dawn. Part 3 of the terrific "Savages of Mars" story arc!

John Carter is far from home, and his enemies have enslaved the mind of his only ally, Tars Tarkas. Carter is left with a brutal kill his greatest friend, or allow Mars to descend into a war that could well destroy the Red Planet. What's he to do? How about a little impromptu surgery, followed by some serious ass-kicking? An epic showdown for the future of Barsoom awaits readers in Warlord of Mars #30: Red Tears, the final installment of the thrilling "Savages of Mars" storyline!

The Red Planet is a world of secrets, but Martians lack the innate curiosity of Earthlings. Why? Because on Mars, the past can come back to haunt you - literally! When John Carter discovers the inner workings of a mysterious tower over his capital, he unleashes an ancient evil that could lay waste to his empire!

John Carter has spilled blood in the service of Helium. But for thousands of years before his arrival, his adopted homeland suffered at the hands of Mars' other races. Now, his victories have awakened a legendary hero.

John Carter desperately searches for the true identity of the tyrant who has dragged Mars into a planet-spanning crusade of racial extermination. Although Carter finds a ray of hope among his former enemies, the tyrant is tracking his every move...

John Carter blunders into a trap set by the brutal tyrant laying waste to the Red Planet. But in doing so, the tyrant unwittingly reveals his greatest secret and only weakness. It's just what Carter and his family need to strike back—if they survive.

The original warrior of Mars comes to Dynamite Warlord of Mars is an enhancement of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs story, Princess of Mars. If you thought you knew the story, think again Featuring John Carter, an ex-cavalry officer in the Confederate Army who finds himself mysteriously transported to Mars, joined on his adventures by Tars Tarkas, his Martian comrade, and Dejah Thoris, a Martian Princess. Collects the first 9 issues of the hit series, along with bonus material and a complete cover gallery featuring such great artists as Alex Ross, Joe Jusko, J. Scott Campbell, Lucio Parrillo, and more.

Collects issues 10-18 of the series! John Carter disappeared from Mars as mysteriously as he arrived. Days before he did, an unknown assassin murdered the guardian of the Red Planet's life support system. Carter himself is implicated in the horrific crime, and it's up to his princess, Dejah Thoris, to clear his name. That would be tough enough, but someone is trying to kill Dejah, too! With enemies all around her, both seen and unseen, she'll need all the help she can get. A murder mystery of Barsoomian proportions and more in the Warlord of Mars A murder mystery of Barsoomian proportions and more in the Warlord of Mars 2 Vol TP!