Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars The Jesse Marsh Years

by Paul S. Newman, Jesse Marsh (Illustrator)

In 1947, Jesse Marsh - an artist who would inspire generations of comics creators and earn the esteem of professional peers such as industry legends Russ Manning and Alex Toth - won over millions of readers with his four-color vision of Edgar Rice Burroughs' beloved character Tarzan. To the delight of his readers, Marsh would continue to draw Tarzan comics for the following nineteen years. But his passion for Burroughs' creations wasn't limited to the legendary writer's jungle lord, and in the early 1950s he teamed up with prolific comics writer Paul S. Newman to breath life into another of Burroughs' beloved the courageous adventurer John Carter of Mars!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Science Fiction

120 pages, Hardcover

First published May 11, 2010

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first John Carter book I ever read was The Gods of Mars Barsoom 2. Like my first encounter with Tolkien (The Two Towers), I was thrown into a story whose beginning I didn't know, and was initially far out to sea. Unlike Tolkien, however, you don't really need to know what's come before to enjoy what's happening now. I wanted to know who Tars Tarkas or (the incomparable) Dejah Thoris was, of course, but Carter's struggle against the Holy Therns and the Black Pirates took center stage.

I think A Princess of Mars Barsoom 1 was actually the third or fourth Barsoom book I read.

And I've never read any of the Tarzan, Pellucidar or Venus novels or any of the other fantastical worlds Burroughs could create.

What drew me to John Carter was the image of Mars ERB created: An ancient, dying civilization populated by a menagerie of interesting people and beasts. At age 10, it combined my two passions at the time - astronomy and fantasy.

(Sigh) I would reread my dog-eared copies of the series over the years but less and less frequently. As I grew older (note, not more mature necessarily), it became less and less of a pleasure. The three stars that accompany the Burroughs on my shelf are largely nostalgic stars, not based on the quality of the stories.

However, I was interested when I saw at the SF Book Club site that Dark Horse Archives had put together a collection of John Carter comics adapted in the 1950s and illustrated by Jesse Marsh, and when a sale came around I decided to get the volume. It wasn't a very wise choice.

The adaptation is primitive, and the artwork is ugly. Perhaps someone better acquainted with the aesthetics of comic-book art could appreciate Marsh's work more, but for me, it wasn't very good. The best drawn character was Thuvia. (Dejah Thoris is drawn with a hairdo that rivals Princess Leia's from the first Star Wars for absurdity).

The abridged narrative also drives home just what a useless piece of eye candy Dejah Thoris is. Sheesh, other than the bodacious bod, what can Carter possibly see in her?

BONUS OFFENSIVE QUOTE: Though Burroughs was not the most progressive, racially sensitive author by any light*, I don't recall he was quite as explicit about Anglo-Saxon superiority as this quote from the comic: "Please release me, O mighty white man!" (Of course, it's been decades since I've read The Gods of Mars.)

* Let's remember that Carter was a Virginian and had served in the Confederate army during the Civil War (I think he reached a captain's rank)!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all this was a highly enjoyable read that condensed some of Edgar Rice Burroughs classic tales of Barsoom and presented them through a lens of 50's era sensibilities with a vibrant (almost psychedelic) four color process. The line art is well drafted though may seem antiquated when viewed by the more modern comic book fan, and while not on the level of Raymond's Flash Gordon illustrations (or the works of Hogarth on Burrough's Tarzan), the drawings are full of square jawed men, lovely ladies and outre creatures (albeit more costumed than in ERB's original yarns). After reading this collection I couldn't help but imagine what a movie serial based on John Carter would have been like as the book seems almost like an adaptation of a forgotten Republic serial.

[Charles · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one hit a sour note with me right from the beginning. First we have an introduction by someone I've never heard of, who first admits that he only learned about Edgar Rice Burroughs through comics and other sources without reading the orginal, and then proceeds to take a few snide potshots at ERB.

Then we have ghastly storytelling combined with awful art and horrendously unnatural colors. Thank goodness I didn't discover John Carter and Barsoom through these comics but read the original exciting adventures written by ERB himself. If I'd first been exposed to ERB's Mars stories through this crap I'd probably have written ERB off and my life would have been the poorer.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Newman does a pretty good job adapting the first few Warlord of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jesse March may have been a pioneer in comic art, but a lot of the renderings will come across as stiff and lack dynamism by the standards of today.

In contravention to the source material, the black pirates are colored with white skin rather than black. Neither is Dejah Thoris colored with red skin. Also, in an attempt to update the story, John Carter is shown to be a Korean War vet rather than a Civil War soldier.

It's worth reading but fan's of the Martian novels will likely find a later illustrated version they prefer.

[David Critchfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects three comic books originally published in 1952 and 1953. The comics faithfully adapt the first three novels of the Barsoom series. I enjoyed the story but am not a fan of Jesse Marsh's artwork.

[John Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the one Burroughs character that shouldn't have a watered down 1950s comic book. The introduction is TERRIBLE!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a streamlined adaptation of the first three novels, done back in the 1950's. Because of the era, there are a few weird changes from the books (the Black Pirates of Mars, for one example), but for THAT era this is pretty great art and storytelling. Having seen more modern artistic renderings of the Mars series, I kinda had a laugh at how well-clothed these characters were in comparison! (According to the books, everyone walks around naked on Barsoom...and most comics tend to use the barbaric harnesses and loincloths.) Like other fans...I am waiting on that "Princess of Mars" movie that will probably never be made!

[K T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very stiff art with rather poor character acting and some unclear action scenes, but it has sense of charm. I'm nostalgic about the Barsoom series. I enjoyed seeing these comics.

[Steve Groves · Rating 2 out of 5]

50's comic book reprints.