Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writers: Ron Marz and Ian Edginton
Art: Ariel Medel
Inks: Nanjan Jamberi
Letters: Rob Steen
Release: OUT NOW!
Price: $19.99
Pages: 224

I’m going to be the first to admit, I’d never heard of John Carter: Warlord of Mars before. Edgar Rice Burrough’s Baroom stories had passed me by and I’d never even read Gil Kane’s 1977 run of the character for Marvel comics. My first experiences with the character came in 2015 with the Disney movie based on the original novels. So, John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters is something of a revelation.

I then got to reading the John Carter comics by Dynamite, picking up Vol 1 of the new series, then I found I had to get John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters, which covers issues 7-14. I’ve been loving Ron Marz’s interpretation of the novels and bringing the swords and sorcery mixed with romantic sci-fi into it.

For those who might have been out of the loop, in John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters John Carter is a Confederate Soldier during the American Civil War. After the war ends, he becomes a gold prospector in Arizona. After various adventures with rival prospectors and Apaches, he ends up on Mars. Because of his thicker bone density and lower gravity, Carter is now capable of great feats of agility and strength. It’s on Mars he becomes a Warlord, saving the planet’s inhabitants from threats.

In John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters we pick up after the Khori Invasion. Helium is healing and rebuilding. As such, Dejah and John decide to take some much-needed R&R, However, as things always will be on Mars, it doesn’t remain peaceful for long. Dejah Thoris takes the reins in the first story after John is taken out by a Warhoon raiding party, she must protect her downed husband and fight off a raiding party.

After that, Dejah is kidnapped by a lovelorn and artificial beast called the Hormad, which has kidnapped other women from Mars to mate with. It’s down to John, in John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters, to save her. He must also deal with the evil sand spirit Jartak and his final adventure comes in the form of being caught in the middle of a war between the Red and the White Martians.

What a rush John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters is. I really enjoyed this book, though I will admit right off, this isn’t one for everyone. Not saying that in a negative way, but this is definitely one for those who like a heavy dose of sci-fi themed swords and sorcery, similar to Conan. Plus, the fact he is a bit of a niche character. But still, if you are interested in John Carter’s adventures, definitely check out John Carter: Warlord Of Mars Vol 2 – Man-Made Monsters.

 

 

Reviewer: Aaron Wood
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker