In Review: ‘Warlord Of Mars’ #15
The covers: Two stunners, and one “That’s too much information!” Joe Jusko‘s is a classic John Carter in a cape (YES!) with his lovely Dejah metaphorically looking on. This reminds me of looking at my dad’s sci fi novels of the 1960′s and I loved it. Stephen Sadowski’s cover has John looking up at something, as though he were a god, and beside him is a red skinned man aping his stance. I like it, but it gives away a major surprise from the last few pages of this issue: TMI! And Lucio Parrillo‘s cover…Hommina, hommina, hommina! To say this is an eye catching cover is to say the sun is warm. Reminescent of 1960 – 1970′s pulp covers, Dejah pines for someone, while some very nasty birds circle about her. This scene is not in the issue, but who the heck cares? It’s gorgeous art, there’s no denying it. Overall grades: Jusko A+, Sadowski B, and Parrillo A+++
The story: Writer Arvid Nelson has a wonderfully written synopsis of previous issues for newbies in the series (like me), done in the style similar to the source material by Edgar Rice Burroughs–It’s E.R.B. himself as the narrator. I was already in love with this story, and I hadn’t even started to read “the story” yet! “Gods of Mars: Part 3″ finds John Carter, earthman, and Princess Phaidor taken prisoner by Dator Xodar and his moon pirates, who in turn are taking them to see Issus, who has to be seen and not described. There’s a lot of boasting and posturing between Xodar and Phaidor, which you would expect. But John Carter, our hero? What does he do? He’s had enough of their “boorish behavior”, easily breaks his bonds (because earthmen on Mars have triple strength, agility, etc.), and states that anyone who lays a hand on Phaidor will die. This is absolutely the correct reaction for Carter. In the last two months I’ve actually gone back and read the first two John Carter novels (to hype myself up for the hopefully good Disney film), and Nelson is deserving of as much praise as possible for being so true to the tone of the books. The arrogant characters are delightfully so (Page 8, fantastic!), enemies may become allies (No spoilers!), John preaches reality in a cell, and evil characters (Page 13) rock! But what sold me were Pages 14 and 15. I cheered aloud! That, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, is how John-Freaking-Carter, Warlord of Mars should be! Overall grade: A+
The art: Edgar Salazar, why aren’t fanboys screaming your name on a daily basis? I’ve never seen your work. My last encounter with a John Carter comic was produced by Marvel. Ye Gods, man! Looking at your people makes me think of Barry Windsor Smith’s “Red Nails” or classic 1970s Neal Adams. Pages 7 through 9 are jaw dropping! Even Issus is gorgeous, in her own way. Now, there’s not much opportunity to see your ships of this famous book series, as it’s only the pirates’ vessels we see, but Page 2, being the Splash Page, let me down. I wasn’t awed at this, as I should have been. Instead my eye was taken by the colorist’s efforts. I was worried that maybe you were an artist that could only do figures, but you more than proved me to be a worrywart when I got to Page 8 and then you bowled me over with the sequence that begins on Page 18. Again, I say, “My god!” You, sir, are an incredible artist. Overall grade: A
The colors: I know that computers are used for coloring, and sometimes it looks fantastic, and other times it looks like the worst CGI in the world. When dealing with characters, Marcelo Pinto is great. But when it’s long shots of settings, such as the rocks on Page 2, or the streets of “The First Born”, it just sticks out too much in a negative way. Do I have a solution? No. If I did know how to fix it, I’d suggest it. But I do know that it just doesn’t fit in with the art. Now everything else that Pinto does is spot on. Page 9 is beautiful, and I really liked the marble walls. And the final setting is also good. So, I’m only mildly taken out of the book by these two scenes. Overall grade: B
The letters: Marshall Dillon (really?) does an excellent job. I love that different fonts styles are used for different characters, though the font for E.R.B. looks too computery, and not enough turn of the century. But how can I whine at book that gives me “HULGK!” or, my favorite, “ROOO!”? Overall grade: A-
The final line: I’ve never read any of this series from Dynamite. And all I can say is, “Can you forgive me?” Why have I not picked this book up before? And why isn’t the internet, and fandom in general, singing the utter awesomeness of this book? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my local comic book store and find some back issues or trade reprints, ’cause I’ve got some serious catching up to do! Overall grade: A
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