DEJAH THORIS #9

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Sebastian Piriz

Dejah and her companions meet Matai Shang and the Therns at the estate of John Carter in New York. The Therns tell Dejah that the instability both on Barsoom and Earth is being caused by a race called the Longborn. This ancient race wants to cleanse life from all the planets of the solar system and repopulate them. The Therns show Dejah and friends this with a thought projection. It shows the future of Barsoom. A dead world with every race at war with one another. Dejah agrees to ally with the Therns and go back to Barsoom and stop the evil war plans of the Jeddak Kurz and his ally the Jeddara of Zodanga. They get transported back to Barsoom just as the US Army arrives to capture them.

This wasn’t a bad issue. We get to find out some stuff like why is Barsoom going to Hell and for that matter Earth. The Longborn are an intriguing opponent that have potential. The issue was a bit on the exposition side. I liked the inclusion of Edgar as a fun nod to the writer. I still don’t buy bringing back Matai Shang from the dead or making the Therns these all-powerful ancient beings. The writer is definitely using the Disney movie and not the original novels. Also, I didn’t care for the adventures on Earth. I had high hopes, but it all seemed pointless and unexciting. So, we shall see what happens when Dejah and friends go back to Barsoom.

DEJAH THORIS #8

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Sebastian Piriz

Dejah and her companions have stopped in Pineville, Pennsylvania. Dejah with Marohk go to the theater while Llana and Jefferson steal a car. Two FBI agents find them in the theater and a fight ensues with Dejah coming out on top. Only when they leave the theater it is surrounded by soldiers. Llana tosses a car and attacks, but Marohk uses his telepathic power to freeze the soldiers. They continue on to the Carter estate in Croton-On-Hudson. Edgar is there to greet them. He also reveals that he has other guests from Barsoom. Matai Shang and some Therns.

This was not a really good issue. I had high hopes for an adventure on Earth, but this is just a bust. Not a lot happens except some minor tussles. The abomination of Llana who dresses as a man (no surprise) and stomps around and shows off her superpowers. God her character becomes more and more insufferable as this series continues. A guest appearance by ERB does nothing for the story. Also, I thought that Matai Shang was killed in the book series. And what the hell are Therns doing on Earth. Burroughs basically portrayed them as just dumb tools that were used by the First Born. They didn’t have any special powers or technology. Abnett seems to be adapting the Disney movie version of the Therns. This series is really becoming a disappointment.

DEJAH THORIS #7

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Sebastian Piriz

Dejah finds herself in Arizona in 1945. The same place that most likely John Carter first left Earth. She comes on an army base and is taken prisoner. A general tries to interrogate her but they can’t understand each other. Suddenly they can understand each other. Llana comes busting in and knocks out the soldiers. She followed with Morokh the Kaldane. It was his abilities to open up a telepathic understanding. They also brought Jefferson along and they escape in a jeep. Dejah wants to go to New York because she has to meet someone.

They transported Dejah to Earth. I liked the idea of that. Her having adventures on Earth sounds promising. Unfortunately, the actual implementation leaves something to be desired. Most of the issue is just Dejah and the general and his aide trying to talk to each other. They wonder why they can’t understand each other. The whole purpose seemed to be to show how dumb, arrogant and racist the general is. They had to bring that abomination of a character Llana. Of course, even on the heavier gravity of Earth, she is super strong and perfect. Also, a bit confused on why she wants to go to New York. There was nothing in the story on why she would know someone there. Oh well, maybe it improves in the next issue.

DEJAH THORIS #6

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Dejah and company are attacked by one of the mysterious jeweled warriors. The warrior gets his helmet knocked off and they find that it is a man from Earth. With his helmet off, the Kaldane can immobilize him which gives Llana a chance to knock him out. They tie him up, but all this guy will give is his name, rank and serial number. The Kaldane manages to take over his mind and they find out all they need to know. The man named Jefferson was a Marine who was kidnapped from Earth by the Jeddara of Zodanga. That she has an alliance with the Jeddak of Helium and was responsible for assembling the Thern technology.

Meanwhile, Thuvia talks with Tars Tarkas and Sola. She finds out that the Tharks are going to war with Helium. She says that she couldn’t understand the Warhoon and thinks that Barsoom is dying. They are soon attacked by a Warhoon raiding party. Back at the ruins of Tel Hart, Dejah is examining some equipment and disappears.

This was a good issue. The story moved along where we got some answers to these mysterious jeweled warriors. An interesting development that they are from Earth and former military. The subplot with Thuvia moves along nicely. Even the atrocious character of Llana didn’t get too much on my nerves. Ends with the cliffhanger of Dejah disappearing. Of course, at the end they advertise where she is going which just piques my interest further.

DEJAH THORIS #5

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Dejah, Llana and Kantos are surrounded by spiderkin in the dead city of Golpas. Llana manages to kill the giant queen spider which just makes all the little ones angry. A voice speaks to them in their head offering to help. The spiderkin freeze and allow the group to escape. They find out their savior is a Kaldane named Morokh. He has left Bantoom becaues of the End Winter and is looking to save Barsoom. He convinces Dejah to abandon her quest for vengeance and instead help him save Barsoom.

Thuvia with her banth friends come on Sola and Tars Tarkas. Jeddara Sabal Than of Zodanga is the one in charge of the jeweled armored men. She sends one to kill Dejah. Dejah and company take the airship of Morokh to Tel Haht an old Thark hatchery. He senses that there may be some lost Thern technology that can help save Barsoom. Only the jeweled warrior knocks off the head of Morokh and attacks Dejah.

This is a fairly interesting story. We get introduced to a Kaldane a race that has telepathic powers and have heads with spider legs. They ride headless bodies and this one was fairly consistent with how Burroughs portrayed them. We also get introduced to another villain in the Jeddara of Zodanga. She is the one behind the mysterious jeweled warriors.

What I don’t like is Llana. She is really annoying me. She just has this personality that grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. Super perfect and can easily tear apart a giant spider. Oh, and she is a lesbian. Big surprise. We find this out when Kantos asks about Pan Dan Chee. Yep, another beautiful love story that Burroughs created sacrificed on the altar of intersectionality.

DEJAH THORIS #4

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Dejah, Kantos and Llana crash their ship next to the dead city of Golpas. There they seek shelter and discuss their next move. Clearly both Dejah and Llana got psychic impressions that Tara is dead. Obviously Kurtos Kurz wants all their family dead. Dejah decides to go to Helium and confront Kurtos head on. Thuvia is the only survivor of the attack on Ptarth. She wanders in the desert and comes on a horde of Warhoon. They for some reason can’t understand her language but luckily Thuvia can communicate with banths and they come to her rescue. In Golpas Dejah and company are attacked by a horde of spiders. They are herding the three to the giant mother spider.

This issue wasn’t that bad. It was a bit talky, but I liked the spirit of Dejah deciding to go right after Kurtos. Kurz. Thuvia is actually the one most in her proper character. A woman who can communicate with banths and she seems looks like what she should look like. I can’t say that for the vandelized Llana. I really am hating this character. She is just so annoying. Kantos is still a bit of a soy boy which I don’t care for either. Still the story has set up some interesting plots like who are these mysterious jeweled warriors. The causes of this new winter that is now happening on Barsoom. Of course, there is also the mystery of what happened to John Carter and Carthoris. Once again, an issue that is a mixed bag.

DEJAH THORIS #3

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Kurz Kurtos receives word that his accident for Dejah has failed. He decides to take the more direct approach and send his elite guard after her. At the atmosphere factory, Dejah decides that she has to race to Ptarth for her other family is most likely in danger. In Ptarth the powerful guys in armor suits and welding axes have superhuman strength and easily cut through the guard. Tara gets Ptuvia and her grandsires to agree to escape in her ship. Tara fights these armored guys later known as the Jeweled Killers. Dejah, Kantos and Llana are found by Kurtos guards and decide to escape they must go into a storm. While there the fight in Ptarth goes bad. Tara’s ship explodes and she looks to have been killed. Dejah and Llana feel this death just as lightning hits their airship.

The story has some interesting things occur. Dejah and her family are in serious peril. Ends with what looks like all of them getting killed. Of course, we know that can’t happen or you wouldn’t have much of a story to continue. There are some woke stuff that I just don’t care for. One is having Tardos Mor and Mors Kajak seen to be helpless old men that need to be bossed around by a strong woman. These are not the characters I remember from the books. Also, I just hate what they did to Llana. This is not the beautiful feminine woman that I remember. So once again a mixed bag of an issue.

DEJAH THORIS #2

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Dejah and Kantos are attacked by white apes that were let into the atmosphere factory by the jeddak Kurz Kurtos. They can’t use their pistols for fear of damaging the equipment so run away. In Ptarth, Tara comes to take the remaining family to Gathol. Thuvia is grieving the loss of Carthoris who disappeared and is presumed dead. Back at the factory Dejah and Kantos are saved by the arrival of Llana. She defeats the apes using her bare hands. Yes, she is that strong. Dejah soon realizes this was an attempt to kill her by the jeddak. In Ptarth, Tara is not having any luck in convincing her grandsires in exile to come to Gathol which is safer. They are then attacked by men in these armored suits carrying large axes.

This issue was a bit of a mixed bag. The overall story was solid. I liked the mystery of Carthoris disappearing and Thuvia morning it. She is so sad that her hair turned grey. OK well maybe that happens to Barsoomians. The art is good and ends on a cliffhanger. What I didn’t care for was what they did to Llana. I mean if you want a strong man then why don’t you create a new character instead of vandalizing a woman. This is not how Burroughs envisioned Llana or what I want to see. Kantos is still a bit of a bumbling guy. Nice but not very effective. Also, not something that Burroughs envisioned. The curse of woke.

DEJAH THORIS #1

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Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

The weather on Barsoom is becoming colder and colder. Dejah is studying this and goes to the new Jeddak of Helium for permission to visit the atmosphere factory. Kurz Kantos is the new jeddak who overthrew Dejah’s family. He can’t openly kill Dejah and her family because they are still popular. Yet he conspires with the queen of Zodanga to have her and all her family assassinated. All to look like an accident of course. The Tharks have a new jeddak who wants to break the peace with Helium. Dejah arrives at the factory with Kantos Kan her only guard. The story ends with them being attacked by white apes that somehow got into the factory.

This story is a bit of a mixed bag. First the good. The basic story is interesting with this future ice age that is causing all sorts of problems. A new ruler for Helium and Thark is upsetting the old order. Dejah’s father and grandfather are in exile. John Carter is not around, and we aren’t told why.

Yet I get the feeling that the writer and artist aren’t really big fans of the property. Tara and Llana are both red heads which isn’t correct. Llana is a more manly short haired warrior which also isn’t what was established for the character by Burroughs. Tars Tarkas is still alive after being deposed which in green men culture isn’t right. Tars would be dead and not allowed to live.

My biggest fear is that it has too many elements of the typical woke story. All the women are super perfect and strong. All the men are weak or evil. Kantos Kan is portrayed as an inexperienced young guy with a crush on Dejah. Tars Tarkas is meek and accepting everything while it is Sola who is the one with all the fight in her. This could be a woke mess but still too early to tell.

DEJAH THORIS #10

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Writer: Amy Chu
Artist: Pasquale Qualano

The Xataxian is under attack by the Tharks. Dejah, her grandfather and Dekana are the only ones left. When it looks like the end old Sajad comes riding in on a malagor. He can only take one and takes the wounded Tardos Mors. After he leaves than Dejah attacks Dekana for she knows that she was part of the conspiracy. They fight and at the end Dejah is rescued by her friend Xahar who is dying from her wounds. Dekana falls to her death and now Dejah has no choice but to surrender to the victorious Tharks who manage to board the ship as it crashes to the ground. They loot the ship and take Dejah captive. It is here she hears of the mysterious stranger from Jasoom.

So the final issue in the series wraps everything up nicely. Dejah gets to take care of Dekana who she never liked or trusted. At the end she is prisoner of the Tharks which is how she first met John Carter in the very first book A Princess of Mars. A cool idea to give us the backstory to the scientific expedition that Dejah was on. An interesting story to something that was probably assumed to be a dull scientific expedition. I do love Dejah and Dynamite has been giving her plenty of quality stories.