DEJAH THORIS FAIRY TALES

“Fairy Tales”

Writer: Ron Marz

Artist: Andres Labrada

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess of Helium named Dejah Thoris. One day her father married a woman who was jealous of her beauty. She conspired with a guard to have her taken out and killed. Only the guard couldn’t go through with it and instead abandoned her. Dejah has to fight a banth which she kills before being knocked out. She wakes to find that seven Tharks found her. These Tharks are outcasts from their tribe and Dejah joins them. Word gets back to the evil queen and she disguises herself as an old woman. She approaches Dejah and knocks her out with a powder. Before she can kill her, the Tharks arrive and she flees. The Tharks can’t revive her but John Carter comes on a mission from her father. He kisses her and awakes her from the slumber. Taking her back, Dejah confronts the evil queen and kills her. Back in the real world John Carter finishes telling his children a bedtime story.

The third and final fairy tales special. I think this was the best one. Obviously it was Dejah Thoris as Snow White and instead of dwarves she had Tharks. Stuck very closely to the fable only giving it a Barsoomian twist. I loved the ending where we find out it was John Carter telling an old Earth bedtime story to his kids. It fit in nicely as being believable and not just a made up world.

DEJAH THORIS WINTER’S END

Winter’s End Prologue/Epilogue”

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Alessandro Miracolo

Dejah is now the Jeddara of Helium and needs to unite all of Barsoom for the fight with the Longborn. She finds that Kurz Kurtos was in alliance with an evil scientist and prepares to confront him. First she visits John Carter who is still recovering from his ordeal.

“Young Dejah/Young Carter”

Writer and Artist: Will Robson

A young Dejah and Carter are both on a hunting trip. They manage to save their fathers respectively from predators.

“Family Legend”

Writer: Jeff Parker

Artist: Jonathan Lau

Tars and Sola are chased by a white ape. Sola tells about how she heard from Dejah that Tars slew one singlehandedly. The truth was the ape collapsed a rock bridge and got impaled on a rock formation. The white ape finds them, and Sola kills it.

“Bound”

Writers: Nate Crosby & Jacob Edgar

Artist: Jacob Edgar

John Carter has just transported to Barsoom and has to learn how to walk in the lower gravity.

“Afterlife on Mars”

Writer: Jeff Parker

Artist: Jordi Perez

Sabal Than enjoys her time as ruler of Barsoom and thinks back to how she killed Dejah. Only she finds out her apprentice is keeping her alive with some plant to continue gaining her knowledge.

This anthology is a filler between two series. Sets up the characters of Dejah and John Carter. Can’t say I am impressed. Carter seems to be a broken man and the woman is going to save everything. This type of post-modern story continues with denigrating Tars Tarkas at the expenses of building up the female Sola.

The Bound story is pretty worthless, and I can’t believe it took two people to write it. The Sabal Than one was somewhat interesting. The worst for me was the young story. Burroughs always had Carter as never remembering being a child. He was supposed to be timeless and so is Dejah. There is supposed to be this mystique about them being timeless. This story just throws that out the window. Hopefully the next series will be good.

DEJAH THORIS #12

“Untitled”

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artists: Lee Ferguson with Marc Deering and Alessandro Miracolo

Dejah has to face the two jeweled killers of the witch queen Sabal Than. Llana uses her strength to fight them off, but Sabal knocks her out with an energy burst. Then it is Jefferson Cylde’s turn, and Sabal tries to retake over his mind. Dejah also has some of the arcanotech and frees his mind. Jefferson then fights the two killers but gets stabbed. While this goes on the Jeddak Kurz Kurtos tries to get away and gets chopped up by Tars Tarkas.

Just as it looks like Dejah is about to lose, Llana comes to the rescue. She knocks off the helmet of one of the killers and he is revealed to be John Carter. This angers Dejah so much she manages to gather her strength and burn out Sabal Than’s power. She then shoots her and later it is discovered that two of the jeweled killers are both John Carter and Carthoris. Their minds seem to not remember what happened and Dejah is now the Jeddara of Helium.

The final issue in this series ties everything together. Dejah defeats both Kurz and Sabal. They discover John Carter and Carthoris. Now the big fight with the Longborn is about to happen in the next series. A good set up to that series.

The series as a whole was a mixed bag. Some stuff I liked. A fairly well written plot. The idea of Barsoom facing this invasion of a new powerful alien threat was an idea I liked. Some weaknesses were the whole Earth visit which was boring. Some stuff just didn’t feel like the Barsoom that Burroughs created. Also, I hated the vandalization of Llana in the name of intersectional feminism. Really, really hated her. So, we shall see how this plays out in the next series.

DEJAH THORIS #11

“Untitled”

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artists: Lee Ferguson with Marc Deering

Dejah Thoris with the help of Thuvia is able to make the Jeddak of the Tharks understand her. With the help of the Kaldane she is able to show him the real enemy, the Longborn. She gets a truce between the Thark and Warhoon and together they march on Helium. Dejah with her friends is able to use secret underground tunnels to enter the city. Dejah attacks the throne room with the goal of deposing Kurz Kurtos. She finds him but he is with the Jeddara of Zodanga and her jeweled Earth warriors.

This wasn’t a bad issue. Dejah manages to get the green tribes to stop fighting and unite. Kurtos is losing control with many deserting. Yet the witch queen of Zodanga and her Earthmen soldiers come to save him. Sets up an interesting final to the series.

DEJAH THORIS #10

“Untitled”

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Sebastian Piriz

Tars Tarkas and Sola gather with 50 warriors on a hill overlooking a great battle. The entire green nations of Thark and Warhoon have gathered for one epic final battle. Tars hopes that Thuvia can use her powers to convince the jeddaks to stop. She fails and they are about to be overrun. Then Llana, Clyde and the fleet from Gathol arrives. They are rescued and Dejah tells them of the plans of the Longborn. Dejah needs an army to stop Helium and Zodanga. With Thern technology and the Kaldane’s psychic ability they hope to enhance Thuvia’s powers. Dejah then goes to the jeddak of Thark.

This wasn’t a bad issue. Now that the pointless adventures on Earth are done, the story picks up back on Barsoom. Dejah gets united with Tars, Sola and Thuvia. They start to go on the offensive. I liked seeing Tars, Sola and Thuvia again. Didn’t care for the abomination of Llana but thankfully her part in this was minimal. Interested in seeing where this goes.

DEJAH THORIS #9

“Untitled”

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

“Untitled”

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

“Untitled”

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

“Untitled”

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

“Untitled”

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.