It’s impossible to understate the impact that Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars novels have had on contemporary science fiction. However, what’s particularly remarkable about his works is the extent to which they retain their freshness, even in the modern landscape. While there’s no denying the compelling nature of the concepts themselves, a great deal of the series’ longevity must be credited to Burroughs’ remarkable abilities as a storyteller.  Perhaps the chief reason why many attempts at adapting the series for other mediums have, for the most part, fallen flat is due to their inability to capture the whimsical spirit of the original prose. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Dynamite’s Warlord of Mars, as writer Arvid Nelson and artist Stephen Sadowski are able to capture the essence of Burroughs’ work.

It’s evident from the very beginning of the issue that Nelson is dedicated to making John Carter a fully-realized character for both new and old readers alike. Nelson grounds the story in its period setting, encapsulating the landscape of the post-Civil War United States, while simultaneously making Carter the timeless character that Burroughs depicted in his novels. Equally as impressive is the work of artist Stephen Sadowski, whose sequential panels and interpretations of these characters compliment the script perfectly. As the story progresses, the issue transports the reader from the deserts of Arizona to the world of Mars, and it’s in these Martian sequences that Burroughs’ work is fully realized on the page. Skeptics should consider themselves warned... Dynamite’s Warlord of Mars is the real deal!

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