BOOKWRAITHS REVIEWS

Dejah Thoris and the Green Men of Mars is a thrilling return to the old school, sword and sci-fi era personified in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars books, and it is without a doubt a worthy successor to those novels in every way.

The story that comes to life so vividly through Lui Antonio’s art and Mark Rahner’s writing centers on the beginning of a new era on Barsoom, for the relationship between the red people of Helium and their warlike, six-limbed, green-skinned neighbors, the Tharks, has changed.  A relationship that before John Carter’s arrival upon the red planet was best described as mutual hatred has now transformed into one of understanding and acceptance.  But while the wise among both people have embraced this vision of a new Barsoom, even they realize that erasing millenniums of enmity will not be easily accomplished or without its detractors.

Dejah Thoris of Helium herself is one of these wise leaders; a red-skinned princess who has whole heartedly embraced the Tharks in friendship but is plagued by feelings of distrust of her new green-skinned allies.  Her misgivings fueled by vivid flashbacks of her own abuse and brutalization at the hands of Tharks.  No matter Dejah’s personal feelings however, she moves ahead with a grand Red and Green celebration to memorialize the dawning of a new era of peace upon Barsoom, and it is then that things fall apart in a most disturbing fashion, as a dark side of Thark society rears its distasteful head.  And the tale that follows is pure Burroughs’ Barsoom in all its unique glory.

Without a doubt, this graphic novel is well worth a read whether a person is a longtime John Carter fan or new to the world of Barsoom.  While the beautiful artwork - full of scantily clad and well proportioned women and men! - is pure eye candy, it is the seamless coupling of those images with an entertaining and revealing story that sets this apart from other sword and sci-fi yarns.  The simple fact is that  Dejah Thoris and the Green Men of Mars is pure, sugarcoated entertainment, full of interesting back story, filled with intense violence, and chopped full of old school sci-fi fun.  Pick it up and enjoy!

Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review.  The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions.