JOHN CARTER OF MARS #3, from Dynamite Comics on June 22nd, 2022, prepares for war when Earthlings and Martians decide the only way to stop a Thern invasion is to work together.
The Details
- Written By: Chuck Brown
- Art By: George Kambadais
- Colors By: George Kambadais
- Letters By: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover Art By: Dave Acosta (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 22, 2022
Was It Good?
JOHN CARTER OF MARS #3 is a mixed bag. On the positive side of things, the writing is better. The story is cleaner and clearer, and the move towards a plot that makes sense is easier to follow. On the other hand, the art may have gotten worse. Let’s get into it.
Brown’s writing is significantly better in this issue. Dejah Thoris organically delivers exposition through her dialog to the Union soldiers who’ve arrived on Mars to explain how the Therns can send an invasion force to Earth. The origin of synthetic Ninth is shown, even if the explanation is muddled. At the very least, you understand what’s happening, what’s at stake, and can see the inkling of a plan coming together.
Strangely, Brown focuses most of the story on the Union soldiers and the events on Mars. John Carter’s only page space centers around fighting enemy Tharks who’ve allied themselves with the Therns. If the story stays on the same path, John Carter will turn out to be a side character in his own comic. Again, it’s strange.
Kambadais’s art is what it is. There’s no nice way to say it. The art is terrible. If you like crudely drawn sketches and unfinished panels, more power to you. John Carter should be getting better artistic attention than this.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Find out how John Carter wound up back on Earth and Union soldiers wound up on Mars in our JOHN CARTER OF MARS #2 review.
We begin with a blue meteor crashing down on Mars, cutting off the arms of several Martinas wearing robes. The blue meteor appears to be Ninth, but it’s unclear why the Martians held their arms up to be cut off, how the arms became infected with Ninth, or when this all took place.
Nowe, a multitude of Earth refugees receive help from Martians after they were accidentally transported away from Earth, The Union soldiers who helped John Carter on Mars find Dejah Thoris and she explains how the blue arms from the prologue can be used to open a portal between Mars and Earth. To get an army to Earth, however, they need a bigger portal which means they need to find more Ninth arms.
On Earth, John Carter fights off the Tharks allied with the Therns as his manor house burns down around them. The Tharks are defeated, but John is captured by a red ape. We conclude the issue with jumping lessons, a reunion, and a rematch.
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Final Thoughts
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JOHN CARTER OF MARS #3 brings the story into sharper focus and lays out a plan for the heroes to stave off an Earth invasion. However, the John Carter is little more than a side attraction in his own comic, and the art is flat-out awful.
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