JOHN CARTER OF MARS #4, from Dynamite Comics on July 27th, 2022, assembles the armies for war as Dejah Thoris and her Earth visitors concoct a plan to stop the rogue Thern, Etor. Meanwhile, John falls in with an unlikely group of rebels on Earth.
The Details
- Written by: Chuck Brown
- Art by: George Kambadais
- Colors by: George Kambadais
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Jonathan Lau (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 27, 2022
Is It Good?
JOHN CARTER OF MARS #4 is fine, and possibly one of the strongest issues of the series so far. It’s a strong issue because you get a better idea about the conflict, the good guys, the bad guys, and the setup going into the next issue. In other words, this issue covers the basics, which is a marked improvement over the first few issues.
The bright spot in this issue’s story is the clarity of Brown’s plot, or at least as clear as it can be. When last we left John, he was about to engage in a duel with a green Martian without his super strength. Now, the duel is over (don’t worry, it’s shown in a flashback), but the outcome is not as it seems. When the misdirects and red herrings get sorted out, we get a clear picture of all parties on the dies of good and evil. We know what everyone is fighting for, which goes to clarify the stakes, and we have a clear idea about the challenge ahead.
However, the writing is not without its flaws. The dialog is clunky in spots, and too many “important” characters show up with little or no development, so it’s frequently difficult to keep track of everyone. Although not officially stated, this feels like a penultimate issue going into the big battle next month. Yet, Brown introduces even more characters to track with little introduction or distinctiveness.
In fairness, a large part of the lack of character distinctiveness in this issue is a fault of the art. To be blunt, Kambadais’ art is terrible. Panels look crudely sketched or unfinished. Kambadais sometimes uses weird panel angles that stretch the characters in bizarre ways. And the overall quality is, to be blunt, ugly.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Before diving into a prelude to war, get caught up with our JOHN CARTER OF MARS #3 review.
We begin with a “dead” John carter carted off for disposal by the green Martian who defeated him in hand-to-hand combat, Eite. Secretly, Eite recognizes the destructiveness of Etor’s plan and helps John Carter fake his loss and death so that he could be brought to Eite’s rebel allies.
On Mars, Dejah Thoris searches the desert to find Hines and Charlie. She’s ambushed by rebel soldiers and taken to Thai where the group makes a plan to attack Etor’s forces and retrieve a second Ninth hand from the Thern.
Meanwhile, the Thern’s summon Etor back to Mars because they recognize the danger in Etor’s plan. They decide to put a stop to his efforts, and him, if necessary. Their meeting ends in bloodshed. We conclude the issue with a disguise that doesn’t work, more bloodshed, and the beginning of a battle.
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Final Thoughts
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JOHN CARTER OF MARS #4 is a much-improved entry in the series because it clarifies the players and the central conflict. However, Brown introduces even more characters with little setup or distinctiveness, and the overall art quality is downright ugly.
Related Information
Is John Carter based on a true story?
No, John Carter is not based on a true story. Many of the Earth locations and historical events referenced are real, but the character and his adventures are not. The original story in which John Carter first appears, A Princess of Mars, is likely inspired by an earlier science fiction novel Gulliver of Mars by Edwin Lester Arnold.
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