JOHN CARTER WARLORD OF MARS #1
(Cover by Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum)
Published and © by Marvel, Jun. 1977
“The Air-Pirates of Mars. Chapter 1”
Synopsis: John Carter races to rescue the beautiful Dejah Thoris and his friend Tars Tarkas from Warhoon kidnappers.
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciler: Gil Kane
Inker: Dave Cockrum
Review: Following its surprise success with Conan the Barbarian, Marvel spent a good bit of time during the Bronze Age mining other pulp properties. While some of those efforts were hit-and-miss affairs, it’s hard to fault the effort on John Carter Warlord of Mars #1. At the helm is writer/editor Marv Wolfman, a big-time Edgar Rice Burroughs fan (who also wrote an earlier DC adaptation; check out Comics Bronze Age’s review) who does a fine job here. But the real treat is the art team of Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum, whose styles compliment one another beautifully.
Grade: A-
Second opinions: “Written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by Gil Kane, Marvel’s version was the slickest, most awe-inspiring version of Barsoom ever to grace the spinner rack.” — The Groovy Agent, Diversions of the Groovy Kind. … “Looking at this comic, in this quality of the story and artwork, I have to believe it was a labor of love for all the creators involved.” — Richard Guion, Giant Size Marvel Comics. … “… it seemed the writers and artists were trying to stay faithful to Burroughs’ vision … On the other hand, the series also seemed to suffer from Conan-itis.” — MCR, jcomreader. … “The art by Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum in the first issue did a very handsome job …” — James Van Hise, Rocket’s Blast Comicollector #138, Sep. 1977. …“Marv Wolfman’s initial scripts are no more than average …” — The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition).
Cool factor: The art team of Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum is a great one. It’s a shame Cockrum moved on after only one issue.
Not-so-cool factor: In a fight scene early in this issue, it says John Carter is fighting 20 Warhoon warriors. Why then do we never see more than two?
Notable: This issue includes “Welcome Back, Carter,” a two-page essay by Marv Wolfman, accompanied by preliminary design sketches by Dave Cockrum.
Collector’s note: According to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, there’s a 35¢-cover-price variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “I’ve yet to see any puny red-man survive in a battle against Grunt-Ar’s prowess.” — Grunt-Ar, Warhoon warrior. (Grunt-Ar? Really? How do you take an opponent named Grunt-Ar seriously?)
A word from the writer/editor: “For time-chronology buffs, the Carter stories will be taking place between paragraphs three and four in Chapter 27 of A Princess of Mars.” — Marv Wolfman, in the “Welcome Back, Carter” essay in this issue.
