IDW ADAPTS A PRINCESS OF MARS

**MattBrady** · 06-01-2006, 10:14 PM

Press Release

The works of Edgar Rice Burroughs have captured peoples’ imaginations for decades, and it’s time once again to pay tribute to his works with an all-new visitation to the planet Mars. In August, IDW Publishing is proud to offer up the definitive comic re-telling of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, courtesy of writer Dan Taylor (Hero Happy Hour) and artist Ted McKeever (Little Book of Horror: War of the Worlds).

Representing the beginning of the very prolific career of legendary author Edgar Rice Burroughs, A Princess of Mars recounts the very first tale of pulp hero John Carter’s adventures on the Red Planet. The five-issue series opens with Civil War veteran John Carter finding himself mysteriously and unexpectedly transported to the planet Mars, where he is forced to adapt to this strange and fantastic new world and all its dangerous alien beasts and warring Martian species. While trying to survive the perils of the Red Planet, Carter also tries to win the affections of a fellow captive of the Green Martians, Dejah Thoris—a princess of Mars.

“A Princess of Mars, like most of Burroughs’ literary classics, is a natural choice to adapt into a comic book series,” says IDW Editor Taylor, who’s penning the adaptation. “The elements that Burroughs put into his stories lend themselves quite well to comics—imaginative tales filled with wondrous vision. Besides, I’m not one who can pass up on good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling science-fiction adventure.”

“What most drew me to this project was the fact that the novel had such an impact on me in my youth,” says series artist Ted McKeever. “Burroughs' storytelling is so rich with textures, that I wanted to expand on that, and yet stay as true to the core soul of the series as possible. Like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, Burroughs' truly was a genius far ahead of his time.”

In addition to the fantastic McKeever artwork, which is being given stunning depth and color by Chris Chuckry, the miniseries will feature variant covers from fellow Barsoom addicts Frank Cho and Mark Wheatley. Cho will be handling variant cover duties on the first three issues, and Wheatley will be batting clean-up on the final two.

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars (Diamond Item Code JUN06 3201) #1, the first issue of a five-issue series with 32 full-color pages, debuts from IDW Publishing in August 2006.

KingPagla · 06-01-2006, 10:32 PM

Nice!

I love me some ERB!

Edit: I forgot to say - First Post! w00t!!!11!!1!!1!

biffordmichael · 06-01-2006, 10:38 PM

Hell yeah!

I LOVED the John Carter comics back in the 70's that I used to dig out of quarter boxes! I went on to get all the books and even got into Tarzan. ERB's stuff is amazing! Looking forward to this!

Biff

martinp · 06-01-2006, 10:39 PM

This looks bad ass! I loved Ted McKeever's work in War of the Worlds. Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi stories are some of the best.

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astronato · 06-01-2006, 10:45 PM

Wowee. This looks great. I'm in. More Edgar Rice Burroughs comics!

James W. Powell · 06-01-2006, 11:31 PM

Very excited. ERB has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. And to see some Cho variants for this mini...I'm excited as can be.

Dave Elliott · 06-02-2006, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinp

This looks bad ass! I loved Ted McKeever's work in War of the Worlds. Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi stories are some of the best.

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Wow! All this looks great. Love Ted's work here (or anywhere for that matter). I was actually looking forward to seeing his Transformers, but this is MUCH better. This I am going to like a lot. Good luck, Ted! (both Teds).

Dave

Sharcque · 06-02-2006, 12:39 AM

Already got it ordered from the new Previews! Can't wait!

dollman · 06-02-2006, 01:42 AM

Far Out!

I've rediscovered Jon Carter recently, and started re-reading A Princess of Mars. Can't wait!

Jencendiary · 06-02-2006, 02:01 AM

This art looks awesome.

These books were some of my first sci-fi (Daddy had the whole series, and the entire run of Tarzan, and. . .I think there was a series about Venus?). I'm fit to squee.

Bakema NL · 06-02-2006, 04:26 AM

I absolutely love John Carter. But I pass because of the artwork. Not that it's bad or anything, it just doesn't fit the title imo. Too bad, I almost jumped for joy hearing a new John Carter comic was to be published, until I saw some preview art. Another time maybe...

RooJay · 06-02-2006, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jencendiary

This art looks awesome.

These books were some of my first sci-fi (Daddy had the whole series, and the entire run of Tarzan, and. . .I think there was a series about Venus?). I'm fit to squee.

Yep, that'd be Carson of Venus.

I'd love to see a John Carter book with Frank Cho on interiors!

Chris Noeth · 06-02-2006, 05:37 AM

I will read everything Dan Taylor is writing!

Stéphane G · 06-02-2006, 08:18 AM

COOL!!!!!!!!

TVerBeek · 06-02-2006, 09:11 AM

"ERB"? Is this a spin-off from "ER"? I love Dr. Carter! They never should have let him leave the show!

Chris Noeth · 06-02-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVerBeek

"ERB"? Is this a spin-off from "ER"? I love Dr. Carter! They never should have let him leave the show!

Dr. Carter on Mars... mhhh... sounds like fun. Operating two chested aliens is something we don't get to see much often...

redstorm99 · 06-02-2006, 09:57 AM

It's about time someone brought back John Carter. They've done Tarzan over and over but for some reason JC never got the attention it deserved. The most recent version I saw of him was in League of Extraordinay Gentlemen and I believe he was the antagonist.

This ought to be really sweet!!

majorjoe23 · 06-02-2006, 10:41 AM

Am i the only one who has noticed the princess doesn't seem to be wearing any pants in the Cho drawing where she's headbutting the Martian?

Dave Elliott · 06-02-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majorjoe23

Am i the only one who has noticed the princess doesn't seem to be wearing any pants in the Cho drawing where she's headbutting the Martian?

And you have a problem with that?

Dave

Jencendiary · 06-02-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majorjoe23

Am i the only one who has noticed the princess doesn't seem to be wearing any pants in the Cho drawing where she's headbutting the Martian?

Pants are kind of an Earth thing. This was one of the amusing points of the first novel. Earth man on pantsless planet.

Comic-Reader · 06-02-2006, 11:41 AM

I'm most likely going to get this, but I'm really not a fan of Ted McKeever's art at all. Didn't he do Metropol?

The preview art above looks good because those are the covers by other artists. I'd like to see some interior art before becoming too excited.

JediMaster · 06-02-2006, 12:07 PM

Sweeeeeet! So cool to see John Carter and Barsoom getting some love! To me, he is a far more interesting character than Tarzan (not that Tarzan isn't cool, but he's always gotten the exposure, while Carter gets ignored). Glad to see him returning to comics!

JediMaster · 06-02-2006, 12:07 PM

Double-Post edit!

shy guy · 06-02-2006, 01:18 PM

I love the Mars books... but I don't think I'll be picking these up if they're just going to be adaptations of the novel.

redstorm99 · 06-02-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shy guy

I love the Mars books... but I don't think I'll be picking these up if they're just going to be adaptations of the novel.

I disagree. Marvel's version of JCWoM supposedly took place between the first and second ERB novels. They only adapted the books themselves for the Annuals. The regular series was hit & miss(like most) some really good ones and some real stinkers.

The Annuals were fantastic!!