Dejah Thoris #2
Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Frank J. Barbiere
Artist: Francesco Manna
Colorist: Morgan Hickman
Letterer: Erica Schultz
Cover: Nen
After being framed for her father’s death last issue, Dejah Thoris is now on the run and those who want the throne are on her trail. She’s also being accused of a false heritage which complicates matters beyond the murder. Where is John Carter in all of this? Well, he’s taken on more of a background role in this tale and the story dose just fine.
One of the best things about this series is that you don’t need a vast knowledge of the past stories and characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Barbiere puts you where you need to be and gives just enough backstory to get you ready for the adventure Dejah is about to take on. Dejah herself is written very well and it’s nice to see that even though she would be considered a “good” Princess, she openly admits that she is very out of touch with the people she’s attempting to hide among. This revelation even has her reconsider pursuing the truth and just giving herself up. The decision to have her join the People’s Army leads us to that fabulous intro last issue and it’s another strong scene. We see that she’s a tactical thinker and driven to solidify herself among their ranks to get the answers she needs. Another positive about this sequence was that the scene didn’t fall into the usual trope of the large group of men objectifying her sexually or because she was a woman attempting to join the ranks.
Just like last issue, Manna and Hickman make sure that you’ll be getting a great looking comic. Whenever on Mars you’re going to get various reds, oranges, and other warm colors but nothing gets boring or repetitive. There is a large amount of detail throughout the story from the background to character design that keep the eye entertained. Though there was a chuckle as it’s noticeable that the male Peoples Army hopefuls are wearing more practical armour than Dejah. Who isn’t wearing something to just satisfy the male gaze but it seems more decorative than practical. As far as actiong goes, we get a fairly long fight scene that looks great. The pacing is smooth and we see that Dejah is not to be underestimated.
The political maneuvering and mystery surrounding Dejah’s lineage will be great for new and old fans alike. With both a strong story and eye catching art you definitely should see what Dejah Thoris is all about
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