Marvel Comics has announced a new miniseries adapting Edgar Rice Burroughs’ seminal science fiction novel A Princess of Mars.  Written by Roger Langridge (Thor: The Mighty Avenger) with art by Filipe Andrade and covers by Skottie Young, John Carter: A Princess of Wars #1, the first book in a five-issue miniseries, will debut in September. 

 

The new Marvel series enters an already crowded field of John Carter comic book adaptations that includes three different Warlord of Mars series published by Dynamite Entertainment (see “Warlord of Mars: Fall of Barsoom”), one devoted to the exploits of John Carter, one to Dejah Thoris (the Princess of Mars alluded to in the Marvel title and the heroine ERBs first Martian novel), and a prequel set on Mars eons before the John Carter adventures.  Meanwhile Dark Horse Comics has published three various collections--the three issues published by Dell Comics in the 50s, the DC Comics John Carter appearances from the early 70s as well as reprinted collection of Marvel’s late 1970s John Carter of Mars comics where the earthling hero was depicted by Gil Kane with a modish “disco-shag” hairdo.

 

The underlying reason for the sudden flurry of Red Planet comics is Andrew Stanton’s John Carter of Mars film, the first Pixar live-action movie, which is slated to debut on March 9th, 2012.

 

Marvel is working with the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate and the publisher announced that all John Carter comics published by Marvel Entertainment will “be considered part of the official canon.”