Dynamite Entertainment 2019
Written by Jeff Parker
Illustrated by Dean Kotz
Coloured by Omi Remalante
Lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Behold the battle between the dashingly heroic John Carter Of Mars and the neverendingly power-hungry little green men of Mars Attacks! HOW has John encountered never encountered these Martians before!? WHY do these cackling monsters want to conquer Mars? And WHAT happens when the war spills over to Earth!? Find out in the stunning first chapter, ATTACK FROM SPACE!
I am never quite sure what I am going to get when I see Mars Attacks being presented to us. I mean it’s kitschy and sophomoric at the best of times and doesn’t usually tickle my funny bone. However, that being said we’re also talking John Carter Warlord of Mars so one planet and a bunch of Moonhead’s (Martians) that have never been seen on Barsoom before are featured in a crossover event that should not be missed! Jeff is kind of a comedic genius and sure he can do mainstream with the best of them but his sense of humour is one that I never grow tired of so that he’s writing this was an instant draw for me.
So the opening here is incredibly well done and immediately we are drawn into the story. To see the residents of Barsoom fighting off this massive army Moonheads who seem to have been grown just for sheer numbers to take down anyone they wish is equal parts fun, funny and decidedly chilling and thrilling. There is a blend happening here with the seriousness of one franchise playing off the kitsch of the other and some Jeff can find that middle ground and blend them together more seamlessly than Frankenstein did putting his monster together.
The way this is structured is fantastic. The first half is centred on Barsoom then after the shocking turn of events that we see we turn our attention to Earth, presumably in the present. So if John was able to travel between worlds as he did then how was that information lost as the current scientists are all getting their happy on the way they are? I do like how we see the annuls of time have taken knowledge away and then the counts are considered works of fiction instead of the fact that it is. It does make for an interesting way of seeing things.
The interiors here are pretty darn good too I am liking what I see in the linework here. There is a heaviness to some and a delicacy to others and all the varying weights in between are utilised to really showcase the attention to detail and bring everything to life as beautifully and comics realistic as possible. I am enjoying the feelings and emotions that we get from faces, facial expressions and body language. I am even more thrilled that we see backgrounds being utilised as they are and how they expand the moments and bring this excellent size and scope to the worlds. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show as marvellous eye for storytelling. I like the colour work here too there is some really nice shading effects going on and while the gradation is more blocky that’s okay too it really does what it needs to so that linework isn’t necessary.
I am a huge supporter and fan of Dynamite’s line of books. They continually surprise me with the quality and level of work that we see coming from them. This unexpected crossover is a prime example why it’s got everything we could possibly hope for in a book and then some. The story & plot development is fantastic to see and the pacing and character development are smooth as silk, not that soy milk though. Add in these interiors and you’ve got yourself the equivalent of a summer blockbuster on your hands!