Item Biography
"The Master Assassin of Mars-- Chapter 3: Meanwhile, Back in Helium!"
Thirty feet of hurled Barsoomian war-spear announces the arrival in Helium of Barak Sol, a lifelong friend of Tars Tarkas. This is no sentimental reunion, though. Barak is only here to issue a formal challenge to Tars's leadership of the Thark tribe. By the laws of their people, the petition cannot be declined, or the refuser is condemned to shame.
Life among the Orovars is neither comfortable or luxurious for John Carter and Dejah Thoris, despite their lush surroundings in the city of Karanthor. A city of winged wonder men, but there is nothing angelic about this warrior race. They are cruel and immoral people, all save the golden-haired youth, Garthon, who derives his pleasure from strolling in an opulent garden.
Elsewhere, Dejah is pampered and prepared for her audience with city Jeddak, Chan Tomar, who now owns her body and soul. She is already wary of Chan's salacious and sadistic reputation, but can only shudder inwardly at the anticipation of horrors and degradations which await her in his bedchamber.
Tars rides hard for three days to reach the deserted city of Marahn. His edginess stems from a legendary Thark aversion to all things sorcerous. Marahn, in Martian folklore, was a congregation for wizards and weird happenings.
Barak Sol doesn't wait long to attack. Tars parries, but also presses with his own offense. Thark sheds Thark's blood without remorse. Savage, unrestrained conflict ranges to a lower level of the ghost city covered in ice.
Spindly three-fingered crimson hands smash free from that ice to claw at the Green Martian warriors. Tars and Barak have to put aside their ritual combat to each survive a devilish new peril.
First Frank Miller artwork for Marvel.