The problems on Barsoom persist, as their latest Warlord attempts to deal with a conspiracy.  But should you even care?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

John Carter’s murder investigation has lead him to the frozen wastes of the Martian North, where things are really heating up. He uncovers evidence of a conspiracy aimed at destroying the fragile peace on Mars, but who is behind it, and why? Carter has no shortage of suspects, and all of his leads are turning into dead ends – literally! He’s going to have to use his brains as well as his blade to uncover the truth.

There are certainly some stumbles along the way but for the most part the creative team balances the camp of their heritage with the strength of their talent. Ultimately we’re treated with another worthwhile adventure that should excite fans as our heroes fall deeper into murky waters.

Arvid Nelson pens the script and the scribe takes John Carter and Tars Tarkas into a tale full of murder and lies.  There’s been a lot of tensions between the varying races of Mars, and this latest string of events is certainly not helping.  To the author’s credit, he captures that right off the bat as he employs honor among the chief characters in a situation that begs the question: can anyone be trusted?  To sum up: the text in this affair is exceptionally solid, and minus a few awkwardly formed lines of dialogue there’s plenty to enjoy.

The art by Leandro Oliveira and Rafael Lanhellas is superb.  From the first page to the final panel, slender but delicate lines showcase the innate features of the franchise along with a high level of individual skill.  I found a few of the panels to be slightly rushed, with some wiggly lines that just seemed out of place, but for the most part each illustrator turned in a sterling effort.  In short: the pictures were pretty.

Warlord of Mars #28 is yet another great addition that proves the worth of this franchise despite some minor stumbles along the way.  Recommended.

4/5