Review: Dejah Thoris #1

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

2 years ago

As the weather in the UK turns brisk, now seems the perfect time to re-visit a shapely princess of the far off world of Barsoom! Dejah Thoris returns and in doing so, we get to meet a younger Dejah before she got mixed up with, among other things, John Carter.

A kind if Year One affair, we get to see Dejah in her elements, living in a castle like a fairy tale. But when the monsters, in the shape of Kaldane Martians, storm the gates, Dejah barley makes it out alive. Now, lost in the Barsoom wilderness, she will need to find the strength of character to not only survives the wild, but also to reclaim what she has lost.

Written by Chuck Brown has delivered an interesting premise for a book and character that seems to be the pure definition of “cyclic storytelling”. After all, how many times has Dejah lost her throne and/or home? It is up there with with of the famous recurring trends in comics. By setting the book in the past, the impacts on Dejah are even less likely to have and serious ramifications, than in her usual protected “licensee” statue. On the plus side, Brown’s Dejah will get to go through the motions to cement the foundations that we have come to love.

The art is supplied by Emiliana Pinna tries hard to fit the bill, but ultimately fails in the one aspect that is required for a Dejah book; she doesn’t look attractive! Take this image as an example; how is this supposed to be a sexy curvy character? This is only but one example. This gives the book an uneven look and even more uneven reading experience. Colorist Ellie Wright does her best, giving the the book an other worldly look, which is just as well given tat Pinna doesn’t always like to give the reader backgrounds which would help the alienness of Barsoom some. Letterer Jeff Eckleberry provides a font hat is appears svelte, ensuring that the art is not hindered. Not sure why Wright and Eckleberry don’t warrant a cover credit. Finally, there are a few variant covers; buyers choice is in full effect, but you know me, I would go Joseph Michael Linsner always (see top of the page).

I am uncertain what I expected from a Dejah Thoris book. I do know that this wasn’t it, at all. Sure, Dejah lives in a secluded type of world, with threats always having to come within. That may be one story retold over and over, but at least the art could fit my expectations!

Writing – 2.5 Stars
Art – 2.5 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars

Overall – 2.5 Stars

Written by; Chuck Brown
Art by; Emiliana Pinna
Colors by; Ellie Wright
Letters by; Jeff Eckleberry
Published by; Dynamite Entertainment

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network