John Carter was a Virginian-born Captain in the Confederate Armed Forces. After the war, his money and officer’s commission was useless, so he set out to rebuild his life as a prospector in Arizona. He was chased by hostile Arizona natives into a lonely cave, where he was mysteriously transferred to the dying red planet of Barsoom, a fictionalized version of planet Mars. Barsoom is home to a myriad of different races of Martian, including the race to which Carter’s wife Dejah Thoris belongs, as well as the green skinned, four-armed race of which Tars Tarkas is a representative. After aiding Helium, Dejah Thoris’ city, in its battle against its ancient enemies in the city of Zodanga, Carter was returned to Earth against his will. By the time he again arrived on Barsoom, Deja Thoris had given birth to his son, Carthoris. He then led the armies of Helium and Zodanga against Issus, and the “First Born” of Barsoom, in order to save his wife. On Barsoom, the lighter gravity makes John Carter much stronger than many of his foes, and he is capable of tremendous leaps in the air. John Carter is 6′-2″ and in superlative physical condition. He is considered the greatest swordsman of two worlds, unwilling or unable, due to the simple facts of the matter, to acknowledge any other swordsman as his superior or even his equal. He is a skilled rider and gunfighter. He eventually developed the common Barsoomian skill to communicate telepathically, but his mind could not be read by the natives of Barsoom.
First Appearance “Under the Moons of Mars” in The All-Story Magazine (February 1912), which becamse “A Princess of Mars” in The All-Story Magazine (February-July 1912)
Appearance List “Under the Moons of Mars” in The All-Story (February to July 1912), A Princess of Mars (1917), The Gods of Mars (1918), The Warlord of Mars (1919), Swords of Mars (1936), John Carter of Mars (1964). Plus in other stories in brief and/or supporting roles.
Description John Carter was a Virginian-born Captain in the Confederate Armed Forces. After the war, his money and officer’s commission was useless, so he set out to rebuild his life as a prospector in Arizona. He was chased by hostile Arizona natives into a lonely cave, where he was mysteriously transferred to the dying red planet of Barsoom, a fictionalized version of planet Mars. Barsoom is home to a myriad of different races of Martian, including the race to which Carter’s wife Dejah Thoris belongs, as well as the green skinned, four-armed race of which Tars Tarkas is a representative. After aiding Helium, Dejah Thoris’ city, in its battle against its ancient enemies in the city of Zodanga, Carter was returned to Earth against his will. By the time he again arrived on Barsoom, Deja Thoris had given birth to his son, Carthoris. He then led the armies of Helium and Zodanga against Issus, and the “First Born” of Barsoom, in order to save his wife. On Barsoom, the lighter gravity makes John Carter much stronger than many of his foes, and he is capable of tremendous leaps in the air. John Carter is 6′-2″ and in superlative physical condition. He is considered the greatest swordsman of two worlds, unwilling or unable, due to the simple facts of the matter, to acknowledge any other swordsman as his superior or even his equal. He is a skilled rider and gunfighter. He eventually developed the common Barsoomian skill to communicate telepathically, but his mind could not be read by the natives of Barsoom.
