As I always pick up the cosplay covers of Red Sonja comics, I’m accustomed to seeing various cosplayers depicting the She-Devil With A Sword. However, I was not prepared for this cover’s cosplay of Martian Princess, Dejah Thoris, whose outfit (or really, lack of) is even more revealing than Sonja’s skimpy attire.

It’s true to the way that Edgar Rice Burroughs described all of the Martian races though, it must be said; Thoris and her people all pretty much went unclothed save for jewellery. Also, cosplayer Jacqueline Goehner really nails the look, despite its incredibly revealing nature.

Anyway, enough about me being slightly flustered by this issue’s cover. In issue 2 of Altered States: Warlords, Red Sonja’s ancient arrival on Mars has changed the course of the future, but John Carter still arrives from Earth as normal. However, learning of her history, he sees an opportunity to save the planet, and turn the tide of the war that’s been raging since Sonja’s time.

After the Sonja-centric debut issue, this is very much John Carter’s time to shine. Given that’s the case, and going back to the cover once more, it is perhaps a bit weird that we don’t have a male cosplayer featured, but of course Dynamite are well aware of the popularity of their cosplay covers, and what makes them popular (spoiler: it’s not scantily clad men that sells these issues, though I’d love to see them at least try, and this was the perfect opportunity!).

My slight lack of familiarity with the John Carter lore didn’t hurt my enjoyment of this story as it developed, though admittedly I know the basics. A complete newcomer to the saga might be extremely lost, but I found it easy enough to follow.

Of course, with Vampirella due to be thrown into the mix soon too, it might become more of a tangled web of characters and shifted continuity, but for now it’s an accessible and enjoyable What If?-style adventure.

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