Back in 1962 Wallace Wood created a series of trading cards illustrating hideous yet funny looking Martians invading and destroying earth. I used to have a couple of the re-prints but I think my family threw them away (curse them!). However there were a total of 55 cards and each one told a story by the art work and a couple of words. Then in the 80’s Topps adapted the cards into a comic book mini-series and other kinds of merchandise which mainly mainstreamed Mars Attacks. Following that in 1996 Tim Burton (Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands) adapted this series into a motion picture film, which I know I stand alone on this one, but it’s a Burton masterpiece! ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK, ACK!

Fast forward to 2012 IDW is celebrating 50 years of Mars Attacks with a brand new mini-series cleverly titled Mars Attacks. It’s being written and lettered by the man himself John Layman (Chew) and on art/ink duties is John McCrea (Hitman). IDW is releasing a total 55 covers (each cover has the original artwork from the trade cards) along with two retailer incentive covers and SDCC ’12 variant cover. They are also combing all these covers into one sweet box set with a price tag of close to 200 big ones.

Layman sets up the story fairly simple; It starts off with a Martian fleet ship exploring thru space when they suddenly hit a NASA astronaut ship and that sends them burning down towards earth. Then we see two rednecks drinking some beer when a flaming ship comes crashing down and burned their cattle stock. They then go and explore the wreckage and come to find a bunch of unconscious Martians so they decide to take one Martian (ZAR who is not a general yet) to the circus to see if they can get a couple of bucks to make up for the cattle lose. From here they sell ZAR to the circus ringmaster for a mere 100 bucks and split it 60/40. But one of the rednecks feels bad for what happened and goes back to untie ZAR and set him free but the ringmaster catches them and all hell breaks loose! ZAR escapes, rednecks die, people burn, and Martians heads explode! But ZAR is able to make it out alive and goes back to his ship and calls for back up. Then the very last page we see a crap ton of ships heading towards earth!

Now let’s down to the nitty gritty: John layman is a true story teller. I have not read one bad story from him and it seems it’s like he is only getting better. But that’s enough fanboy-ism let’s get to the story; the story opens with a nice short prologue. It sets up the story nicely and also we see that there is a narrator telling the story. We don’t know if it’s from the Martians stand point or maybe a character we haven’t yet seen, but it’s a nice touch. Next John McCrea is the man when comes to him drawing Martians. His detail work is far from none, the guy can draw like no mans business, especially his close up panels have great detail work, but the only fall back is the some of the panels just have to much shadowing going on. But don’t get me wrong McCrea is jaw dropping awesome with the pencil and with Andrew Elder (Batman Beyond) adding his vibrant colors really just adds another element. Combing them both together they know how to make a book feel like it’s from the 1960’s.  I highly recommend this book just for the pure fun of it. Can’t wait till the next issue!

Rating 4/5

Chuckie Valdez, Review: Mars Attacks #1 (Spoilers)

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at, John Carter: The Gods Of Mars #1, hitting comic shops everywhere March 2012! From the creative team of rising stars Sam Humphries (Sacrifice) & Ramon Perez (Jim Henson’s Tale Of Sand), the heroic John Carter makes his return to Barsoom not to save it from Martian beasts…but Martian GODS! This new series, in collaboration with the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate, is an all-new graphic fiction adaptation of the legendary John Carter novels AND considered part of the official canon set by Burroughs. No fan looking for added depth to the rich John Carter mythos can miss this.

As our hero finds himself in the land of the dead, all hope looks lost. But nothing will stop John Carter from saving Mars from the terror of those looking to destroy it and this March, the next chapter of one of the greatest action stories ever told begins in John Carter: The Gods Of Mars #1!

JOHN CARTER: THE GODS OF MARS #1 (of 5) (JAN120655)
Based on the Novel by EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
Adaptation by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by RAMON PEREZ
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
All Ages …$2.99
FOC – 2/27/12, ON SALE – 3/21/12

John Carter (TM) owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

Agent Burgos, Your First Look At JOHN CARTER: THE GODS OF MARS #1!