Dejah Thoris #1

Overall, an excellent story, that not only entertains but also challenges gender stereotypes in the most entertaining way. The story by Frank Barbiere, is grand conspiracy thriller that much reminds me of Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country.The art by Francesco Manna, is grand ad alluring, definitely a talent I have missed on their way up. Altogether, not only a strong first issue, but what looks to be an excellent series. Read Full Review

Dynamite Entertainment is able to constantly produce diamonds in the rough of the relentless barrage of superhero comics, and Dejah Thoris is no exception to that rule. A brilliant reimagining of a tried and true character from Edgar Rice Burrow's rich world of John Carter, Dejah Thoris is definitely a book you want to get on board with at the first issue! Read Full Review

Put aside any reservation you may have had about Dynamite's Dejah Thoris. This is a fresh take on the character by Frank J. Barbiere and Franco Mann. With plots ideas provided by Gale Simone and a new costume design by Nicola Scott, let the decree go forth, this version of the Prince of Mars is out of this world. Read Full Review

A welcome return to comics for the Princess of Mars, featuring a good beginning and strong visuals. I can't imagine a world without a Dejah Thoris monthly, so I'm glad to see this out and being so enjoyable. Read Full Review

Barbiere serves up a fairly straightforward story that sets the stage well and gets us off on our journey. He largely handles Thoris in a good way and it leaves me wanting to spend more time with her to see how she grows and changes even if I'm expecting it to be obvious and predictable. What helps to elevate things here is Francesco Manna's artwork. The character designs are great and it has a really strong visual dynamic about it that keeps the flow moving. I also really appreciated some of the better laid out backgrounds that gives it a rich and fuller design, angling towards classic Roman look in some of it in a really good way. There's an obvious familiarity to the design of Helium but I also think it's open to some expansion and new interpretations, which they accomplish here. With some strong color design from Hickman as well, the book simply looks great and is a solid and fun enough read that I'm definitely on board for a while. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris #1 is an excellent introduction to a new direction for the character. Falling so far, following how she fell, and then anticipating how she will rise. If those first few pages were any indication of what excitement she will deliver in this series, there is reason enough to look forward to that next issue. Read Full Review

It is only a first issue, but we know we are eventually in for some action thanks to that little scene at the beginning. Frank Barbiere does lay it all out for us, but its only the beginning, and you are left with some unanswered questions. The art is great. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris #1 is a fantastic new series to feature the Princess of Mars, with the creative team doing a brilliant job of capturing the tone of Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ classic world. That said it would be the more bolder developments that would entice most, and despite these changes being questionable, they leave a lot to look forward to heading into the next chapter. Read Full Review

There is a lot of talk in the industry about equality and diversity. Looking at the style of this book, you could be mistaken it's a bimbo book. But take the time to read it. Barbiere has created a tale in which Dejah doesn't rely on John Carter, showing her own strength of character, thus providing the industry the strong female lead that a lot of commentators campaign for. Read Full Review

Dynamite Comics made us a promise last year in regards to its top three female characters. With Dejah Thoris #1 hitting the shelves this week, we have yet another example of Dynamite delivering on that promise with a fun, engaging issue from a solid creative team. Frank J. Barbiere, Francesco Manna, and Morgan Hickman are playing with house money with Dejah Thoris but know enough not to over play their hands. Dejah Thoris #1 is another great reintroduction to a character that has always been on the verge of being A-list, even if she has to lose it all to finally become the hero that she has always meant to be. Read Full Review

DEJAH THORIS finally gets hers, and proves she's every bit the hero John Carter is. Also Dynamite proves themselves again as the king of femme fatales, or should I say queen".not good with the PC stuff. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris#1 introduces new fans to one of science fiction's oldest heroines (She first appeared in the Edgar Rice Burroughs novelA Princess of Marsin 1912.) while setting up a scenario where she must "find herself" as a character by going on the run as a common soldier. Frank Barbiere's plot has an almost hyperactive pace as Dejah goes from queen to prisoner and fugitive in the space of a few pages, but he and artists Francesco Hanna and Morgan Hickman do allow her to have moments of reflection as well as bonding with John Carter and Thana. And the story will only get more exciting once Dejah begins to learn how to survive in the world outside Helium hinted at in the first few pages, and revelations about her past come to light. Read Full Review

All in all, “Dejah Thoris” #1 is a very solid start to a new chapter in this character's history. There's a lot here for fans of pulp and science fiction to enjoy and I'm eager to read more. Read Full Review

This is clearly a number one issue, with a full set-up that has plenty to be explored. The beautiful artwork sells you on the drama. The potential for deep and thoughtful exploration of societal roles leaves you hoping for more in future issues. It could be unfair to judge a comic on potential, however, there is so much here. Plus, there were plenty of grin-worthy, fist-pumping moments that made the action and adventure enjoyable. This combination of intriguingand sexy is the perfect kick-off for a new Dejah solo adventure. Read Full Review

Cliches and tropes aside, it looks like the tables will turn for our eponymous character, and her journey between truth and justice will be a fun, ass-kicking ride. Read Full Review

It's not a story no one has read before. The artwork makes Dejah Thoris standout in its first issue. But the story is too clich for it to go beyond just having potential right now. Read Full Review

This series definitely has the potential to be great. It has an interesting premise, but Barbiere does little to make us actually care about Dejah. It all seems a bit rushed, but the good thing is it’s a relaunch that new readers can easily understand. This series could be great, so make sure to keep up and see what happens! Read Full Review

An okay start, doesn't do much to excite or capture an audience. Plot seems solid enough to start and art is well done. Read Full Review

DEJAH THORIS #1 isn't a bad start, but it doesn't reach the highest of RED SONJA #1, where I was sold on the character and book by the final page. It shows promise, which will keep it around in my pull list for a few months. Read Full Review

I hoped for the best with Dejah Thoris. It wasnt awful, but it didnt exactly set the world alight either. It may be interesting to see where Barbiere takes this book, but in all honesty, I would say its likely to be of more interest to collectors and readers of the other Dynamite Barsoom comic books. Read Full Review

'Dejah Thoris' #1 isn't terrible it just isn't very ambitious. The problem facing this first issue is meeting the expectations of a popular and well-known heroine which it fails to do. The proposed "shocking conspiracy" is rather obvious and clumsily conceived. It's all too cliched and not the great adventure I'd hope for Dejah to partake in. Dejah deserves better than this and I can't recommend this title. Read Full Review

At least Barbierie portrays Dejah as a competent warrior in the few moments we see her in action. Nevertheless, I cannot recommend Dejah Thoris. It has excellent artwork but the story does a greater disservice to the Warrior Princess of Mars than even the most gratuitous of Frank Cho pin-ups. Read Full Review

Overall, the shakeup in Dejah's status quo is something to be applauded. The creative team has given me reasons to read the next issue, but hasn't yet given me an emotional reason to root for the protagonist. With a stronger character voice to match this strong character, "Dejah Thoris" could become quite a success. Read Full Review

For a first issue " and new direction for an established character " this comic does a great job of setting the table. It utilizes one of my favorite storytelling elements, that of a character learning their world has an entire underbelly that was previously unknown to even exist. Now we the readers are in the same boat as the main protagonist, and it seems like it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris #1 may be accessible to new readers, but this relaunched series doesn't do much to convince anyone to stick around. This issue is dull, plodding, and more concerned with setting up Dejah's new status quo than actually making the reader care about her plight. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris #1 struggled with its characters fitting into the story. They seemed almost powerless despite their real positions of strength. It makes the story feel contrived in order to get Dejah Thoris from one point to another. The art also had some major problems especially during a prominent action sequence. The coloring and how the tone changed was definitely a highlight and the use of different locales within Helium was a positive. However, the contrived story at this point makes Dejah Thoris #1 a book you can skip. Read Full Review

Still, the art is the only thing that saves Dejah Thoris #1 from being completely unreadable, but it still doesn't do nearly enough to get me interested in coming back to this world. As someone who was excited to finally fill this blind spot in his nerd cred, that is extremely disappointing. Read Full Review

Dejah Thoris #1 fell far short of expectation. She was supposed to run from her Damsel in Distress title and come into her own. But the writing causes her to circle about herself and the art drifts back and forth between great and poor. The future may be brighter, but the first issue of her new series was disappointing. Read Full Review

RedDiamondDame

Feb 12, 2016

This book does a great job of transitioning the traditional view of Dejah from cheesecake eyecandy damsel in distress to what she has becoming in Swords of Sorrow. Even in SoS she had her horrible royal garb that is of course her almost nude wear. Instead of just randomly throwing her in a different outfit, her new dress reflects her new status quo. The mystery surrounds Dejah's father and her own lineage. In order to keep up the mystery, there is not a lot revealed about the story. Considering that seems to be a critical lynchpin to the whole new status of the series, I am fine with that. Also, they do a great job of establishing her relationship with John Carter as a partnership; a rare thing to see in comic book marriages. Dejah breaks herself out, not relying on her husband: bonus points. Also, there is this idea implanted that Hellium in not the wonderous paradise that Dejah has always shown it to be in other series. There is a cast like society, where people are not being helped that Dejah assumed were being helped. As Dejah falls in society and must pretend to be someone else, I think this will provide a lot of opportunity for the creative team to explore themes about poverty and government's role in that system. Plus, the art is GORGEOUS! It really reminds me of someone but I don't know who... Adam Hughes? Terry Brooks? I'm not sure but it is lovely. more

BrightestDaycare.com

Feb 08, 2016

This book was one that I came into with the highest hopes. I loved the new Red Sonja number one, and it even held it's own against Gail Simone's Sonja run. So, this along with Vampirella are two books that I was really looking forward to. This book, at least this first issue anyway, really just didn't do it for me. We got the requisite half-nude Deja Thoris in a gravity and logic-defying bronze bikini that even Slave Leia would go "ooh girl, you need to put some clothes on!" but beyond that bit of titillation, we aren't offered much in this first issue. Deja's father, the king of Helium disappears (and we have no clue why or how- which would have been nice) and then some shadow-dwelling beaurocrat from the king's small council (Game of Thr ones, anyone???) decides to enact edicts from the deposed leader, placing himself in charge, later charging Deja with treason for killing her father. This whole book feels like it was just trying to be Game of Thrones, and NOT John Carter. I hated John Carter. Okay, to be fair, I didn't hate John Carter. I watched it really late one night when my newborn son wouldn't sleep, and the movie basically put me in a mindless trance for OVER TWO HOURS! That movie was two hours and twelve minutes long and NOTHING remarkable happened. I just remember waiting for something to happen, and nothing happened, and more nothing happened, and Deja Thoris was nowhere near as naked as I remembered her being on the comic book covers, so I was confused. I thought John Carter wore a loincloth and was eyecandy for the ladies, while Deja was eyecandy for the men. But the movie was eyecandy for no one, and that was 132 minutes of my life I will never get back. This issue was a lot less time of my life spent, but I still feel quite a bit like it was time absolutely wasted. more