Comic Review: Dejah Thoris and the White Apes #3

Catching up with this week's comic reviews while trying to avoid the heat outside is what I'll be doing this weekend. And let us start with a Princess vs. an Ape.

When last seen Dejah had just barely escaped the fate of becoming a Great White Ape's dinner. As this issue opens she's trying through her telepathic abilties to warn Carthoris and his ship away while trying to find a way to escape. And basically as Alien or any other horror film has taught us, creeping around a dark creepy place with monsters after you isn't easy. But Dejah has finally decided to fight back and as the issue ends a showdown is set between her and the leader of the apes and only one will survive.

If this issue has one thing readers will notice is the utter lack of dialogue or much plot. It's just "final girl vs. the monster" action as Dejah picks up a sword and proves hell hath no fury like a Barsoomian princess. Writer Mark Rahner does thrown in some curveballs though-at one point Dejah puts on a white ape skull on her head as a helmet and even does a Tarzan imitation that...well let's just say cold cuts and leave it at that. Beyond that Rahner does his best to maintain the tension and by the end at least for me leaves the reader wanting to see the finale.

Lui Antonio's artwork is also pretty spare in this issue, but I think it works since it's supposed to evoke the claustrophic and dark settings of such films like Alien. He also manages to work up some fierce looking apes and enough dripping blood to make horror fans happy. Again there will be those who find Dejah-now even more skimpy than before-a little too robust but at this point complaining about it obviously isn't going to change it.

So to wrap up I'll give this issue a big thumbs up if you love a good old fashioned monster movie. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but Dejah Thoris and the White Apes of Mars delivers. Until next time, Kaor!