THE WARLORD OF MARS

Cover illustration for the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Jul 28, 2024

John Carter strikes a heroic pose with rapier in one hand and long dagger drawn back in the other. He plants a foot on a tusked skull sitting in a bed of green and purple ground cover. The wide, smooth trunk of a huge tree rises behind him. At his side, Woola the eight legged Calot, depicted with green scaled skin and a wide, pronounced muzzle, fixes the red bead of its eye on a massive Barsoomian insect hovering left. With the oversized eyes of a fly, the wings of a dragonfly, and a stinger like a scorpion, it presents as a threat with 6 legs drawn up ready to capture prey. — THE WARLORD OF MARS (1979), Acrylic - 20" x 25"

Since Barsoom is a desert planet, it seemed likely that most of my cover art would feature scenes in arid locales. To avoid overuse of backgrounds of that nature, I seized the opportunity to depict a scene with John Carter in a forest. Here he is accompanied by Woola the calot, a Barsoomian "watchdog" of great loyalty and legendary ferocity.

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Additional images from THE WARLORD OF MARS

LEFT: Figure study in pencil for THE WARLORD OF MARS that features John Carter and Woola in mirrored position to the painting facing right. He holds a rapier as his trunk twists and the long dagger is hel lower so the blade is partially blocked by his thigh. His foot is planted on the large skull of a tusked creature. RIGHT: Alternate tonal preliminary concept for THE WARLORD OF MARS executed in charcoal. John Carter looks left in surprise with both hands on the grip of his rapier. Woola pads along next to him on all 8 legs. Teeth overlap as its mouth is closed. Its tail is curled up in worried alert. — Figure study and alternate concept for THE WARLORD OF MARS

LEFT: Detail from THE WARLORD OF MARS featuring John Carter striking a heroic pose with rapier in one hand and long dagger drawn back to strike in the other. He wears only a draping loin cloth. the orange fabric patterned in gold swaying with his motion, and a crossed harness over his chest. He plants a richly jeweled boot on the bleached skull of a tusked creature. Woola stands loyally at his side. RIGHT: Close detail from THE WARLORD OF MARS featuring a Barsoomian insect with overly large eyes like a fly. Surrounded by two antennae feelers, its mandible extends like a tongue, serving as a short runway leading up to its tiny open maw. All six legs are bent with short claws ready to capture as it hovers over a forest path on dragonfly wings. Its tail is clubbed like a scorpion with multiple barbs on the tip and sides. — Details from THE WARLORD OF MARS

Book cover for THE WARLORD OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs, published by Del Rey Books. — THE WARLORD OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Del Rey)

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THE WARLORD OF MARS

Cover illustration for the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Additional images from THE WARLORD OF MARS

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