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I've been a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs since before I knew who he was. I, like the majority of my generation, grew up on re-runs and old movies run on TV. I watched the Ron Ely "Tarzan" series and the old B&W Tarzan movies. Sure, they weren't very faithful to the books, but there was something about swinging through the jungle on vines and talking to apes and elephants that I liked. As I read more, I was exposed to the various comic incarnations of Tarzan, and quite by accident, his other creations, Carson of Venus and John Carter of Mars. Mars holds a special place in the imaginations of many, if not most science fiction fans and creators. It's so close, and yet so far. So similar to Earth, and yet, so lethally different. But, in the late 19th century, little was known about conditions on Mars and it was plausible that an environment could exist there, that could support life. Schiaparelli's 'canali' (channels, which are natural land forms), became Lowell's canals (which implies artificial waterways) and they were off to the races. The red planet was thought to be an ancient, dying world, it's atmosphere and water evaporating into space. Part of that is true, but Mars isn't any older than Earth. Burroughs wrote his first "planetary romance", as the genre is called, under the pen-name Normal Bean (a type-setter changed it to Norman Bean, I read somewhere), because he wanted people to know he wasn't some kind of nut. A nut would write about naked barbarians living, fighting and loving on another planet? Perish the thought. Yes, I said, NAKED....don't expect THAT to make it into the Disney/Pixar production, but I can deal with that. When I read the books, I always "clothed" the characters a bit, in my head. I'm no prude, but the idea of sword-fighting (not like that!) a 10-foot green Martian with four arms, etc. with my wedding tackle exposed made me cringe. The natives call the fourth planet from the sun Barsoom, and there are an improbable number of native intelligent races/species on the little planet. But, before we get to that, we have to get John to Mars in the first place. John Carter was a Confederate officer from Virginia, who went west after the war to seek his fortune. He went prospecting in Arizona and was set upon by Indians. Fleeing into a cave, he was mysteriously transported to Mars, which he at first mistook for Arizona. There, he runs afoul of the Tharks, the tribe of green Martians led by Tars Tarkas. On Mars, Barsoom, John's earth-bred muscles give him a distinct advantage, and through his strength and martial prowess, he manages to impress the Tharks and even win the friendship of Tars Tarkas.
 The green Martians are nomadic and somewhat primitive. Any advanced technology they posess is stolen from the more advanced humanoid Martians, the red Martians and others. In the novel, "A Princess of Mars", they are described as 10-feet tall and naked, but for harness to support their weapons and some jewelry. As chief of his tribe, I figured Tars Tarkas would have a little more jewelry and an elaborate harness. And a loin cloth, because I don't want to draw Martian genitalia anymore than you wanna see it! The loin cloth is a little worn and tattered, because he's a fighter and stuff gets torn. When it comes to John, I admit to borrowing heavily from Gil Kane, as seen in the Marvel Comics version "John Carter, Warlord of Mars". I just like the way it looks. His sword, I modeled on a saber I used to own and wish I hadn't sold. It was a Chinese saber with a blade built on the katana pattern. Best sword I ever owned. The pistol, like all Barsoomian firearms, is a "radium" pistol. Supposedly, it fires "radium" bullets that explode when exposed to sunlight. To me, that means you fire the thing and the bullet detonates as it leaves the muzzle and the bad guy cuts you down with his sword. For my purposes, the gun fires a bullet that explodes on impact.
 Of course, where would the hero be, without a damsel in distress, or possibly, a hot chick saving his dumb ass? Dejah Thoris is the original "fan service girl" in SF. This is how she is introduced in "A Princess of Mars":
She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure."
Interesting (to me, anyway) side note. My very first sale on Ebay, years ago, was an accurate (nude) pic of Dejah Thoris. I have a color print on my studio wall. She's a favorite of artists, just do an image search for her name and check 'em out.
 Yes, I covered up quite a lot of her, but you have to remember that when I'm costuming a character, I try to think of practical matters, as well as follow the "Rule of Cool", when I can. Unlike a lot of artists, I prefer to depict Dejah armed, not helpless. Though, sometimes, in service to the story, you have to go for the damsel in distress.
 I really hope we'll have a lot of fans working on this movie. I don't want to see it modernized. Barsoomian architecture should feature domes, spires and minerets, with curves and arches, rather than angles and beams. Machinery should feature elegant design, as well as functionality. Each sword and radium pistol should be a hand-made work of art. Machines used to be made this way, when they were made to last. Disposability breeds utilitarianism. Martian machines are built to last, to be handed down from father to son, mother to daughter. Like a great story. Go read a book!
A Princess of Mars
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