John Carter, Warlord of Mars #22 - March 1979

"Climb to Freedom" by Chris Claremont, Mike Vosburg, and Ricardo Villamonte.

John Carter and Dejah Thoris, attempting to escape the secluded city of Karanthor, are captured and sentenced to death:

As night approaches on the cold, cruel mountain ledge, John Carter keeps Dejah's mind off her wound by telling her stories from his life on Earth, like when he was part of an expedition through the Himalayas.

The night passes, and the next morning they resume their climb. They reach another plateau, and find a cave that will provide adequate shelter for the night. But right at the moment, Dejah collapses from exhaustion! John Carter tends to her, checking her pulse, when a creature emerges from the shadows:

It's always something! To be continued!


This issue features the debut of the new art team of Mike Vosburg and Ricardo Villamonte, who do a fine job, if a little generic. I liked how this issue feels a bit like a self-contained story--dealing almost entirely with Carter and Dejah's escape--even though its of course part of the much longer Karanthor storyline.