The Original Superhero: John Carter

When I was 14 years old, I turned in my first book report for English class. The report was for Starship Troopers, a popular science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. After my first report was turned in, the teacher assigned each one of my classmates and I a new book. She handed me an extremely warn copy of A Princess of Mars, the first in a series of John Carter books (also known as the Barsoom series) by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Burroughs created the first John Carter story in 1912, then later turned into a novel in 1917. It is widely considered the pioneer of science fiction. In fact, many people think if John Carter had not been created, we wouldn't have some of the greatest science fiction we do today. Including Star Wars and Superman.

In 1975, George Lucas created a synopsis describing his story as "in the grand tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'John Carter of Mars,'" according to "The Star Wars Genesis," an article by Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier. That synopsis later turned into Star Wars.

Carter's abilities come from Mars's low gravity. It gives Carter enhanced strength and agility, ability to jump great distances. Superman was created in 1938. Durning his early run in comics, Superman's powers came from the difference in Earth's gravity compared to his home planet of Krypton. Superman wasn't able to fly yet, but was able to leap a great distance, creating the term, "Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!" Carter is extremely honorable and courageous. Traits also found in Superman's character.

Carter is a former confederate solider who ends up in wild west Arizona, before being transported to Mars. The merging of western and sci-fi genres, gave influence to shows today like, Joss Whedon's Firefly series and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's Cowboys and Aliens.

Durning A Princess of Mars, John Carter gets transported to a mysterious planet, finds himself aligned with one of the planets native tribes, and falls in love with the native princess. He fights to save his newly adopted people from tyranny and oppression. James Cameron was quoted in The New Yorker magazine saying "With ‘Avatar,’ I thought, Forget all these chick flicks and do a classic guys’ adventure movie, something in the Edgar Rice Burroughs mold, like John Carter of Mars—a soldier goes to Mars,” Cameron told me. The hero of “Avatar,” Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is a paraplegic ex-marine who travels to Pandora, a moon in the Alpha Centauri star system, where there is a human colony.". The final arena battle scene in Star Wars Episode II The Clone Wars, was heavily influenced by John Carter. Conan, Mad Max, and Star Trek all have influential examples. Even writer Michael Crichton named a character after John Carter.

Burroughs's novels have also influenced our earliest space program. It has inspired people to become astronauts, as well as NASA's interest in Mars itself.

Whether or not you have read the Barsoom series of novels. I encourage everyone who is a science fiction or fantasy fan, to think of some of your earliest memories of the genre. Keep in mind, that without
author Edgar Rice Burroughs's 100 year old novels, our lives may have turned out much differently.