Disney’s John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) will be swinging his sword on the big screen next month. Fans of the legendary character can enjoy a new comic book adventure. Sam Humphries is an up and coming writer at Marvel on double duty. Humphries will become co-writer of Ultimate Comics: Ultimates with Jonathan Hickman and writer of John Carter: The Gods of Mars. The series is set a decade after events in the movie. Humphries spoke with Marvel.com about the hero’s time away from Mars.

  “Every year sticks in his ribs like a knife that won’t stop turning. At some point during his first trip to Mars, it stopped being the place that trapped him, and started becoming the place he fell in love. The planet that used to be his prison became his home, and vice versa. Now that he’s back on Mars, he’ll do anything to be reunited with his true love, Dejah Thoris.”

  The limited series picks up right after events of the first novel, A Princess of Mars, exploring the world of Barsoom and mythology of the Martians.

“There’s a lot to contrast between John and all the societies that populate Mars. He’s an earthling, an American, a soldier. His sense of independence and freedom runs deep. John Carter is a great character to throw into the complex layers of interlocking civilizations; just by being in their midst he illuminates so much about them—and so much about himself. How he compares to the Martian gods themselves is integral to the core of the book—a key theme I’ll keep to myself for now.” 

Ramon Perez is the artist while Julian Totino Todescro provides covers for the series. For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.