Gullivar Of Mars!

Whether you spell it "Gulliver" or "Gullivar", I like this novel. I'm in the camp that thinks this book did influence Edgar Rice Burroughs and his creation Princess of Mars. The similarities between the books is striking, especially the magical way the heroes are transported to Mars only to find themselves having to aid an ancient culture, especially that culture's most beautiful princess. It's a creaky read, but a good one nonetheless.

The Marvel Comics adaptation features some great covers, but sadly is pretty uneven itself. The first issue is one of the best ever by Gil Kane with lush Bill Everett inks. After that the quality drops off considerably though Kane does a few more issues I think. A young George Perez shows up on this before it's done, but he's not up to the task. The late George Alec Effinger wrote some of the scripts I believe. Jim Steranko's cover for the final issue of this run in Creatures On The Loose (the series continued briefly in the B&W Monsters Unleashed) is really one of his better ones from his later Marvel period. Love the background.

It doesn't hurt the reputation of this turn-of-the-last-century gem that its Ace cover was one of the earliest efforts by Frank Frazetta.

If you want to read this novel online here's a great link:

GULLIVER JONES OF MARS by EDWIN L. ARNOLD @ NOSTALGIA LEAGUE

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