Back to Barsoom: Mercernaries!

The wandering soldier of fortune or panthan [pan-ŧan] is common upon Barsoom, where most men love to fight. Panthans sell their services wherever war exists, and in the occasional brief intervals when there is no organized warfare between the red nations, they join one of the numerous expeditions that are constantly being dispatched against the green men in protection of the waterways that traverse the wilder portions of the globe. 

When their service is over they discard the metal of the nation they have been serving until they shall have found a new master. In the intervals they wear no insignia, their war-worn harness and grim weapons being sufficient to attest their calling. In times of war such panthans within the domain of a belligerent nation are compelled to don the insignia of that nation and fight with her warriors.

Back to Barsoom: Holy Therns

Holy Therns in the Valley of Dor.

The Holy Therns were a vicious Martian cult populated by the therns. Inhabitants of the Valley Dor, they worshipped the "living goddess" Issus (who is actually merely an ancient Black Martian woman), and sought to keep her happy with human sacrifices. For centuries, they enthusiastically promoted the idea that the Valley Dor is the gateway to Martian Heaven and decreed that any Martian who had reached 1,000 years of age or merely tired of living should travel to the valley to either spend the rest of eternity in paradise or be reborn. 

When the unsuspecting pilgrims reached the valley, they found a beautiful land where fruit and water were plentiful... which also happened to be heavily inhabited by white apes and plant men. Those who survived those creatures ended up enslaved by the Holy Therns, who would work them to death before feeding them to Issus or the Tenth Cycle. The Holy Therns' downfall came in 1886, when John Carter suddenly returned to Mars. 

The therns are White Martians and completely bald; they where blonde wigs as their ancestors used to have blonde hair. The client requested a white theme and I thought some purple would also add to their sense of superiority to all other Martians . . .

Next: How about some mercenaries on war-torn Barsoom?

 

Back to Barsoom: Warriors of Zodanga

Zodanga is a Red Martian city and nation that before John Carter's arrival on Mars had long been enemies with the red men of Helium, and the green men of Thark. The city was conquered by John Carter and the green hordes of Thark, with the assistance of many minor hordes. The city then became part of the kingdom of the nation of Helium. However there are many in Zodanga who have no love for Helium. The client requested a green theme for the Warriors of Zodanga.

Oh my gosh, talk about evil: The Holy Therns are next.

Back to Barsoom: Warriors of Helium

Helium is one of the major kingdoms in Barsoom. It is ruled by the Jeddak Tardos Mors and is the residence of warlord John Carter and his wife Dejah Thoris. Helium is noted, among other things, for the excellence of its navy (the fliers of Helium are among the fastest on Barsoom).

John Carter, Tars Tarkas and Dejah Thoris.

For the Warriors of the Twin Cities of Helium, the client requested a red theme. I decided to go with a dark red, with orange highlights to better blend in with the inhospitable terrain of Barsoom.

One of the items I like about the Bronze Age miniatures is that they follow many of the illustrations in style post World War II.

Next: Zodanga. (Boo! Hiss!)

Back to Barsoom: Green Men and Characters

 

I recently did a commission for some figures for Barsoom the red planet of our Solar System. I grew up on the John Carter books by Edgar Rice Burroughs and I jumped at this commission and finished it in record time! All of the figures are from Bronze Age Miniatures except for the female; I'm not sure who makes the figure. I did two Green Martians:

I love the Bronze Age Green Martians - the variety, the options and the price at $12 US dollars. Figure stands at approximate 54mm tall.

Green Martian number 2. This photo gives a good comparison in scale to the 28mm figures. The Green Martians look exactly how I envisioned them reading the books.

Ulysses Paxton, the second Earthmen to go to Barsoom.

Llanna of Gathol. I was a little disappointed with this figure as you can see the pock marks on her right leg. Time to invest in some green stuff.

I forget the name of this character from the client, but he is from Gathol.

Next on to Helium.

February Auctions: A little bit for Everybody's genres

It's that time again for Auctions! This month I'm featuring a little bit of everything: AWI, Pulp, Victorian Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Auctions end on February 14th at 5:00 pm US Pacific Standard Time. On with the listings!

Painted 28mm AWI Wargames Foundry Continental Infantry Advancing Perry Sculpts

Painted 54mm Tars Tarkas and 28mm John Carter & Dejah Thoris for Pulp and Sci/Fi

Painted 54mm Green Martians scaled for 28mm games from Bronze Age Miniatures

Painted 28mm Egyptian Sarcophagus from Reaper with 3 Foundry Pulp era Figures

Painted 28mm Egyptian Mummies from Reaper Miniatures perfect for Pulp Games

Painted 28mm Pulp/Victorian Sci Fi/Colonial Arabs from Artizan/Wargames Foundry

Painted 28mm Pulp/Victorian Sci Fi figures from various manufacturers

Painted 28mm Pulp Figures Istanbul Constabulary for Pulp and various other games

Painted 28mm scale various Nolzur’s Marvelous Miniatures for Pulp Games and DnD

Thanks for you support and good luck and good bidding!