When Dejah Thoris is finally freed from the Temple of the Sun, new perils await her at the hands of her liberators. Along with Princess Thuvia of Ptarth, Dejah is immediately taken prisoner by the nefarious Matai Shang and his daughter Phaidor. Though John Carter is close on their trail, they escape from the south pole of Mars by heading into uncharted regions.
As he pursues them to the equatorial Land of Koal and onward to the dangerous realms of the north pole, Carter battles fearsome monsters and discovers a forgotten race of yellow Martians. Before his adventure is over, his many feats of bravery and skill will have earned him the title Warlord of Barsoom.