# John Carter — The Warlord of Mars character guide > John Carter in The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Carter **First appearance:** 0000-i-on-the-river-iss ## Snapshot The Warlord of Barsoom, a Virginia-born fighting man who tears across worlds and armies to reclaim the wife taken from him. ## Who they are John Carter narrates his own relentless pursuit of Dejah Thoris, moving through hostile courts and hidden fortresses with sword and fists. His disguise as a yellow-skinned stranger backfires when his own wife fails to recognize him, a mistake that costs them both dearly. Even disarmed before a tyrant's throne, he fights half a hundred warriors rather than yield, and the loyalty he inspires in allies and beasts alike repeatedly saves him. His devotion and recklessness set the pace for the entire rescue. ## Relationships ### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris) _romantic_ Dejah Thoris and John Carter are deeply in love, with John Carter constantly striving to rescue and reunite with her. ### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid) _rivalry_ John Carter and Thurid are mortal enemies, with Thurid constantly plotting against Carter and his loved ones. ### [Salensus Oll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/salensus_oll) _rivalry_ John Carter is a direct enemy of Salensus Oll, who holds Dejah Thoris captive and opposes Carter's rescue efforts. ### [Phaidor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/phaidor) _rivalry_ Phaidor is obsessed with John Carter, but he rejects her advances, creating a one-sided antagonistic dynamic. ### [Kulan Tith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/kulan_tith) _friendship_ John Carter and Kulan Tith are strong allies and friends, fighting together against common foes. ### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris) _romantic_ Dejah Thoris and John Carter are deeply in love, with John Carter constantly striving to rescue and reunite with her. ### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid) _rivalry_ John Carter and Thurid are mortal enemies, with Thurid constantly plotting against Carter and his loved ones. ### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris) _romantic_ Dejah Thoris and John Carter are deeply in love, with John Carter constantly striving to rescue and reunite with her. ### [Kulan Tith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/kulan_tith) _friendship_ John Carter and Kulan Tith are strong allies and friends, fighting together against common foes. ### [Phaidor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/phaidor) _rivalry_ Phaidor is obsessed with John Carter, but he rejects her advances, creating a one-sided antagonistic dynamic. ### [Phaidor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/phaidor) _rivalry_ Phaidor is obsessed with John Carter, but he rejects her advances, creating a one-sided antagonistic dynamic. ### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid) _rivalry_ John Carter and Thurid are mortal enemies, with Thurid constantly plotting against Carter and his loved ones. ## In the story ### [On the River Iss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/i-on-the-river-iss) Narrator and protagonist; pursues Thurid along the River Iss, haunted by the fate of Dejah Thoris. ### [Under the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-under-the-mountains) Protagonist navigating the underground river and confronting therns; determined to rescue Dejah Thoris. ### [III: The Temple of the Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-the-temple-of-the-sun) Narrator and protagonist; fights therns, discovers the temple entrance, and deciphers the light-lock combination. ### [The Secret Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-the-secret-tower) Pursues Dejah Thoris to the secret fortress, fights guards and banths, and confronts Phaidor's ultimatum. ### [On the Kaolian Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/v-on-the-kaolian-road) Narrator and protagonist; survives a fall, escapes the fortress, pursues the flier, and is rescued by Torkar Bar. ### [A Hero in Kaol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-hero-in-kaol) Disguised as Dotar Sojat, he warns the Kaolians of the ambush and fights heroically, earning Kulan Tith's gratitude. ### [New Allies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/vii-new-allies) Confronts Matai Shang and Thurid, revealing the true purpose of his pursuit and demanding the release of Dejah Thoris and Thuvia. ### [Through the Carrion Caves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-through-the-carrion-caves) Leads the expedition through the Carrion Caves, devises a plan to kill the sentry apt, and sends Woola back to Helium with a message for Carthoris. ### [With the Yellow Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/ix-with-the-yellow-men) Narrator and protagonist; plans to infiltrate Kadabra to rescue Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak. ### [X: In Durance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/x-in-durance) Imprisoned and disguised as a guard aspirant; intervenes to save Dejah Thoris from Thurid; heartbroken by her apparent rejection. ### [The Pit of Plenty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-the-pit-of-plenty) Imprisoned in the Pit of Plenty, later revealed by Thurid and fights against Salensus Oll's warriors. ### [Follow the Rope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xii-follow-the-rope) Escapes the Pit of Plenty via a rope, discovers a tunnel, and overhears Thurid's plot. ### [The Magnet Switch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-the-magnet-switch) Fights guardsmen, frees prisoners, duels Solan, and throws the magnet switch to save the fleet. ### [The Tide of Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-the-tide-of-battle) Interrupts the wedding, kills Salensus Oll, and fights the nobles to protect Dejah Thoris. ### [Rewards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-rewards) Pursues Thurid through the palace tunnels and across the arctic landscape to rescue Dejah Thoris. ### [The New Ruler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-the-new-ruler) Reunited with Dejah Thoris, he orchestrates the peaceful transition of power in Okar and reflects on his twenty-two-year journey to unite Barsoom's races. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters