Walt Disney pictures has revealed, through Comic Book Resources, their plans for a prequel to their upcoming John Carter, to be published by Marvel Comics.
The film version, hitting theaters on March 9, 2012, marks the live-action debut of director Andrew Stanton who brings to the screen the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels, which celebrate their centennial next year. The film stars Taylor Kitsch as the title hero and Lynn Collins as the Martian Princess Deja Thoris with roles for Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Hayden Church and Willem Dafoe as well.
The prequel, entitled "John Carter: Worlds of Mars" will run as a four-issue miniseries by Peter David and Luke Ross. Launching this October, it will feature the diverse characters of Burroughs' worlds in adventures that set the stage for the film version, going back as far as fifty years before the events of John Carter.
If you haven't already seen it, click here to check out the film's teaser trailer and take a look at the comic book series' official cover art below.