Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris #3

In the oppressive heat of the Toonolian Marshes, Dejah Thoris leads a desperate search for vital resources, only to be pulled from sleep by an unseen force. Drawn to a shadowed island deep within the swamp, she ventures into a dark cave and faces an ancient presence—The Boora Witch—whose cryptic words hang in the air like a warning.

In the eerie stillness of the Toonolian Marshes, Dejah Thoris is found wandering alone on a small island at night—her mind not her own. The Boora Witch, a vengeful spirit from ancient lore, has taken hold of her body, using her as a vessel under cover of darkness. As Dejah returns to Helium, those who know her begin to notice a chilling shift in her behavior, and the Witch seizes the chance to manipulate events from within, summoning Than Kosis for a clandestine meeting that could shake the foundations of Helium’s power.

In "Issue Thirteen: Chamber of Mystery," the Boora Witch manipulates events in Helium from within Dejah Thoris’s body, turning her against her own blood as she engineers a coup that brands Dejah’s father and grandfather traitors. With the throne claimed and her allies dead, the sudden shift in Dejah’s demeanor alarms Kantos Kan, who returns to the Toonolian swamps to uncover the truth behind the witch’s influence.

In "Issue Fourteen: The New Ruler," Kantos Kan uncovers the hidden truth behind Dejah Thoris’s violent outbursts—leading him to the secret cave of the Boora Witch, whose corpse still holds sway over her mind. As Dejah stands on the brink of executing her own family, Kantos arrives with the witch’s body, severing her hold and forcing Dejah to confront the shame of her loss of control. The weight of her actions drives her to exile herself from Helium under cover of night, leaving behind a city in turmoil and a legacy in question.