Did you know that Edgar Rice Burroughs' favorite martian maverick is considered a pulp hero? It's true. John Carter of Mars first appeared in the pulp publication, All-Story magazine in 1212. And like the character himself, no one's quite sure how long Carter will live.

Here are few interesting facts about the sci-fi/adventure icon:

1. In the first John Carter of Mars novel, The Princess of Mars, Carter is described as a native Virginian who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War before becoming a prospector in Arizona. Chased by Apaches into a cave, he asphyxiates on noxious gas and, while unconscious, moves toward a "bright red light" that turns out to be Mars.

2. Once there, Carter takes a wife--Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, one of Mars' capital cities.

3. A total of 11 Burroughs-penned John Carter of Mars books were published. Marvel revived the character for a short, but well-received run in 1977 with John Carter, Warlord of Mars. Dark Horse also took a take on the character with Tarzan/John Carter: Warlord of Mars in 1996, bringing together for the first time two of Burrough's most famous heroes.

4. John Carter of Mars is considered one of the first American sci-fi/adventure, space-based icons in literature.

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