The story opens with John Carter in chains, a prisoner of Stara Kan. Above his prison cell, Dejah Thoris, also a prisoner, listens to Stara Kan tell of his defeat at the hands of John Carter, a year earlier in the war with the Zodangan army. Seeking revenge, Stara Kan unleashes a wild banth (resembling a six-legged lion) to devour John Carter. Before he can battle the sinister Stara Kan, Carter must defeat the banth and free his princess.