John Carter (aka Captain Jack Carter, C.S.A. and gentleman of the State of Virginia), an Earthman is transported to Mars by some strange type of astral projection from his dying body on Earth. Once on Barsoom our Earthly hero quickly begins to show his physical and moral superiority by defeating and then joining together groups that have been warring against one another for generations. All to rescue his love Dejah Thoris, a Princess of Helium, the greatest of the Barsoom city states.