The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs is set on the red planet, Mars, where the protagonist, John Carter, returns after years of exile. His love, Dejah Thoris, has vanished, leaving him to navigate the treacherous landscapes and ancient mysteries of a land known as the Eden of Mars—a place from which no one has ever returned alive.

The story unfolds in an arena where three monstrous white apes are introduced, their presence setting the stage for intense conflict. The living goddess Issus, ruler of the First Born, watches with anticipation as the apes charge towards a group of terrified maidens.

In a surge of fury and action, Carter intervenes, defeating one ape and rallying the prisoners to his side. However, he is soon faced against countless warriors of the First Born, marking the beginning of an epic struggle for survival and redemption.