Prince of Zodanga. Will war with the twin cities of Helium if Dejah Thoris refuses his hand in marriage. The challenge faced by John Carter as narrated in A Princess of Mars is that if he is the one who kills Sab Than in battle or otherwise, by tradition of Barsoom he cannot marry Dejah Thoris. Therefore he is careful in a swordfight with Sab Than and his henchmen not to be the one to kill him. However, John Carter does strike Than Kosis the father of Sab Than a fatal blow with his sword, killing him and making Sab Than, very temporarily, the jeddack of Zodanga.Now in the movie Sab Than is already Jeddak of Zodanga and Than Kosis is not involved. He serves along side Matai Shang and does his bidding in return for the privilege of using thern powers and special weapons. He does duel John Carter in the movie, but I am not going to give away the result of their battle!