First appearing as a comic strip character in 1934, Flash Gordon quickly became a multimedia sensation. The former football star turned space-traveling superhero went on to star in radio plays, movie serials, cartoons, television shows, and, most famously, a feature film in 1980. He’s remained popular in spite of his pulp roots because of how easily his adventures have changed with the times. This idea is driven home in Flash Gordon Quarterly #1. This new anthology by Mad Cave Studios throws Flash into the multiverse to awesome effect.
This premiere issue contains three stories. Each of them is set in a different reality, but the focus is on the classic franchise characters in unfamiliar forms. However, the series will also feature character-focused stories depicting various members of the Flash Gordon supporting cast.
The first story is set in this vein, centering around the noble hawkman leader Vultan and his son, Talon. Beset by the mercenaries of Ming, father and son must put aside their family squabbles to survive. This familiar tale is packed with action, well documented by artist Pasquale Qualano. However, there is also an unexpected ethos in the tale, with Dennis Culver exploring Vultan’s conflicted feelings as a father and a king regarding his son growing up.
Flash Gordon Quarterly affirms universal appeal of classic characters
The other two tales in Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 transpose the classic characters into new realities. Described as Flash Fiction, these What If…? style stories showcase these characters in genres other than space opera. The second story, “The Battle of Little Mingo,” is a space Western, with Flash as the brave sheriff, Dale Arden as his deputy, and Ming as a corrupt governor. Author Louis Southard does a fine job of transposing the classic characters into this world. The artwork by Nuno Plati is similarly interesting visually, with little touches like Ming’s giraffe/horse hybrid mount.
The final story, “Flash Detective Services,” by Jordan Thomas and Russell Olson, plants our hero in a Noir mystery. As in the second tale, the classic characters remain the same, even adapted into new roles. However, the change in genres allows for some neat twists on the classic formulas as a result. For instance, Princess Aura easily slides into the role of the femme fatale, who hires private investigators Gordon and Zarkov to find her missing fiancé.
In the final analysis, Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 is an interesting experiment in adaptation. It will primarily appeal to existing fans of the King Features hero and genre enthusiasts. However, new readers unfamiliar with the wild worlds of Flash Gordon will find this a welcome entry point.
Grade: 4/5
Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on September 4, 2024.
