Mad Cave Studios has been rather busy this summer, celebrating the 90th anniversary of none other than legendary comic strip hero Flash Gordon. A new series launched in July was followed last month with the first of two anthologies of vintage Flash Gordon comic strips. Later this month, the second issue in the company’s new series is set to drop, with the second vintage comic strips anthology set to follow in October. In the meantime, audiences received a little something to tide themselves over this week in the form of Flash Gordon Quarterly #1. This brand-new collection of stories is anchored by its primary tale, “The Fall of King Vultan,” an interesting mini-story of sorts that shows apparently Flash Gordon is not Ming the Merciless’ only target. It is one of three stories that make up this 41-page presentation that readers are sure to enjoy. The second story in the collection is just as certain to engage and entertain audiences. It will be addressed a little later. The collection’s third and final tale takes Flash and Dale into yet another new “universe” soto speak that shows Flash’s stories can honestly succeed in any realm. To that point, all three of the stories featured in this collection do their own part to make successful. All things considered they make Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 a must read for not just Flash Gordon fans but those of so many genres and styles of stories.
Flash Gordon Quarterly #1, the first in a whole new series of Flash Gordon comics, is a fun new presentation that is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers of all ages. That is proven through all three of its stories. Or rather in the case of these tales, technically mini-stories. The first of the tales turns the attention from Flash to another group of characters from the Flash Gordon universe, the hawk men (not to be confused with the DC Comics characters of the same name – this despite their quite familiar design). The story, dubbed “The Fall of King Vultan” is somewhat misleading. That is because King Vultan does not fall even as he and his son, “Talon” (Vultan The Second) face off against the forces of Ming. Not to give away, but the pair comes out on top. How it all happens will be left for readers to discover for themselves. It really is not the bigger tale here, though it certainly sets up the possibility of a much longer-running story that audiences would certainly enjoy. Rather, the real primary story here is that of a parent’s reluctance to let his or her child become an adult. That seeing of the child as just that even as the child becomes an adult. It is a situation that every parent faces and is as timeless as Earth itself (or even the planet Mongo). At the same time, one cannot help but wonder…the way in which artist Pasquale Qualano drew some of “Talon’s” reactions to his father, if there is perhaps not more behind his words that might play out later. Time will possibly tell should this tale continue in the next issue of Flash Gordon Quarterly come December.
“The Fall of King Vultan” is just one of the stories featured here that is sure to engage and entertain readers. From there, a new creative team takes readers to a western world run (again) by Ming, only this time it is like something out of a classic TV western. Ming is the big bad land-owner while Flash is the town sheriff who has to face off against him. As with those old westerns, too, the conflict is over land. Land rich with oil that our big bad wants for himself. Honestly, it is kind of fun and quirky to see Ming in such a role considering readers have come to know him as this evil intergalactic emperor for so many decades. He is still a bad guy, just in a unique new profile this time. Interestingly enough, while Ming is defeated (as usual) it is not Flash who defeats him this time. Who defeats him will be left for readers to discover for themselves. The whole is just a great little “what-if” scenario that deserves more attention. A Flash Gordon western on another planet sounds crazy but once audiences read this mini-story they will agree it actually works remarkably well.
In the final tale featured in this collection, yet another creative team comes in, this time sending Flash into yet another unique setting, that of a hard boiled 1930s detective story. Gordon is enlisted by the femme fatale, Aura (yes, as in Ming’s daughter. Only in this case she is not…at least it would appear so). Aura enlists Flash to find her boyfriend, local politician Barin Prince, who has been kidnapped. Flash ends up in his own situation of peril in his search, much as one Dick Tracy might (on a side note, Mad Cave Studios does run a Dick Tracy comic series) in his investigation. He of course survives the situation with a happy ending at least for the moment. Yet again in this “what-if Flash was a different character” situation, the story proves surprisingly engaging and entertaining, leaving one hoping that it will continue in the next quarterly just as much as the collection’s other stories. To that end, all three of the stories featured here collectively make Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 another great read for not just Flash Gordon Fans but readers of a much wider range of genres.
On an additional note, each story presents its own unique art style that adds to each tale’s enjoyment. The colors and rather angular design of the characters in the western tale for instance is a direct throwback to the art style of comics from that era. In the same vein, the richness and darkness of the coloring and design in the noir story throws back to that style too. Simply put, the art presented in each story does just as much to engage and entertain readers as the stories themselves. Keeping all of this in mind, the collection proves that much more enjoyable for audiences.
Mad Cave Studios’ new Flash Gordon collection, Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 is a fully successful new offering from the company that Flash Gordon fans will appreciate just as much as those of old crime noirs and westerns. Simply put it is a collection that will appeal to readers of all ages. That is due in large part to each of the three unique tales told here. Each takes Flash into a different setting, each of which is familiar to audiences of all ages. Each story is familiar in its style, too, making for even more joy, and the art puts the finishing touch to the whole because it gives each its own identity too. All things considered this new collection is a great presentation that will appeal to so many readers. It is available now in comic shops nationwide through Mad Cave Studios.
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