FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE PART 2 OF 4 !!!

Today we pick up with the further adventures of Flash Gordon, in a back-up story from Dell Comics' The Phantom, followed by the Flash Gordon comic book series continuing under the Charlton Comics imprint.

Reed Crandall comission piece!

The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. The story begins with Earth bombarded by fiery meteors. Dr. Zarkov invents a rocket ship to locate their place of origin in outer space. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale, whose plane has crashed in the area, and the three travel to the planet Mongo, where they discover the meteors are weapons devised by Ming the Merciless, evil ruler of Mongo.

The Phantom #18-#20 contained a three part Flash Gordon back-up story. 

 

The Phantom #18
"Flash Gordon and the Space Pirates Part 1"
While testing a fantastic fuel cell Flash Gordon is forced down and menaced by space pirates. The pirate leader's niece helps him escape, but reveals that her uncle has a powerful organization with which he planes to take over the universe.
Artwork by the legendary Wally Wood.

The Phantom #19
"Flash Gordon and the Space Pirates Part 2"
Artwork by the incomparable Gil Kane. 

The Phantom #20
"Flash Gordon and the Space Pirates Part 3"
Forced down by a meteor strike on their space ship, Flash and Patch encounter hypnotic globes and a huge predator, which they fend off with a ray gun before blasting off again.
Awesome artwork by Gil Kane. 

These stories have been reprinted in the gorgeous Dark Horse Flash Gordon Archives Vol. 2 hardcover.

Following this, Charlton Comics takes over the numbering from the 1966 King Features Flash Gordon comic book series. In tomorrow's post, the numbering continues in the 1978 Western Flash Gordon comic book series.

Flash Gordon #12  Flash Gordon versus Sheng the Savage!
"Sheng the Savage"
Written by Bill Pearson with Reed Crandall artwork. 
The cover was done by Reed Crandall with the others done by Pat Boyette. 

Unused cover by Jeff Jones!

Flash Gordon #13  Trapped in the Cave of the Mud Men!
"Monster Men of Tropica"
Written by Bill Pearson with artwork by a young Jeff Jones!
"Trapped in the Cave of the Mud Men"
Written by the prolific Joe Gill with artwork by Pat (Peacemaker) Boyette.
  

Flash Gordon #14  In the Land of the Witch Queen!
"In the Land of the Witch Queen"
Written by Bill Pearson with art by Pat Boyette. 

Flash Gordon #15  Danger in the Land of Djale!
"In the Land of Djale"
Art by Pat Boyette. 

 Flash Gordon #16  In the Mystic Realm!
"Mission into the Mystic Realm"
Art by Pat Boyette.

(On the Planet Mongo) Flash Gordon #17  The Creeping Menace!
"The Creeping Menace"
Art by Pat Boyette.  
"The Deep Damp"
Brick Bradford feature by Paul Norris.

"The Intruder"
Art by Pat Boyette.  

Flash Gordon #18  Attack of the Locustmen!
"Scourge of the Locustmen"
Art by Pat Boyette. 
"Shiraz"
Non-fiction feature written by Raymond Marais with art by a young Mike (The Shadow) Kaluta!  "Time Waits for All Men"
Art by Pat Boyette.



These issues are reprinted in the fantastic Dark Horse Flash Gordon Archives Vol. 3 hardcover. 

Tempo Books published six Flash Gordon paperbacks, in the eighties, containing comic book reprints. The fourth book sports a fantastic line drawn cover by Boris Vallejo. These were written by Dan Barry and drawn by the incredible Bob Fujitani, originally from the seventies.

Tempo Books also came out with a paperback series of six, exciting new adventure novels of America's greatest hero, Flash Gordon, written by noted technothriller author David Hagberg. Boris Vallejo provided striking painted covers on the first four books. 

Original sketch by Al Williamson!

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!

FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE PART 1 !!!

 King Comics' Flash Gordon ran eleven issues. This was my favorite run of the entire series, with Gold Key a close second. Many of the stories were written by Archie Goodwin, Bill Pearson & Larry Ivie with art by Al Williamson, Ric Estrada, Mac Raboy, Reed Crandall, Frank Bolle, Dan Barry. Dan Barry drew the newspaper comic book strip for a number of years.  

The comic book follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov.

The original story began with Earth bombarded by fiery meteors. Dr. Zarkov invented a rocket ship to locate their place of origin in outer space. Half mad, Zarkov kidnaps Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, whose plane has crashed in the area, and the three travel to the planet Mongo, where they discover the meteors are weapons devised by Ming the Merciless, evil ruler of Mongo.

Flash Gordon #1  Return with Flash to the strange planet Mongo!
"A sleek rocket ship skims above the continent of Tropica on the planet Mongo"
Flash returns to Mongo.
"Midnight with Mandrake"
Mandrake the Magician feature
Written by Dick Wood with art by Don Heck & Andre LeBlanc.
"Flash Gordon and the Mole Machine"
"Ming the Merciless Pin-Up" 
"Map of the Planet Mongo"

A favorite comic book cover of mine by legendary Gil Kane!

Flash Gordon #2  Flash finds a grim surprise lurking in the Death Trap of Mongo!
"Death Trap of Mongo"
"The Laughing Clown Caper"
Mandrake feature.
"Flash Gordon and the Sea Beast" 

Flash Gordon #3  Flash meets Monolith, champion of all Mongo, in a duel to the death!
"Lost in the Land of the Lizardmen"
"The Little Giant"
Mandrake feature.  
Mandrake spots his friend Jerry, the fight promoter and inquires as to why he failed to show up for a dinner date. When Jerry gives the magician the brush-off, Mandrake pursues the matter and discovers that some thugs are trying to get Jerry's fighter to throw a match.
"Flash meets Monolith, Champion of Mongo"

Original cover artwork by Al Williamson!

Flash Gordon #4 
"Lost Continent of Mongo"
"The Key to Power"
Secret Agent X-9 (Phil Corrigan) feature.  
"The Sentries of Dark Mountain"

Flash Gordon  #5  Flash is ambushed by the most terrifying creatures in Mongo!
"Flash Gordon and the God of Beastmen"
"Terror of the Blue Death"
"The Assassins of Power"
Secret Agent X-9 feature.  

Flash Gordon #6  
"Cragmen of the Lost Continent"
"The Totem Master"
"The Third Key of Power"
Secret Agent X-9 feature. 

Flash Gordon #7
"In the Human Forest"
"Flash Gordon Meets the Evil Genius of the Cosmos" 
The Fourth Key of Power"
Secret Agent X-9 feature.

Flash Gordon #8
"Flash Gordon and the Elder's Deathtrap"
"Ceremony in Shock" 
Part 2
"The Fifth Key of Power" 
Secret Agent X-9 feature.
Cover & promo ad may by Alex Raymond artwork! 

Flash Gordon #9
"The Tournament of Mongo"
"The Prison of Mongo"
Text Flash Gordon story. 
Another possible Alex Raymond cover!

Flash Gordon #10
"The Tournament of Mongo"
Part 2.
"Forbidden Forest"
Text Flash Gordon story. 
Cover based on Flash Gordon Sunday comic strip by Austin Briggs.
Rich Buckler's first professional art on a back up feature of George Washington. 

Flash Gordon #11 
"Dream Devils of the Volcanic World"

Very Highly Recommended Flash Gordon Archives!

Dark Horse came out with a terrific hardcover Flash Gordon Archives Vol. 2 covering the King Comics run. 

There were two Pinnacle Books reprinting King Comics' Flash Gordon #1 & #2 in the first paperback with #4 & #6 in the second paperback. Nice to see the covers by Al Williamson & Gil Kane (one of my favorite comic book covers.) Artwork was done by Al Williamson, Reed Crandall & Frank Bolle.

Still feeling it for the Gil Kane cover!

Flash Gordon #1
"The Ice Monster"
Flash helps prevent Count Trival and Bellam from killing Queen Fria and King Ronal.
"The Mole Machine"
Flash, Dale and Zarkov use a mole machine to tunnel through the Earth, finding an underground city.
"The Death Trap of Mongo"
Ming the Merciless schemes to bring Flash back to Mongo.
Written by Archie Goodwin.

Flash Gordon #2
"Lost Continent of Mongo"
Written by Archie Goodwin.
"Cragmen of the Lost Continent" 

Avon Books launched a six-book series of adult-oriented Flash Gordon novels, in the seventies, written by noted sci-fi author Ron Goulart. 

Tomorrow I plan on covering more of the Flash Gorden gems. You won't want to miss it. 
 
Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!    

Fun movie with a terrific Queen soundtrack!