Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Ben Acker & Heath Corson
Artist: Dan McDaid with Bob Q
Colourist: Omi Remalante with Bob Q
Release date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

When Neil Simon wrote ‘The Odd Couple’ in 1965, most famously filmed with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon in the starring roles, he probably had no idea that he was writing a template for hundreds of ‘odd couple’ superhero comic books. Just think of how many ‘odd’ members the Avengers have had over the years, starting with the Hulk, the most preposterous team member ever. And don’t get me started on the X-Men!

But in King’s Quest #2, Dynamite Entertainment present us with perhaps the most diverse and unlikely team members ever assembled to fight those foes no single hero can hope to defeat. Those of you with long(ish) memories may recall with fondness the 1986 animated TV series ‘Defenders of the Earth’ that teamed up characters from three King Features Syndicate comic strips, Flash Gordon, The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician. It ran for 65 episodes which is none too shabby and was resurrected as a short-lived comic book series published by Star Comics (an imprint of Marvel Comics) and has now resurfaced here under Dynamite’s auspices in the hope that it can improve on its previous outing.

Joining Flash, Mandrake and The Phantom this time around are Prince Valiant, Professor Zarkov and someone cryptically called The Other Phantom, plus guest star Jungle Jim. As before, the basic plot is based on the Flash Gordon mythology with Ming the Merciless as the main villain. Splitting their forces to stop Ming conquering multiple planets, Zarkov, now more of an action hero than ever was, and Mandrake bicker over whether science is magic or magic is science as they search for the quasi-scientific-magical Gatestone as Prince Valiant makes medieval asides. Meantime, Flash and the Phantoms head for Ming’s planet Mongo to confront the granddaddy of all baddies in his den and to rescue this issues designated damsel in distress Dale Arden.

As preposterous as it might sound, King’s Quest #2’s most unlikely of teams works a treat, combining characters from the very inception of the comic book universe with all the interaction and characterisation we have come to expect from team book in the ensuing decades.

In King’s Quest #2 past and present collide in what deserves to be a long established run for these mix and match heroes and even if you have no idea about the rich and varied history of these characters (you really should look them up if you are going to call yourself a comic book fan) you can just glory in the sheer unlikeliness of them ever coming together in a common cause in King’s Quest #2. And you really don’t want to miss the surprise betrayal on the last page.

Nuff said.

 

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker