Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Jeff Parker & Jesse Hamm
Artist: Jesse Hamm
Colourist: Grace Allison
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

Of course, I could be influenced by having just binge-watched the Defenders of the Earth cartoon show, but anything that has such disparate heroes as Flash Gordon, the Phantom and Mandrake the Magician teaming up to fight Ming the Merciless has one heck of a head start in the “must read” stakes.

Flash Gordon: Kings Cross #3 is all-out action from start to finish. As Ming plays the benevolent dictator and saves our heroes from a bunch of nukes, Ming then reverts to type and sends an army of beast-men to finish them off.

It looks like curtains for Mandrake, our two Phantoms (Lothar and Jen), Flash, Dale Arden and Dr Zarkov, but who’s that I see coming over the horizon to save the day? Why, none other than Jungle Jim and Prince Valiant!

Maybe it’s an age thing, but you have no idea how just typing those names brings on a rush of adolescent excitement the exploits of more modern heroes just fail evoke. These heroes were among the founding fathers, (and mothers, let’s not get sexist about this) of the comic book universe and Jeff Parker hand Jesse Hamm have given them a new lease of life whilst maintaining all the Golden Age grandeur.

As Ming continues to plot World destruction, our heroes will strive to thwart him no matter what the odds or what the cost may be. Right, there you have the true essence of the comic book culture and Flash Gordon: Kings Cross #3 has it all.

Read Flash Gordon: Kings Cross #3 and enjoy. Then whisper a silent prayer of gratitude to the heroes who started it all. Long may they continue.

 

 

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker