Friday, December 5, 2014

FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE PART 3 OF 4 !!!


 Now we continue with Gold Key Comics' Flash Gordon #1 & #19-#27. They were written by John Warner, Gary Poole & Bruce Jones with artwork by Carlos Garzon & Frank Bolle. They displayed gorgeous painted covers. There is some overlapping with the Whitman imprint, but I'll address that on Monday.  

The comics 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. 


Flash Gordon #1  Marooned on a monster-infested planet torn by war, Flash and Dale are hunted from every side!
"The Eyes of Opto"
Flash and Dale's spaceship is shot down, crashling on Opto. Everyone on Opto wears blinders after the planet's sun having gone out, leaving it in darkness, and re-ignited. Flash, Dale, and a girl named Chee escape from being killed by the High Tribunal, and make their way to the winter region of Opto, where the rebel Vango is plotting a revolt against the dictator, the Regent Optik.

Funny, but the space ship on the cover reminds me of the Spindrift from Land of the Giants
Art by Paul (Aquaman) Norris.
This issue is a reprint of Dell Comic's Four Color #173.


Flash Gordon #19  Flash is Back!
"Return to Mongo Part 1"
"Return to Mongo Part 2 Mindlife"  
Written by John (Bloodstone) Warner with art by Carlos Garzon.


Flash Gordon #20  Flash and Dale Face the Wonders and the Terrors of Ming's City of Science--Citadel!
"Citadel Part 1"
"Citadel Part 2 Requiem"
Written by John Warner with art by Carlos Garzon.


Flash Gordon #21  The Shark Men Invade...as a Traitor Within Waits to Strike the Final Blow!
"Wolf in the Fold Part 1"
"Wolf in the Fold Part 2"
Written by John Warner with art by Frank (Solar) Bolle.  
This issue was published under the Gold Key & Whitman imprints.


Flash Gordon #22  A Secret Radio Signal Lures Flash Into Ming's Electronic Snare!
"The Prince and the Traitor Part 1"
"The Prince and the Traitor Part 2"
Written by John Warner with art by Frank Bolle. 

 
Flash Gordon #23  Flash and Warlord Moran Stalk Each Other in A Game of Death!
"The Game of Death Part 1"
"The Game of Death Part 2"
Written by John Warner with art by Carlos Garzon.


Flash Gordon #24  Flash Can't Resist Fighting His Way Into Ming's Trap!
"The Coronation of Ming the Merciless Part 1"
"The Coronation of Ming the Merciless Part 2"
Written by John Warner with art by Carlos Garzon. 
This issue begins publishing under the Gold Key & Whitman imprints.  


Flash Gordon #25  Ming Pursues Flash in the Slumbering Volcano of the Lavamen!
"Volcano Part 1"
"Volcano Part 2"
Written by Gary Poole with art by Carlos Garzon. 



Flash Gordon #26  Flash Bulldogs the Snake Monster--The Battle Begins!
"The Land of the Serpents Part 1"
 "The Land of the Serpents Part 2"
Written by Gary Poole with art by Carlos Garzon. 


Flash Gordon #27  Magic is the Ultimate Weapon in the Mystic City of Illusia!
"The Enchanted City Part 1"
"The Enchanted City Part 2"
Written by Gary Poole with art by Carlos Garzon.  


Flash Gordon #11294
Written by Bruce (Somerset Holmes) Jones with stunning Al (Secret Agent X-9) Williamson artwork. 
Adapt the motion picture, sorry, you'll have to play the great Queen soundtrack in your head (I know, I do!)
The art without the photo but with Williamson's art replacing it is reprinted in Al Williamson's Flash Gordon, A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic.
 


In my final installment on Monday, we pick up on the Whitman Comics' imprint of Flash Gordon, beginning with #28.   


These issues are reprinted in Dark Horse's Flash Gordon Archives Vol. 1, 4 & 5. Highly recommended hardcover edition for Flash aficionados!



Al Williamson's Flash Gordon, A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic big trade paperback has an introduction by Sergio (Groo) Aragonés and written by Mark (Cadillacs & Dinosaurs) Schultz. It's a wonderful treasure of Al Williamson's art of Flash Gordon, even reprinting the Dell Comics' Flash Gordon #1, #3-#5. It also covers the movie adaptation, with the original art cover to the Golden Press book. Additionally, the book covers the first two issue of Marvel Comics' Flash Gordon (written by Mark Schultz.)  


 Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!






    
 

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