FLASH GORDON #2, by Mad Cave Studios on 9/4/24, continues Flash’s adventure to escape Planet Death, but his journey crosses paths with his most hated enemy, who has a deal Flash can’t refuse.
Credits:
- Writer: Jeremy Adams
- Artist: Will Conrad
- Colorist: Lee Loughridge
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Will Conrad, Lee Loughridge (cover A)
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: September 4, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of FLASH GORDON #2:
First Impressions:
Between Titan with Conan and Mad Cave with Flash Gordon, readers who love classic pulp heroes are having a very good Summer. Writer Jeremy Adams taps into the spirit of adventure with another winning issue for Flash Gordon fans everywhere.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left our space-faring hero in Flash Gordon #1, Flash escaped a prison cell on Planet Death where he was incarcerated for treason and high crimes. Driven by his need to find and rescue Dale Arden, Flash eventually joins forces with a fellow prisoner, Daranek, to escape and find Dale, not realizing Dale Arden is far from danger.
In Flash Gordon #2, readers witness a brief prologue where Flash and his father talk about standing up for what’s right. Now, Flash and Daranek run through one of the lower levels of the prison as they’re chased by a giant beast. Flash makes a very cowboy move by leaping in the beast’s back to show it who’s boss and break the “bronco” for a ride to their next destination.
Cowboy move, indeed. Writer Jeremy Adams doesn’t hold back the theatrics by showing exactly why Flash is a world-class athlete and as fearless as any man alive. Sure, mounting a beast is over-the-top when you think about it, but the point is to make it look exciting and fun, so on that point, Adams and artist Will Conrad succeed.
Flash and Daranek ride through the prison’s levels until they hear a curious sound, which Flash recognizes as a cheering crowd. Our adventurers crawl through a side tunnel to view what looks like an underground gladiator coliseum with banners bearing Ming the Merciless’s crest. Before Flash and Daranek can back away, they’re captured by guards in service to the one person Flash did not expect to encounter on Planet Death… Ming the Merciless.
That’s right. It’s impossible to have a complete Flash Gordon adventure without Ming making an appearance. The mighty have certainly fallen, but the version of Ming Jeremey Adams presents here is as formidable and as conniving as ever.
We then see a brief flashback to show how Ming wound up as an inmate of Planet Death and how he now has some measure of influence and power. Rather than kill Flash, Ming makes an offer to Flash for their mutual benefit. The issue concludes with an agreement, suspicion, and a very big warrior.
Overall, Flash Gordon #2 is another rock-solid issue that continues Flash’s adventure on a prison planet, brings in Ming as the perennial arch-villain, and ends on a super-strong cliffhanger. Readers into classic pulp adventure storytelling will be very satisfied with this comic.
Artwork and Presentation:
Followers of this site know we cover every major publisher, and almost without fail, comics will either be strong in writing and weak in art or strong in art and weak in writing. With Will Conrad’s impressively detailed pencils/inks and fantastic panel structure, Flash Gordon is truly a rare mix of strong writing and art. Conrad did a great job here.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Readers who are fans of Flash Gordon serials may wonder where this story falls within the timeline. No specific timeframe is given, but we do know from this issue that the story takes place after Ming is dethroned and the doomsday device known as the Unraveller is destroyed, as seen in the 2024 FCBD issue, Flash Gordon #0. In short, this story takes place in a dedicated but consistent timeline.
Final Thoughts:
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FLASH GORDON #2 delivers a super strong pulp adventure when Flash continues his bid to escape Planet Death. Jeremy Adams’s tale evokes all the classic elements of a pulp serial adventure, and Will Conrad’s detailed art is fantastically fantastic.
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