FLASH GORDON #5, by Mad Cave Studios on 12/18/24, finds Flash and Ming at the mercy of gangsters who want payback for the destruction of Mongo, but they get help from a surprising source.
Credits:
- Writer: Jeremy Adams
- Artist: Will Conrad, Cliff Richards
- Colorist: Lee Loughridge
- Letterer: Taylor Espostio
- Cover Artist: Will Conrad, Lee Loughridge (cover A)
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: December 18, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of FLASH GORDON #5:
Recap:
When last we left the Savior of the Universe in Flash Gordon #4, Flash and Ming made a pitstop at a dangerous outpost to look for parts that will repair their damaged ship. While their, Mind encountered a gang of cutthroats who advertised themselves as followers of Ming, but when they met their patriarch in person, Ming’s attempts to exert control failed miserably.
Plot Analysis:
In Flash Gordon #5, we begin with a brief flashback to many years ago in Russia, where we see a young, brilliant student, Hans Zarkov, correcting his teachers on a complex calculation mistake. Later, Zarkov is pushed around by bigger students for disrupting the class, underscoring the eternal conflict between brains and brawn.
Now, the repair droid aboard Ming’s ship freezes its work when a mysterious program downloads into its processing core. Within minutes, the repair droid is not longer a repair droid but a mechanized menace containing the digitized mind of Hans Zarkov.
Elsewhere, Flash is captured by the gangsters during his attempt to rescue Ming from a savage beating. When their leader, Slog, reports the capture to Empress Dale, she orders them to keep Flash alive until she arrives… personally.
It seems Ming and Flash are helpless. Suddenly, robot Zarkov breaks through the wall and immediately takes down the entire crew. The issue ends with crossing paths and a taste of power.
First Impressions:
chuckle smirk Yeah, that’s the stuff. Who doesn’t love a good upgrade? Zarkov makes his grand entrance in the series with the mother of all upgrades. Writer Jeremy Adams answers the “Where is Zarkov?” question in a grand style that brings Flash’s genius ally to the fore in a big way.
Artwork and Presentation:
Main artist Will Moss brings in guest artist Cliff Richards to help on the internal art, and we’re happy to report, you won’t notice any significant drop in quality. Moss’s and Richards’s styles are just different enough that you can tell the difference during the transition, but it’s not enough to throw the issue off. As long as you don’t get too picky, the art team delivers the a consistent, cohesive, stellar visual experience.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
By far, the highlight of this issue is the dramatic, ass-kicking return of Hans Zarkov. You might ask, “What’s the big deal about a robot taking out the trash?” Well, it’s a big deal because Zarkov has always been at a disadvantage in combat, so the entrance of an important character in a pleasantly unexpected form is a lot of fun.
The Negatives:
After five issues, the perplexing question about “Empress Dale” gets more frustrating the longer it goes unaddressed. How did Dale become Empress? Why is she presented as an enemy intent on hunting Flash? What’s going on? An explanatory flashback is overdue.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
FLASH GORDON #5 is a surprising issue that re-introduces one of Flash Gordon’s most important characters to the series in a completely unexpected form. Jeremy Adams is taking the spirit of fun and adventure to heart with another strong issue, and the expanded art team maintains the highest quality levels.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.